Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor is calling for the NSW State Government to implement stronger enforcement tools following the conclusion of an investigation into one of the area’s largest tree vandalism cases.
The investigation into the deliberate destruction of 256 trees at H.D. Robb Reserve in Castle Cove has ended without sufficient evidence to prosecute those responsible, according to a Council statement. Among the destroyed vegetation was an iconic 21-metre Sydney angophora that had stood for over 80 years.
Photo Credit: Willoughby City Council
Mayor Taylor described the destruction as “simply heartless in its disregard for our cherished flora and fauna” and presented her concerns directly to state officials. She met with NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, Minister for Climate Change & Energy Penny Sharpe, Member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale, and mayors from neighbouring councils to discuss three key points and seven recommendations from Willoughby Council.
“This case was unprecedented in its scale and will go down in Willougby’s history as a low point for our community,” Mayor Taylor said. “Council’s officers have worked tirelessly to identify those responsible, however we’ve been unable to unearth the necessary evidence that might lead to the prosecution of those behind this act.”
The Mayor noted this isn’t an isolated incident, with Willoughby experiencing an increasing number of tree vandalism cases in recent years, reflecting a troubling trend across Sydney’s North Shore.
Willoughby Council has already implemented multiple strategies to address tree vandalism, including educational initiatives, hiring additional compliance staff, and participating in a Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) working group focused on regulatory frameworks and enforcement.
Mayor Taylor emphasised that current resources are inadequate: “We simply need more support in our efforts to investigate tree vandalism to ensure that this doesn’t become an even larger issue.” She added that these incidents undermine Council’s work to balance housing requirements with the NSW Government’s urban tree canopy targets.
Published 20-February-2025
