Arnott St resident Lew Mentha looks at a tree that was snapped in front of his home. About 40 trees have been vandalised in Horsham in the past month. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Horsham Rural City Council has lost about 40 trees to vandalism in the past month.
Two crepe myrtle trees were snapped in Arnott Street, Horsham, on Sunday night last week.
Resident Lew Mentha said he was disappointed when he discovered one of the trees snapped in front of his house.
"I wasn't very happy," he said.
"To plant a tree there and get it to that stage takes three to five years.
"It's really putting it back.
"I had a look to see if I could save the tree but it was snapped completely off."
Mr Mentha said he called council's parks and gardens superintendent Rodney Lawson to report the vandalism.
He said he had lived in the street for nearly 50 years without incident until now.
"I've seen it before but not in front of my place," he said.
"I'm very disappointed."
Mr Lawson said vandalism was a common problem in the municipality, with 40 trees destroyed in the past month.
He said it was not restricted to one area.
"It happens all over on Kalkee Road, in Arnott Street, behind the hospital, in Barnes Boulevard, in Horsham West all over," he said.
Mr Lawson said it would cost about $120 to replace the crepe myrtles, which were starting to flower.
He said the Arnott Street incident had been reported to police.
"People have just got to be a little bit more considerate," he said.
Mr Lawson said council would look at replacing the trees in autumn.
