Centuries-old trees have been cut down with chainsaws in a ‘bloody disgusting’ act of vandalism in a beachside suburb, leaving locals devastated.
A resident discovered four native banksia trees along a famous walking trail in Swansea, 21km north of Newcastle in NSW, on Tuesday morning.
Lake Macquarie City Council believes they were felled on or after January 20 and was first made aware of the fallen trees by a local man who filmed the scene and posted the video to Facebook.
“Fucking disgusting that anyone would do this,” he said.
He said the trees were cut down to improve the water views of nearby Caves Beach.
Another outraged local left a handwritten note on one of the destroyed trees.
‘Stop cutting down the trees! You do not own the view,” the note read.
A resident found four native banksia trees along a popular walking trail in Swansea Heads, 21km north of Newcastle in NSW, on Tuesday morning.
Lake Macquarie City Council was first made aware of the felled trees by the local man who filmed at the scene and posted the video to Facebook.
According to data from realestate.com, Caves Beach has a median home price of $1.237 million, and current homes on the market are advertised for just over $3 million if they have water views.
Lake Macquarie environmental systems manager Karen Partington told Daily Mail Australia the removal of the trees had not been approved.
“This was an illegal act done without council approval,” she said.
‘The Council is deeply concerned by any instance of illegal felling of trees.
“Investigations are underway. We have placed signs in the area and local residents have dropped off a letterbox, urging anyone with information to contact us.’
Despite the banksias being in the bush, away from homes, Ms Partington said the trees were the tallest in the area.
“It’s important to note that no one has an opinion. The growth of native vegetation in places like this is a sign of a healthy ecosystem – not a red flag for people to go there with chainsaws.”
Ms Partington said it was an issue the council had seen before.
“It is especially painful when they are native trees in a thriving coastal ecosystem, with the clear purpose of providing views to nearby homes,” Ms Partington said.
While there is an on-the-spot fine of $3000 for illegal tree removal in NSW, or a fine of up to $110,000 if a case goes to court, it remains a problem for waterfront suburbs across the state.
In 2023, more than 300 native trees and shrubs disappeared from the affluent harborside district of Longueville in Sydney’s Lower North Shore.
Longueville Mayor Scott Dennison has previously stated that maximum fines should be issued to set a good example.
However, because waterfront properties in coastal and harbor suburbs are worth millions of dollars, some residents may be willing to risk the hefty fine to get a better view.
The municipality believes the trees were felled with a chainsaw on or after January 20 and is urging anyone with information to come forward.
View of houses at the tree removal site in Swansea Heads, NSW
Although the banksias are located far from houses in the bush, Ms Partington said the trees were the tallest and would likely have blocked the view of nearby houses.