The City of Melville will continue replacing vandalised trees despite damage to more saplings along Bicton foreshore.
Foreshore Team Leader Jamie Davies was on site recently erecting a ‘vandalism’ sign in place of a native tree, which had been part of important foreshore stabilisation plantings.
The signs detail the type of the tree, its individual cost and the cumulative cost to ratepayers of repeatedly replacing the planting. They are designed to raise public awareness of the ongoing vandalism issue.
Mr Davies said the City had erected up to 25 of the signs in the last year, mostly along the foreshores of Applecross, Attadale and Bicton which are the tree vandalism hotspots.
The tree at this location, at the end of Crewe Street on Blackwall Reach Reserve, has been replaced twice with the most recent tree cut off at the base. Vandalism signage has been erected five times because its repeatedly removed.
Mr Davies said the majority of the community he talks to on the job are positive about planting more trees on the foreshore and the work that he and the team do.
“We’re at a loss as to why young trees keep being vandalised considering there is little chance that they will interrupt views, they complement existing mature native trees on the foreshore and don’t create any other foreseeable inconvenience,” he said.
“There are already well-established trees on the foreshore, and we get no complaints about those.”
City of Melville Chief Executive Officer Gail Bowman said a Community Survey in 2024 to backing the City’s Foreshore Management Plan, and it showed nearly 75 percent of respondents wanted more foreshore vegetation.
“So, we are very much doing what the majority of the community wants,” said Ms Bowman.
“The vandalism of trees costs the City and ultimately ratepayers considerable money as well as going against the urgent need to address climate change.
“We acknowledge the importance of protecting and enhancing our natural environment, and we need the community’s help to do this.
“I encourage anyone who witnesses vandalism to trees in our parks, bushlands, wetlands or river foreshore reserves to report it to the City.”
Image shows Foreshore Team Leader Jamie Davies erecting another vandalism sign on Bicton foreshore to call attention to the repeated destruction of trees.