Anti-tree vandalism sign at Joel’s Reserve to stay after new plantings doused with weed killer

THE identity of a tree-poisoner running rampant in a waterfront Mosman reserve remains a mystery as an ‘obnoxious’ warning sign remains.

The controversial sign at Joel’s Reserve is set to stay for an extra three months.

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A CONTROVERSIAL anti-tree vandalism sign in Mosman will stay for a further three months after councillors voted to take action against the poisoning of new trees.

Councillors voted five times on the issue at a meeting last week before a 4-3 majority agreed on the preferred action.

The Joel’s Reserve sign will now be removed on June 4, 2017. Council staff had recommended a six-month extension of the large, reusable $17,200 sign to September 4, 2017.

Unprecedented poisoning and killing of trees in the reserve, near Julian St, and a lack of help from the public had forced council to install the sign to discourage further vandalism.

In September last year, councillors unanimously agreed that the sign would be in place for a minimum of five years.

Joel's Reserve is perched on prime waterfront land. Picture: Google Earth

But on May 3 this year protests from tree-loving residents, who called the sign an “environmental monstrosity”, whittled the time down to 12 months — provided there was no further vandalism.

Council planted two replacement trees in the reserve on May 10 and an inspection on May 16 revealed they had been sprayed with weedkiller.

Last week, councillor Simon Menzies expressed disbelief that no one in the neighbourhood had any idea of who poisoned the trees.

Cr Libby Moline asked “whodunit?” when three Julian St residents reiterated their outrage at the “obnoxious banner”.

Resident Mira Brennan said there appeared to be one culprit and the “out-of-control self-seeding” in the messy reserve needed to be managed.

The sign has angered local residents, who have described it as an “environmental monstrosity”.

Resident Toni Campbell said there was still “a festering angst in the neighbourhood” about the sign. She accused council staff of “rubbing their hands with glee” and laughing at the discovery of tree poisoning.

General manager Veronica Lee said the insulting of council staff was “completely inappropriate”.

The latest Joel’s Reserve vandalism coincided with a spike in illegal and significant tree pruning since April on private land in Mosman.

Contractors have falsely advised residents that council permission was unnecessary before doing work on protected trees.

Council generally penalises contractors for unauthorised work and the latest cases have resulted in fines and prosecutions in court.

A council spokeswoman said residents should contact council first for the correct advice.