Warrandyte developer cops $30k fine for illegal removal of significant trees in Eltham

A DEVELOPER in one of Melbourne’s greenest municipalities has been slapped with a $30,000 fine for the illegal removal of trees.

A WARRANDYTE developer has been slapped with a $30,000 fine for the illegal removal of trees from an Eltham property.

John Lorden faced Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to illegally felling a number of significant trees at his property in Diamond St.

The fine is the biggest issued for the offence in Nillumbik. Lorden also had to pay additional costs of $8000.

Nillumbik Mayor Peter Clarke said the council was satisfied with the outcome of the case and the magnitude of the fine reflected the seriousness of destruction of the natural environment.

“While we know that these significant trees have been lost forever, we can only hope that a $30,000 fine acts as a deterrent to any other developer working in our shire,” he said.

“The removal of trees cannot be seen as a cost of doing business for developers. This flagrant breach of the law has had consequences which will discourage others from acting illegally.”

After receiving a number of complaints from neighbours in December last year, Nillumbik Council officers inspected Lorden’s property and discovered a number of trees, including narrow-leaved peppermint, yellow box and long-leaved box trees, had been removed and a prosecution was initiated.