If you own property in the MidCoast region of New South Wales, you already know how quickly the weather can change. One day it is calm and sunny. The next, a severe storm rolls through with heavy rain and damaging winds.
After the record-breaking floods of May 2025, where Taree Airport recorded over 608 mm of rainfall and Wingham saw its heaviest single-day total since 1895, many trees across the region are under serious stress. Add the lasting effects of the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires and a flash drought in late 2023, and you have a landscape full of trees that may look fine on the surface but are weakened underneath.
The question is: how do you know if a tree on your property is safe, or if it is about to become a danger to your home and family?
This guide covers the five warning signs that a tree may be hazardous, based on the latest Australian Standards and what our qualified arborists see every day working across Taree, Forster, Gloucester, and the surrounding areas. Knowing these signs could save you from costly damage, legal trouble, or worse.
Table of Contents
- Leaves Are Dropping and the Canopy Is Thinning
- You Can See Fungus, Soft Spots, or Hollow Sections on the Trunk
- The Base of the Tree Feels Unstable or the Ground Is Lifting
- The Tree Has a Split Trunk, Dead Branches, or Odd Growth
- Your Tree Species Has Known Risks in the MidCoast
- What the Law Says: Your Responsibilities as a Property Owner
- What to Do Next: A Simple Checklist for Homeowners
Summary
1. Leaves Are Dropping and the Canopy Is Thinning
The first thing most people notice about an unhealthy tree is the canopy. If a tree that used to be full and green is now showing bare branches, yellowing leaves, or patches where no leaves grow at all, that is a sign of canopy dieback.
In the MidCoast, satellite monitoring from the NSW Natural Resources Commission shows that canopy dieback prediction models now reach 94 to 96 per cent accuracy. Trees on ridges and north-facing slopes are most at risk, because they get more sun and hold less moisture in the soil.
Watch for Myrtle Rust on Your Trees
One of the biggest biosecurity threats in the MidCoast right now is Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii). This fungal disease targets the Myrtaceae family, which includes many of our most common species: Eucalypts, Paperbarks, and Turpentines.
What to look for:
- Bright yellow or orange powdery spores on leaves and new shoots, purple or brown spots, and the death of young growth tips. Symptoms can appear within 3 to 5 days of infection, and the fungus produces new spores in as little as 10 to 12 days during humid weather.
- Left untreated, Myrtle Rust causes heavy leaf drop and branch dieback. Over time, the tree becomes brittle and far more likely to fail during a storm.
If you spot these symptoms, do not wait. Contact a professional tree services provider to assess the situation before it gets worse.
2. You Can See Fungus, Soft Spots, or Hollow Sections on the Trunk
A tree might look solid from the outside, but inside it could be rotting away. Internal decay is one of the most dangerous conditions because it often goes unnoticed until the tree fails.
Professional arborists measure internal decay using a ratio of sound wood thickness to the trunk radius. When the layer of healthy wood gets too thin compared to the total trunk size, the tree loses its ability to stand up to wind and its own weight. Trees where the sound wood has dropped below about 30 per cent of the trunk radius are considered high risk.
Signs You Can Spot Without Special Equipment
- Fungal growths (sometimes called conks or brackets) growing on the trunk or at the base of the tree. These mushroom-like structures are a strong signal of internal wood decay.
- Long vertical cracks running up the bark.
- Soft, spongy areas when you press on the bark.
- A hollow sound when you tap the trunk with a mallet or the back of your hand.
If you notice any of these, it is time to call a qualified arborist for a proper assessment. In some cases, the tree can be saved with careful tree pruning. In others, safe tree removal may be the only option.
3. The Base of the Tree Feels Unstable or the Ground Is Lifting
After the severe flooding in May 2025, root stability has become a major concern across the MidCoast. When soil stays waterlogged for extended periods, the fine feeder roots that anchor a tree begin to suffocate and die. Even after the water drains away, the damage is already done, and you may not see the effects for months.
The updated Australian Standard (AS 4970:2025) now uses the Notional Root Zone (NRZ) to measure how much of a tree's root area has been affected. Under these guidelines, if more than 30 per cent of the NRZ is compromised, the tree is considered at high risk of failure.
What This Looks Like on Your Property
- The tree is leaning more than it used to, especially after a recent storm or heavy rain.
- You can see exposed roots lifting out of the ground on one side.
- There are cracks or heaving in the soil around the base of the tree.
