It's a fraction of the 3,100 trees which Endeavour had sought to remove under the plan, which targeted trees growing near power lines. Endeavour said removal was better than annual pruning and maintenance, to keep the lines safe.

Wollongong City Council approved the removal of 1,300 of these, without public consultation or debate.

Tree removal started in June in central and southern suburbs. On Friday Endeavour said it stopped - at 272.

A company spokeswoman said consultation had taken place with council officers, and residents got seven days' warning to opt out.

"As an outcome of a business decision by Endeavour the program has been put on hold," she said.

"WCC owns the trees. So there was extensive consultation and engagement with council officers over a number of months. WCC approved the removal of 1,300 trees. This was never a target."

The Mercury asked Wollongong City Council why the public was not consulted about the plan. A spokeswoman said that was up to Endeavour.

"Under the terms of the agreement, Endeavour are responsible for notifying the public of work being undertaken," she said.

"Council are advised that affected residents were provided seven-day written notification, and were given an opt-out clause."

Endeavour said eight per cent of residents notified had chosen to opt out, so their trees had been saved.

"There were less than 10 complaints and when they were provided with a replacement tree in an alternate site this resolved the matter," its spokeswoman said.

"We [have] engaged Greening Australia to plant substantially more new trees in the right locations to provide a lasting environmental legacy for the Wollongong community. This offset involves planting substantially more new trees in better locations away from powerlines on either public land or, if residents choose, within their property."

The council now needs more information before tree removals can continue.

"Council will meet with Endeavour representatives to better understand the status of the program before further removals already consented occur," the council spokeswoman said.