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EnvironmentQuiet 6d · day 6

Sydney gardener Yi Wang fined $187,500 for illegally felling 287 trees

Court convicts landscaper of orchestrating destruction of protected bushland to improve harbourside mansion's water views.

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What to know

  • A Sydney gardener was fined $187,500 for orchestrating the unlawful removal of 287 native trees from protected council-owned bushland to improve water views for a harbourside mansion.
  • The 12-day clearing operation destroyed critical habitat for protected species and damaged an Aboriginal cultural site, with recovery expected to take up to three decades.
  • Wang pleaded guilty to three offences after a public tip-off triggered a council investigation involving CCTV footage and private investigators.
  • Lane Cove Council countered the views-clearing with a permanent banner to obstruct the harbour vista until vegetation recovers.

How it unfolded

  1. Report Judgment reported

    The Guardian reports the court's conviction, with Lane Cove council welcoming the judgment as 'a win for native bushland'.

  2. Event Court conviction and sentencing

    NSW Land and Environment Court Justice Rachel Pepper convicted Wang on three offences and fined him $187,500, plus legal costs, after he pleaded guilty.

  3. 101 weeks quiet
  4. Reaction Council installs obstructing banner

    Lane Cove council installed a double-sided banner at the vandalism site to obscure the harbour views, pledging it would remain until trees recovered to suitable height.

  5. 42 weeks quiet
  6. Event Public tip-off and council investigation

    A member of the public reported the clearing; a council ranger visited the site the day after work ended and discovered no permits had been issued, leading to private investigator engagement.

  7. Event 12-day destruction operation

    Wang hired casual labourers and a chainsaw operator to fell and remove 287 trees from protected bushland over a 12-day period, with regular progress updates sent via WeChat and cash payments left in a shoe.

  8. Event Tree clearing begins

    The day after being hired, Wu asked Wang to clear trees, including on public land adjacent to the property, claiming 'This is my back yard'.

  9. Event Wang hired for grass trimming

    Yi Wang was hired by Yao Wu's stepdaughter to perform grass trimming work at a harbourside mansion in Longueville.

What people are saying verbatim

“This is my back yard”

Yao Wu, Property owner · The Guardian · Aug 8

“the worst act of environmental vandalism in Lane Cove history”

Lane Cove Council, Governing authority · The Guardian · Aug 8

“outrageous”

Scott Bennison, Lane Cove Council mayor · The Guardian · Aug 8

“a win for native bushland”

Lane Cove Council, Governing authority · The Guardian · Aug 8