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More than 70 plants vandalised in Shelley and Riverton

Jaime ShurmerCanning Gazette

MORE than 70 plants in Shelley and Riverton were deliberately damaged on the weekend, prompting calls for residents nearby to check CCTV footage.

Rossmoyne resident Rebecca Trainor noticed young trees snapped in half while walking her dog along the Shelley foreshore on Sunday afternoon and sent photos to the City of Canning and councillor Ben Kunze.

“I started at the rowing club and walked up to the bridge and noticed at least a dozen,” she said.

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“For somebody to damage them all the way along it’s pretty disappointing.”

Mr Kunze found more were damaged in Bicentennial Adenia Park in Riverton.

Canning chief executive Arthur Kyron said 40 ground cover plants were also damaged, and the trees damaged were believed to be three to five years old.

He said the City had a strategy in place to increase its urban tree canopy and was devastated at the damage, with the costs unfortunately borne by the community.

“Environmental vandalism will not be tolerated by the City of Canning,” he said.

“This is a serious offence and the police have been notified.

“The City has also contacted the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, who can prosecute for vegetation damage in the Swan and Canning Riverpark.”

Cr Kunze said the actions by unknown culprits showed utter contempt for the tireless work of volunteers and the City to improve the natural environment.

“I feel so very much for those who regularly put in their blood and sweat into these projects, only for it to be destroyed in an act of senseless vandalism,” he said.

“This kind of behaviour needs to stop; it’s despicable.”

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