With trees being poisoned on a regular basis in Wollongong’s northern coastal suburbs this year, some residents have been calling for council to take stronger measures to stop the destruction.

Council had preciously erected large signs at sites of significant tree vandalism, and replanted the trees so people who killed trees to benefit their view did not benefit.

A large sign has been erected at Coledale but it is understood poisoned trees have not been replanted.

The new policy contains a range of measures council can take against poisoners, including letterbox drops to surrounding areas, monitoring, replacement plantings, camera surveillance and education campaigns.

WCC has been concerned it did not have a policy to govern its use of CCTV cameras at problem sites, so it has had to draft one, which will now go on exhibition for public comment.

The council had some concern that covert surveillance cameras could be used “unlawfully”, resulting in “financial or reputational loss” to the council, according to its risk management notes.

The cameras will be one part of a tree policy which will seek to “clearly communicate council’s strong opposition to tree/vegetation vandalism on council owned or managed land at any time or under any circumstances”,  the draft policy says.

This would “provide a consistent approach to respond to the apparent increase, particularly in coastal areas, of tree/vegetation vandalism [on] council owned or managed land”.

It will be considered at Monday night’s council meeting.