The figure is contained in a report by Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s operations director Matt O’Rourke to the July 18 council meeting.

“The cost to retrofit trees in roundabouts where the central island is landscaped is in the order $6,000-$8,000,” the report states.

“The cost to retrofit trees at existing roundabouts where the central median is concrete is in the order of $15,000-$20,000.”

As such, roundabouts with concrete central islands have been excluded from further consideration. 

It also notes there is no current budget allocation for the work to be carried out. 

The report has been tabled following a recommendation from the May 2 council meeting. 

The report states the installation of trees in roundabouts is to be considered for local roads only that must have a minimum internal central island diameter of 7m. 

“Approved and advanced tree species can only be installed with a minimum tree canopy clearance of 2.7m. The trees will be Installed in sites where the existing central island is already landscaped and that drip irrigation be installed,” the report said. 

It also states trial tree planting for the 2018/19 financial year will occur at roundabouts at Bourke and Clifford St, Bourke and Bradley St, Victoria and Kinghorne St, Park Rd and Forbes St and Hurst and Citizen Streets.

The types of trees that could be planted include:  Green Vase, Todd, October Glory or Fairview Flame, Greenspire and Gallipoli Oaks. 

At the May 2 council meeting, Cr Kirk, in proposing the idea, said he had received “considerable feedback” from the community that they were having difficulty seeing past the shrubs when using the roundabouts. Moreover, there was “considerable support” to replace them with lower lying ones.

The report will also be presented to the next Traffic Committee meeting.