Council is convening meetings with CBD business owners on Wednesday, August 7, to gain their feedback about the species of replacement trees or alternative shade options to replace the Ficus Hillii trees, which are set to be removed.

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In a letter sent to CBD business owners, council provided information on a number of suitable tree species that are already a part of the main street landscape for business owners to consider.

These include olive and pecan trees, Celtis Australis, or grape vine arbours. A number of other tree species were also recommended, which are proven to be suitable for Moree's climate and conditions, including the Tuckaroo, Lilly Pilly and Manchurian Pear.

Council's Urban Advisory Committee (UAC) is also set to meet on Wednesday to decide on what tree they will recommend to council as part of the consultation process.

One member of the UAC is local gardening guru Carolyn Osmond, owner of the Fork and Spade Nursery and Daylily Farm.

Mrs Osmond is strongly in favour of replacing the Ficus Hillii with olive trees, "because it continues on from the olives planted in Heber Street and looks as if it's been planned".

"Moree could be known as the town with the olives," she said.

"We know they'll grow here and they won't cause any problems. They've got a good root system and the olives can be picked before they drop."

Mrs Osmond was also a member of the former main street committee when the Ficus Hillii trees were originally chosen for Balo Street during a main street redevelopment.

She said the Ficus Hilli were selected by a shire engineer who wanted them "because they are planted everywhere in Sydney".

"They're planting them everywhere, so obviously they do know a way of combating the root issues," she said.

"So why we can't find that way, I do not know."

Mrs Osmond believes the trees should stay, at least until the drought breaks.

"The town is undergoing the worst drought in living history, so why would you go removing these beautiful trees before the drought breaks? Fair enough, they might have to go in the long-term, but why would you be removing these trees now?" she questioned.

A number of Balo Street business owners know exactly why the trees need to be removed - they've had enough of the problems being caused by the tree roots, which are significantly damaging the underground infrastructure, including drainage.

John Gillan, who owns the NAB building, has spent thousands of dollars on repairs to drainage as a result of damage caused by the tree on the NAB corner.

"The tree is affecting the drainage underneath the building," he said.

"Two years ago we had to dig up the floor in the toilet because we had a busted sewage pipe. We had to repair and replace it.

"The roots have gone at least halfway underneath the building."

Mr Gillan said the footpath out the front of the NAB has been dug up and repaired at least three times since he's owned the building over the past 21 years.

When he had to replace the sewage pipe two years ago, Mr Gillan had asked council if they'd remove the tree out the front of the building.

"At the time they said they'd just prune it," he said.

"They're terrible trees, the roots just get bigger and bigger. They're lovely [to look at] but no good when you've got a building and drainage nearby.

"The sooner they go, the better."

For Mr Gillan and his wife, who are now retired, the income from leasing that building is their main super income, so he doesn't want to have to continually fork out money to pay for repairs to damage caused by the trees.

"It's not any good for us to have a problem that costs thousands of dollars," he said.

"It's a drain on our super fund. We're both retired, so that's the money we live on. It's an unnecessary cost.

"If it happens again, I will take legal action against council, because I did tell them about it. It's affecting us financially."

The tree on the corner of the NAB and the one outside Pitman and Deacon will be the first two trees to be removed under council's tree replacement program. These will be removed in the first quarter of the current 2019-2020 financial year.

A further two trees will be removed this financial year, and then four trees will be replaced every two to three years. It is anticipated that the program will take approximately 16 years to carry out.