Vandals defacing trees in Perth’s CBD could soon be slapped with a $5000 fine after Lord mayor Basil Zempilas described inner-city tree vandalism as becoming “out of hand”.
The City of Perth council is set to vote on whether to review two local laws — Local Government Property Local Law 2005 and Thoroughfares and Public Places Local Law 2017 — which, if changed, could increase the fine for tree-related offences from $500 to $5000.
The maximum penalty for tree-related crime in the CBD is currently $500 and is comparable to other metropolitan local governments.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.
According to a staff report, 45 of the 50 trees removed from the Perth CBD in 2023 were due to vandalism.
In August last year CCTV captured a man damaging about 100 trees planted as part of the Roe Street Enhancement Project.
Since January 2024, 23 more trees have been removed due to vandalism.
The average cost to replace and maintain a new tree is $6900.
Speaking before Tuesday night’s council briefing, Lord mayor Basil Zempilas told PerthNow tree vandalism was “almost out of hand”.
“It’s hard to know what goes through people’s minds when they walk past a tree or decide to swing from a branch, or snap a branch, or kip the trunk, or knock over a new sapling, or stomp on a new shrub that’s been planted … what we do know is that it’s almost out of hand,” he said.
“We…
- SEO Powered Content & PR Distribution. Get Amplified Today.
- PlatoData.Network Vertical Generative Ai. Empower Yourself. Access Here.
- PlatoAiStream. Web3 Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. Access Here.
- PlatoESG. Carbon, CleanTech, Energy, Environment, Solar, Waste Management. Access Here.
- PlatoHealth. Biotech and Clinical Trials Intelligence. Access Here.
- Source: https://mmpconnect.com/fines-for-vandalising-trees-in-perths-cbd-could-soon-increase-from-500-to-5000/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fines-for-vandalising-trees-in-perths-cbd-could-soon-increase-from-500-to-5000