More than 130 trees will be cut down from Flemington Road between Gungahlin and the intersection with the Federal Highway, while 245 will go from the Federal Highway to Dickson.

About 40 trees will be removed from the site of the planned stabling depot and maintenance facility but the largest number will go from the Northbourne median strip. There 440 mainly Eucalyptus elata will be replaced with semi-mature brittle gum saplings, probably grown at the Yarralumla nursery.

The new detail of tree removals, included in the government's massive draft environmental impact statement for the tram line, comes days after National Capital Authority boss Malcolm Snow called for staged removal of trees to avoid a "scorched earth" entrance to Canberra.

On Northbourne Avenue, replacement trees will be planted in a staggered formation across the median.

New trees could be planted for the first time on the median of Flemington Road, with new verge plantings "creating a tree-lined boulevard" like those already established in other parts of the city.

Over all, more than 1800 new trees are proposed to be planted along the line.

The report concedes "short term adverse visual impacts along key parts of the corridor" which will change the scale, character and experience of the areas. Within 20 or more years, Canberra will benefit from a planned "grand vision" of replacement mature trees.

On Flemington Road, native temperate grassland and lowland woodland characters will be enhanced, with specific plantings to serve as identifiable markers at each stop along the line.

An enlarged median strip in the area would allow a boulevard of Eucalyptus dalrympleana and woodland trees to be planted on road verges.

A series of trees registered as having exceptional heritage value won't be impacted by construction, and will be marked and surrounded by exclusion zones. Fencing is expected to be placed around the drip lines of trees to minimise the risk of damage.

Some construction facilities, including demountable buildings, could be raised from above ground level to avoid damaging tree roots and "low impact" construction techniques could be used where feasible.

Construction is now set to begin in October 2016, with preliminary work to get under way from July.

A 2014 assessment of trees along the tram line found failing health, storm damage and removal of dead or dangerous trees had seen the total number nearly halve since 2010, to just 484 and with only 202 healthy trees

The number of trees in good condition is forecast to drop in coming years.

The 1600-page report warns the final number of trees to be lost won't be finalised until detailed designs are released by the successful consortium chosen to build and operate the 12 kilometre line.

Limited further tree and vegetation loss is expected after tram services commence in 2019.

Tram line wires, expected to be about 5.5 metres above the tracks, will see some existing and new trees cut back as part of a so-called "vegetation exclusion zone" which could be about 2.5 metres.

The report also revealed plans for closure of the London Circuit carpark opposite the Melbourne Building during the four-year construction, causing the loss of 250 carparks.

It is considered by officials to present a "worst-case scenario" plan for the mitigation of problems before construction on the 12 kilometre tram route between Gungahlin and the city begins in 2016.

The report considers issues including heritage impacts, noise and vibration, planted trees, landscape and visual, traffic and transport, social and economic, and property and land use.

It said Canberrans would need to be schooled in how to interact with trams and the risks they present to drivers, other road users and pedestrians.