Debate over whether to remove London plane trees in Hamilton, Victoria

Australia Broadcast Center

23-04-2025

London plane trees provide shade and colour in many Australian urban centres, but they have come under fire in recent years due to potential health impacts and the damage their roots can cause to infrastructure.
The south-west Victorian town of Hamilton, which has a population of 10,000, is deciding whether to keep its 100 or so plane trees and deal with the impact or use an upcoming CBD makeover to remove them and endure the loss of shade until replacements can grow.
In the past, Helen says she has tripped on Hamilton's footpaths.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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Plane trees are attractive to some, but for people such as Helen, who did not want to provide her surname, they are a danger.
She tripped and fell on a footpath damaged by plane tree roots.
The roots are damaging the town's infrastructure.
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Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire Council
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"I prefer not to come into town if I can help it," Helen said.
"It's very uneven — [I have to be] alert of where I'm walking."
The Southern Grampians Shire office building in Hamilton is shaded by 40-year-old London plane trees.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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In April a Southern Grampians Shire Council meeting heard older people with mobility issues said they avoided the Hamilton CBD in wet weather and during the autumn because the leaves could make the footpath slippery.
The council has investigated 48 falls or trips involving plane trees over the last two years.
Kevin Quinn wants the London plane trees removed and replaced.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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'Magnificent' but 'major concern'
Kevin Quinn, who owns three premises in Hamilton's main street, says plane trees have damaged the footpath to a dangerous degree.
"It's got to the stage where it's ongoing, people tripping, having problems walking up and down the street," he said.
"I love the trees — the trees are magnificent, they're beautiful, but unfortunately the footpaths are the major concern."

Mr Quinn conducted surveyed business owners and managers along Grey Street and presented the findings to the council at the April meeting.
"There was overwhelming support that something had to be done about the footpaths and probably the only way we could see how was the removal and replacement of the trees," he said.
"Recently the jewellery store pulled the floor up during a reno and underneath the floor was a tree root as thick as your arm all the way through to the back of the end of the building.
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We can't stick our head in the sand any longer — it needs to be addressed.
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A council officer's report tabled at the April meeting noted roots had started to undermine buildings, block pipes and clog toilets.
Southern Grampians Shire Council has documented damage to a building on Gray street caused by plane tree roots.
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Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire Council
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Hundreds support saving trees
Sarah Hope, who lives with her family on a farm just outside Hamilton, has drawn the support of five former Southern Grampians mayors in her campaign to save the trees.
"I could quite possibly put myself between a tree and a bulldozer," she said.
"I know they cause issues, but we absolutely love the beauty of them.
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By removing the trees you're going to take the heart out of Hamilton.
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Sarah Hope is pushing to save the trees from removal.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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Ms Hope started a petition that has attracted about 450 signatures and has sought legal advice.
At the council's March meeting she expressed her worry about the loss of beauty in the town and how it might affect tourism.
"As it stands many of the shopfronts sorely require maintenance and removing the trees will not only eliminate Hamilton's unique ambience, but leave a street like a mouthful of broken teeth," she said.
The trees provide essential shade in the hot summer months.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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Ms Hope was also worried about the loss of shade and said the plane trees made a significant difference to the temperature.
"When you live on a farm and it's hot and dry and you've got day after day after day of hot temperatures, you can head into town," she said.
Ms Hope says the trees add character to the town.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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Search for 'happy medium'
Many cities and towns are grappling with the plane tree problem, including in Sydney, where they are being
Plane trees are still present in Bendigo but the council has banned their planting in urban settings.
The City of Melbourne says plane trees are "over-represented in the central city, making up 63 per cent of all trees" and plans to reduce that figure to less than 20 per cent.
According to Southern Grampians Shire Council the damage caused by plane trees is costing $270,000 in maintenance each year.
London plane flowers release pollen, but the trichomes on their leaves are a more common irritant.
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ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland
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Almost $1.35 million has been spent in the last five years and council staff have estimated that maintenance costs could increase by 25 per cent as the trees grow.
The council has commissioned several arborist reports and has excavated small sections of the main street to look at the roots.
In February the council released a draft concept plan for the new streetscape that less invasive species in place of the plane trees.
Southern Grampians Shire Mayor Dennis Heslin says the council is trying to find the middle ground.
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Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire
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At the Southern Grampians council meeting in April council officers submitted a lengthy report recommending the draft concept plan for Hamilton's CBD revitalisation be approved, but council voted to delay the decision and search for a compromise.
"We will go back to the architect and we want to see a design that shows an option that includes the retention of the trees," Mayor Dennis Heslin said.
"We'll identify those problematic trees both in terms of their disruption to building and disruption to footpath and roads.
"It's not the hokey-pokey, half in, half out," he said.
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It's trying to find a happy medium.
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