Ausgrid has been issued with a 'please explain' after dozens of street trees in the Maroubra area were severely pruned and in some cases hacked in contravention of Australian tree pruning standards.

Randwick Mayor Ted Seng said Randwick Council has been inundated with complaints from local residents about the severity of the street tree pruning undertaken by contractors working to clear branches near overhead powerlines on behalf of Ausgrid.

"Street trees are such an important aspect of a residential, urban landscape and residents are furious that so many trees have been so extensively pruned and damaged.

"Residents understand that pruning is required, however on this occasion it appears the pruning was undertaken quite severely and I worry that it may have permanently compromised some of the trees.

"Council's internal tree expert has inspected a number of the pruned trees and found many have branches that are stub cut, or branches left with tears and suckers which have not been cut back to branch collars or the trunks.

"Apart from being unnecessarily severe, a lot of this pruning does not comply with Australian Standard AS 4373 - 2007 - Pruning of amenity trees.

"We have written to both the contractor and Ausgrid asking for an explanation," Mayor Seng said.

Some of the affected trees are located on Anzac Parade, Beauchamp Road, Anthony Street and Nagle Avenue in Maroubra.