The Standard revealed on Saturday the Moreton Bay fig trees would be removed from the Raglan Parade/Banyan Street intersection later this month.

The Warrnambool City Council said the trees needed to go to improve the visual appearance of the avenue, improve traffic sight lines, and allow for footpath replacement and landscaping works at the intersection.

Readers were furious with the decision, and took to The Standard’s Facebook page to voice their disgust.

Scarlett Patrick has started a change.org petition to save the trees.

She said the council should have had appropriate consultation with the community before action was taken.

“People are talking about this and there is talk of a sit-in,” she said.

“If there is a conflict between the underground services and the trees, why do the trees lose out?”

She said the trees were valued at more than $1 million in the ground, according to the Bendigo City Council’s tree value formula, and had “incalculable value to the community and the environment”. 

“These Heritage-listed fig trees are beautiful (once they've recovered from the horrible prune they were subjected to recently),” she wrote on the petition page.

“It seems to me yet again like a decision at the expense of our tree assets. It doesn’t make sense financially. Why do our trees keep getting trashed and destroyed? It seems to be more of a mindset that if trees are going to cost money they should be removed instead of a strategic decision making process.”

To sign the petition visit change.org and search for ‘Save Warrnambool's Raglan Parade Moreton Bay Figs’ or click here.

Warrnambool City Council has been contacted for comment.