Development Impact Assessments — Melbourne
Most Melbourne councils require a DIA under AS4970-2009 when a planning application involves buildings or works near trees. Graeme prepares reports accepted across all 31 metropolitan councils.
Learn moreArboricultural Consulting & Tree Reports — Melbourne
Professional tree assessment reports for Melbourne property owners, architects, councils, and legal practitioners. Accepted across all Greater Melbourne councils and Victorian courts.
Melbourne's Tree Report Specialist
Expert Tree Reports for Greater Melbourne
Stem Arboriculture provides professional arboricultural consulting to clients across greater Melbourne — from the CBD and inner suburbs to outer metropolitan councils including Casey, Cardinia, Wyndham, Hume, and Nillumbik.
Graeme Lewis, AQF Level 5 Arborist, has over 40 years of industry experience and an in-depth understanding of Melbourne's planning system. Whether you're navigating a council planning application, responding to a VCAT hearing, managing risk on a public or institutional site, or resolving a tree-related property dispute, Stem Arboriculture has the qualifications and experience to deliver.
Reports are prepared in compliance with Australian Standard AS4970-2009 (Protection of Trees on Development Sites) and ISA TRAQ methodology, and are accepted by Melbourne's 31 metropolitan councils and Victorian tribunals.
Services in Melbourne
Tree Report Services Across Greater Melbourne
Every service Stem Arboriculture provides is available to Melbourne-based clients, with site visits across all metropolitan council areas.
Tree Risk Assessments — Melbourne
ISA TRAQ risk assessments for Melbourne councils, schools, churches, and private land managers. Manage your duty-of-care obligations with a structured, defensible risk report.
Learn moreExpert Witness — VCAT Melbourne
Arboricultural expert witness evidence for VCAT hearings, Planning Panels Victoria, and the County Court. Reports prepared under the Expert Witness Code of Conduct.
Learn moreTree Management Plans — Melbourne
Detailed construction-phase tree protection plans specifying arborist involvement, exclusion zones, and site manager responsibilities — required by many Melbourne council permits.
Learn moreStructural Damage Reports — Melbourne
Independent assessment for Melbourne insurance and legal disputes where trees are alleged to have caused structural damage to property.
Learn morePreliminary Design Reports — Melbourne
Pre-design guidance for Melbourne architects and developers — identifying tree retention values and construction setbacks before plans are lodged.
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Coverage
Melbourne Suburbs & Council Areas Served
Stem Arboriculture provides on-site arboricultural consulting across all of greater Melbourne. Below is a representative list — if your suburb is not listed, please call to confirm availability.
CBD / InnerSouth YarraToorakHawthornKewCamberwellGlen WaverleyBox HillDoncasterElthamGreensboroughRingwoodCroydonLilydaleWarrandyteHeidelbergFitzroyCarltonBrunswickCoburgNorthcoteThornburyPrestonReservoirBundooraEppingEssendonMoonee PondsFootscrayWilliamstownAltonaPoint CookWerribeeTarneitCraigieburnSunburySt KildaPrahranGlen EiraBrightonSandringhamCheltenhamMoorabbinMentoneParkdaleMordiallocFrankstonBerwickPakenhamOfficerCranbourneNarre WarrenDandenongSpringvaleClaytonOakleigh
All 31 metropolitan Melbourne council areas serviced. Travel fees may apply to outer areas — enquire when booking.
Why Choose Us
Why Melbourne Clients Choose Stem Arboriculture
Council-Ready Reports
Every report is structured to meet Melbourne council planning requirements. AS4970-2009 compliance is standard, and Graeme's reports have a strong track record of acceptance without amendment requests.
VCAT & Court Experience
Melbourne's planning disputes frequently end up at VCAT. Graeme has provided expert evidence at VCAT, Planning Panels Victoria, and the County Court — a level of experience few Melbourne arborists can offer.
Responsive & Independent
As a specialist consulting firm rather than a large tree-services company, Stem Arboriculture provides independent advice with no commercial interest in recommending unnecessary tree work.
40+ Years of Practice
Graeme's 40-plus years in arboriculture gives him a depth of knowledge in tree biology, failure mechanics, and Victorian planning practice that shorter-experienced consultants cannot match.
Melbourne Planning System Knowledge
Victorian planning overlays — including the Significant Landscape Overlay, Vegetation Protection Overlay, and Bushfire Management Overlay — each have distinct tree assessment requirements. Graeme works within these frameworks every day.
Accessible & Professional
Available seven days, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Enquiries are responded to within one business day, and reports are delivered on agreed timelines — critical when planning permit deadlines are tight.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions — Melbourne Tree Reports
Yes — most Melbourne metropolitan councils require an arboricultural report (typically a Development Impact Assessment or Tree Management Plan) when a planning application involves buildings, excavations, or earthworks near significant trees. Requirements vary by council, but compliance with Australian Standard AS4970-2009 is standard across Greater Melbourne. Graeme Lewis prepares reports accepted by all Melbourne metropolitan councils.
A Tree Risk Assessment evaluates the likelihood and consequence of a tree or branch failure using the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) TRAQ methodology. Melbourne councils, schools, churches, golf courses and other land managers often commission these reports to manage liability and meet their duty-of-care obligations. Reports identify risk ratings and recommend appropriate mitigation — from monitoring through to removal.
Yes. Graeme Lewis has provided expert witness testimony at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), Planning Panels Victoria, and the County Court of Victoria. Expert witness reports are prepared in accordance with the Expert Witness Code of Conduct (Order 44 Supreme Court Rules). This service is available to planning law firms, councils, and private applicants throughout Melbourne and Victoria.
Report fees vary depending on the number of trees, the complexity of the site, and the type of report required. Contact Stem Arboriculture on 0400 260 484 for an obligation-free quote. A site visit is typically included for Development Impact Assessments and Tree Management Plans.
Stem Arboriculture services all Melbourne metropolitan council areas, including the City of Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington, Boroondara, Glen Eira, Kingston, Bayside, Port Phillip, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Darebin, Whitehorse, Manningham, Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Hume, Melton, Wyndham, Casey, Cardinia, Knox, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula Shire. Travel to outer Melbourne suburbs is available — contact us to confirm coverage.
Graeme Lewis holds a Level 5 (AQF) qualification in Arboriculture — the highest vocational qualification in the Australian arboricultural industry — and has over 40 years of practical and consulting experience. Reports prepared by Graeme are accepted by Melbourne metropolitan councils and recognised by VCAT and the courts.