Tweed Shire Council estimates $10,000 cost for removal of trees poisoned by vandals

Ratepayers are bearing the cost of ongoing vegetation vandalism as the cost of removing six poisoned poinciana is revealed.

RATEPAYERS are bearing the cost of ongoing vegetation vandalism across the Tweed.

The latest trees to be targeted were six poinciana, which have been a fixture at Banora Point for up to five decades.

The trees at Elm Place Reserve were drilled and then poisoned by an unknown number of perpetrators, according to Tweed Shire Council.

They will now need to be cut down and removed, which the council estimates will cost about $10,000.

Tweed Shire Council manager of recreation services Stewart Brawley said: “This is the worst case of vegetation vandalism we have seen in a long time.”

Holes were drilled in the trees before they were poisoned. Photo: Supplied

In recent years, a raft of vegetation vandalism incidents have been reported across the shire, of varying seriousness — some linked to residents attempting to hack or poison their way to better views.

In one example late last year, a row of trees overlooking the water were left decimated in a vandalism incident at Broadwater Esplanade in Bilambil Heights.

Previously, the council has joined other local government bodies across New South Wales in erecting structures in place of vandalised trees

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Mr Brawley said the trees poisoned at Banora Point “were big, beautiful trees with spectacular canopies when in full bloom and providing shade across 740 square metres of public land”.

He lamented a “very sad day for the residents of Elm Place and the wider community”.

“It’s hard to accept that someone could not see their beauty and wilfully destroy them,” he added.

The council was given the heads-up about the dying trees by a resident.

On inspection, workers uncovered a total of 60 drill holes of 30mm in size.

Tree poisonings are becoming more common.

The council believes the vandals targeted the trees in the past six weeks and it has stated “we are keen to prosecute these people for the destruction of the trees and the loss of amenity in the community”.

The trees would be replanted as soon as possible, the council has stated.

If a resident has an issue with a tree in a park or council-owned land, the council should be contacted for an assessment by an arborist.

Fines can stretch into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for deliberate damage.

If you know more about the vandalism in Banora Point? Phone the council on [phone].