So you don’t end up with a 60 foot gum tree growing over half your new home, 1 metre from your bedroom wall.
Whether you are planning an extension to your home, building a brand new home or even developing a resort hotel, it’s vital to plan things carefully.
Why are you building? What materials will you use? Which method of construction is most suitable? Who will be doing the work? Where on your property will the building be positioned? When does construction start and when does it need to be completed? How will you balance all these elements?
One of the vital components in the planning process is a pre construction tree report. This will help you to get the most out of the trees you have before work starts. It may also suggest which you could plant once the building is complete.
You know that trees are valuable because you read the information on my website about the worth of your trees right? Just in case you missed it, follow this link. It’s OK, I’ll wait for you.
How much is that tree worth?
So you know that trees themselves are valuable but did you also know that they can increase the sale price of your home?
http://www.realestate.com.au/news/buyers-prepared-to-pay-more-for-leafy-streets/
Not only that but studies show that trees have positive psychological benefits for people already over-stressed by our modern cities.
https://www.psychologies.co.uk/body/the-healing-power-of-trees.html
OK, so you want to have trees around your property but you also want to keep construction costs down and keeping trees will make building expensive right? Actually that’s not correct. With the right planning you can have your cake and eat it too. Or rather have your trees and build your house.
To make sure the process runs smoothly you should have a preconstruction tree report compiled by a suitably qualified and experienced arborist. Ideally the arborist should have experience in the building industry and an understanding of the needs of various trades and how to balance them against your valuable trees needs.
The report should take into account local and state requirements for tree preservation like these;
And these;
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Tree_Retention_and_Removal_Policy.pdf
As well as considering Australian standards for construction including;
AS 4970-2007 Protection-of-Trees-Dev-sites
Finally the report needs to not only provide information but to provide suggestions as to how the building and the landscape could function together. A peaceful garden is about harmony and balance. Your new home, when properly planned, can meld with your mature trees as though it was always there. As though it belongs.
Give me a home among the gum trees…..
If you are building a home, a work place or even putting in a swimming pool and want to do the right thing by you AND your trees, give me call or send me an email.
Cheers,
John (Doc) Holliday