'Money always wins': Inside Sydney's underground tree-killing industry
Tree vandalism in Sydney, particularly in Castle Cove, saw 265 trees illegally destroyed, prompting global concern. Despite a $10,000 reward, no perpetrators have been identified. Unregulated tree removal for profit poses challenges, impacting the environment, property values, and community dynamics. Sydney's goal of 40% tree canopy by 2036 faces threats from ongoing vandalism, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and community involvement.
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In Sydney, tree vandalism is on the rise, with 265 trees illegally killed in Castle Cove last year, sparking international outrage. Despite a $10,000 reward for information, no one has been held accountable. The North Shore faces a growing issue of unregulated tree loppers driven by profit, leading to an underground industry where trees are illegally removed for better views or development. Residents like Louise and Jim from Tree Watch monitor and report suspicious tree activities, but legal challenges and high costs hinder effective prosecution. The loss of trees not only impacts the environment but also raises property values, creating tensions between development, conservation, and community preferences. Sydney aims to increase tree canopy coverage to 40% by 2036, but ongoing tree vandalism threatens this goal. The situation reflects broader challenges in balancing urban development with environmental preservation, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and community vigilance to protect Sydney's green spaces.
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9 commentsThese people are awful human beings and I hope these councils institute some real criminal penalties for cutting down any old growth.
In Seattle, a city with lots of trees, the big problem today is sanctioned tree killing. The current over-focus on building housing and increasing density has meant revised tree codes that are friendly to builders and reduced enforcement that ignores the obvious destruction of the city’s tree cover.
As an example: a friend living next to a new development saw the builders come cut down several large old trees in the evening on a weekend (probably to avoid attention), and immediately feed them into a large wood chipper towed on site. They were alerted to it by the sound of big trees crashing to the ground. It all happened very quickly. The city was involved due to complaints from multiple neighbors but they decided there was no evidence the trees were protected (due to size), which of course was by design since the evidence was immediately shredded and no one was quick enough to get a photo of the crime. In the end the city did find there was illegal clearing of many trees without appropriate permits (from old survey maps of the lot), but chose not to apply the code and fines (which can be big for large trees) and let the developer plant a small number of saplings in some other site (outside of the city) as if that were equivalent. What was especially concerning was the city told complaining neighbors that they were choosing to not enforce the law because it is a property developer and not a private homeowner.
In my experience, this type of unofficially permitted tree killing by builders is much more common and a far bigger problem than the rare issue of a private homeowner taking down a tree or two. Apart from the attitude towards new development, it is also an issue of corruption since the organizations representing builders are very involved (financially and otherwise) in local politics.
Good. I was thinking hot-pink cell phone towers to replace the trees.
The people who can name names and testify... could retire from tree labor, by pivoting to blackmail?
> James says clients often tell him “name your price” and he says some job offers have been worth up to $15,000. [...] James suspects a tree lopper would charge at least $20,000 for a big, risky job like the one at Castle Cove.
Then again, they already know that these particular rich people are comfortable hiring lower-class people to illegally remove annoyances.
So blackmail of any single party might be capped well below the going market rate for removal of a blackmailer?
> “THESE SIGNS WILL REMAIN UNTIL THE TREES GROW BACK”, they read.
That's an interesting solution.
If a tree dies on your property you will get a concrete memorial pillar in its place, with a billboard of city's choosing or whatever else the city decides. A solar panel, a wind turbine, an electric or telecom pole, radio mast. Pillar paid for with your money of course.
Unless you promptly replace the tree with replanted one of similar size.
That should send a message pretty quickly.
Why is it impossible to find another resolution that satisfies both the homeowner and ecologists?
PS. I know of a similar problem - where some giant oak trees along a house are so dense that the owners have to use artificial lighting in their rooms during the summer at just about all times,
The trees are owned by the township but reach well over the property and are clearly too big, half as big trees would suffice, the township does not allow trimming the trees without a legal fight
Why should someone be deprived of natural light in their own home? Just cut back on the tree; it is not the end of the world or Mother Nature.
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