Crackdown on tree vandalism gaining millions for homeowners and developers

An eastern suburbs council is looking at creative tactics to discourage environmental vandalism, after a new development was advertised with ‘panoramic harbour views’ gained when a Port Jackson fig was poisoned.

Homeowners illegally gaining access to multimillion dollar views in Sydney’s east are in for a shock as a local council is set to use creative tactics to deter further tree vandalism.

Woollahra Council is considering the erection of large signage to “obliterate” any view that is created by the destruction of existing trees, as well as planting more and larger trees.

The crackdown comes as a result of the pruning or destruction of street trees and trees in parks, with the goal of homeowners gaining multimillion dollar harbour views in the affluent council area.

An arborist employed by developer Dare Property Group discovered a Port Jackson fig tree in Vaucluse on New South Head Road, pictured in 2021, was poisoned. There is no suggestion that the Port Jackson fig tree was vandalised by the developer, the owner or Ray White. Picture: Google Maps

The same property on New South Head road in 2024. There is no suggestion that Port Jackson fig tree was vandalised by the developer, the owner or Ray White. Picture: Google Maps

A damning example of tree vandalism in Vaucluse resulted in a new development being advertised with “panoramic harbour views” after a Port Jackson fig tree was found with “drill wounds” by the developer’s own arborist.

A development application was first lodged in 2017 for 63 New South Head Road in Vaucluse for what was anticipated to be a $6.7m development.

By the time development was underway in late 2023, an independent arborist report commissioned by developer Dare Property Group assessed the Port Jackson fig was “in very poor health, being almost completely defoliated” from pruning to maintain views.

The Port Jackson fig tree when construction began on the New South Head Rd property. Picture: Supplied

One of multiple potential drill wounds identified by an arborist on a Port Jackson fig tree outside the property at 63 New South Head Rd, Vaucluse. There is no suggestion that the Port Jackson fig tree was vandalised by the developer, the owner or Ray White. Picture: Supplied

“Inspection of the trunk identified a number of what appear to be old drill wounds which indicate that the tree has likely been poisoned,” said the report seen by The Daily Telegraph.

The tree was ultimately removed, and promotional material on the developer’s website advertises the property as offering “sweeping views of Sydney Harbour”. Two replacement trees planted by Woollahra Council have since been pruned by someone unauthorised to do so.

There is no suggestion that the previous tree or new tree were vandalised by the developer, the owner or Ray White.

Woollahra councillors Mary-Lou Jarvis and Hugh Woodgate in front of a tree broken without authorisation. There is no suggestion that the tree was cut or pruned by the developer, the owner, or Ray White. Picture: Jonathan Ng

DARE Property operations manager David Avidan said when the site was purchased with the DA already approved, “the tree was not in good health and we were not involved in its removal”.

“There was no ‘vandalism’ that was aware of or involved in DARE,” he said.

One resident of a Bellevue Hill property who asked to remain anonymous, said a large tree in front of her home was illegally pruned and left her in tears.

“It just broke my heart, because this year when the cuckoos came they didn’t come here,” she said.

“Do they want to live in a place with no trees? They want trees but not the one on their doorstep.”

A tree with a sign from Mosman Council pictured after it was poisoned a few years ago. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A 14 square metre billboard in Longueville, in Sydney’s North Shore. Images: Lane Cove Council

Liberal councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis said there are too many examples in the council area where trees “have either died or somehow the branches miraculously fallen off”.

“This wholesale destruction is just not acceptable,” she said.

Woollahra Council, at a meeting last week, directed their staff to look into deterrence options including replanting, banner signs or permanent hoarding which block any views gained by tree vandalism, the placement of a shroud on a dead tree.

The proposed signage will take influence from other Sydney councils including Lane Cove, Sutherland and Mosman, with council considering whether proposed signage should take a shaming approach in calling out the vandalism.

Example of alleged unauthorised tree pruning included in a report to Woollahra Council. Picture: Supplied

Existing fines for illegal tree removals can be as high as $1m for individuals if proven in court and higher for organisations, but culpability is difficult to prove.

Greens councillor Matthew Robertson said for councils to take an individual or organisation to court “you need to have caught them in the act doing it and that’s very difficult”.

“The fines are minuscule and provide very minimal deterrence to people who are trying to improve a multimillion-dollar view,” he said.

“Everybody in Woollahra enjoys the benefits of our leafy canopy.”

The government moved earlier this year to increase penalties for tree vandalism alongside increased enforcement powers, with Planning Minister Paul Scully confirming reforms are in their final stages.

“In the meantime, we stand behind councils taking actions like erecting signs to deter people from doing the wrong thing,” he said.

“We don’t want to see trees being poisoned in any town or suburb but it’s particularly detestable when people make this choice out of greed, to improve the view and value of their already multimillion dollar home.”