1 Tree & Stump Removal
in Cairns City.

Tree lopping, removal, and stump grinding in South East Queensland are dominated by storm season demand (October-March) and council compliance work. Most SE QLD councils require an arborist permit to remove protected trees on private land, Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, and Sunshine Coast Council all maintain protected species lists. Reputable arborists will know your council''s rules and handle the permit process. Removing a protected tree without a permit attracts fines of $3,000-25,000+.

Pricing depends heavily on tree size, access (can the truck reach it?), and what you want done with the debris. A small backyard tree might be $200-400 to remove; a 20m gum requiring a crane and traffic management can run $3,000-8,000+.

What to ask before hiring an arborist or tree removalist

• Qualifications. Look for a Certificate III in Arboriculture or AQF Level 3+. For technical climbing or removals near structures, an AQF Level 5 arborist is the gold standard.
• Public liability insurance. $10M minimum. Tree work near houses, power lines, and cars is high-risk; verify the certificate before they start.
• Council permit. Tell them the species and trunk diameter. They should know immediately whether it needs a permit. If they say "she''ll be right", find someone else.
• Stump grinding included? Removal often quotes for above-ground only. Stump grinding is usually $100-250 extra per stump.
• Debris removal. Some quotes include haul-away; others leave wood chip on site (free fuel for fires or mulch) or expect you to handle disposal.
• Worker safety setup. Spotters, traffic control, exclusion zones. A good crew has visible PPE and proper rigging gear.

Common tree services and what they typically cost in SE QLD

• Small tree removal (under 5m): $200-450
• Medium tree removal (5-12m): $450-1,200
• Large tree removal (12-20m): $1,200-3,500
• Very large tree with crane access: $3,500-8,000+
• Stump grinding per stump: $100-300
• Tree lopping / pruning (per hour): $80-150
• Mulching debris on site: $50-150
• Emergency storm work (after-hours): $300-800 call-out + hourly

Prices vary by suburb, tree size, and access. The listings below are sorted by best match; use the filters to find AQF-qualified arborists with strong storm-season availability.