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Nine iconic fig trees on one of Australia’s most picturesque urban beaches have been drilled and poisoned.
Desperate efforts are currently underway to save the historic Port Jackson fig trees, some of which are more than 100 years old, which dominate Balmoral Beach, north of Sydney.
The trees that now have holes in their roots are located between Lower Almora St and Esther Rd on The Esplanade, and one resident reported seeing someone drilling into the majestic giants on Monday morning.
Anna Usher, who runs the Mosman Collective website, expressed the thoughts of many furious local residents when she called the poisoning a ‘dand act’.
Some of the holes drilled in the roots to poison nine historic Port Jackson fig trees overlooking Sydney’s Balmoral Beach.
“It is the most egregious case of tree vandalism we have ever encountered,” Ms Usher told Sydney radio station 2GB on Friday.
“They are iconic and are part of what makes Mosman so special.”
Mosman Council confirmed the poisoning and has been treating the trees by “flushing” the drilled holes and applying Seasol fertilizer around the roots, and the trees will be monitored for any signs of ill health.
“At this stage, council staff are reasonably confident that the trees will survive,” a spokesperson told Mosman Collective.
The City Council will put up posters asking for information about the poisoning.
The resident who thought he saw someone doing the drilling reported it to the city on Monday.
New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that officers at No.North Coast Police Area Command was notified of the incident on Monday “and is in contact with the local council”.
Council staff are now making desperate efforts to save the iconic trees which have been standing for more than 100 years.
Residents were left to speculate what the reason for the poisoning might be on the Mosman Collective’s social media pages.
“OMG, what a horrible, selfish thing,” one person said.
“I would be investigating whoever made complaints to the City Council about the trees.”
“I think it’s the bats they want to get rid of,” said another, referring to the flying foxes that make the trees their home.
“It looks like the trees are blocking someone’s view,” another comment reads.