At least three trees on the Lakehaven Dr side of Lake Albert have been vandalised and poisoned. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Several trees around Lake Albert have been marked as potentially poisoned by Wagga Wagga City Council, following similar vandalism seen to trees on Trail Street and Docker Street in late 2025.
Located on the Lakehaven Dr section of the lake, the trees have been marked with purple paint and a plaque placed by Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) to warn the public about potential poisoning.
The signs were installed by WWCC late last year and have left many local residents confused about why they were vandalised.
The signs read, “Wagga Wagga City Council is monitoring these trees for possible poisoning. Trees are a valuable community asset; they bring character to our neighbourhood and provide habitat for wildlife.
“Individuals who attempt to remove trees themselves are only doing it for their own benefit.
“Help protect our trees by reporting suspicious activity to Wagga Wagga City Council.”
The trees have been left in a similar condition to trees vandalised on Trail Street in Wagga CBD in October 2025, which saw several trees within the street’s canopy removed or cut down due to irreparable damage.
“Approximately 12 months ago, Wagga Wagga City Council staff identified signs of decline in the health of several trees along the Lake Albert shore. Upon inspection, drill holes were observed at the base of the trunks indicating that poisoning is the most likely cause of the damage,” a council spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, these trees are not expected to recover. A decision will be made in the coming weeks on if and when the trees should be removed.
“Council is currently planning regeneration works around Lake Albert to replace the trees that have been lost.”
Last year, WWCC warned the public that hefty fines would be imposed if a person were found guilty of vandalising a tree.
“Council warns that anyone found vandalising or removing trees without the necessary approval will be subject to a fine of up to $6000 on the spot under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979,” a the spokesperson said.
Several Wagga leaders, including former and soon-to-be-returning Wagga councillor Mick Henderson, have been left dumbfounded by the vandalism at Lake Albert, stating it makes no sense to attack the lake’s greenery and vegetation.
“It’s an act of vandalism,” Mr Henderson said.
“The trees that they’ve attacked are already dead and dying. It doesn’t make much sense that they would attack them.
“I don’t really understand why you would try to poison a dead tree. At that point, it’s just vandalism for the sake of vandalism.”
Mr Henderson wasn’t the only leader to voice their disapproval with Member for the Riverina, Michael McCormack, stating it is not up to random people to remove public trees.
“Unfortunately, by the signs placed by WWCC on at least three trees on the southeast corner of the lake, it seems not everyone wants the lake to be the pristine, serene go-to destination loved and used by so many locals and visitors,” he said.
“It may be that those ‘vandals’ – as decreed by council – felt the trees were dead and needed to be removed.
“It is true trees can drop limbs, and this can prove fatal, as what occurred at a suburban cricket match in Melbourne just on Saturday, when a 91-year-old man was struck and tragically killed by a falling branch. But it is also not up to people to take matters into their own hands and poison trees.
“If a tree needs to be removed, that is the job of council and people with any concerns can call the parks and gardens department.”
