Moyne Shire councillors have voted to remove the Monterey Cypress trees that make up the avenue and replace them with spotted gums. 

This comes after 21 of the trees were hit by Cypress Canker disease. Council want all 191 trees in the avenue to eventually be replaced by spotted gums. 

Council will engage an aborist to prepare a detailed report concerning the replacement, with this report to form part of an application to Heritage Victoria for a permit to go ahead with the works.

Heritage Victoria and the Mortlake RSL had both favoured replacing the Monterey Cypress trees with more Monterey Cypress trees.  

Council officers had also favoured this option before putting up an alternative motion which included the spotted gums. 

In February, council surveyed the Mortlake community, asking which trees it felt should be planted as replacements for the dying ones.

Spotted gums came in at the top of the list with 38.4 per cent with Monterey Cypress at 14 per cent.

Cr Daniel Meade said the spotted gums were a long-sighted option.

Cr Colin Ryan said it made little sense to take out diseased Monterey Cypress trees and replace them with the same variety.

"What we plant next will be for the next generation and not just a short-term fix," Cr Ryan said.

Cr Ian Smith was the lone voice against the motion.

The Avenue of Honour is a tribute to soldiers who served, with the first tree planted in 1919.