From the lake to the bay
Storm damaged trees in Newcastle
When an east coast low or a summer storm has been through, the first job is always whatever is still hanging.
Storm damage
In this order
Still hanging
Limbs caught in the canopy come down first, before anyone works underneath them.
Torn or cracked
A split fork or a cracked trunk is made safe next, by taking weight off it or taking it down.
On the ground
Then the timber on the lawn, the roof or the fence is cut into lengths and cleared.
How it works
From the first message to a written quote
The council question is settled before any price, and nothing is booked until you have said yes to a quote in writing.
- 1
Tell us what the tree is doing
Where it stands, what it hangs over and what you would like done about it.
- 2
A contractor comes to see it
A tree contractor who covers your suburb looks at the tree, the access and what is underneath it.
- 3
The council question is answered
Your council, the tree's height and trunk, its distance from the house and the species decide whether a permit or an exemption applies.
- 4
You get it in writing
Scope, timber, stump and date on one page, and nothing is booked until you have said yes.
Storm questions
The paperwork and the big storms
Does a storm damaged tree need a permit?
In Newcastle, a tree that is an immediate risk after a severe storm can come down, with the council's storm damage form submitted within 5 days of tree clearing. Heritage items and street-visible trees in heritage areas are the exception.
How bad do storms get here?
In the June 2007 east coast low, thunderstorms brought record flooding in Newcastle, with 164.6 mm of rain falling in 6 hours. In January 2026 a storm cell hit hardest between Jesmond and Waratah, with many of the SES jobs for trees down.
What does the SES deal with after a big blow?
In the Lake Macquarie windstorm of May 2022, the SES said the majority of calls were for trees on roads and trees on houses. Clearing a private yard afterwards is a job for a contractor.
