Gerroa residents are incensed by Shoalhaven City Council's decision - in a confidential meeting - to chop down the iconic "Bum Tree" along with many other large gums on Gerroa Road near Berry.
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The move was proposed to make the corner safer - it has been the scene of several accidents - and involves clearing six metres of all trees at the site.
This would mean the end of the well-known Bum Tree, which has growths protruding from its trunk in the shape of two buttocks, and on which some local wit has for many years painted the word "BUM" and an arrow.
Gerroa Environmental Protection Society president Warren Holder said the Bum Tree, a type of eucalypt called a blackbutt, is one of many that are important habitat for local wildlife, including sugar gliders.
They have now been invited by the council for a consultation meeting this afternoon to find out more about the decision, and to discuss options for using "part of the tree in an alternative form".
But today residents will hold a protest at the site.
The thought of a "bumectomy" has some locals horrified.
Mr Holder said it was "ridiculous" to invite residents for consultation on what to do with pieces of the tree once felled.
"I'm outraged," he said.
"What am I going to do with the Bum Tree?
"What are they going to do - put it in someone's pool room?"
Mr Holder said a better way to make the road safer would be to lower the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h in that area.
He said other traffic calming devices could help slow drivers down, and clearing the area could mean more kangaroos and wallabies grazing, posing a risk to motorists.
The council minutes show the public and press were excluded from part of the January 28 meeting - where the decision was made - because it would contain commercial information about the tender.
But the meeting was later told the contract was awarded to Nowra company A&D Tree Services at a quoted cost of $164,099.
An earlier motion to delay the tree removal for a month to allow public consultation was defeated, with Mayor Joanna Gash casting the decisive vote against it.
On Friday, the Mercury left phone messages and sent emails to Shoalhaven City Council asking for an explanation of why the meeting was confidential, and why the consultation was held after the decision was made, but did not receive a response.
Cr Gash has previously said that the road safety issue was a bigger priority than saving the trees.
"Obviously the No 1 focus of this project is on improving the safety of this road; however council is willing to investigate options, in consultation with community groups, for using part of the tree in an alternative form," she said late last month.
The project is programmed for completion by June 30 and is fully funded by the Nation Building Black Spot Program administered by Roads and Maritime Services.
