A spokeswoman for Mr O’Farrell said yesterday he had not altered his position in relation to Newcastle City Council’s handling of the figs.

The Premier has previously undertaken to provide a state government arborist if the council asks for one, to provide an independent assessment of the trees.

Council general manager Phil Pearce has to date ruled out taking up the offer.

Save Our Figs spokeswoman Fee Mozeley said the group would prefer council to resolve the issue outside court.

‘‘Save Our Figs is just as frustrated as the rest of the community at the unnecessary expenses,’’ she said.

‘‘Clearly council is in need of state assistance and hopefully they have the good sense to take up the offer.

‘‘It’s a bit like primary school really, one of them [Mr O’Farrell or Mr Pearce] needs to make the phone call and sort this out.’’

More than 600 Newcastle Herald readers responded to the call for state government intervention.

Asked online whether the state should step in, 626 readers had said ‘‘yes’’ by 7 o’clock last night.

Business leaders including Newcastle Alliance chairman Paul Murphy, NIB managing director Mark Fitzgibbon and developer Jeff McCloy have also voiced their opinions.

They said they feared the figs saga had cost the city business, distracted the council from other work and had damaged Newcastle’s reputation.

Mr Murphy said he had been talking to Newcastle state MP Tim Owen about the possibility of bringing forward local government elections so the Newcastle community would not be ‘‘held to ransom’’.

Ms Mozeley said Save Our Figs appreciated the support of local business leaders and believed the council had underestimated the people of Newcastle.

The matter is due to go before the Land and Environment Court on Monday, after the Save Our Figs group took the council to court.

A council undertaking not to resume the removal of the trees remains in place until 10.30am on Tuesday.