Tree Assistance Fund

The Tree Assistance Fund is to support owners to manage the health of trees that have been identified as having significant characteristics and part of the Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) 1, 3 or 5.

Trees were deemed to be significant under the following criteria:

Historical significance
Rare/Localised distribution
Horticultural/Genetic value
Curious growth form
Outstanding size
Outstanding example of species
Particularly old
Aesthetic value
Aboriginal culture
Unique location/Context
Unique environmental contribution
Good example of indigenous species

You can check if there is an identified significant tree on your property using Whitehorse Maps and selecting the Planning Overlays Map.

To determine whether you require a planning permit before you remove or lop trees on private property refer to Tree Protection within Whitehorse. Substantial penalties apply for illegal tree removal or lopping.

Owners of eligible trees which are protected by the VPO can apply for a grant of up to $1,000 for works that support the health of the tree. A total of $40,000 is available for each year’s fund.

Round 5 of the Tree Assistance Fund is now closed and funds allocated.

Find out if a VPO applies to your property

Enter your address below to determine if a VPO 1, 3 or 5 applies to your property.

Disclaimer

Let us know how your VPO tree is going

Let us know now

Request a tree to be assessed for significance status

Tell us more

Got a VPO - which tree?

If VPO 1, 3 or 5 is on your property refer to the relevant document to determine which tree is protected by the VPO.

Vegetation Protection Overlay 1

Blackburn ( PDF 2.28MB) ( PDF 2.28MB)

Blackburn North ( PDF 2.09MB) ( PDF 2.09MB)

Blackburn South ( PDF 1.57MB) ( PDF 1.57MB)

Box Hill ( PDF 1.15MB) ( PDF 1.15MB)

Box Hill North and South ( PDF 2.07MB) ( PDF 2.07MB)

Burwood ( PDF 1.66MB) ( PDF 1.66MB)

Burwood East ( PDF 1.61MB) ( PDF 1.61MB)

Forest Hill ( PDF 1.39MB) ( PDF 1.39MB)

Mitcham ( PDF 6.69MB) ( PDF 6.69MB)

Mont Albert to Mont Albert North ( PDF 1.26MB) ( PDF 1.26MB)

Nunawading ( PDF 1.81MB) ( PDF 1.81MB)

Surrey Hills ( PDF 1.78MB) ( PDF 1.78MB)

Vermont to Vermont South ( PDF 3.35MB) ( PDF 3.35MB)

Vegetation Protection Overlay 3

Blackburn ( PDF 4.41MB) ( PDF 4.41MB)

Blackburn North ( PDF 6.28MB) ( PDF 6.28MB)

Blackburn South ( PDF 1.59MB) ( PDF 1.59MB)

Box Hill to Box Hill North ( PDF 5.35MB) ( PDF 5.35MB)

Burwood to Burwood East ( PDF 3.21MB) ( PDF 3.21MB)

Forest Hill ( PDF 1.71MB) ( PDF 1.71MB)

Mitcham (A - E ( PDF 4.93MB) ( PDF 4.93MB))

Mitcham (F - M ( PDF 5.71MB) ( PDF 5.71MB))

Mitcham (N - Z ( PDF 4.55MB) ( PDF 4.55MB))

Mont Albert to Mont Albert North ( PDF 3.88MB) ( PDF 3.88MB)

Nunawading ( PDF 4.65MB) ( PDF 4.65MB)

Surrey Hills ( PDF 2.22MB) ( PDF 2.22MB)

Vermont ( PDF 3.66MB) ( PDF 3.66MB)

Vermont South ( PDF 1.54MB) ( PDF 1.54MB)

Vegetation Protection Overlay 5

Vegetation Protection Overlay 2 and 4

Application Details

Eligible works

Works that may support the health of a mature tree include:

Arborist assessment to confirm health status and ULE (useful life expectancy)
Arborist report that details management strategies to optimise health
Weight reduction pruning where limbs are at risk of failure
Formative pruning that results in improved aesthetics or health
Cable bracing to reduce the risk to property of limb failure
Removal of heavy climbing plants that may be damaging the tree
Treatment of severe insect pests such as Elm Leaf Beetle where habitat value for native species is not impacted.
Treatment of fungal diseases where the tree could be saved.
In the case or dead or dying trees, pruning to form a stable stag tree for habitat and the creation of hollows.

Applications

Applications for the Tree Assistance Fund are usually opened in June each year. Successful applicants will be notified during July and have until May the following year to complete the project and claim their funds. Monies are paid on the completion of works only.

Lodge an expression of interest

While the Tree Assistance Grant is open, expressions of interest can be lodged online with the following documentation:

Outline of observations made by the owner of the tree's health and any recent changes
Photographs of the tree

If you have any queries concerning the Tree Assistance Fund please contact us on trees@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Funding Conditions

Funding may be revoked at any time due to unsatisfactory work, failure to meet the specified deadlines, misleading or false disclosure of information, non-disclosure, or misuse of funds by the recipient.

It is a condition of funding that the owner agrees:

Not to seek removal of the property from the Vegetation Protection Overlay
To use the funding only to carry out the works listed in the approved project
To obtain all necessary approvals or permits prior to carrying out the works
To allow Council to use video, photographs or details of the works in its promotional material.

Assessment of Applications

Background

In 2002, 2006 and 2016, Whitehorse City Council commissioned three separate studies of trees across our municipality. Properties that contained a tree or trees that were deemed to have significant characteristics were given protection under a Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO 1, 3 or 5).

Trees in general provide habitat and habitat for local animals, help reduce the impacts of Urban Heat Island Effect, provide a green, leafy outlook and improve our neighborhood character. Trees covered by a VPO are recognized by Whitehorse Council as having value for the whole community. They include trees that are significant to the history of the area, have particular form or are an unusual species. As these trees mature they require more attention to maintain their health, and this is why the Tree Assistance Fund has been established to support residents with large, mature trees that have been recognized as having significant characteristics.