Emergency tree removal across Australia. SMS the address — we're moving in 60 minutes.
Tree just down? Two things first.
1. If there's a powerline involved, stop here. Call your network operator (numbers in the table below). They send a crew for free and we legally can't work within 3m of a live line.
2. If the tree's on a structure, photograph it from at least three angles before you touch anything. The first photo is the most important one your insurer will see.
Then SMS the address and a photo to 0402 522 434. We'll have a crew rolling within 60 minutes inside metro hours.
Most emergency calls fall into one of three buckets: tree on a house or car, tree blocking access, or tree about to come down. The fix is usually quick. The paperwork is usually slow. We handle both, in that order.
Powerline first — call your network operator
If the tree is in contact with a powerline, or within 3 metres of one, this is not our job. The network operator dispatches a crew for free. They have isolation equipment we don't.
| State | Network operator | Emergency line |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | Energex / Ergon | 13 19 62 / 13 16 70 |
| NSW (most metro) | Ausgrid | 13 13 88 |
| NSW (south + west) | Endeavour Energy | 13 10 03 |
| NSW (regional) | Essential Energy | 13 20 80 |
| VIC (metro) | CitiPower / Powercor | 13 12 80 |
| VIC (east) | AusNet | 13 17 99 |
| ACT | Evoenergy | 13 10 93 |
| SA | SA Power Networks | 13 13 66 |
| WA (metro) | Western Power | 13 13 51 |
Don't approach a fallen tree if you're not 100% sure no line is involved. Lines underground in branches are surprisingly hard to see in low light.
What we treat as an emergency
- Tree on a house, garage, shed, fence or other structure
- Tree on a vehicle (parked or driving)
- Tree blocking a driveway, road or escape path
- Tree leaning unstably toward a structure (lean changed after a storm)
- Large branch hanging in the canopy ("widow-maker") that could drop without warning
- Tree partially uprooted with visible root-plate movement
- Storm damage where access to the property is the main concern
What's NOT an emergency (call us during business hours instead): leaf litter, fence-line overhang you can live with for a week, a long-standing lean that hasn't changed, dead branches you can spot from the ground that aren't directly above access.
What it costs
Emergency work is the standard job rate plus a 50–100% surcharge. The surcharge covers crew overtime, equipment redeployment from booked jobs, and after-hours rates. Indicative numbers:
| Scenario | Typical emergency cost |
|---|---|
| Single fallen tree on driveway, accessible | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Tree on house, no structural damage to roof | $2,500 – $5,500 |
| Tree on house, structural roof damage | $3,500 – $8,000+ |
| Multiple trees down (post-major-storm) | $5,000 – $15,000+ |
| Hung-up branch removal (widow-maker) | $700 – $1,800 |
Numbers are indicative. Insurance often covers part or all of the structural-damage scenarios; we'll provide the report needed for the claim.
Five steps in the first hour
Make sure no-one's near the tree
Especially if powerlines are involved, or if the tree's still moving (settling, swaying). Get everyone 10m back minimum.
Photograph from three angles
Wide shot showing the whole scene; medium shot of the damage; close-up of the contact point. Include something for scale (a car, a person at safe distance). Time-stamped if your phone does that.
Call the powerline operator if a line is involved
Numbers in the table above. They'll isolate the line first; everything else waits.
SMS us with the address and the wide-shot photo
0402 522 434. We can usually quote remotely from a clear photo and dispatch the right crew (climber + groundies, or crane if needed).
Call your insurer once everyone's safe
Most insurers want notification within 24 hours but you don't have to lodge the full claim immediately. Read the insurance guide before the call — it'll save back-and-forth.
The Sunday emergency on a Tesla
2am Sunday in autumn. A 12m liquidambar came down across a driveway in Sydney's inner west, pinning a Tesla. The homeowner called us at 6am. Crew on site by 7:15am, tree off the car by 9am. We emailed the insurer a written incident report with timestamps and photos by lunchtime. The car was a write-off. The insurer paid out within two weeks — clean, no back-and-forth — because the report was complete.
Emergencies are about two things: getting the tree off the thing it's on, and giving the homeowner everything the insurer needs. The report is half the job.
Storm chasers — don't sign in the driveway
After every major storm, contractors door-knock with "we noticed your tree". They're usually charging double, the work is often substandard, and the contracts can be hard to get out of. Three rules:
- Get three quotes. Even after a storm, even at 7am Sunday — text three arborists, you'll have three numbers within an hour.
- Never sign anything in the driveway. Read it inside, with the contract emailed to you.
- If they pressure you ("we have to do this today or your insurance won't cover it"), they're lying. Insurance gives you reasonable time.
What we do that the storm chaser doesn't
- AQF qualified arborist on every job — name and certification number on the invoice
- Public liability + workers comp — certificate of currency on request before work starts
- Written method statement for every job over 8m
- Timestamped before/after photos in the incident report
- Insurance liaison — we email the report direct to your insurer if you want
- Same crew, same arborist, no sub-contracting to whoever picked up the dispatch call
Where we work
Frequently asked
What counts as an emergency?
Tree on a house, car, or structure. Tree blocking access. Tree leaning unstably after a storm. Large branch hanging or about to fall. Tree in contact with a powerline (call your network operator first).
How fast can you respond?
Within 60 minutes inside metro service areas during business hours. After-hours, typically 2–4 hours. SMS the address with a photo to 0402 522 434 for fastest dispatch.
Will my insurance cover this?
Most home and contents policies cover tree damage to insured structures. Tree removal itself is sometimes covered (varies by insurer). We provide a written incident report with timestamps and photos. More on the insurance process.
What if a powerline is involved?
Call your network operator first — they send a crew for free. We can't legally work within 3m of a live line. Numbers for every state in the table above.
Do you operate after hours and on weekends?
Yes for genuine emergencies — on-house, blocking access, structurally unstable. Non-emergencies wait until business hours. Sunday emergency rate applies.
Can you tarp the roof temporarily?
If the tree's been removed and there's a hole in the roof, yes — basic tarp-down is typically included if conditions are safe. A proper roof repair is a roofer's job, not ours.
Tree just down? SMS the address.
0402 522 434Photo + address gets you the fastest dispatch. Or call if it's easier.