Emerald Ranger's Cameron Hons has been looking after Lambert Reserve in Bardwell Park for over 25 years. It is an area famous for its green space and many parks and gardens. So how do you think people felt when it was discovered that three large native Eucalyptus trees were found drilled and poisoned by unknown vandals back in December 2025. "I was sad and angry" said Cameron. A lot of neighbours including Cameron himself noticed that the large 25 meter trees, that had once never been a problem with anyone, started to rapidly turn brown. "Immediately we rang Bayside Council, our local district council, to report the tree vandalism. I had a good chat with the tree inspector who found more than one, several drill holes (seven in total) with evidence of poison poured into them by the criminals. He said I should water them to try and save them." Sadly, seven months later it looked like two of the large native Eucalyptus trees had started to rapidly decline "within the first few weeks." Cameron says.
Many residents as well as Cameron have shared their anger, frustration and disgust that this tree poisoning happened. "Everyone enjoys these trees around here....well, nearly everyone. I haven't seen anyone else who has said good riddance. This act of tree vandalism has really brought the community together in support of our bushcare work and to condemn the tree vandals." Neighbours have also been giving Cameron donations of new trees to plant over time as support for their hard work.
Cameron says it's a very unusual case as we know exactly who is involved yet we can't prove it unless we have video evidence or images of them in the act." That is why many tree poisonings still occur. In Australia, tree poisoning remains a problem in various states because the laws are not good enough to stop people. "If some idiot is willing to pay someone $20,000 to poison a couple of trees, then a "$3000 fine means nothing to them. Since they know they need proof to be prosecuted, the crime is too irresistable (for these criminals) to get away with. People complain about the leaves falling onto their backyard or swimming pool or want to have an improved view so someone comes around and poisons a tree for them. It's truly selfish and disgusting behavior."
Cameron & his other friends are unsure why this tree further away from anyone has been targeted by the vandals.
While tree poisoning remains problematic in Australia and remains hard to prove, one man, Norman Sukkar, was caught and fined over $1million for poisoning several large trees in Ashfield Park in Ashfield NSW.. It just shows that CCTV is hugely important in high risk tree-poisoning areas. Cameron & his friends have been campaigning to put in CCTV cameras in their reserve.
Cameron has been working and looking after Lambert Reserve for over 25 years. This is not the first case of tree vandalism he has seen in the area. "About 10 years ago six large native Eucalyptus trees were drilled and poisoned by vandals. That's what started up our bushcare group in the first place, and we have since recovered that section. But we have been looking after this reserve much longer than that."
Many people use these reserves for relaxing, walking , or socializing with other neighbours. It's a good selling point for houses, Real Estate agents often credit the reserve for allowing people to live amongst the trees, nature and green space. It makes no sense as to why some idiot would want several large trees poisoned for their own personal gain after they buy a house here, they should know exactly what they are getting into.
"Investigators have told me that the trees that were poisoned were over 100 years old. They've never been a problem with anyone. Sadly now they will have to be pruned back and kept for animal habitat."
Not all is lost, however. It has been confirmed that Cameron has saved a native Melaleuca tree that was also drilled by the vandals three times, which is already starting to show signs of recovery, and a new growth on the bottom of one of the poisoned Eucalyptus has been growing up very well thanks to Cameron's recovery work.
New South Wales' Bayside Council has a tree policy which includes replanting 2 new trees for every 1 tree that is poisoned and vandalized. In a letter posted by Bayside Council to residents earlier this week, they shared their disappointment that the tree poisoning had occurred and acknowledged the tree's significance to the area and health and wellbeing for people & animals, and also praised the work of Cameron and his bushcare team that works in and recovers the site every month of the year.
An upcoming planting day to replace the trees poisoned will be held in the reserve sometime later in the year at an undetermined date. Council will be pruning back the trees affected to retain them for animal habitat on 28th and 29th of July. Cameron has also been discussing plans to add more nest boxes and tree hollows to the affected trees.
Cameron held a meeting with a Councillor MP in the reserve during June to discuss his concerns about tree poisoning and what they want to do to fix up the site, plus share support of installing CCTV cameras in the area.
"We are also hopeful that one day the tree poisoning laws will change to inflict harsher punishments and introduce jail time and more action as to what Councils can do in response to the situation. The current laws are clearly not good enough." says Cameron.
"Our community has certainly become more vigilant since this latest spate of tree vandalism. When it was first discovered we letter box dropped everybody in the neighbourhood quickly. We now know what to look out for now if it happens again. It's a shame and disappointing that somebody's act of selfishness has to ruin things for everyone. But we've always been here to help fix things up and that's what we do. We look forward to planting more trees very soon."
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