Griffith City Council operations director Phil King said council received no requests for permission to remove the trees, It is not known if the trees grew on the road reserve. 

A spokeswomen for Nugan Estate said she also noticed the trees lying on the side of the road but can assure residents the trees were not cut down by Nugan Estate. 

An Office of Environment and Heritage spokeswomen said “the trees have been inspected and are not native vegetation regulated under the Biodiversity Conservation Act in this location, not OEH jurisdiction.” 

Another Roads and Maritime Services spokeswomen said they have not cleared any trees or received any request for the removal of trees on the Kidman south of Hanwood.

Essential Energy acting regional manager Ian Armstrong said the company has not undertaken vegetation works along that section of the Kidman.