Clandestine tree killer strikes in millionaires’ playground sparking council investigation

Lawyers for a Sydney council are gathering criminal evidence and sifting through hours of CCTV footage in hopes of finding out who poisoned several trees that overlook twinkling Tamarama Beach.

Locals are desperately trying to work out who poisoned these seven palm trees in Tamarama.. Picture: Richard Dobson

Lawyers for a council are trying to solve the curious crime of a tree killer who poisoned seven palm trees in the dead of the night in a purported attempt to improve the view to the turquoise ocean at an exclusive Sydney beach suburb.

Residents of the millionaires’ playground of Tamarama have become obsessed with finding out “whodunnit?” after a clandestine tree killer snuck into the grounds of a $25m house and drilled holes into the sapwood, into which a poisonous chemical was poured.

Lawyers for Waverley Council and police are gathering evidence and sifting through hours of CCTV footage from neighbours and the owner of the home overlooking twinkling Tamarama Beach.

Seven 50-year-old Bangalow palms have been poisoned at the site of a house being renovated in Tamarama in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The distressed owner, whose property is being redeveloped, suspects the culprit launched their killing spree at night time around the week of New Year’s.

A sign has gone up outside the home of the destroyed 50-year-old Bangalow palms, approved by Waverley Council, saying: “Tree poisoning, no trees should die for a view.”

“We’re upset that someone trespassed onto our property and drilled holes into the trees and killed them,” the owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Seven palms have been poisoned at a home overlooking Tamarama Beach in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson.

“Sydney is all about the view. Who has the right to destroy trees for an uninterrupted view?

“A view is more beautiful with trees in it. They bring birds. They break up the vista a bit.

“The council is trying to get to the bottom of it and has been looking at CCTV. Our builders reported it to the police.”

A sign outside the home of the destroyed 50-year-old Bangalow palms says: “Tree poisoning, no trees should die for a view.” Picture: Richard Dobson.

Residents in the beachside suburb, where a brick bungalow sold for $45m in 2023, say the tree attack has left them worried for their flora.

One neighbour said: “We have the same trees. They grow 10cm a year and cost about $15,000 each. It’s tragic such old ones died. I’m terrified they’ll go after mine.”

Waverley Council was contacted for comment.

One resident says her palms grow at 10 cms a year and is worried the tree killer will attack her native trees. Picture: Richard Dobson

The inner-city Lane Cove Council erected a view-blocking sign last September after hundreds of native trees were illegally felled.

As many as 290 trees on a strip of land at Sydney’s Longueville with views of boats and houses worth millions of dollars were illegally chopped down.

The site is now marked by a 14 sq m billboard, saying: “Trees shouldn’t have to die for a view. 290+ trees illegally destroyed. Lane Cove stands tall against tree vandalism.”