Treebate: Tree Rebate Scheme
Buy and plant a tree on your property and we’ll give you back half of what you paid! That’s a sweet deal.
Please read the following information for the terms and conditions that apply to this scheme before submitting an application via the link below.
NOTE: Only one application per financial year is accepted for each property. No subsequent applications will be eligible within the same financial year.
We’ll rebate you 50% of the purchase price of a tree you plant on your property up to a maximum of $100 per tree.
You may apply for a rebate for up to three (3) trees per residential property, and up to 10 trees for businesses, schools and strata groups.
We’re doing this to encourage our residents, businesses, schools, landlords and strata groups to plant more trees on their properties to help reach our Tree Canopy Target of 25%.
For example, if you buy a tree that cost $80, we’ll give you a $40 rebate - that’s money back into your bank account.
City of Charles Sturt residents**, businesses* and commercial organisations*, schools*, strata groups* and landlords purchasing and planting trees on their property and complying with the terms and conditions of this scheme are eligible to apply for a tree rebate.
Tree planting on properties outside of the City of Charles Sturt are ineligible for this scheme.
*Please ensure you upload a letter of authority on letterhead in your application.
**If you are renting a residential property please ensure you have sought permission from the property owner to plant trees and apply for the rebate. You must provide evidence of this permission in writing and upload this in your application for the Treebate.
- Purchase and plant your tree on your property.
- Take a photo of the receipt, a photo of the plant label and photo of the tree in the ground once it has been planted.
- Complete the Treebate application form and upload your three photos.
Once we’ve approved your application for the tree rebate, we’ll transfer the money into your bank account.
You may apply for a rebate for up to three (3) trees per residential property and up to 10 trees for businesses, schools and strata groups.
We’ll refund you up to 50% of the purchase price of a tree you plant on your property to a maximum rebate of $100 per tree.
Application Frequency
- Applicants are eligible to submit one (1) Treebate application per financial year.
- Multiple separate applications from the same applicant or property in the same financial year will not be accepted.
- Where multiple applications are received, only the first eligible application will be assessed. Any further applications received within that financial year will be declined.
Examples
Non-Compliant Example (Denied):
- Application 1: 1 tree (accepted)
- Application 2: 1 tree (denied)
- Application 3: 1 tree (denied)
Only the first application is processed; later applications are automatically declined.
Compliant Example (Accepted):
- Application 1: 2 trees (within the 3-tree residential limit)
Application accepted. No further applications can be lodged for the same financial year.
Yes. Please read the following information carefully.
Tree Purchase Deadline
The tree(s) must be purchased and paid in full during the eligibility period of 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027 to be eligible for a rebate of 50% of the purchase price to a maximum of $100 per tree.
Submission of Treebate Application Form Deadline
Applications must be submitted no later than 30 June 2027. Applications received after this time are ineligible and will not be considered.
Please ensure your application is complete and you have complied with all the requirements of this rebate scheme.
- Trees must be planted in the ground on private property within the City of Charles Sturt. You are not permitted to plant the tree on the Council verge/nature strip.
- All tree maintenance (watering, trimming, etc) is the responsibility of the property owner.
- Council will not be liable for the growth or performance of the tree at the time of planting or at any time in the future.
- You must agree to a request for us to undertake random follow up inspections by the Council to inspect the tree on the property that received a tree rebate to review the project’s success.
- Photos of the tree only may be used by Council in reports or marketing material for project promotional purposes.
- Your complying tax invoice must show the tree(s) purchase occurred during the eligibility period of 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027.
- Rebates are available for complying applications up until 30 June 2027 or until the rebate scheme funding is exhausted. Applications received after this time are ineligible and will not be considered.
- Council will not be liable to provide a rebate once the scheme funding is exhausted. We will endeavour to provide information on our website when rebate funding has less than $1000 available for applicants.
- If you are the occupant renting the property, by applying for a tree rebate you confirm you have sought and received permission from the property owner to plant trees and apply for the rebate. You must provide evidence of this permission in writing and upload this in your application for the Treebate.
- Program limits apply - applicants may apply for a rebate once per financial year.
- COMPLETE AND COMPLYING APPLICATIONS ARE CONSIDERED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE SUBMITTED. INCOMPLETE AND NON-COMPLYING APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ASSESSED. We will contact you in this instance and may invite you to re-submit with all of the required information. Ineligible applications will be rejected.
- Council reserves the right to vary or amend these conditions at its sole discretion.
We’ll refund you up to 50% of the purchase price of a tree you plant on your property to a maximum rebate of $100 per tree.
You may apply for a rebate for up to three (3) trees per property once per financial year in which the trees were purchased.
Treebate Ready Reckoner – per tree
(remember to calculate the rebate for each tree you have purchased and planted on your property - the table below is a guide only).
Tree Purchase Price – per tree | Rebate available per tree – tree purchased 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027 (inclusive)
|
$20 | 50%/$10 |
$40 | 50%/$20 |
$60 | 50%/$30 |
$80 | 50%/$40 |
$100 | 50%/$50 |
$120 | 50%/$60 |
$140 | 50%/$70 |
$160 | 50%/$80 |
$180 | 50%/$90 |
$200 | 50%/$100 |
Over $200 | Maximum rebate of $100 per tree |
You can purchase your tree from any commercial nursery or retailer, or landscape supplier. Just make sure you can get a receipt showing the details of the purchase.
