A new home, an extension, a granny flat or a pool almost always runs into a tree somewhere. On the older blocks of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing it might be a mature gum or a cypress at the back fence. On a newer Point Cook, Tarneit or Truganina block it's more often an ornamental planted too close to where the extension now needs to go. Either way, how and when the tree is dealt with makes a real difference to cost, to your builder's program and to whether the new work is set up properly.

This guide is about trees that stand in the way of building work — what to check, what needs to come out, and how to time it.

Check before you plan around it

Before a tree is marked for removal on your plans, find out whether you're allowed to remove it. Some Wyndham properties sit under planning overlays, and some estates have tree controls in their original planning permit. Street and nature-strip trees usually belong to the council and aren't yours to touch. Our Wyndham Tree Removal Permit page explains how to check your address.

If your project needs a planning permit anyway, tree removal is often considered as part of that application, so raise it with your designer or builder early rather than after plans are drawn. If the building permit alone covers the job, still confirm the tree itself isn't protected.

Decide what goes and what stays

Not every tree near a build needs to come out. A healthy tree that adds shade and value can sometimes be kept with a little planning. The things to weigh up:

Is it inside the footprint? A tree where the slab, the pool shell or the extension will sit has to go.
How close is it to the new footings? On Werribee's reactive clay, a large tree close to new footings can draw moisture from the soil and contribute to movement. Your engineer or builder may set a minimum distance, so ask before deciding.
Will the build damage it anyway? Excavation, trenching for services and machines driving over the root zone can kill a tree a year or two after the build. Removing it now is cheaper than removing a dying tree over a new roof later.
Is it a neighbour's tree? You can't remove a neighbour's tree, but its roots and canopy may still affect your build. Talk to them early.

If a tree is staying, ask your builder about protecting it during the works — fencing off the area around the trunk and keeping machines, stockpiles and trenches out of the root zone.

Roots and stumps under a slab or pool

Grinding a stump below ground level is fine for lawn or garden. Under new building work it often isn't enough. Builders and engineers generally don't want large roots or decaying timber left where footings, a slab or a pool shell will go, because the material breaks down and leaves voids in the soil.

That means the job may need more than a standard grind:

Deeper grinding across the stump and its main surface roots
Root removal along the line of new footings or the pool excavation
Leaving the area clean so the builder or excavator can set out and dig without hitting timber

Our Stump Grinding & Removal service covers how deep we go and why. If your builder has a specific requirement, send it with your enquiry so the quote matches. Our guide to tree roots damaging houses and pipes also explains how roots behave in western-suburbs clay.

Timing: do it before the builder arrives

The best time to remove trees for a project is usually after the permits are sorted but before the builder starts. There are good reasons for that:

Access is at its best. Before new walls, fences, a pool or a slab go in, there's often room to drop a tree in sections or bring machinery in. Once the extension is framed, the same tree may have to be climbed and dismantled piece by piece.
It's cheaper. As our tree removal cost guide explains, access and what's underneath the tree are among the biggest price drivers. Clear space means a faster, lower-cost job.
It keeps the program moving. A tree still standing on the day the excavator arrives holds everything up.
The stump work is done once. Removal and stump grinding at the same visit avoids a return trip.

For a knockdown-rebuild, trees are often removed alongside the demolition, before the block is handed to the builder. Coordinate with your demolition contractor and builder so it's clear who is clearing what.

Pools and backyard projects

Pools are a common trigger on Wyndham blocks. A tree beside a pool drops leaves, flowers and gumnuts into the water, and roots can affect the shell and paving over time. If a new pool is going near an established tree, deciding before excavation whether it stays is far easier than living with it afterwards. The same goes for sheds, granny flats and large paved areas.

What to send us

A few details help us give you an accurate quote, usually from photos:

Photos of each tree, its base and what's around it
Your site plan or a sketch showing where the new work goes
Any builder or engineer requirements for stump and root removal
Access to the block, and your builder's start date

Send these through and we'll quote the Tree Removal and stump work together, timed to suit your build.

Removing Trees Before a Build, Extension or Pool in Werribee