However, a council spokesperson yesterday said a request to remove a tree earlier this year had been granted.

Mr Braidotti said it was the third car to suffer damage due to the trees in seven years and he worried next time a person could be seriously hurt.

"We've been applying to take these trees down for a long time," he said. "When is it going to stop, when is council going to come to its senses and let us cut the trees down?"

The businessman said he had sought the advice of an arborist as instructed by the council in previous years but the trees were found to be healthy.

Earlier this year the ironbark trees were struck by lightning, spurring another attempt by the family to have them removed.

A council spokesperson yesterday said the only tree management order record found for the Leisure Coast Fruit Market was for the removal of one tree this year.

Council environment and conservation services manager, Vanni de Luca, said permission was granted and a determination letter sent in April.

The single tree was removed by the family after gaining permission.

Sunday's incident occurred just before 9am, less than 90 seconds after Mr Braidotti said a man and his toddler son were captured on CCTV near the point where Ms Scibilia's car was hit by the branch.

"I was on my way to work, I was driving to get some vegies for work and all of a sudden a tree branch came down, something went bang," Ms Scibilia said.

"I saw some people turn around staring at me and pointing and I put my hand out to signal that I was okay."