Brighton tree likely drilled, injected with poison, says Holdfast Bay Council

A suburban council is investigating the death of a large tree in Adelaide’s south, with locals saying it “looks like a murder scene”.

Local residents Michael Vial, Karen Berry and Amanda Kemperman are frustrated a mature tree has been drilled into and filled with poison by a mystery offender. Picture: Tim Joy

A mystery individual is believed to have drilled holes into a Brighton tree before pumping it with poison, as local residents search for a motive behind the brazen act.

In a recent letter, Holdfast Bay Council’s urban forest officer informed residents “with disappointment” that the council was investigating potential vandalism of the red flowering gum on Comley Rd.

“This tree has drill points evident, and most likely filled with poison,” he wrote.

Resident Karen Berry called the act “disgusting”.

“It’s like it’s bleeding all over the pavement. It looks like a murder scene, doesn’t it?” she said about the tree.

Holdfast Bay Council was investigating the tree’s condition suspecting it had been poisoned. Picture: Tim Joy

The Advertiser discovered on Friday the dead tree’s sticky, red sap had oozed over the sidewalk, while its once-green leaves had turned a sickly white and drill points dotted the bark like bullet holes.

Another Comley Rd resident, Michael Vial, said he believed the “very beautiful” and “slow growing” red flowering gum had been planted in the late 1950s.

He said the suspected poisoning could have taken place a few years ago, when he noticed red sap spilling onto the sidewalk.

“It’s been like this for two years,” he said, gesturing to the red mess.

“Progressively over the last two years, this has got worse and worse.”

He said he believed other trees on the street, which displayed a similar profuse “bleeding”, could also have been poisoned before being cut down in recent years.

The tree’s leaves have turned white and the trunk is weeping red sap on to the footpath. Picture: Tim Joy

A letter from Holdfast Bay Council to residents regarding the act.

One of his neighbours, Amanda Kemperman, said it had been an important canopy tree for the street and a popular spot for birds.

The letter from Holdfast Bay Council said vandals face a maximum $5000 penalty for damaging trees, but Ms Kemperman called this “a joke”.

“It’s not a disincentive for someone who wants to kill a tree,” she said.

“To drill at least ten massive holes in this tree took planning, cost money, took strategy and thought.”

The three neighbours shared sadness at the tree’s loss, but they were less sure of the suspected tree killer’s motive.

Ms Berry said it must have been done by “someone who is heartless”, while Ms Amanda Kemperman speculated the individual had a financial motive.

Mr Vial said he did not know the motive, but “it’s certainly not someone who is caring for the environment”.

Holdfast Bay Council’s letter to residents asked for any information that might assist the investigation.

The council was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Brighton tree likely drilled, injected with poison, says Holdfast Bay Council