Port Douglas
Tree removal in Port Douglas
Tree removal, pruning and palm work in Port Douglas, under Douglas Shire Council's rules.
Tree work in Port Douglas
Big winds and decaying old trees
When Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the coast in December 2023, the Bureau says the region to the south of the centre, extending to Port Douglas, had the strongest winds, with gusts estimated to 130 km/h.
Decay is what usually brings a big tree down here. Council removed three unsafe oil palms on a Port Douglas verge after they appeared dead, with failed central fronds and significant basal bracket fungi.
Independent arborists also found the mature fig tree, located beside the playground at Rex Smeal Park, could not be saved, with fungal decay the likely cause of its cracks.
Services in Port Douglas
Palms, figs and decay
How it works
From the first message to a written quote
The council question is settled before any price, and nothing is booked until you have said yes to a quote in writing.
- 1
Tell us what the tree is doing
Where it stands, what it hangs over and what you would like done about it.
- 2
A contractor comes to see it
A tree contractor who covers your suburb looks at the tree, the access and what is underneath it.
- 3
The council question is answered
Whether it is pruning council lets you do, or a removal that needs approval, is settled before the price.
- 4
You get it in writing
Scope, timber, stump and date on one page, and nothing is booked until you have said yes.
Port Douglas questions
Douglas Shire rules
Does Douglas Shire allow trees to be removed?
As the last resort. Council says the removal of a tree is the last resort when dealing with tree problems, with every other option tried first.
How do I know if a permit is needed in Port Douglas?
Council says residents can often work it out themselves using the table of assessment and the vegetation management code. Removal is checked against both before anything is quoted.
Do trees fall here outside cyclone season?
They do. A tree fell in the main street in September 2026 during near-gale-force winds and wetter-than-usual conditions for the dry season.
