Cavenagh St trial trees poisoned by vandals, Darwin council says

TREES planted on Cavenagh St outside Roma bar as part of a tree planting trial have been poisoned by vandals, Darwin council has said.

Someone has poisoned the trees on Cavanagh St outside The Roma Bar.

TREES planted on Cavenagh St outside Roma Bar as part of a tree planting trial have been poisoned by vandals, Darwin council has said.

Council engineering and city services manager Ron Grinsell said the trees were being trialled in the location and planter boxes to see if they suited the environment.

“City of Darwin has been focusing on greening and cooling our city since Cyclone Marcus destroyed more than 10,000 trees,” he said.

“City of Darwin is extremely disappointed to report that trees placed in planters outside the Roma Bar on Cavenagh Street have been poisoned and will die.”

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Concerns were raised by Darwin Lord mayor Kon Vatskalis who noticed the trees, which were planted about 12 months ago, were dying before a horticulturalist assessed the plants.

The horticulturalist determined the trees had been chemically poisoned from the way they were dying and the leaves were shrivelling.

“The trees in the planters will be replaced and City of Darwin remains committed to creating a green, vibrant city,” Mr Grinsell said.

“We know the community will also be disappointed and ask that any acts of vandalism be reported to police.”

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The trees were planted as part of council’s $4.7 million city beautification project, due to be completed by June.

Council has determined the trees were poisoned in the last few weeks and are investigating along with police.