Plane trees will blind a weary council: 25 established trees to be removed from town’s CBD

After months of community debate, groundwork and advisory group meetings, 25 of Hamilton’s polarising London Plane Trees will be removed in the first stage of the town’s CBD redevelopment project.

❓ What happened: At last night’s council meeting, Southern Grampians Shire councillors voted 5-1 to adopt the Hamilton CBD Streetscape Project Advisory Group’s recommendation to remove and replace the plane trees along Gray Street.

⏪ How did we get here? The future of the 30-year-old trees has divided the community. 

Some residents have argued the trees pose major hazards, while others have said removing them would be a loss for the town centre, impacting shade and aesthetics.

• In the 24 months to April, council investigations recorded 48 incidents linked to the trees causing falls or trips on footpaths. 

• “Some of the more serious incidents have resulted in community members requiring further medical attention,” the council said. 

• Local businesses also reported “significant damage,” including foundation shifts, cracked windows, and damaged underground water pipes. 

• A petition to save the trees attracted 538 signatures, highlighting the CBD’s “rich canopy that has taken three decades to form” and its environmental and aesthetic benefits, including oxygen production, biodiversity support, flood alleviation, and tourism appeal.

👥 Que the advisory group: In April, councillors delayed adoption of new CBD design plans until a “happy medium” could be found regarding the trees. 

• In August, the Hamilton CBD Streetscape Project Advisory Group was formed, comprising local business owners and community members from both sides of the debate. 

• A tree audit commissioned for Stage 1 found all 25 trees caused significant damage, with impact scores of 15 to 33 out of 39, showing even the least problematic trees posed substantial infrastructure risks. 

• The advisory group was tasked with reviewing the audit and making a recommendation.

🌳 Preaching to the converted: Sarah Hope, the petition creator and advisory group member, said in a statement she “had to concede some tree removal is inevitable due to the extensive damage to infrastructure”. 

She added that she will advocate for replacement trees to be a hardy, deciduous species. 

“This is a fair compromise for all those passionate about saving the London Planes compared with those who want them gone,” she said.

🤷‍♀️ Now what? An updated concept design will now be developed by consultancy GSA, incorporating the advisory group’s recommendations and subject to community consultation in 2026. 

Councillor Afton Barber said the audit would provide a “clear pattern” for later project stages. 

“We’re able to rate trees from which ones are going to be causing the worst things down the line,” he said.