Sydney - Big trees in Melbourne's outdoor dining district will be injected with hormones to help customers suffering from hay fever, it was reported on Monday.
The trial by Melbourne City Council will target the London Plane trees lining streets where thousands of people like to sit outdoors at cafes and restaurants to enjoy the warm spring weather.
The injections are expected to stop the trees producing flowers that release pollen blamed for causing nose, throat and eye irritations among susceptible people.
“They want to enjoy their cappuccinos just with milk froth rather than anything else on top of it,” Ian Shears, the council's urban landscape manager, told ABC radio.
The council decided on the action after cafe owners raised concerns that the pollen was deterring some people from spending time at their outside seating. - Sapa-dpa