Work has begun on the first stage of sycamore removal alongside Ravensbourne Rd.
OmniTree owner Jelte Buddingh said the company had been contracted by the Dunedin City Council to take the trees down.
''That whole stretch of the West Harbour has been neglected for many years,'' he said.
''Basically, in the big scheme of things, we're trying to beautify the West Harbour.''
The sycamores needed to be removed because they had ''taken over'' the area, Mr Buddingh said.
The next stage would be replanting with native bush, which the council would undertake next year.
The council said the removal was a trial project, and was expected to cost about $20,000.
If it was successful, the council would continue with further removal, ''[with] the support - funding or labour - from other organisations and volunteers where possible and appropriate''.
