They have been maturing into large specimens for the past 20 years, giving much-needed shade to vehicles at the popular public facility off Keppel Street. However, their days now appear to be numbered.

Although the trees are in good health, it turns out they’re now not suited to that type of location with their invasive roots damaging the sealed road pavement and ripping gutters apart.

After receiving several complaints from users of the library about the problem, Bathurst Regional Council has now decided it’s time to act.

A report to tomorrow night’s ordinary monthly meeting for February details the saga of the paulownia trees.

It recommends the trees be removed from the car park ahead of the restoration of the road pavement and concrete kerbing around the traffic islands.

There are also plans to upgrade all garden bed areas, incorporating new shade tree plantings, associated shrubs and ground covers.

Should council go ahead with the makeover, there are sufficient funds in the 2015/2016 Management Plan for the works to proceed. 

According to the report, the trees have been providing much-needed shade and amenity within the car park over the last 20 years and there has been a reluctance to have them removed due to the benefits that they have been providing.

“Unfortunately the time has come for action to be taken due to the damage that has been caused by the trees, as it has now reached a stage whereby the damage is causing a major liability risk for users of the car park,” the report states.

“Although the trees in question are in good health, the damage is occurring both beneath and on ground level because of the spread of the root system within such a limited area available.

“This situation is a classic example of the wrong tree for the specific location, which has been made worse due to no root barrier treatment being installed at the time of their planting.”

The report also notes the paulownia trees have not yet reached maturity.

Planned work includes removing the trees and straggly ground cover plantings; redeveloping/enlarging the existing garden bed area to provide more room to incorporate tree and shrub plantings; and planting new trees and vegetation, including deciduous shade tree species for each of the six garden bed islands.

There would also be additional planting of four deciduous trees within the centre of the car park site to provide further shade to vehicles; and the installation of an automatic irrigation system to all garden bed islands and individual tree plantings.

The cost to repair the road pavement and kerbing at the Bathurst Library car park is estimated to be in the vicinity of $9500.