City of Perth could become first LGA to slap tree-defacing vandals with $5000 fine

The City of Perth has released dramatic footage of wanton vandalism involving young men destroying its inner-city trees.

It comes after Perth City council voted 7-1 on Tuesday to review two local laws — Local Government Property Local Law 2005 and Thoroughfares and Public Places Local Law 2017 — which, if changed, could increase fines 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.

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.

“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,” Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas told PerthNow last week.

“The very clear message from us is if you get drunk or can’t behave yourself or can’t control yourself, don’t take it out on the trees in the City of Perth.

“It is unacceptable ... and I think if we have the penalties to match, we can send a message that supports the view, which is if you get caught, you’re going to get a significant fine.”

But Cr Brent Fleeton — the only councillor to vote against the motion — said he did not believe an increase in the fine would deter tree vandals.

“(I’m voting against the motion) not because I disagree but because I don’t think it’s going to make a single point of difference,” he said.

“I just don’t think an idiot who’s walking down the street who pulled the branch off of trees (is) thinking this might cost me $500 or it might cost me $5000.

“I actually haven’t seen anyone fined or prosecuted under this .... yes, we wanted to get penalties increased, but we’re also going to do this to make sure that we’re actually using the law.”

Cr Liam Gobbert said he hoped a steeper fine would incentivise people to stop damaging trees.

“I think it’s no secret to elected members, the frustrations that we experienced as a city when we see broken trees, littering our pathway they would otherwise be flourishing,” he said.

“I’d say take a second thought before you rush out and try and snap off some of our trees.

“These are bringing life and oxygen to our city and I can only hope that in providing a higher incentive that we’re able to see the trees reach their full maturity in the city.”