More than $10,000 worth of damage was done when 28 newly planted trees were destroyed at Cyril Curtain Reserve in Williamstown last month.
The tree vandalism, which occurred across two separate incidents in September, will cost Council more than $12,000, including the lost trees and their replacements.
The damaged trees were among 51 advanced coastal banksias planted along pathways behind the Williamstown Cricket Ground as part of Council's 2026 planting program. The incident has been reported to police.
The trees were selected to provide future shade and cooling benefits in a highly used part of the foreshore.
Hobsons Bay is recognised as having one of the lowest amounts of tree canopy cover or natural shade of all Victorian municipalities.
When trees are destroyed, not only is public money wasted, but the shade, cooling, habitat and amenity benefits they would have provided are lost or delayed for many years.
Low tree coverage contributes to heating up of suburbs and impacts the health of residents.
Council has received 92 reports of tree vandalism in 2026 alone, ranging from damage to newly planted trees through to the destruction of established trees.
The community can help protect the shared community assets by reporting any suspicious activity involving newly planted trees.
Council encourages residents to help protect shared community assets and report any suspicious activity involving newly planted trees.
Tree vandalism is investigated by Council's local laws team, and where it is found that a person has breached the local law, an infringement notice per affected tree is issued.
