Here’s some handy advice to help you choose suitable locations to plant your trees and shrubs. This will help minimise damage and blockages to our sewers, water mains and drains.
Roots are a growing problem
Trees and shrubs provide lots of benefits for us and the environment.
However, depending on the species, root systems can be extremely invasive. They can cause underground damage to property foundations, water mains and sewer pipes. They can also push up footpaths and driveways, causing trip hazards.
Why does it happen?
Root systems supply trees with water and nutrients – essential for the plant to survive and grow. Root systems keep growing as the tree matures and will keep searching for water sources underground.
Roots will often find old and cracked stormwater, sewage, and water mains – as these are perfect food sources. They will continue to grow inside these pipes causing blockages that lead to overflows and flooding. The extent of root systems varies between species.
What’s the damage?
The damaging effects that tree roots have above ground are obvious due to cracks. However, the effects are not as obvious below the ground. Below ground, water-seeking roots can damage or block the water and sewer network. In some cases, the roots of trees, such as poplars, have been found in pipes more than 30 metres away from the tree base.
From a legal aspect, property owners have the right to plant any tree or shrub species in any location within their property. However, owners are responsible for any damage caused by their trees or shrubs to nearby buildings and infrastructure. This often involves costly repairs and removal.
Keeping a distance
Use our planting guide to find suitable species for planting on pipe reserves or easements.
These are only an indication of the type of species that can be planted on pipe reserves or easements and may not be indigenous to your area. For further information regarding this list please contact your local Landcare group or council.
| Planting within 1.5 metre of a drain or sewer |
| Arthropodium strictum – Chocolate Lily Brachyscome multifida – Cut-leaf Daisy Bulbine bulbosa – Bulbine lily Carex appressa – Tall sedge Chrysocephalum apiculatum – Common Everlasting Dianella longifolia – Pale Flax-lily Dichondra repens – Kidney Weed Kennedia prostrata – Running Postman Lomandra longifolia – Spiny-headed mat rush Poa labillardieri – Common Tussock Grass Stylidium graminifolium – Grass Trigger Plant Themeda trianda – Kangaroo Grass |
| Planting between 1.5 metres to 3 metres of a drain or sewer |
| Acacia acinacea – Gold Dust Wattle Correa glabra – Rock Correa Correa reflexa – Common Correa Daviesa leptophylla – Narrow leaf bitter-pea Dilwynia glaberrima – Small leaf parrot-pea Epacris impressa – Common Heath Goodenia ovata – Hop Goodenia Hakea ulcina – Furze Hakea Hibbertia obtusifolia – Showy Guinea Flower Hovea linearis – Common Hovea Indigofera australis – Austral indigo Olearia argophylla – Musk Daisy Bush Ozothamnus obcordatus – Grey Everlasting Pultenaea gunnii – Golden Bush Pea |
| Planting at least 3 metres from a drain or sewer |
| Acacia myrtifolia – Myrtle Wattle Acacia paradoxa – Hedge Wattle Bursaria spinosa – Sweet Bursaria Cassina arcuata – Drooping Cassina Cassina aculeata – Dogwood Coprosma quadrifida – Prickly Current-bush Hakea nodosa – Yellow Hakea Hymenanthera dentata – Tree Violet Olearia lirata – Snow Daisy Bush Ozothamnus ferrugineus – Tree Everlasting Pultenaea daphnoides – Large-leaf Bush Pea Solanum aviculare – Kangaroo Apple Spyrideum parvifolium – Dusty Miller Viminaria juncea – Golden Spray |
