Balmoral Beach locals were left aghast last month when it appeared a vandal armed with a drill and toxic herbicide might have sentenced the 100-year-old trees to a slow death.
But in a heartening update to 9news.com.au, Mosman Council said the huge Port Jackson figs “are showing no adverse reactions” which led them to believe the trees have “survived the act of vandalism”.
It was feared the trees which line the popular beach could have been doomed when multiple holes were drilled into the roots and filled with poison.
A local resident phoned the council after spotting someone drilling at the base of a tree.
Since the attack, arborists and staff have monitored the trees several times a week, and NSW Police are continuing to investigate who was responsible.
Mosman has joined other councils in Sydney urging the state government to toughen up punishments for illegal tree felling and do it quickly.
An “urgent” government review was vital, a Mosman Council spokesperson said, because of “recent tree vandalism incidents across Sydney and a view that current penalties are not considered a deterrent to illegal tree works.”
Last year, Sydneysiders were left stunned by two tree vandalism acts unprecedented in scale, in suburbs where many homes have million-dollar water views.
Generally, fines for unauthorised tree removal are $3000 for property owners and $6000 for companies.
Higher fines can be imposed by courts but, for those to be meted out, the case must be proven and so council’s legal costs to secure convictions are significantly higher.
Councils find it difficult to successfully prosecute offenders because of the burden of proof required to obtain a conviction.
Residents who live in multi-million-dollar homes are more than happy to illegally take out trees to improve their view and pay the fine, councils argue.
In the aftermath, all councils are often able to do is to install billboards, banners and bunting as well as security cameras.
Why one scientist cut down the world’s oldest living tree
Residents in Castle Cove, on Sydney’s north shore, were shocked in August when 265 trees were decimated by a person or gang wielding a chainsaw and poison.
A few months later, in November, up to 300 trees and other plants were illegally destroyed at a harbour-view reserve on the lower north shore.