(Purchases made privately such as through the classifieds, on marketplace or gumtree are not eligible for a rebate in this scheme).
You can choose any kind of tree to plant on your property to be eligible for a rebate*.
To get help in choosing what tree is right for you, we suggest you go to these websites:
We encourage you to refer to Plan SA's Adelaide Garden Guide for New Homes which lists the top 10 most appropriate small, medium and large tree options that can be planted in a small home garden.
Please note that species which are not considered a tree such as shrubs and groundcovers are not eligible for a rebate. If you’re not sure, please check with us BEFORE you purchase the tree.
*If you are required to plant a tree a new tree as part of your development, you are required to comply with your mandatory tree planting planning requirements.*
It is your responsibility to ensure the tree size and species you have planted complies with your planning requirements. Receiving a rebate for your tree purchase should not be considered as confirmation of compliance with your planning requirements.
Tree planting planning requirements
| Site size per dwelling (m2) | Tree size and number required per dwelling |
|---|---|
| >450m2 | 1 small tree |
| 450-800m2 | 1 medium tree or 2 small trees |
| >800m2 | 1 large tree or 2 medium trees or 4 small trees |
Tree size guide
| Tree size | Mature height (min) | Mature spread (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 4m | 2m |
| Medium | 6m | 4m |
| Large | 12m | 8m |
Where the application is for or includes a new dwelling in an area subject to the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay in the Planning and Design Code. Tree(s) must be planted and/or retained in accordance with DTS/DPF 1.1 of the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay in the Planning and Design Code (as at the date of lodgement of the application). New trees must be planted within 12 months of occupation of the dwelling(s) and maintained.
Yes - If you are required to plant a new tree as part of your development, you are eligible to apply for a Treebate.
We encourage residents to refer to Plan SA's Adelaide Garden Guide for New Homes for planting ideas to help make it easy to implement the Planning and Design Code’s mandatory tree and landscaping requirements for new developments.
The guide lists of the top 10 most appropriate small, medium and large tree options that can be planted in a small home garden.
*If you are required to plant a tree a new tree as part of your development, you are required to comply with your mandatory tree planting planning requirements.*
It is your responsibility to ensure the tree size and species you have planted complies with your planning requirements. Receiving a rebate for your tree purchase should not be considered as confirmation of compliance with your planning requirements.
Tree planting planning requirements
| Site size per dwelling (m2) | Tree size and number required per dwelling |
|---|---|
| >450m2 | 1 small tree |
| 450-800m2 | 1 medium tree or 2 small trees |
| >800m2 | 1 large tree or 2 medium trees or 4 small trees |
Tree size guide
| Tree size | Mature height (min) | Mature spread (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 4m | 2m |
| Medium | 6m | 4m |
| Large | 12m | 8m |
Where the application is for or includes a new dwelling in an area subject to the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay in the Planning and Design Code. Tree(s) must be planted and/or retained in accordance with DTS/DPF 1.1 of the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay in the Planning and Design Code (as at the date of lodgement of the application). New trees must be planted within 12 months of occupation of the dwelling(s) and maintained.
Yes. A tax invoice is proof of purchase and is necessary to determine both the price paid for the tree(s) and the date the tree was purchased. The tree(s) must be purchased and paid in full during the eligibility period of 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027.
You must submit a photo, or a PDF of your tax invoice. Please make sure the entire tax invoice is visible. We are unable to accept credit card statements as proof of purchase.
A tax invoice can be a:
- GST tax invoice
- cash register docket
- hand-written document.
The tax invoice must include:
- the words "Tax Invoice"
- the business’s name
- the business’s ABN or ACN
- the product or service
- the date the product or service was supplied
- the price of the product or service.
The tax invoice must indicate the GST amount (if any).
Go to the ATO website for more information.
A non-complying tax invoice will result in your Treebate application being rejected. Council reserves the right to reject an application with a non-complying receipt and this decision is final.
Yes. A photo of the plant label is necessary to determine the plant purchased is a tree. Provide a photo of the label for each tree purchased for which you are applying for a rebate.
Yes. A photo showing the tree planted on your property is necessary to determine the tree planting requirements of the scheme have been achieved. Provide a photo of each tree planted in the ground. for which you are applying for a rebate.
Please allow up to four weeks for your money to be received into your bank account. If you have not received the payment by this time, please contact us on 8408 1111 or council@charlessturt.sa.gov.au
No. To be eligible trees must be planted in the ground on private property in the City of Charles Sturt.
Yes. Please submit a separate application for each property you own where you are planting a tree and seeking the rebate.
Yes. If you are the occupant renting the property, by applying for a tree rebate you confirm you have sought and received permission from the property owner to plant trees and apply for the rebate. You must provide evidence of this permission in writing and upload this in your application for the Treebate.
For this program, a tree is defined as a woody perennial plant with many secondary branches supported some height above the ground by one main stem or trunk.
Please note that species which are not considered a tree such as shrubs and groundcovers are not eligible for a rebate. If you’re not sure, please check with us BEFORE you purchase the tree.
Trees Planted Since 2022
Explore the interactive map below to see the number of trees planted suburb-by-suburb across our City as part of our 'Treebate' program launched in 2022.
More Information
Learn more about our Tree Canopy Improvement Strategy.