Shocking amount of local council trees removed without permission

Brisbane City Council is receiving an average of almost four reports a day of trees being poisoned or intentionally removed without permission.

Brisbane City Council received more than three reports a day of protected greenery being intentionally removed or recklessly poisoned without approval over the last financial year, in a dramatic spike on previous figures.

Brisbane City reported 1,207 locations where vegetation was interfered with in 2019-20, up more than 200 on the previous period.

There had been a total of 1,407 reports made over the same period, up from 1,153 in 2018-19, although council stressed that multiple reports can be made on a single location.

City Standards, Community Health and Safety chair councillor Kim Marx said removing vegetation without council permission was an offence.

That works out to an average of almost four reports every day.

City Standards, Community Health and Safety chair councillor Kim Marx said removing vegetation without council permission was an offence.

“I don’t know why anyone would deliberately poison a tree, but unfortunately there are incidents of this which occasionally occur across Brisbane,” Cr Marx said.

“If we receive a report of tree poisoning we take it incredibly seriously and we will investigate every incident,” she said.

Cr Marx said council had planted more than 23,000 trees across Brisbane over the past two years.

“I ask residents to take the protection of our natural areas, including our trees, seriously and to respect the greenery around us,” she said.

“No one should ever take matters into their own hands and if they are concerned about a tree, please contact Council.”

Cr Marx urges people to “respect the greenery”.

It comes after The Courier-Mail this month (DEC) reported on neighbourhood fury after four trees were callously attacked with drills and poison on Brisbane’s bayside.

Four trees along Falcon Street, Manly had holes bored into their roots before poison was poured down them, resulting in three plants dying.

Brisbane City Council launched an investigation into the incident.

In November, a report found that Brisbane faces significant challenges to protect its green canopy and provide shade for residents.