Tree vandalism Bayside: Trees poisoned along Beach Road, Hampton

“Selfish” Bayside real estate owners have been accused of killing dozens of trees to better their bay views.

Former Bayside Council Mayors Graeme Disney and Felicity Frederico are outraged after vandals poisoned trees along the Hampton Bay Trail path. Picture: Ian Currie

Trees have been poisoned along one of Melbourne’s “most scenic boulevards” in what is believed to be a selfish grab for better beach views.

And angry residents have called for the vandals to be slapped with the maximum penalty — a fine of nearly $200,000.

Bayside Council is investigating after about 26 trees were killed over an area of about 120m along the Hampton foreshore.

The council has also promised to stump up a $25,000 reward information leading to a successful prosecution.

Environment, recreation and infrastructure director Adam McSwain said the site had been subject to “ongoing vegetation destruction over the years” but the latest attack — which involved vandals drilling holes into the tree trunks and pouring poison inside — had sparked an investigation into the type of herbicide used.

Hampton resident Felicity Frederico called for the vandals to be slapped with the maximum penalty.

“This is an outrageous and flagrant act of vandalism,” she said.

“Beach Rd is famed for its long corridor of both the bay and the vegetation and is one of the shining jewels in Melbourne’s crown.

“The vegetation is an intrinsic part of the natural beauty.

“The individuals that have killed these trees need to be found and a penalty of the highest order needs to be imposed.”

Graeme Disney, who has lived on Beach Rd for more than 40 years, said it was the “worst case of tree vandalism” he’d seen.

“I’ve seen branched deliberately lopped off and the occasional tree removed but never such systematic desecration before,” he said.

“It’s completely horrifying”.

Mr Disney said the act was a “kick in the guts” for the many local volunteers who dedicated their time to conservation works along the foreshore.

“It’s a really precious area and it has a rich indigenous history so we have a big responsibility, as residents, to nurture and look after that land and keep it safe for future generations,” he said.

“It’s an area where vegetation is very important — it’s a breeding area for fairy wrens, which are rather beautiful little creatures, and it’s an area which has suffered a lot from erosion in the past and the roots (of the vegetation planted there) really help with stabilising the cliffs.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said “selfish people” living along Beach Rd were the likely culprits.

“They’re always lopping the tops off trees or chopping them down when they get in the way of their precious views,” the resident said.

“It’s selfish people with a sense of entitlement who think the view from their window is more important than anything else.”

People damaging trees in a bid to illegally improve their views of Port Phillip Bay has long been rife in Bayside.

In 2012, a Brighton tree lopper was charged more than $20,000 after neighbours photographed and filmed him removing branches from the coastal banksia outside his Martin St home in an effort to improve his vista.

The council’s prosecutor at the time told the Moorabbin Magistrate’s Court that the Bayside community viewed illegal tree-chopping in the same light as drink-driving.

The man was fined $8000 and ordered to pay $12,000 in costs and a further $816 for a new tree to be planted.

In 2017, two tree vandals were fined $1000 and put on 12-month good behaviour bonds for chopping down a banksia in White St, Beaumaris.

Mr McSwain said the council would continue to monitor the area near the latest incident and revegetation would be undertaken at the site.

Council encourages anyone who may have witnessed tree damage to contact Bayside City Council’s Investigation team on 9599 4681.