Council’s hilarious answer to chopped trees

An inner-Sydney council is putting up a view-blocking sign in front of a multimillion-dollar house after hundreds of native trees were illegally chopped down.

The saga centres on a strip of land at Sydney’s Longueville, on a corner property next to Woodford Bay with views of boats and houses worth hundreds of times the median Australian wage.

In November, 290 ecologically threatened trees were illegally chopped on the strip of bushland which bookends the affluent Longueville homes.

The Lane Cove Council could well pursue criminal charges, but they have come up with another response in the meantime; A 14 square metre billboard to block the view.

“Tress shouldn’t have to die for a view. 290+ trees illegally destroyed. Lane Cove stands tall against tree vandalism,” the billboard will read.

The state environment department approved the sign, and the council started installing it last week.

Lawyers for the council are still gathering criminal evidence.

“As part of its response, council has been working to gain approval for the installation of a seven-metre long and two-metre high banner to interrupt the harbour view of the property which would most benefit from the mass clearing of the trees,” the council says in a statement announcing the devious billboard.

The council did not dish out a penalty notice at the time the trees were chopped, because “the scale and seriousness of the offence warranted the exploration of criminal prosecution”.

Eucalypts, Banksia and Casuarina trees were knocked down, and have now been replanted.

“The legal case and banner installation are important steps in our commitment to seeking the strongest possible recourse response to send a message that we stand tall against tree vandalism in Lane Cove,” the council says.

“I’m sure I speak for all in our community in saying the mass destruction of trees at this scale is outrageous and the culprit needs to be prosecuted to the full extent possible.” Mayor Scott Bennison said in January.

The Lane Cove Council manages about 90 hectares of bushland, has been creating new parks and acquiring more bushland in recent years, and 20 local volunteer groups maintain and help grow local bushland.

Longueville does not quite slip into Sydney’s top 10 most expensive suburbs. But Real Estate.com lists the median house price as $5.9m.

Nicole Kidman used to live in the suburb, as did tennis legend John Newcombe, and prolific lawyer Geoffrey Robertson who mentored now-UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.

There is a mobile phone number publicly available online listed as the owner of the house on Lucretia Ave, Longueville, which is nearest to the section of felled bushland. The owner of that phone has yet to respond to NewsWire.

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