Almost 300 trees cut down to clear Sydney Harbour views

Almost 300 trees have been illegally removed from a harbourside nature reserve, with the local council calling it the “worst act of environmental vandalism” in the suburb’s history.

Lane Cove Council initially reported that between 50 and 100 trees were removed from bushland at the Woodford Bay foreshore in Longueville, on Sydney’s north shore, sometime in the last month.

However, after council workers mapped the area, that figure almost doubled to 296, the ABC reported.

The affluent suburb offers coveted views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and glistening waters studded with yachts and motorboats.

Almost 300 trees were illegally removed from the Woodford Bay foreshore in Longueville. Google Maps Credit: NCA NewsWire

Longueville properties sell for an eye-watering $5.775 million on average, according to the latest data from realestate.com.au.

Now that hundreds of trees have been removed, those living on waterside properties on Arabella St have unobstructed views of the iconic skyline.

In a statement issued to the council’s website on Tuesday, Mayor Scott Bennison described the destruction as “outrageous” and said he was “appalled” when he was made aware of it late last week.

“I’m sure I speak for all in our community in saying the mass destruction of trees at this scale is outrageous and the culprit needs to be prosecuted to the full extent possible,” he said.

The decimated landscape of the foreshore. Lane Cove Council Credit: NCA NewsWire

Council immediately launched an investigation and said it was well advanced in identifying the culprit responsible for the damage.

“Staff have already been liaising with council’s lawyers and, subject to legal advice, will be seeking prosecution in the Land and Environment Court,” the statement said.

The Woodford Bay foreshore is just some of the 90 hectares of bushland cared for by the Lane Cove Council and is considered an “environmentally sensitive” area.

Photographs posted to social media of the foreshore show it lush with foliage and a thick tree canopy. Instagram Credit: NCA NewsWire

The council is looking for the person responsible for the removal. Instagram Credit: NCA NewsWire

More than 20 local Bushcare groups spend thousands of hours each year contributing to bush regeneration, according to the council.

“Lane Cove residents can be assured every effort will be made and the strongest possible action will be taken,” the council said.

It’s the second mass tree killing on the north shore this year after 265 trees – some as old as 80 years – were killed in the H.D. Robb Reserve at the edge of Castle Cove in June and July.

Willoughby City Council offered up a reward of $10,000 for information about the crime, but it’s understood the person responsible has yet to be identified.