Tree removal: Maroondah Council calls for harsher penalties

An increasing number of landowners in Maroondah are cutting down trees before redeveloping their blocks, and the council has had enough. It is calling for the culprits to face bigger fines.

Maroondah Council is calling for harsher penalties for people who illegally remove trees.

Sneaky homeowners in Maroondah are illegally removing trees from their properties in a bid to increase their land value.

A recent investigation by Maroondah Council found that rates of illegal tree removal in the area have spiked in recent years.

The culprits were often landowners looking for a leg up in their redevelopment plans.

Maroondah Mayor Rob Steane said the council had noticed a trend between properties with evidence of illegal tree removal and the lodgement of planning applications for redevelopment.

The council is now petitioning the State Government to increase the penalty for illegal tree removal.

The penalty is $826.1 for an individual and $1652.2 for a company per tree, which Cr Steane said was far too low.

“The penalty needs to reflect the environmental loss and be high enough that they cannot be so easily absorbed into the cost of doing business,” Cr Steane said.

He said more analysis was needed to determine a more appropriate penalty.

“We would also support the consideration of other penalties that could be imposed, such as delaying future development of the site and requiring substantial replanting of the site,” hew said.

Croydon Conservation Society president Liz Sanzaro said the removal of trees for redevelopment was relatively commonplace and a significant problem.

“I think anyone who removes trees doesn’t understand the effect on climate change,” she said.

“It says that people value money more than the future of their grandchildren.”

Croydon Conservation Society president Liz Sanzaro said tree removal is a huge problem.

The environmentalist said tree removal had many negative effects on people and the land.

“Trees are a very good store of carbon and they keep the area cool,” Ms Sanzaro said.

“There’s a difference of something like 30 to 40 degrees in hot weather between no tree and a tree.”

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The removal could also have a flow on effect, the plant protector said.

“If you don’t have shade then you need airconditioning and then you’re using increased energy,” Ms Sanzaro said.

“It’s a monetary cost out of your own pocket and also an environmental cost.”

Ms Sanzaro said she considered the act a form of vandalism and said people should think twice before considering removing their trees.

“Think about the future for everyone and don’t be quite so self-centred,” she said.