Councils step up campaign against tree killers
Councils on the Lower North Shore are stepping up their fight against tree vandalism, with Willoughby offering a $10,000 reward following the poisoning of dozens of trees in Willowie Road, Castle Cove.
Willoughby has launched an aggressive campaign, erecting billboards displaying the 3,600m2 of bushland destroyed by vandals in July. The area, directly in front of several high-rise apartment blocks, is now under surveillance. Council is conducting door-to-door investigations.
“It is just tragic to think that there are people in our community who think they have the right to destroy our natural bushland unlawfully,” Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor said.
“Trees play an important role in reducing heat, which is important for us.”
Tree vandalism is an offence under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, with substantial fines and a criminal conviction able to be imposed.
In North Sydney, there have been 15 reported instances of tree vandalism in public spaces in the last 10 years. North Sydney Council says the primary reason for tree vandalism is owners wanting to ‘improve views,’ particularly when properties change hands.
“Trees shouldn’t die for a view,” North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said. “Replacement trees can take many decades to reach the same height and scale.” Council recently had to deal with the destruction of a 25-metre rainforest acacia in Forsyth Park – the only acacia remaining in the park.
“The entire upper crown crushed a significant bushland area surrounding the tree (when it fell). This has effectively set back bushland rehabilitation on the site by at least 10 years,” Ms Baker added.
North Sydney Council also offers up to $10,000 for any tree vandalism information received that leads to a successful prosecution.
In Mosman, tree vandals can be fined up to $5 million. Since 1 January this year, eighteen tree breaches have been investigated, and 11 penalty infringement notices issued.
Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said the ‘topping’ of Banksia trees on the beachfront at Rosherville Reserve was one of the more recent severe breaches. Rosherville is north of Balmoral Beach and looks out to Cobblers Bay.