Mayor slams vandalism to town of trees
26 November 2018
Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest is devastated by the poisoning of five established trees on the southern side of Cambridge's Lake Te Koo Utu.
The trees, including three native totara, a cryptomeria and a cedar, are in poor condition after being discovered last week with drill holes indicating poisoning. The trees are going brown and losing their leaves.
Mayor Mylchreest has slammed the vandalism calling it an attack on the town of trees. Council staff have handed the matter over to the Police.
I am shocked that anyone would deliberately damage such well-established trees. Council works hard to maintain our parks and reserves and this sort of willful damage is disappointing both for the public who enjoy the trees and the parks team who maintain them.
The damaged trees were discovered by members of the Cambridge Community Board, Cambridge Tree Trust and Lakewood Development who were on site to discuss future improvements to the area.
Council's arborist is monitoring the trees' condition but they are not expected to recover and will eventually need to be removed, Mylchreest said.
He said the trees will be replaced with similar specimens and a close eye will be kept on that area.
Mayor Mylchreest asks that anyone who has any information about the damage to contact the Police.
He would not be drawn on who might be involved in the poisoning but hoped they would be caught.