By Oliver Lees
Macedon Ranges council mayor Jennifer Anderson has expressed her disappointment after three young trees in the Gisborne Botanic Garden were destroyed in a “thoughtless act” earlier this month.
Council staff and Gisborne Police were alerted to the incident after the weekend of December 4 and 5.
Two water gums and one maidenhair tree that were planted in the garden less than 18 months ago were snapped and broken, with some of the tree stakes uprooted as well, according to a Macedon Ranges council spokesperson,
The trees were planted as part of recommendations laid out in the Gisborne Botanic Gardens masterplan.
Cr Anderson said that these trees would have made a significant contribution to the garden once they’d reached maturity.
“It is disappointing that such a thoughtless act can destroy such lovely young trees and put the progress of the planting back almost two years,” Cr Anderson said.
“From all reports the trees were growing well and we have been receiving positive feedback from members of the public of ‘they will look good in time’. Unfortunately, we will have to go back to square one and replace them at significant extra cost during the 2022 planting season.”
Macedon Ranges council confirmed that the cost of replanting the trees would be in the vicinity of $1000 not including staff time.
No arrests have been made in relation to the vandalism incident.
The Gisborne Botanic Gardens located north of Robertson Street is one of three botanic gardens in the shire.
The garden was officially opened 25 years ago and has since become home to a range of exotic and native shade tree varieties.
Gisborne Botanic Garden is the only botanic in Australia specialising in New Zealand.
In Maori, the word for Gisborne is ‘tairawhiti’ meaning ‘the coast on which the sun shines across the water’.
