WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
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Visitors to Wollongong recently would have noticed that trees in the city have been removed.
Wollongong City Council recently resolved to remove the highly invasive Chinese tallow trees and replace them with native trees.
The removal of about 125 trees across the city is a medium-term project and will occur over several years using existing funds allocated in the council's budget.
The Chinese tallow trees in the Arts Precinct have already been removed and replaced by Illawarra flame trees.
The council's infrastructure and works director Mike Hyde said work would soon start to remove trees in two areas on Market Street, Wollongong.
Trees from Wollongong's Thomas Street car park, MacCabe Park and Corrimal Memorial Park will be removed in the 2015-16 financial year.
"The types of trees that will be used to replace the Chinese tallow tree will depend on the location, and the needs of that particular place," he said.
"We ask the community to bear with us as we work to remove all of these trees in our city and replace them with local native trees."
The council's decision to remove the species comes in light of the Chinese tallow tree being considered a noxious weed in 12 local government areas in northern NSW. The deciduous trees can grow up to 12 metres tall, and each year produce large volumes of seeds that spread easily.