A petrol can, a drill and six dead trees: Sydney tree vandal avoids conviction

A man accused of poisoning six mature trees in a heritage-listed park in Sydney’s inner west has agreed to pay more than $116,000 to fund park improvements after admitting he drilled holes into the trees and poured petrol into them in a case residents said turned the site into a “tree graveyard”.

The case became one of Sydney’s most closely watched tree vandalism cases, sparking community outrage and prompting calls for tougher penalties against people who illegally destroy public trees.

The settlement follows an incident on December 28, 2024, when Norman Sukkar was allegedly caught on camera using a cordless drill to bore large holes into six mature trees at Allman Park in Ashfield before pouring petrol into them.

The trees, which stood along the boundary of the park, included five magenta lilly pillies and one tuckeroo, which at the time of the poisoning were mature trees standing about 11 metres tall.

Council arborists later found two trees had died, while the remaining four were in a state of “irreversible decline”, ultimately requiring all six to be removed. No permit had been issued for the clearing of the trees and no development consent was in place authorising their removal.

Footage of the removal was shared on social media, prompting widespread attention that inspired some resident to install “tree graveyard” signs at the site to mourn their loss.

Sukkar was originally facing prosecution in the NSW Land and Environment Court after the Inner West Council commenced proceedings seeking up to $1 million in penalties. However, the council has discontinued the case after entering into an enforceable undertaking with Sukkar.

Under the settlement, Sukkar has agreed to pay $100,000 to the council to fund improvements at Allman Park, including planting seven replacement trees, maintaining them for 12 months, additional garden bed planting and upgrades to drainage and pathways.

He has also accepted responsibility for the destruction of the trees and acknowledged that his actions breached planning laws, damaged the natural qualities of a heritage-listed park and undermined public confidence in the planning system.

The undertaking notes that the conduct was witnessed and reported by a member of the public, helping the council pursue the enforcement action.

Tree poisoning remains a persistent issue across Sydney, with councils regularly reporting attacks on public reserves and foreshore bushland. Local governments have long argued offences can be difficult to prosecute because offenders often act covertly, and substantial evidence is required.

The issue was highlighted again last month when Yi Wang, director of gardening company Sydney Garden Home, pleaded guilty in the NSW Land and Environment Court to three offences under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act after illegally removing 287 trees from protected foreshore bushland at Woodford Bay Reserve in Longueville in November 2023.

Wang was fined $187,500 and ordered to pay Lane Cove Council’s legal costs. In a statement following the judgment, the council said another matter relating to the same site remains before the court.

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