DUBBO'S chief horticulturalists want to keep out trees that will turn costly, bad or just plain ugly.
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They worked on a list of species that will flourish at Dubbo despite drought, heat, power lines and other impediments to growth - and developers are already listening.
The Dubbo City Tree Selection Matrix kept unsuitable lemon-scented gums out of one privately-developed residential area and helped residents choose street trees in Keswick Estate.
Its author this week took the matrix to a Dubbo City Council committee for formal adoption.
Council horticultural services manager Ian McAlister presented numerous benefits the tree assessment tool provided in his report to the works and services committee.
It would aid better decision making, reduce establishment and maintenance costs and remove personal preference as an influence, he said in his report.
The matrix assessed more than 225 species across 12 criteria including drought, hardiness, heat tolerance, longevity, pollution tolerance, wind tolerance, weed potential, potential allergen and more.
The tree that scored best across all criteria for Dubbo was the Italian cypress, which scored 54 out of 60.
Five species, the kurrajong, Rottnest Island pine, cimmaron green ash, urbanite green ash and edgewood pear tied for second with 53 points out of 60.
Not all six may be suited to a particular site within the city, and therefore additional site-specific criteria had been added to help refine the choice, Mr McAlister said.
Site-specific considerations were the presence or absence of overhead power lines, shade tolerance and salinity tolerance.
Dubbo City councillors have provided an initial endorsement of the document after they learnt it was not what Cr John Walkom called "set in bronze".
In answer to their questions director of the division Murray Wood assured councillors it was designed to be flexible and if disease struck a certain species, it could be adjusted.
Melbourne had a big problem because of Dutch Elm Disease and the matrix would ensure Dubbo did not have any similar catastrophes, Mr Wood said.
The tree matrix will be considered at the council's monthly meeting today.