KOGARAH Council has once again shown it is serious about protecting trees after a property owner received a fine of more than $40,000.
The Morshead Drive, Connells Point, resident was fined in Kogarah Local Court for the unlawful removal of five mature trees and lopping two other trees without council consent.
A council spokeswoman said it was the second successful prosecution for unlawful tree removal in the Kogarah area recently following a fine of more than $30,000 imposed on a professional tree lopper in August.
She said the court had taken into consideration that the defendant had instructed an unnamed tree lopper to remove and prune the trees between late January and May 2012.
The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $26,225, council's legal costs of $7000, tree replanting costs totalling $3500 and a $4000 bond to undertake the replanting.
Kogarah mayor Nickolas Varvaris said the council took unlawful tree removal very seriously and would act in the best interests of the environment and the community when such offences occurred.
"It is council's objective to preserve and enhance the natural character of the local area; this includes our highly valued urban tree canopy and we aim to work with the community regarding this important issue," Cr Varvaris said.
"Anyone wishing to prune or remove trees can contact council officers and obtain the relevant information regarding their situation and if required the appropriate approval."
He said council consent was required to remove or prune trees over a height of 3.5 metres, or with a branch spread of more than 3 metres (except domestic citrus trees).
