Greenies vandalise healthy figs near Centennial Park in protest over light rail project

GREENIE activists trying to stop trees being cut down for the new light rail have vandalised more than 30 perfectly healthy fig trees with paint.

Alec Brown from NSW Transport, infront of vandalised trees at Moore Park, which were never inline to be removed for the light rail.

GREENIE activists trying to stop trees being cut down to make way for the new light rail have vandalised more than 30 perfectly healthy fig trees near Centennial Park by covering them in paint.

The protesters failed to ­realise the trees they damaged with the toxic paint were never going to be cut down in the first place.

Nineteen trees were painted in the section between the Tibby Cotter Bridge and Lang Rd / Picture: Supplied

Instead, the Centennial Park Trust now has to decide whether to use high-pressure hoses to clean the trees — a procedure that would further damage them.

The Baird government said the protesters were ­putting the trees at risk by painting the messages.

Last week a group of about 50 protesters, some chained to trees, had to be removed by police to allow construction work to continue.

Along the corridor of the light rail, from Kingsford to Circular Quay, some 180 trees will go.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance condemned the vandals yesterday.

“This is ignorance of the highest order. Whoever has done this stands condemned,” he said.

“The trees damaged were never going to be removed. What’s worse is that this ­action may permanently damage healthy figs.”

Only five of the trees painted “may” be removed as part of the work, Mr ­Constance’s office said.

The trees damaged are in Randwick between the Tibby Cotter Bridge and Lang Rd, and between Lang Rd and Alison Rd.

Some trees have been graffitied “Anzac” in reference to a claim that the figs were planted in memory of Anzac soldiers.

Some of vandalised trees at Moore Park / Picture: Kristi Miller

But the government has disproved that, providing a photo from the National Maritime Museum from 1914 showing troops marching through Moore Park on their way to board war ships at ­Circular Quay — down the then-named Randwick Rd (renamed Anzac Parade in 1917) and flanked by already matured figs.

The government says this goes with the established ­belief that the trees date to the 1870s and 1880s.

Construction of Sydney’s $2.1 billion light rail project is set to ramp up this year.

Last week, the government announced that three major new construction areas on George St would soon start.

Construction work between Alfred St and Grosvenor St is due to begin in March, and between Bridge St and Margaret St in April. Construction on George St between Park St and Bathurst St will also begin in April.

The government has warned that the work will disrupt traffic around the CBD.

The rail line will travel from the city past Central Station, the Sydney Cricket Ground and Randwick racecourse through to Randwick and Kingsford.

Some trees were graffitied “Anzac” in reference to a claim that the figs were planted in memory of Anzac soldiers / Picture: Kristi Miller