- The ground feels soft or spongy near the trunk, even during dry periods.
Properties near the Manning River, Wallis Lake, or in any flood-prone area should be especially careful. If your home is in Taree, Wingham, or the Forster-Tuncurry area, consider booking a professional root stability assessment. Our emergency tree services team can respond quickly if the situation is urgent.
4. The Tree Has a Split Trunk, Dead Branches, or Odd Growth
The physical shape of a tree tells you a lot about its safety. Structural problems in how a tree has grown, or how it has been maintained in the past, can make it far more likely to fail when the next big storm hits.
Three Common Structural Problems
Co-dominant stems (split trunks): When two trunks of roughly the same size grow from the same point, they often develop what arborists call included bark. This means bark grows trapped between the two stems instead of strong wood, creating a weak joint. During high winds, these split trunks are one of the most common points of failure.
Widow makers (hanging dead branches): Large dead branches stuck in the canopy are highly unpredictable. They can fall without any warning, even on a calm day, and pose a serious risk to anyone below. These are especially common after storm damage.
Epicormic growth (thin, rapid shoots): If a tree has been heavily lopped in the past, you will often see clusters of thin, fast-growing shoots sprouting from the trunk or main branches. These shoots are weakly attached and research shows they are 3 to 5 times more likely to break off as they grow. Under the Australian Standard AS 4373, pruning should never remove more than 20 to 25 per cent of a tree's canopy in a single season to prevent this kind of dangerous regrowth.
Proper tree pruning by a qualified arborist can address many of these issues before they become dangerous. If the damage is too severe, tree removal carried out by professionals is the safest course of action.
5. Your Tree Species Has Known Risks in the MidCoast
Not all trees fail in the same way. Different species have different weaknesses, and in the MidCoast, there are several common species that property owners should pay close attention to.
If you have any of these species on your property and you are unsure about their condition, a professional inspection is the safest step. Our team works with all native MidCoast species and understands how local conditions like coastal winds, flood cycles, and drought affect each one. Learn more about our fire and hazard management services.
6. What the Law Says: Your Responsibilities as a Property Owner
In New South Wales, you have a legal duty of care when it comes to trees on your property. Under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006, if a tree you own causes damage to a neighbour's property and the risk was foreseeable, you could be held liable.
Key Rules for MidCoast Homeowners
Emergency removal: If a tree poses an imminent risk to life or significant property, it can be removed without a prior council permit. However, you will typically need to provide evidence such as photographs and a report from a qualified arborist immediately after the work is done.
Standard permits: For non-emergency situations, MidCoast Council requires a permit before you prune or remove protected vegetation. You can learn more on our council permit guide.
Penalties: Removing a mature tree without approval can result in fines for individuals and corporations. The safest approach is always to get a professional assessment first. That way, you have the documentation you need to satisfy council requirements and protect yourself from liability. Request a quote for a professional tree risk assessment today.
7. What to Do Next: A Simple Checklist for Homeowners
If you have read through these five signs and something feels familiar, here is a practical set of steps you can take right now.
Step 1: Walk your property and look closely. Check your trees for thinning canopies, fungal growths, cracked bark, leaning trunks, hanging dead branches, or clusters of thin shoots. Pay special attention to trees near your house, driveway, fence line, or anywhere your family spends time.
Step 2: Note any changes after recent weather. Did a tree start leaning after the last heavy rain? Has the ground around the base cracked or lifted? Trees that shift after storms are telling you something important.
Step 3: Know your tree species. Use the table above to check if any of the common MidCoast species on your property have known failure patterns. If you are not sure what species you have, an arborist can identify them during an inspection.
Step 4: Book a professional tree risk assessment. A qualified AQF Level 5 arborist can use advanced tools like sonic tomography to detect hidden decay and root damage that you cannot see from the surface.
Step 5: Keep records. Photograph your trees regularly and save any arborist reports. This documentation protects you legally and helps track changes over time.
Protect Your Property Before Storm Season Hits
MidCoast Tree Solutions provides professional tree risk assessments, tree pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, and emergency tree services across the MidCoast region. We service Taree, Forster, Tuncurry, Gloucester, Wingham, and all surrounding areas.
Our qualified arborists understand the unique conditions of the MidCoast landscape and the local regulations that apply to your property. Whether you need a routine check-up or urgent storm damage tree removal, we are here to help.
Ready to find out if your trees are safe? Request a free quote today or call us to speak with a local arborist who knows your area.
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