Aussie council erects towering sign in front of exclusive homes after 'illegal' act

Authorities fed up with people "ripping native plants" from the sand dunes at one of Australia's most exclusive seaside suburbs have been forced to take drastic measures to combat the issue, erecting a huge sign aimed at finding those responsible.

The foreshore at Queenscliff, at the tip of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, has faced repeated attacks from people removing vegetation in a "deliberate act of vandalism", according to the Borough of Queenscliffe council — the state's smallest local governing body.

Reasons for offenders removing the indigenous flora in the past have ranged from people wanting to widen private pathways, to clearing greenery that obstructs ocean views, The Herald Sun reported.

Perpetrators difficult to identify

The issue is particularly prevalent at Crows Nest Place in Queenscliff, where the sign stands in front of newly planted native seedlings, formerly home to thriving native vegetation, in the shadows of multi-million dollar waterfront homes.

“Vegetation in this area has been illegally removed in a deliberate act of vandalism,” the towering council sign reads. "Anyone with information regarding this or any other act of vandalism is encouraged to contact Council...Offenders will be subject to prosecution. Penalties apply."

Recently, three other similar acts of "vegetation vandalism" had occurred at Crows Nest alone the Herald Sun reported, though so far nobody has been held accountable.

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"With respect to this recent incident, we have not established who is responsible, so cannot confirm who the perpetrator was. No fines have been issued,” a Queenscliff spokeswoman said. “Our community is a vigilant one which reports suspicious activity to council when they see it.”

Homes in the area, many of which are worth millions of dollars, look out over Port Phillip Bay to Point Nepean, and southwest to the Rip and Point Lonsdale lighthouse.

Issue prevalent across the state

Queenscliffe isn't the only council taking action against the vandalism, with other Victorian councils also reporting similar clearing "for personal reasons" all over the state. In some areas, it's been reported that trees had been illegally cut down, poisoned, and ripped from their roots.

In Melbourne, Bayside City Council director of environment, recreation and infrastructure, Jill Colson, said she was aware of four instances of vegetation vandalism in her electorate in just a year.

“Council installs tree vandalism signs to protect our precious foreshore from future acts of vandalism,” she told The Herald Sun.

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