A small avenue of trees in the East Maitland shopping precinct has made way for a $1.07 million streetscape refurbishment but John Van Tol, for one, is not happy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While traders were pleased to see the mature but messy trees go, the East Maitland resident was not.
“I love the East Maitland shopping precinct,” Mr Van Tol said.
“I was horrified when I drove past.”
Shrubs will replace trees that were cut down in the past week.
Trees similar to those that were cut down still stand on the southern side of Lawes Street, east of High Street.
Mr Van Tol said council should be held to account for selection of inappropriate trees last time around.
“Council employs planners when they do projects like this,” he said.
“They’ve put in the trees and now they’ve pulled them up again.”
One of the trees obscured Masquerade Shop Hire entirely.
“I was ecstatic when they cut down the tree. It took up the whole shop front,” business owner Elna Delaney said. “I’ve been reassured the new trees will be smaller.
“Nobody knew we were here.”
Other shop owners were unhappy that a large number of birds would roost in the tree on dusk and create a mess on the footpath.
With the trees cut down council will replace the patchwork footpath with one even surface.
The project is scheduled for completion in August.
“[Council workers] are doing everything they possibly can to minimise the impact on business,” Sweet Moments by Design owner Sue-Ellen Brand said.
“They’ve even maintained pedestrian access throughout it all.”
Water gums to replace bushy mature trees
The second stage of the East Maitland shopping precinct redevelopment is well under way.
“The upgrade involves similar work that was completed in Lawes Street, including drainage, kerb and guttering, new road pavement, footpath upgrades, as well as a general amenity improvement,” Maitland City Council infrastructure construction and maintenance manager Ashley Kavanagh said.
“Work is expected to be completed on the redevelopment in late August 2015.”
Council contributed $590,000 to the project, which includes a new water main.
“The new replacement trees will be in line with council’s Street Tree policy and include the native Tristaniopsis laurina luscious, commonly known as water gum,” Mr Kavanagh said.