ROCKDALE Council has defended a decision to remove five trees from outside Rockdale Town Hall and its administration building.
Residents have asked why the trees needed to be removed.
Maria Gray-Spence, of Rockdale, said the decision to remove the trees was sad.
"These trees are very beautiful and should be valued and protected, not vandalised. They are the best thing about Rockdale Civic Centre," she said.
"Apparently, the tree already removed in Bryant Street had damaged the footpath. Why not repair the path?"
A council spokesman said two Chinese elms, two plane trees and a camphor laurel tree would be removed.
"There are two Chinese elms on the Bryant Street boundary of the town hall building. The larger of the trees has extensive wounds from vehicle damage and the canopy is not balanced because of continuous pruning of the larger limbs," he said.
"The smaller tree has suppressed growth because of the neighbouring tree and cannot grow to its natural form."
He said both would be replaced with small, more suitable trees.
"The plane tree on Bryant Street near the town hall south-east corner is causing extensive damage to the paved pedestrian area and adjacent infrastructure," he said.
"Many people use this footpath area to gain access to the council administration building as well as Rockdale shopping centre.
"This tree will be removed and the footpath area levelled as it is a clear public risk."
A camphor laurel tree next to the building will also be removed because it poses a risk with falling branches.
That is in addition to the removal of a second plane tree on the eastern side of the building which has come under stress because of repeated pruning.
Stay or go...what do you think the council should have done re the trees?