Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Thursday, 17 April, 2014. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Council disgusted by tree vandalism in CBD

Greater Shepparton City Council Director Infrastructure, Steve Bowmaker, said the vandalism is obvious by the holes drilled into the trunk into which poison has been poured.

"The mature trees have been substantially affected and are unlikely to recover which means not only are we losing visually attractive, shade producing trees which shoppers appreciate, Council will also be faced with the additional cost of removing the trees and replacing them."

"Vandalism across the municipality is a huge issue for Council. For example, at Victoria Park Lake up to 25 per cent of staff time is spent dealing with deliberate acts of vandalism to community infrastructure and unnecessary rubbish collection," said Mr Bowmaker.

"There was similar damage to trees in Tatura late last year. It's senseless and pointless vandalism which unfortunately impacts on the community, not just Council. Instead of spending money making the municipality look good we are wasting money cleaning up after people with no sense of community."

"Across the municipality there are some 45,000 trees that form part of our urban forest. Their value to the community is not just in the aesthetics; they significantly enhance our urban environment and our neighbourhoods," said Mr Bowmaker.

"Council takes the management of its trees seriously and will commence work on developing an urban forest strategy in the near future."

Mr Bowmaker says criminal acts of vandalism are a community issue. "We would like to ask the public to work with us on these matters rather than thinking vandalism is a police and Council problem."

"These days nearly everyone carries a camera in their pocket in the form of a smart phone. People who spot something going on or who want to report damage could take photos and let the Police or Council know about it."

Greater Shepparton City Council, Team Leader Parks, Heath Chasemore said the trees are in a slower growth mode at the moment which means the poison is moving less quickly. "However, it is unlikely they will recover completely and we will more than likely have to remove them."

"We have had similar vandalism occur in the past across the municipality and it is always sad to see trees of such maturity destroyed by vandals that have no regard for anyone else's enjoyment of the trees."

"Replacement trees will take years to grow to the same height and spread and in the meantime shoppers are without shade and the attractiveness of the street corner is diminished substantially."

Greater Shepparton City Council would like to encourage anyone who witnesses deliberate acts of vandalism to trees or other plantings to contact the Police or the Council.

- Released 17 April 2014