The Levee’s civil engineering project manager Greg Blaze said the contractor was preparing structural cells to hold the soil and prevent the roots of the tuckeroo trees from lifting the pavers.

“They won’t be planted until near the end of the project,” he said. “[But] they should provide plenty of shade.”

A nursery at Lake Munmorah is tending to the native trees, which will be three metres tall when planted and could reach up to 10 metres when mature.

Work has turned to the road now that the footpaths are well on their way to completion.

Crews have laid the Italian stone in shifts beneath the awnings in recent weeks.

The footpath on the northern side of the street is about 

two-thirds complete, while work on the southern side is nearly ­finished.

Instalation of a bluestone V-drain is under way to separate the footpath from the road.

It will capture rainwater run off without presenting a barrier to people with mobility issues. 

The footpath outside the post office at the eastern entry to The Levee is also expected to receive some attention.

“Whether work starts there in the next week or so, [but] it’s not too far away,” Mr Blaze said.

A second shift of labourers has been rostered to work from 4pm until midnight in recent weeks to ensure the project is completed on time.

“[The contractor] is still on track for a February completion,” Mr Blaze said.

“We’ve had a few rainy days, but not enough to stop work.”

Maitland City Council hosts a weekly update on The Levee project for residents and business operators each Tuesday from 1pm to 3pm at 396 High Street, Maitland.