A council on Sydney’s ritzy north shore will block a multi-million-dollar harbour view after hundreds of native trees were illegally felled near a waterfront home.
Lane Cove Council is making the drastic move after 285 trees were cut down at the foreshore in Longueville, on the lower north shore in November 2023.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Creative Council fights back.
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Eucalypts, banksia, and casuarina trees were sawed down but have since been replanted.
In retaliation for the destruction and until the trees grow back at the “environmentally sensitive foreshore”, the council is installing a massive orange sign to block the view of Woodford Bay.
“Trees shouldn’t die for a view. 290+ trees illegally destroyed,” reads the planned sign.
“Lane Cove stands tall against tree vandalism.”
Installation of the banner has continued this week, with the footings now installed, the council said.
Lane Cove Mayor Scott Bennison told Sunrise’s Nat and Shirvo the destruction of the trees was “absolutely shocking”.
“Who thinks that someone would chop down 300 trees in the middle of the night? It’s just crazy. Our community is absolutely offended and disgusted by the amount of vandalism on our property.”
He said the council had a person of interest in its probe into the destruction of the trees and “intends to prosecute to the full extent of the law”.
“Let’s remember it’s actually the council’s land.
“So, to be so brazen as to enter someone else’s property and chop down 300 trees for a better view — it’s just incredible.
“When you buy a block of land, you know your boundaries. The fact that someone thought, ‘I’m just going to chop all these down so I can get a better view,’ is astonishing.”
Bennison said the council had decided to “put up a big whopping banner” as a warning to others.
“That sends the message that we don’t tolerate this behaviour, and it will stay up as long as needed, until the bush regenerates to what it was.”
The mayor also said he hoped the bush would grow back “more dense” than before.
“Hopefully, it doesn’t take too long,” he added.
The sign is 2m high and 7m wide and designed to obstruct the harbour views completely.
“The legal case and banner installation are important steps in our commitment to seeking the strongest possible response to send a message that we stand tall against tree vandalism in Lane Cove,” the council said in a statement.
