Workers from Newcastle Council will be firing up their chainsaws today in Cooks Hill.
Fig trees in Swan Street, Cooks Hill, are on the chopping block with 11 of the 24 getting the chop this week.
Interim General Manager Jeremy Bath said the council's hand has been forced on the issue with council's insurer threatening to revoke its public liability insurance across the city if the trees weren't removed.
"Consequently council's insurer has come to the conclusion that it is no longer willing to offer council public liability insurance unless we do something about the figs. Now we've looked at what we can do and unfortunately all that can be done in terms of making the street safe is to remove them so that's what council will be doing over the next three days," said Jeremy Bath.
The trees will eventually be replaced with less invasive species.
"I'm very happy to say that the residents have made the decision to continue with trees on their street and in time there will be a very beautiful tree canopy once again in Swan Street Cooks Hill, just one that will be far more appropriate size and design so the roots aren't causing enormous damage to the properties as well as failing with increasing regularity," said Jeremy Bath.
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| Image saveourfigs.wordpress.com |
