Onkaparinga Council urged neighbours to dob in each other over sudden tree deaths

TREES are increasingly being poisoned and destroyed by residents in Adelaide’s south — and the local council is urging neighbours to dob in each other to catch the culprits.

Drill holes were found on the northern side of the trunk base of a river red gum noted to suddenly be in decline.

TREES are increasingly being poisoned and destroyed by residents because they are blocking rooftop solar panels, Onkaparinga Council says.

The council has now issued a plea to residents to report the culprits.

Onkaparinga’s city operations director Kirk Richardson said the incidents were “demoralising” for staff as they worked towards a new goal of planting 100,000 trees in the next 20 years.

The council has attributed the spike in illegal tree choppers on residents not wanting branches overshadowing solar panels at their homes, a dislike for a particular species and the mess caused by fallen leaves.

In many cases the attacks occurred after the council had rejected a request for the removal of a tree from the nature strip.

Over the past 12 months about 70 trees have been cut off at the base in two separate attacks at Lonsdale and dozens ripped from the ground at Christie Downs.

In addition, at least seven large trees in the council region have been poisoned.

Investigation of poisoning at Aberfoyle Park and O’Halloran Hill detected drill holes along with a strong smell of kerosene.

Mr Richardson said there had always been some incidents of tree vandalism but the issue had spiked in the past 12 to 18 months, with gum trees most commonly targeted.

“Our residents tell us they want beautiful streets with trees and shade, and we’re trying to provide this, but vandals are destroying our work and costing our community thousands each year,” Mr Richardson said.

“It’s also demoralising for our teams, who are passionate about the environment, and want to deliver for the community.”

Mr Richardson urged anyone who witnessed tree vandalism to contact police and to report any signs of damage to the council.

“We have always had a small number of isolated cases over the years,” he said.

“However, we’ve seen an increase in the last 18 months.

“Often the location of trees we suspect have been wilfully damaged in this way correspond with locations where we have received requests for tree removal.”