The National Trust Hunter regional committee is awaiting news of its request, which was lodged before separate court action over the Cooks Hill boulevard.

A 40-day emergency order can be granted under section 136 of the Heritage Act to halt work if a building, work, relic or place is being or about to be harmed.

Committee chairman Keith Parsons said the order was necessary because Newcastle City Council decided to cut down 14 Hills figs without enough consideration for heritage.

‘‘A 40-day emergency order ... would allow council, and the community, some time to consider the heritage implications of the decision,’’ Mr Parsons said.

The committee lodged its claim with Planning Minister Tony Kelly on September 23 and again on October 15.

A Department of Planning spokesman said yesterday that the trees had been identified in an independent heritage survey as being of local significance only.

‘‘The issue is a local heritage matter under the responsibility of Newcastle City Council, not the NSW Government,’’ he said.

Action under section 136 of the Act was intended to provide additional time to determine the heritage significance of items.

But this had already been ascertained via an independent heritage survey, the spokesman said.

Other activists are planning a fund-raising movie night to continue the campaign to keep the Laman Street trees.

Save Our Figs is hosting a screening of The Tree at Greater Union Newcastle cinemas on October 26.