Commercial Tree Management in Brisbane: What Property Managers Need to Know

Strata, body corporate, commercial property, retail centres — managing trees on commercial land has specific insurance, documentation, and maintenance requirements.

Insurance and liability exposure

The liability position for commercial property managers is clearer than for residential: if a tree on commercial land fails and damages property or injures a person, and the tree was known to be hazardous and not acted upon, the exposure to the property owner or body corporate is significant. Document your tree assessments.

What documentation to maintain

• Annual or biennial arborist inspection reports
• Correspondence with contractors regarding tree work
• Records of any identified hazards and actions taken
• Copies of council permits for tree removal or work on significant trees

Strata and body corporate tree work

Tree work in common areas of strata complexes falls under the body corporate's responsibility. We provide quotations in a format suitable for committee approval, including written scope, Certificate of Currency, and ABN for invoicing. We can also attend body corporate meetings to present assessments if needed.

Maintenance programs

Rather than reactive tree work, commercial properties benefit from a scheduled maintenance program: annual inspection by an arborist, identified work completed, and documentation maintained. This prevents emergencies and demonstrates due diligence.

Council and development approvals

Development approvals for commercial properties often include tree retention conditions. These must be complied with — removing a tree retained under a DA condition requires a variation approval or a separate council application.