On either the evening of 2 July or the early morning of 3 July seven native trees (two Eucalypts and five Casuarinas) at Morrison Bay playing fields were vandalised, possibly to improve water views.
The damage was detected on Thursday morning by Council Rangers and was immediately attended by Council’s Acting Senior Tree Management Officer and arboricultural staff.
During the day, staff removed the debris and pruned the trees to minimise long-term damage to help the trees recover.
Mayor for the City of Ryde, Clr Ivan Petch said: “Council will be doing everything to identify the perpetrators of this vandalism crime, including contacting all adjoining property owners to endeavour to get assistance in identifying the culprits.
“If Council does identify the vandals we will be exercising the full extent of our powers of prosecution accordingly.
“It is very distressing to come to terms with damage such as this to our natural environment.”
Council will continue its education program, through a letterbox drop to the community, encouraging residents to report incidents and even provide photographic evidence of the vandalism as it happens.
Staff report that a similar incident occurred in 1999 at the same location.
Media contact: Lee Kirkland 9952 8083
