The 30-year plan was constructed by expert landscape designers in consultation with a local group of community members.

The proposal covers five key areas of town image and pride, heritage, safety, range of functions and sustainability.

Mildura Rural City councillors were told at their last regular monthly meeting that over the course of the plan, all of the existing sugar gums would be progressively removed and replaced following the recent completion of tree pruning.

The sugar gums were planted by the Chaffey brothers in the 1800s, however, time and previous lopping has left many of them in poor condition.

Under questioning from Cr Max Thorburn, community and culture general manager Martin Hawson said an external Melbourne-based arborist indicated the life expectancy of a sugar gum as a street tree was about 50 to 80 years.

Mr Hawson said it was estimated that 90 sugar gum trees would be replanted in the section between Seventh to Eleventh Streets to provide a continuous avenue of sugar gums unlike the existing avenue which was not uniform, continuous or consistently spaced.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 5/11/2009.