Nine large plane trees and two white cedar trees will have to be removed to make way for Orange's proposed new mall in Anson Street.
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But Orange City Council says they will be replaced by more suitable species initially between three and five metres high.
Trees were a key issue at public forums last week providing information about the planned Future City revamp of the CBD.
We've got incredibly bad fractures in the footpath.
- Cr Reg Kidd, Orange mayor
Council is proposing a 40m section of the current road between Kite and Summer streets would be paved to create a raised pedestrian platform with bollards at each end to separate pedestrians and traffic.
That would create space for outdoor dining, street furniture, self-sustaining rain gardens and storm water reuse options.
Council is set to vote on the tree removal at its December 15 meeting.
Work on the mall project is set to start in the second quarter of 2021.
Council staff told the forums the roots of the existing trees were damaging the footpaths and buildings and affecting the storm water system.
They said they were creating trip hazards and even leading to shops flooding.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said council staff had looked at options to retain the trees.
"We've got incredibly bad fractures in the footpath," he said.
He said the trees had been planted about 1946 and were only one one side of the street.
However, under the mall plan there would be trees on both sides of the road.
"If we were only looking at the problem through the lens of beautiful old trees then the answer would be retain them. But when you add in all the limitations around safety, access and ongoing damage then it shifts the assessment," he said.
"We could keep the trees and put in a new footpath and it would be great but at some point we would be back there ripping it up and replacing it when the tree roots do what they do.
"The trees are in the wrong place and are planted into heavy clay in the road that prevent the tree roots growing down. This is why the root balls are so huge."
Council has also been told by local businesses leaves from the plane trees created footpath slip hazards and blocked gutters in shop awnings.
The replacement tree species have yet to be chosen. However, they will be planted in 2m-deep tree-pit root cells, an underground 'milk-crate-like' container used to prevent tree roots damaging surrounding infrastructure.
Nose-in parking is also set to be introduced in the street. It is expected that will create extra parking spaces including four disabled parking spaces. The next community forum is to be held on Tuesday December 8.
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