And the same goes for the other trees that dot that landscape, including the exotic robinia mop tops outside the Haymarket Reserve and crepe myrtles along that avenue.

They are all set to get the axe as Bathurst Regional Council reconsiders its policy on what varieties are best suited to that busy highway gateway location bounded by Stewart and Bentinck streets.

Replacement varieties being recommended include autumn red maples and ornamental pistachios.

They are considered less invasive than the plane trees and in keeping with the city’s autumn colours theme.

A report to be tabled at tonight’s ordinary monthly meeting of council outlines the saga that led to the tabling of this all-new street tree planting program.

This includes one London plane tree outside the car yard at the intersection of Rankin and Durham streets that has caused damage to both the road pavement and footpath. It has been the subject of numerous council reports after an application was received to have it removed.

Council says installing root barriers to prevent the trees causing further damage is not practical because this work is ideally done at the time of planting.

According to the report, various reasons were provided for the proposed removal of the London plane tree adjacent to 113 Durham Street as well as the remaining London plane trees along Durham Street.

The main reason is that the trees have outgrown the limited space available and are now damaging surrounding infrastructure, including the adjacent footpath, kerb and gutter, road pavement and areas within private property.

“Although not anywhere near reaching its potential height and spread, the existing trunk diameter of the trees have already taken up the available space within the verges’ very narrow planting corridor,” the report states.

“The immediate safety concern for users of the verge footpath area adjacent to 113 Durham Street has been temporarily resolved by the removal of a section of concrete footpath immediately adjacent to the tree and the installation of an asphalt strip.

“However, this work remains temporary in nature and ongoing damage to the surrounding infrastructure will continue to occur as the tree grows towards maturity.

“Unfortunately, given the extremely small amount of growing space that exists within this verge and the extent of services and hard works surrounding the small planting strip, the fact remains that the London plane species has been a poor choice for planting.”

Council’s engineering and horticultural staff recommend all the London plane trees within Durham Street, between Bentinck and George, be removed, the report says.