Arboricultural Impact Assessment reports

An Arboricultural Impact Assessment report (AIA) is one of a raft of property development planning documents that you’ll need to submit with a development application for building construction or renovation works. The AIA report needs to be prepared by an AQF Level 5 arborist and provide independent, accurate advice about how trees on and near the property will be impacted by the work, and what you’ll need to do to mitigate these impacts. An AIA arborist report:

• Provides a Retention Value for each tree, depending on its species, health and condition, structure and expected lifespan to allow you to prioritise healthy, valuable trees which are expected to thrive on the site
• Specifically assesses the impacts of the proposed development on each tree. This should include a percentage encroachment into the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) of each tree – a circular area around the tree calculated using the method in Australian Standard AS4970 – Protection of trees on development sites – and a description of what part of the development or work would impact the tree (like excavation for footings, services trenches, above ground paving, buildings, driveways and so on)
• Usually include a Tree Protection Concept Plan to indicate what you’ll need to do on site to minimise the impacts on trees, such as installing tree protection fencing, trunk and ground protection, branch protection, tree sensitive methods when working in a TPZ area, and site management requirements

How are New Leaf Arboricultural Impact Assessment reports different?

New Leaf’s in-house qualified architect drafts tree plans in CAD, and provides accurate calculations of encroachments and setbacks, with the Arboricultural Consultant’s guidance on methodology and interpretation.

Because of the use of CAD throughout the AIA process, we can provide information upfront to reduce the conflicts between trees and proposed works, so that the design you submit to the consent authority (e.g. Council) has the best possible chance of being approved, in terms of tree impacts.

New Leaf is committed to professional integrity and providing best practice advice, for the benefit of trees and the urban forest, balanced with your needs and intended outcomes as a property owner, manager, developer or project team.

What insider hints can I give you to help when seeking one of these reports?

Jacki Brown, Director and Principal Arboricultural Consultant at New Leaf Arboriculture recorded a series of short videos explaining the ins and outs of designing around trees during a building development planning process. The series intends to help designers, architects and engineers to provide designs which minimise impacts on trees. The video series can be found here or on the New Leaf blog.