THE State Administrative Tribunal has upheld the Town of Bassendean’s decision to refuse an application to remove a regulated tree on private property.

The town says it is the first reported SAT decision to affirm a local government’s refusal of a development application involving the removal of a regulated tree.

The ruling supports the implementation of the town’s tree retention and provision policy, adopted in September 2024.

Mayor Kath Hamilton said the decision reinforced the town’s approach to protecting significant trees on private property.

“This determination by the State Administrative Tribunal reinforces the town’s position that regulated trees are worthy of protection and that our tree retention policy has an important role to play in safeguarding Bassendean’s urban canopy,” she said.

The policy was introduced following the release of a model tree protection policy by WALGA.

The Town of Bassendean was one of the first local governments in the state to adopt the model policy.

Under the policy, regulated trees are protected from removal and significant damage and must be considered during the development process.

A regulated tree is generally one that is more than 8m tall, has a canopy wider than 6m or a trunk circumference of at least 1.5m, provided it is not listed as a weed species.

Council will consider an updated Future Forest policy at its ordinary meeting on June 23, which aims to clarify its approach to tree retention on private land.

In November 2025, the town successfully prosecuted its first case involving the unauthorised removal of regulated trees, with a court imposing a $17,000 penalty and ordering the accused to pay the town’s legal costs.

Ms Hamilton said the policy aimed to balance development with tree retention, and community feedback plays and important role.

“The tree retention policy ensures development and tree protection work hand in hand,” she said.