A good question Wal and one I suspect has no regulatory control. Maybe try your States Dept of Local Govt and ask if councils and shires are required to prune trees in public areas which are a danger to people or vehicles. I suspect if they are on the nature strip at the front of someones private property, then the property owner is responsible - just like keeping it mowed or clean of long grass and weeds etc.

We bought a property in an existing area with a few blocks still up for private sale. The developers had planted gum trees on the nature strip and the one outside ours is about 8 metres tall (and throws leaves everywhere).

After the house was built the council then hit us with the fact the concrete footpath was damaged (cracked) and the slaps were uneven and we were required to fix it (they said they would do it for $1700 - we got a couple of private quotes for less than $800 to the same council requirement). But when I spoke to the original neighbours (you know, the retired noisy ones lol) we found out the footpath had been cracked for years as the tree roots had grown with the tree. We confronted the council and about a week later they sent out a guy in a truck with the concrete grinder who smoothed down the various levels and then patched up the cracks. They also wrote and said they would examine the tree roots and if necessary, cut them out - still waiting......

In SA the local council owns & controls/manages the trees on the verge. This is my local council: services.teatreegully.sa.gov.au/Services_Types/Select_an_option/Trees/A_tree_on_Council_property

There is a very substantial fine for cutting/removing them yourself. That blows out massively if its a tree of significance as defined in the development act.www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch31s07.php

This is what I found for Brisbane.

https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment-waste/natural-environment/plants-trees-gardens/brisbanes-trees/street-trees

I know that there are significant fines for removing street trees.  A neighbor was fined $1500 for removing 3 of those terrible Cocus Palms.  It seems another neighbor dobbed them in, in a tit for tat response to them being reported for an illegal gutter crossing.  Just life in the 'burbs I suppose.

Edit ...........................

extract ...

Street tree maintenance

Council's tree management program includes schedules of street tree establishment and maintenance and a 24 hour responsive service for urgent work. Requests for street tree maintenance can be made by phoning Council on 07 3403 8888. If the street tree is growing through, or within one metre of power lines, you can report an overgrown tree to Energex.

Street and park trees are valuable Council and community assets and are protected under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL). Other than minor street tree pruning permits, it is an offence to prune, remove or interfere with Council trees above and below the ground without Council's permission.

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 9th of December 2016 09:51:33 AM

Thank you all for your responses.

From the content of some of your responses and my research, it would seem that in South Australia,the only common thread is safety. There are some reference to power lines and tree heights.Generally there are regulated minimum clearance heights for power and telco services and signs or structures above the centre of the road. These are, depending on the service, usually a minimum of 5 mtrs and nation wide. The maximum height of a vehicle without the need for a special permit is 4.6 mtrs, and again I believe nation wide.

I will contact my local council and see what eventuates. The nature strip trees are pretty much out of control in the area, with the garbage trucks wearing floral emblems and van type delivery vehicles clipping the foliage.

Thanks

Wal