A city boulevard could be locked up while Newcastle’s leaders consider whether to spend up to $4.9million dealing with 14 trees believed to pose a public safety risk.
Newcastle City councillors were briefed last night on options for managing trees in Laman Street, Cooks Hill.
The matter has been on the agenda for several months after a council report said 14 figs were failing and should go.
Following several delays, workshops, protests and risk management strategies, 10 options were outlined last night ahead of a report going before the council in August.
Council community planning co-ordinator Ian Rhodes said options ranged from keeping the trees with cables and posts for support, to removing all 14 and planting new species.
Capital costs ranged from $8000 to $4.9million, with recurrent costs of $1000 to $60,000.
Mr Rhodes said the council reviewed risk management strategies now in place, which include banning parking and closing the road when wind speeds of more than 50km/h are forecast.
Indications were that further restrictions were needed to manage the organisation’s duty of care to citizens.
Council infrastructure management services manager John Johnston said this would include installing gates and closing the street at night to stop people parking there after hours. Pedestrian access would be limited.
Mr Johnston said the problem of people ignoring the present restrictions and parking in the street at night had elevated the trees estimated risk ratio from one in 10,000 to one in 400.
This prompted comments of ‘‘balderdash’’ and ‘‘when was the last death?’’ from the public audience.
Protesters outside City Hall last night made their point with placards reading ‘‘Save our figs’’ and ‘‘These trees are living works of art!’’
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