Georges River Council had to remove four of the Phoenix palm trees that were found to be diseased as an urgent measure to protect public safety.

The question of what type of tree should replace four of the famous Beverly Hills palm trees was debated by Georges River Council last month.

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The Phoenix palm trees have stood along the median island on King Georges Road for 30 years, defining the distinctive character and identity of Beverly Hills.

Earlier this year the council had to remove four of the palm trees that were found to be diseased as an urgent measure to protect public safety.

Their removal was to prevent the spread of the fatal Fusarium wilt, a highly contagious and incurable disease, to surrounding Phoenix palms and reduce the risk of tree failure.

A notice of motion submitted by Councillor Ben Wang called on the council to recognise the historical and cultural significance of the iconic palm tree.

He asked that the council work with Transport for NSW for a potential upgrade to the median island to restore the lost palms with disease-resistant trees.

These could be fungus-resistant dwarf palms or native Australian palms, to maintain the suburb's visual heritage.

Cr Leon Pun, speaking on behalf of Cr Wang, said the palms form part of the distinctive identity of Beverly Hills.

"The palm trees along King Georges Road have helped define everyone's first impression of Beverly Hills. They are not just trees on a median strip. They are part of the suburb's visual heritage," he said.

"Residents and businesses need some certainty. They need to know whether plans will be replaced and whether there is a real plan for Beverly Hills. Council should work with TNSW to replace the trees with disease-resistent palms and appropriate species that preserves the character of Beverly Hills."

Councillor Peter Mahoney submitted an amendment that the council notes the Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix Canariensis) planted within the King Georges Road, Beverly Hills median strip are classified as an environmental weed in NSW.

He asked that the council write to the Minister for Roads requesting Transport for NSW (TfNSW) undertakes and funds the necessary works to rectify the deteriorating retaining walls situated along the King Georges Road median strip; and that funding be provided to replace each of the removed exotic species with an appropriate native species such as the Australian Cabbage Palm (Livistona Australis), of a similar size to the palms which have been removed.

Speaking in support of Cr Mahoney's amendment, Councillor Matt Allison said he supported the replacement of the palms but where he differs is the choice of trees.

"The Cabbage Palm trees appear to be doing really well on the median strip of Princes Highway on the southern approach to Tom Uglys Bridge," he said.

"They don't appear to be housing our native nemesis, the ibis, another advantage attributed to the downward pointing palm leaves compared to the upward pointing nesting platforms of the Phoenix palm.

"Council has already spent thousands of dollars removing the dead and dying Phoenix palms so it is imperative that the state government fund these replacements and help to return the iconic Beverly Hills Las Vegas lookalikes to this shopping precinct using an entirely Australian tree species."

Councillor Mahoney's amendment was supported by nine votes to four. This became the motion, which was supported unanimously.