‘They have to be held responsible’: Almost 200 young trees destroyed in vandalism spree

Rare and potentially irreplaceable trees were among almost 200 young plants and shrubs killed in a vandalism spree at the weekend, which spanned eight parks in Melbourne’s south-east and caused about $200,000 worth of damage.

Glen Eira City Council, which includes the suburbs of Caulfield, Murrumbeena and Carnegie, has expressed disgust after trees were found on Monday morning snapped, cut at the base with a hand saw or uprooted.

Nick and Alex Mallis found destroyed trees at Mallanbool Reserve in Murrumbeena on Tuesday.Credit: Joe Armao

The council said each tree cost about $700 to buy and establish.

When accounting for repairs and replanting, the council estimates the vandalism spree will cost ratepayers close to $200,000.

Glen Eira director of sustainability, assets and leisure Niall McDonagh said the trees were planted over the past three years.

Some were rare, and might not be replaceable, including red gums at Boyd Park, which were grown from the seeds of trees felled for the level crossing removal works at Murrumbeena train station.

A man inspects the site where a young tree was uprooted in Caulfield Park.Credit: Joe Armao

“We are extremely disappointed and disgusted at the deliberate acts of vandalism over the weekend targeting young trees and shrubs,” McDonagh said.

“We’ve sadly seen acts of vandalism before in our parks, but never to this extent across multiple parks ... This event is the first widespread instance of targeted tree destruction.

“We don’t understand why anyone would do this.”

McDonagh said the vandalism spree appeared to target native plants, although some exotic species were also killed.

Jim Magee, a three-time Glen Eira mayor who is up for re-election as a councillor, said the destruction was the most disgraceful case of tree vandalism he had come across.

“Often it’s 10, 20 trees and isolated to one park,” Magee said.

“This smacks of a premeditated, concerted effort to just vandalise trees in Glen Eira, and it’s incredibly disappointing.”

He said the destruction undermined the council’s push to increase the municipality’s tree canopy, after it dropped from 25 per cent in 2000 to 12.5 per cent in 2021. The council plants about 2000 trees a year.

What is left of a tree that was snapped in Boyd Park in Murrumbeena. Credit: Joe Armao

Magee said he could not comprehend the illicit behaviour and speculated that a dislike of the council or native trees could be behind the act.

“It’s so distressing to go and look at,” he said.

“The council will try everything to catch the vandals. They have to be held responsible for this.”

Police said the matter was reported to them on Tuesday.

“Police are investigating reports of criminal damage to a number of trees located in parks across Caulfield, Ormond, Murrumbeena and Carnegie,” a police spokesman said.

“It is believed that the damage occurred some time between 26 and 27 October.”

Alex Mallis was walking her dog, Charlie, with brother Nick on Tuesday morning when they came across the felled trees at Murrumbeena’s Mallanbool Reserve.

“I’m just confused as to why,” she said. “It’s appalling because it’s affecting the community and sending a lot of money down the drain.”

The council hopes to involve residents in restoring some of the lost trees through neighbourhood planting days.

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