Axe-wielding tree vandals are plaguing Greater Dandenong Council.
Engineering services director Julie Reid said more than 30 trees had been illegally removed or vandalised across the municipality in the past month.
“This includes both street trees and park trees, and the council is very concerned about this recent spate of tree vandalism,” she said.
“In every instance, an axe has been used to chop down the trees or vandalise them, and in some cases the trees have been left in quite a dangerous state.”
Ms Reid said two trees posed a safety risk to motorists, with branches and limbs left hanging across Cheltenham Road in Keysborough.
“Trees are very important to the local environment and provide a range of benefits to the community,” she said.
The council plants about 1500 street trees and 1000 park trees each year.
Ms Reid said it was important that they were protected.
“The council would encourage any residents who witness any suspicious activity involving trees or illegal tree removal to report this immediately to Victoria Police,” she said.
