Tree removal in Macclesfield

Farm-sized blocks

SLO6's own description of this country is farmland with patches of remnant bush, lots mostly between 10 and 20 ha, and boundaries marked by post-and-wire fences or windrows. Macclesfield is known for flower and potato growing on its soil, and for goats and alpacas.

A block that size brings in a second rule. The state's native vegetation clause needs a permit to remove native vegetation unless the land, with any next to it in the same ownership, is under 0.4 ha. A 10 ha farm is 25 times that. So clearing native bush on a farm can need the state's permit as well as SLO6's, and the state clause has its own list of exemptions. The council's planning team can say which apply before any work starts.

Checked 7 October 2026 against Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 6 to Clause 42.03 (SLO6), Wikipedia: Macclesfield, Victoria and Victoria Planning Provisions, Clause 52.17 (native vegetation).

Creeks, habitat and slopes

• ESO1 came up at 13 of the 25 points. It is the overlay for habitat and the bush corridors that follow the creeks. SLO6 names the Yellingbo reserve, on the creeks to the north-east, as home to the endangered helmeted honeyeater. ESO1 exempts exotic trees and anything within 4 m of a building, but keeps a permit on a standing dead tree more than 1.3 m around.
• An erosion overlay came up at 6 points. There, any tree more than 50 cm around needs a permit unless it is within 2 m of a building, and a dead tree can go only if the ground is made good.

Checked 7 October 2026 against Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 1 to Clause 42.01 (ESO1), Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 6 to Clause 42.03 (SLO6) and Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 3 to Clause 44.01 (EMO3).

Gold, a church and tree controls

Gold was found in Macclesfield Creek in 1865, and the area was mined briefly. The town is named after Macclesfield in England. Two heritage places here have tree controls: the gold mine adit at the Mineshaft Reserve (HO38), and St Hilda's Church on the Macclesfield-Yellingbo Road (HO221). A tree on either needs a heritage permit whatever its size.

Checked 7 October 2026 against Wikipedia: Macclesfield, Victoria and Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule to Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay).

The rule next door

Silvan and Monbulk

Mostly SLO5 on the farms, which has SLO6's tree terms.

Kallista

SLO1 at every point: also 1.1 m around and 4 m from a building.

Emerald, Avonsleigh and Cockatoo

Across the line in Cardinia, where the overlays set no minimum tree size and exempts 6 m around a house on a lot under 0.4 ha.

The permit guide covers all four councils.

Checked 7 October 2026 against Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 5 to Clause 42.03 (SLO5), Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, Schedule 1 to Clause 42.03 (SLO1) and Cardinia Planning Scheme, Schedule 1 to Clause 42.03 (SLO1).