Arthur Durrant the Acting Urban Forest Supervisor has stated he will replace the Plane trees with Tulip trees which should not be planted near pedestrians, buildings, parking or traffic. 
See my email to him below. He must cease and desist!
I would appreciate your assistance by copy and pasting my email to council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au and cc in Felicity Wilson at ElectorateOffice.NorthShore@parliament.nsw.gov.au and cc in LGL@ombo.nsw.gov.au and cc in mayor@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

And feel free to cc in any others you feel would help our cause which is to stop this Council from literally intentionally endangering us!

Dear Mr Durrant
 
Re. Your plan to continue to plant tulip trees 1. next to buildings 2. high volume pedestrian walkways 3. parking and 4. traffic goes against Dendrology and Arboriculture which state they are a safety risk among other things.
You are sadly going down the same path as those before who ignorantly planted Plane trees with no consideration for the environment below but  to their defence they had limited access to information and no access to the more recent studies that you do!
Below is all the latest information you need to know about where and where NOT to plant the Tulip trees. You will need to remove the recently planted Tulip trees on Military Rd which will pose multiple safety risks which will be increased due to the frequent high winds in Neutral Bay which has recently resulted in another species that was poorly maintained/unpruned on Bydown Street snapping several branches and taking out the power to over 100 homes fortunately no school children were killed on their way to Neutral Bay Public School which is on Bydown St. 
 
1. Dendrology and urban forestry analysis advise that 
tulip trees(Liriodendron tulipifera) are poor choices for small pedestrian walkways due to their immense size, shallow root systems, and significant debris drop. While they are magnificent, fast-growing trees, they are better suited for large, naturalized areas, parks, or spacious parkways rather than narrow sidewalks where they often create infrastructure damage and safety hazards.   
Key Dendrological and Arboricultural Considerations:
Root Systems and Infrastructure Damage: Tulip trees have extensive, horizontal root systems that grow near the soil surface (top 12 inches) in their quest for moisture and oxygen. When planted in narrow, compacted planting strips, these roots can rapidly cause severe sidewalk buckling and damage underground infrastructure.
Messy Habit and Public Safety: The tree sheds debris that creates a messy and potentially slippery environment. This includes sticky, nectar-filled flowers after spring blooming and massive foliage in the fall.
Sticky Debris ("Aphid Rain"): Tulip trees are highly susceptible to tulip tree aphids, which feed on the leaves and drop a sticky liquid waste (honeydew) known as "aphid rain." This sticky substance can coat sidewalks and cars parked underneath, causing maintenance issues.
Weak Wood and Branch Drop: Despite being a hardwood, tulip trees are fast-growing, resulting in somewhat weak wood that is prone to breaking branches during high winds or ice storms. This can pose a safety hazard to pedestrians.
Size Constraints: These trees can grow to 70-100+ feet in height, requiring substantial space. They are not suitable for areas with restricted overhead or underground space.
Water Requirements: They are not drought-tolerant and prefer moist, deep soil. In compacted, dry urban settings, they often suffer from premature leaf drop, which can create additional debris on walkways.   
Alternative Recommendations:
Use tulip trees in large public spaces or naturalized areas where they have room for their roots to expand without hitting foundations or paving.
For pedestrian areas, consider trees with less invasive root systems and cleaner habits, such as small-to-medium-sized shade trees.  
Based on the need for space, would you like to explore suitable smaller street tree alternatives that offer similar shade?

2. Dendrology and arboriculture advise against planting tulip trees (
Liriodendron tulipifera) close to buildings due to their potential to become massive, fast-growing trees with brittle wood and spreading root systems. While they are not considered invasively destructive to foundations in the way some fig species are, their rapid growth, extreme height (often 60–100+ feet), and potential to cause damage from falling branches make them unsuitable for small spaces or close proximity to infrastructure. 

Key Dendrological Considerations & Risks:
Distance Requirements: Experts typically recommend planting tulip trees at least 20 to 30 feet away from any structures, including homes, foundations, and driveways.
Root System: Tulip trees have a wide-spreading, shallow root system that can cause issues with sidewalks, concrete slabs, and foundations, particularly in heavy clay soils where roots remain near the surface.
Brittle Wood and Falling Branches: As fast-growing trees, they develop relatively weak, brittle wood. Large limbs are prone to breaking during storms or high winds, posing a risk to roofs and windows.
Tree Size: They are among the tallest deciduous trees in North America, often reaching over 30 meters (nearly 100 feet) and sometimes 50–60 meters, making them better suited for large, open park-like settings than urban or small residential lots.
Messy Characteristics: The trees are known for shedding large amounts of sticky sap, which can damage car paint and windshields, and dropping petals and seeds.
Soil and Environmental Need: They thrive in deep, moist, well-drained soils and do not tolerate extreme drought or compacted soils, which can lead to stress, reduced vitality, and branch dieback in restricted urban sites.   www.gardenia.net +11
Conclusion:
Dendrologists classify the tulip tree as a "bad choice for the small yard". However, if planted on a large property and given sufficient space, it can serve as a magnificent specimen tree.
 
3 & 4. Dendrology and arboriculture advise against planting 
Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) directly near high-traffic areas and parking. While they are stunning, fast-growing shade trees, their biological characteristics create significant, high-maintenance problems in paved environments.  
Here is what dendrology and urban forestry indicate about this placement:
Why Tulip Trees are Unsuitable for Parking Areas
Sticky Sap (Honeydew): Tulip Trees are prone to aphid infestations, which result in the tree dripping sticky "honeydew" sap. This creates a massive nuisance in parking lots, coating cars in a sticky residue that is hard to remove and attracts wasps and flies.
Litter Mess: After blooming in late spring, they drop flower petals. They also drop leaves, twigs, and cone-like fruits, creating constant debris that covers sidewalks, parking spots, and cars.
Weak Wood: They are fast growers, resulting in relatively weak wood that is prone to dropping branches during storms or high winds, posing a risk to vehicles parked below.
Invasive Surface Roots: Tulip Trees have a wide-spreading root system that often grows near the soil surface. In compacted parking lot soil, these roots are likely to lift and damage asphalt, curbing, and sidewalks. +8
Exceptions and Considerations
Large Spaces Only: They are unsuitable for small, confined tree pits in urban settings. They need large, open, deep-soil, park-like environments.
Cultivars for Tight Spaces: If a Tulip Tree is desired for a tighter space, experts recommend smaller, columnar cultivars like 'Little Volunteer' or 'Arnold', which are better suited for, though not ideal for, street-side planting.
Traffic Pollution Tolerance: While they can tolerate urban pollution well, the physical messiness outweighs this benefit in most parking scenarios.   
In summary, the consensus is to avoid placing them near cars or high-traffic pedestrian areas.