An unnamed homeowner in Bassendean, a historic riverside suburb of Perth, Australia, was prosecuted in early December for felling a tree on their own land. This marks the first such case in the area, known for its heritage buildings and community-valued parklands along the river.
 |
Australian cities strictly enforce tree preservation programs, even on private land. Photo: Perth Now |
To preserve these community values, Bassendean implemented a tree preservation policy one year ago. This policy mandates the protection of ancient, historically valuable local trees, requiring official consent from authorities for any pruning or felling. Trees included in the preservation category are those taller than 8 meters, with a canopy wider than 6 meters, or a trunk circumference of 1,5 meters or more, provided they are not weed species.
The local court found the homeowner guilty for knowingly violating regulations by felling the tree without permission. The defendant's motive remains unclear. The court fined the individual 17,000 AUD (approximately 300 million VND). A local government representative stated that prosecuting homeowners is a "last resort" for such violations.
Illegally damaging or felling trees is considered a serious offense across Australia. For example, in New South Wales, offenders caught in the act can face on-the-spot fines of up to 3,000 AUD. If prosecuted, fines can reach 220,000 AUD for individuals and 1,1 million AUD for organizations. City councils often offer rewards of thousands of AUD for information leading to the identification of illegal tree felling.
Even if a tree causes damage to homes or water pipes, residents must submit a damage assessment application to obtain local government approval. Approval for felling trees in such cases can take between 2 and 6 weeks.
Some cases allow tree felling without a permit, including: dead, dying, or hazardous trees (with evidence required); small, ornamental trees or shrubs below local size regulations; or trees located entirely on private land and not classified as 'heritage trees' – which differs from the case in this prosecution.
By Hai Thu (According to Perth Now, Green Surgery)
