Woodward Street sees new trees to replace drought victims

Ornamental pear trees are replacing a line of Silver Birch trees in the median strip as part of council's removal of water-intensive vegetation.

Orange City Council communications officer Allan Reeder said the new trees were similar to those planted along Molong Road near the intersection with The Escort Way.

"These trees have a tall, narrow shape that will suit the middle-of-the-road location," he said.

He said council was also removing the low buxus hedge in the median.

Mr Reeder said it was "also showing signs of suffering greatly" from the drought.

He said the Silver Birchs were removed in late June.

"The trees were removed because many have already died and others were under stress due to the drought," he said.

"It's the usual routine to let the soil resettle and get rehydrated before replanting will happen."

Drought conditions have eased considerably in Orange over winter with extensive rain falling.

It has led to dams filling up and water restrictions being eased from Level 5 to Level 3 as of Monday.

The combined storage capacity of Orange dams passed 50 per cent on Monday.