Councillor Claudia Gall doesn’t want to see the trees in Balo Street removed.
Discussions were held with Moree Plains Shire councillors and a public gallery last Thursday.
Councillor Claudia Gall believes the trees should stay.
“We need to look at better maintaining these trees and preserving them, not removing them,” Cr Gall said.
The trees were planted about 15 years ago and line the main street.
They provide shade and according to Cr Gall are coming into their prime.
“We need to seriously think about how this will affect the appearance of the main street.
“It would be better to replace a few cracked pavers than to replace these beautiful trees,” she said.
Cr Gall believed the cracked pavers had been caused from the recent floods and previous droughts.
“There is no evidence that the trees have caused these cracks; there was a great deal of water particularly around the NAB bank that could have been the cause.”
The majority of the public gallery were also in support of keeping the trees.
Cr Gall believes it will be at least six months before the council will agree on what to do with the trees, whether that be replacing them, maintaining them or removing them.
“Considerations have been put forward in regards to trialling a few different trees at the western end of Heber Street; there are lots of issues to be raised and information to be gathered before we can make a final decision.”
Cr Gall said she had recently been in discussions with local garden experts and horticulturalists who are “absolutely passionate” about the streetscape in Moree.
“I have talked to people who agree that the trees should not be removed but instead maintained,”Cr Gall said.
At this stage submissions to council are not required from the public.
