The six-stage process to replace the trees felled for Canberra's light rail required a soil report, an assessment of 36 different trees and the meeting of 11 officials.
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Authorities removed the trees from Northbourne Avenue earlier this year as preparation for building the light rail line.
Potential replacement trees were run through a "Multi Criteria Analysis matrix" to assess their suitability for Canberra weather, according to documents made available through Freedom of Information laws.
The tree matrix looked at 36 different types of trees based off criteria such as pest resistance, shade provision, flammability and aesthetic value.
The original trees, Eucalyptus rossii, were deemed unsuitable for the existing soil and are instead to be replaced with the Brittle Gum or Eucalyptus manifera.
But commissioned soil-experts stressed in a meeting "substantial soil modification" would still be required to make Northbourne Avenue a fit home for the new eucalypts.
Minutes of a meeting on the trees show members were told the "brittle" name was because of the strength of the bark but the trees didn't pose any additional risk or maintenance needs.
"The only people who could probably tell the difference would be an arborist or related horticultural professional," an expert said at the meeting.
In a report from a horticulturalist, the Brittle Gum is said to shed during severe weather or strong winds.
"It is therefore recommended to plant this species be planted [sic] clear of buildings and structures to avoid injury and damage to property," the horticulturalist said.
Committee members were also told at the time of planting, the E. rossii species was considered more beautiful than E. manifera.
All attendees were offered a trip to the Barangaroo foreshore project in Sydney to see the E. manifera in the flesh. The minutes did not show if anyone took up the offer.
SESL Australia, a soil science consulting business, provided a 10-page report on the soil suitability of the light rail corridor for the trees.
They took 22 samples in March and examined soil conditions at Mt Ainslie to determine the original E. rossii wasn't suitable for Canberra.
"Alternatively a similar species that is more environmentally adaptable to lower slope position, such as as E. manifera could be used as a substitute," SESL's final report read.
