Trees and Real Estate

Second Edition • 2026

Trees and Real Estate – Second Edition (2026) is a comprehensive guide to the complex relationship between trees, property ownership, planning law, development and real estate in Australia. Fully revised and extensively expanded, this edition reflects the latest legislation, Australian Standards, planning controls and arboricultural best practice, providing practical guidance for everyone involved in the ownership, management and development of land.

Trees can add significant environmental, aesthetic and economic value to a property, but they can also create legal obligations, development constraints and financial liabilities. Understanding these issues before buying, selling, leasing or developing property is essential for making informed decisions and avoiding costly disputes.

This book examines every stage of the property lifecycle, including due diligence before purchasing, tree preservation legislation, development applications, Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Tree Protection Plans, tree risk management, hazardous trees, root damage to buildings, neighbour disputes, insurance, biodiversity, heritage trees and long-term asset management.

A major feature of this edition is an extensive review of leading New South Wales Land and Environment Court decisions affecting arboriculture and real estate. These case studies explain how the courts assess duty of care, foreseeable risk, nuisance, expert evidence, tree preservation, development impacts, root damage, property rights and planning law, providing readers with practical insight into the legal principles that govern tree management in Australia.

Written by Mark Bury, AQF Level 5 Arborist, ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) practitioner and experienced expert witness, the book combines more than three decades of practical arboricultural experience with current scientific research, planning legislation and judicial precedent.

Whether you are a property owner, purchaser, developer, real estate professional, consulting arborist, planner, engineer, solicitor, strata manager, local government officer or student, Trees and Real Estate – Second Edition (2026) provides an authoritative, practical and evidence-based reference for managing trees responsibly while balancing public safety, environmental sustainability and successful property outcomes. It is an indispensable resource for anyone involved in Australia's built and natural environments.