The Camphor Laurel tree at Lavenders Riverside Cafe is set to come down, taking with it shade protection and much of the cafe’s ambience.

Maitland Council approved the removal after an assessment was made by tree service company Assurance Trees.

“The tree is very large and is causing significant maintenance issues due to leaf litter and associated water damage,” a council spokesperson said. “It is also considered likely that the tree is causing structural damage to the adjacent building.”

But Lavenders owner Stephanie Purdon, who rents the space, has reservations about the assessment and has sought legal advice.

Starr Partners manages the property. Commercial property manager Tony Compton declined to comment on the behalf of the owners when approached by The Mercury. 

Ms Purdon said the removal of the tree would seriously jeopardise her business.

“If I lose that tree I’ll be losing a lot of business,” she said. “My livelihood is going to be chopped in half.”

Ms Purdon said the removal would also require her business to be closed for several days – at a loss of thousands of dollars.

And if she were to install shade cloths, Ms Purdon said that would come with a price tag of at least $35,000, which she cannot afford.

Ms Purdon said she was most frustrated over the lack of consultation about the tree removal. She said she was not told exactly when it would happen, just that she would be given seven days notice.

“Nobody will talk to me,” she said. “As a tenant, I’ve been kept out of the loop.

“At least listen to me, then if they had decided to do it I wouldn’t be so angry.”

Ms Purdon said the tree was a huge drawcard for buying the business six years ago. “I fell in love with that tree,” she said. “It’s really sad.”

While Camphor Laurels are considered a noxious weed in some parts of NSW, they are not included on Maitland Council’s noxious weed list.

The matter has left both Ms Purdon and her staff very concerned about their future.

“Their jobs are on the line,” she said. “It’s starting to take its toll on me stress-wise.”

The Mercury understands the property owners were considering using the tree trunk to create a piece of art. 

The council spokesperson said while the art concept fell outside the approval process, it was “seen as a positive outcome for the site and the broader revitalisation works that are occurring in Central Maitland”.

Ms Purdon did not agree and said she would consider taking her business elsewhere after the tree was removed.