Lane Cove Council has reaped any rewards from those most likely to benefit from a mass tree vandalism event in Longueville last year by placing a harbour-view-obstructing banner where the event took place on the foreshore of Woodford Bay.
The vandalism, which occurred last November, saw almost 300 trees destroyed, as well as hundreds of other plants and shrubs illegally removed from the council-owned land.
Lane Cove Council called it the “largest tree vandalism case” in the area’s recent history.
In response, a council has erected a double-sided banner seven metres in width and two metres in height. The sign will remain there, blocking any properties’ views of the harbour until the vegetation has fully regenerated.
Councils can impose a maximum $3000 on-the-spot fine for illegal removals by individuals or $6000 for businesses.
Lane Cove Council told ITC they are “aware of a person or persons of interest.” Due to the seriousness of the crime, the Council has decided not to issue an immediate penalty infringement and instead began a process to pursue the strongest possible penalty.
Following legal advice, they are currently gathering information and evidence to lodge a case with the Land and Environment Court which can impose fines of up to $1.1 million for this particular crime.
“Council recognised that the scale and seriousness of the offence warranted the exploration of criminal prosecution. Following legal advice, Council began the process of pursuing the strongest possible penalty and since then the required standards of evidence and information have been carefully gathered. As the case has yet to be lodged, we will not comment further. We look forward to updating the community in due course,” a spokesperson from Lane Cove Council told ITC.
The Council also shared that the banner erected to block the view was a unanimous resolution from key stakeholders with no objections from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The land is classified as a Threatened Ecological Community and contains some items of Aboriginal Heritage, so approval from these groups was important. However, council says although this was the largest scale banner they’ve ever implemented of this nature, it wasn’t the first.
“In line with our directive designed to prevent tree and vegetation vandalism, Council has previously installed banners in other locations and we will continue to do so. To reflect the level of the vandalism at this site, this is the largest banner ever to be installed in our area and it delivers a clear message that tree vandalism will not be tolerated in Lane Cove,” the spokesperson explained.
Unfortunately, this was not the only case of mass tree vandalism within the past year. Mosman Council reported nine Port Jackson fig trees poisoned in Balmoral earlier this year in February, and investigators suspect a similar motive to the events that transpired at Longueville last year.
The trees between Lower Almora St and Esther Rd on The Esplanade were drilled into and filled with herbicide in their bases. Fortunately, the trees survived, thanks to the quick efforts of contractors who applied Seasol surrounding the soil -but no vandal was arrested.
Lane Cove has also seen some tree destruction, with trees killed in Austin Street Lane Cove (read more here) and around Tambourine Bay Reserve.
In December 2022 a notice of motion by Councillors Bryla and Kennedy noted:
“Since 2019 there has been an escalation in the number and severity of bushland trees being killed by those other than our official arborist-approved council means. The impact is leaving large gaps in our natural bushland in certain locations.
One such location is the bushland at Tambourine Bay Reserve. The trees killed by unknown persons since 2019 are: 30 – 40 Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum), 7 Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum), 2 Ceratopetalum gummiferum (Christmas Bush), 2 Ficus sp. (Fig Tree).
In the past, there have also been poisonings in Manns Point, Woodford Bay Reserve, Holloway Reserve and Shell Park. These actions of tree-killing are not only destructive and illegal but also rob our next generations of the benefits of the natural bushland. Our council team are working hard and tirelessly to try to stop this form of vandalism but are fighting a tough battle. This motion recognises the council teams’ passionate and dedicated efforts to protect and save the bushland trees.”
Since the sign has been installed, it has attracted the attention of:
The Guardian – Huge banner scuppers prime Sydney Harbour view gained by killing of 300 trees
Nine News – Sydney council installs giant banner to block view after hundreds of trees vandalised
Seven News – Lane Cove Council moves to block harbour views after trees destroyed on Longueville foreshore
News Limited – Sydney’s Lane Cove Council blocks million dollar view after trees illegally chopped
The Guardian – The punishment for felling Australia’s foreshore trees is a mere pittance against developers’ obscene profits
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