Council workers on Friday morning dug up the edges of Auburn St in a number of sections in preparation for the planting of four trees.

A further two more will be planted this week, a council spokesman confirmed.

The excavation and planting is part of a widespread plan by new general manager Warwick Bennett to over-haul the appearance of the city’s CBD.

Mr Bennett believes the city centre looks ‘tired, ‘grey’ and ‘concrete-ridden’.

That won’t always be the case, however.

Councillors last month adopted Mr Bennett’s plan to spruce up the CBD at a cost of $400,000. The endorsed plan includes new paving, the planting of trees, corner gardens, median strip greenery, pergolas, and raised gardens.

Engineering coordinator Robbie Hughes said work was well underway.

“After they are planted we will put in boxing around them and start establishing the concrete kerbs,” Mr Hughes said.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, however.

Council workers in August installed two median strip pot plants – at a cost of $700. Within a week, one of those pots had been emblazoned with graffiti.

Last week, a separate tree was knocked over by a truck backing out of a car park.

The incidents have put to the test an unofficial policy by Mr Bennett to have all damaged trees or plants repaired or replaced with an hour.

“The tree was replaced within 30 minutes by council Parks and Gardens staff,” Mr Hughes said.

The CBD facelift will continue along the eastern side of the main drag – on the block between Clifford and Market Streets.

“We will complete the paving work before the end of November and then we will cease work for the Christmas and New Year period,” Mr Hughes added.

Mr Bennett is confident ratepayers will appreciate the CBD enhancement.

“At the moment, it’s grey and concrete-ridden,” he explained.

“You can’t put a price tag on a nice-looking town. Let’s be really, really proud of our main street.”