‘Selfish’ attack on foreshore flora
Three mature native gum trees have been poisoned along the Maylands foreshore. Two have died, one struggles on.
Bayswater council staff suspect homeowners of killing the trees at Berringa Park Wetlands in order to get a better view of the Swan River, but proving it is hard going.
“The drill holes—typically used to assist in poisoning trees—and ringbarking strongly suggest the attack was a deliberate attempt to kill the trees,” Swan River Trust manager Stephen Lloyd says.
The council voted to erect a 1.5m sign at Berringa Park, reminding people that destroying trees is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for killing a tree is $5000.
Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker describes the attacks as “selfish”.
“Tree poisoning is a direct attack on the right of the entire community to enjoy and have access to beautiful parklands amongst our suburbs,” she says.
“I support the SRT and the Bayswater city council in measures taken to combat this selfish act of destruction of public property and our community’s natural environment.”
Cr Chris Cornish says the “wetlands area is a delicate ecosystem which we must preserve”.
Cr Sonia Turkington is more circumspect: “I support council’s decision to provide in principle support to the Swan River Trust to erect a sign where a tree has been poisoned.
“However, I do not support groups that come in and plant vegetation that will deliberately take away the views of the river which people enjoy.”
After a tree was poisoned in Bardon Park in 2008, council erected two similar signs.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Perth Voice Interactive 