A ‘‘total exclusion zone’’ is now in place around the controversial fig trees.

Newcastle City Council liveable city director Frank Cordingley said the measures were put in place about 1pm when winds were measured in excess of 50 kilometres an hour.

Hear the story with Frank Cordingley and a local on site by clicking below

At the same time, staff members detected smoke in the art gallery, and several NSW Fire Brigade crews arrived in the street to investigate.

This is the first time the extreme risk mitigation measures have been enforced, and patrons and pedestrians expressed their frustration in Laman Street after having been evacuated or denied entry.

The measures have been insisted upon by the council’s insurer, Statewide Mutual.

Statewide had said it would withdraw insurance coverage on August 31, but later agreed to extend that coverage until the end of October on the basis that the council was investigating a ‘‘third-party determination’’ of its risk assessments.