NEWCASTLE ratepayers paid more than $85,000 in the past five years for tree-related property damage in Cooks Hill, while the city's insurer paid about $50,000.
The cost has emerged as Newcastle City Council considers how to manage 14 ageing figs in Laman Street.
A council memo said the organisation's insurance policy had a $12,500 excess.
Two tree-related claims, lodged between 2005 and 2010, cost the council $25,000, while the insurer paid the remaining $50,395.88.
City Hall paid other claims of less than $12,500 for building damage, driveways and landscaping, sewer blockages and replacements, stormwater blockages and utilities.
These amounted to $61,269.08.
Cr Aaron Buman, who requested the information and owns a Cooks Hill property, said people were upset that trees constantly damaged their houses.
While the council's bill was less than expected, the amount was close to the $70,000 spent recently on a workshop about the Laman Street figs, he said.
The council is considering what to do with the 14 trees after receiving advice they posed a public safety risk.
Community members who want the figs to stay organised petitions.
Fig Jam Society is doing letterbox drops asking Novocastrians to rally to save the figs.
Society chairman Robert Bignell said the group was seeking legal advice to contest claims that the figs should go.
"The trees are perfectly sound," he said.
Mr Bignell said of allegations that damage costs might be a reason to remove the trees: "I suppose we wouldn't have them in any street if that were the case."
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