Unauthorised pruning or removal of trees is an offence under local laws with fines of up to $5000.
Offenders may also be responsible for replacement and establishment costs.
“It’s a crime at the end of the day,” Trott said.
“It is taxpayer money getting wasted and I think they should be prosecuted.
“Hopefully [the council] will persist and hopefully, whichever idiot who’s doing it will stop.”
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Cameron Bell, who also lives adjacent to the park, expressed his disappointment and also speculated as to the motive of the alleged repeat offender.
“I’m assuming people who have a view, an ocean view, are thinking, I’m going to lose my ocean view,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, it’s not their park and when you buy here, you buy knowing there’s a park in front.
“When they planted the last ones I laughed and told my wife, ‘I give them three days’, and I think it took five days.”
City of Joondalup deputy mayor Adrian Hill said the city had not received any complaints from residents about the planting of the trees.
“We are working hard, with the support of the community, to enhance our tree canopy,” he said.
“People who vandalise trees are causing a loss of amenity and extra costs for our community by destroying community assets, which need to be replaced.”
The City will assess the damaged trees, plant replacement trees, and write to nearby land owners asking for support to identify and catch the culprits and report offending to police.
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