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1 First home buyers or previous homeowners who haven’t owned a property in Australia in the past 10 years. More information: Credit criteria, fees and charges apply. RAMS home loans are not available for foreign borrowers residing outside Australia. RAMS Financial Group is a participating lender of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Home Guarantee Scheme as at 1 July 2023. Home Guarantee Scheme eligibility criteria and property price caps apply. Income is assessed based on taxable income in previous financial year as per notice of assessment. 1 Regional area defined as the Statistical Area Level 4 (ASGS SA4 2016) areas in a State or the Northern Territory that are not a capital city of that State or Territory; and Norfolk Island; or the Territories of Jervis Bay, Christmas Island or Cocos (Keeling) Islands; as defined in the version published by The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in July 2016. 2 A person is considered single if they don’t have a spouse of de facto partner. A “dependent child” within the meaning of subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) of section 5 of the Social Security Act 1911 or at least 16 but under 22 years of age, receive a disability support pension within the meaning of the Social Security Act 1911 and live with you. Regional centres are Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Home Guarantee Scheme available for Owner Occupier Principal and Interest Repayments residential properties only. Interest Only and Investment loans are excluded. Not available to company and trust borrowers. Unless otherwise specified, the products are issued

Tree Killer Targeting

Mighty Moreton Bay Figs

Randwick City Council is out to catch and prosecute a tree poisoner who has been trying to kill off magnificent old Moreton Bay Figs in a residential street.

Householders in Centennial Avenue, Randwick, say the poisoner has been seen at work in the dead of night. In recent weeks one particular tree has been repeatedly targeted, with hundreds of holes drilled into the lower trunk and above-ground sections of the roots. Herbicide is then applied before the tree killer melts away into the darkness.

An officer from Randwick Council has stenciled ‘POISONED’ on the footpath and the tree, which remains healthy-looking despite the toxic onslaught, at least for the time being. But across the road, another Moreton Bay Fig (pictured above) has not fared so well - it is devoid of leaves.

Randwick Council says four trees in Centennial Avenue were targeted in August 2022, when officers found approximately 40 drill holes in four separate fig trees. The holes were flushed out and residents received letters from Council requesting information or video evidence which could led to a prosecution. Now the poisoner is back to their old tricks.

The street is a quiet cul-desac near the edge of Centennial Parklands and the lower end is lined with half a dozen fig trees that were planted almost a century ago. They tower above the houses, forming a leafy canopy, while at ground level, mighty roots spread out like the tentacles of a giant octopus. And that could be what is motivating the tree poisoner.

Most cases of tree poisoning around the Eastern Suburbs and other parts of Sydney are carried out by people who want to preserve or enhance the views from their homes. But the Centennial Avenue Poisoner is thought to have a different motivation. The roots of Moreton Bay Figs often damage building foundations and underground piping. Residents in the street believe the offender is a house owner concerned about future maintenance bills and renovation challenges.

Standing beside the tree that is currently under attack, Centennial Avenue resident Peter Berckelman told The Beast, “These are beautiful trees and they’ve been here longer than we have. It’s terrible to think that someone is doing this because the roots have gone under their property or for other selfish reasons.”

Another resident, who did not want to be identified, told of how one night recently he heard the whirring of a drill in the street.

“When I opened the door to investigate, I saw a guy dressed all in black leaning over the tree. When he saw me, he stopped drilling and jogged away round the corner. I couldn’t see his face because he was wearing a hoodie.”

Despite being disturbed that night, the poisoner has since been back. On the morning of Thursday, July 20, there were fresh holes and a scattering of sawdust attesting to a brazen return visit by the environmental vandal.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker told The Beast, “It is very concerning to learn that somebody is attempting to poison fig trees along Centennial Avenue in Randwick again. These trees are close to 100 years old and contribute significantly to the streetscape and offer a range of environmental benefits.”

“Following this recent new poisoning attempt, Council will again write to residents seeking information and continue with our ongoing investigations to find the culprit.”