Dozens of native trees, including at least one towering Norfolk pine, are dying after being illegally doused with poison along a beachfront walkway at Dicky Beach in Caloundra, ABC News reported. The damage stretches about 300 metres along the popular pathway, and the ABC reported the chemical attack has the potential to permanently contaminate the soil.

Sunshine Coast Council is investigating. Councillor Terry Landsberg said council teams had been scouring the area "with a fine-tooth comb" to remove any remaining traces of the poison.

"It's so distressing to see the amount of dieback that we're actually witnessing, as well as potentially the loss of one of our iconic Norfolk pines," Cr Landsberg said.

"This is probably one of the largest in terms of poisoning that we've witnessed [on the Sunshine Coast]. To see it on this scale is really distressing."

Testing the Poison

Cr Landsberg said the council was testing samples collected from the area to determine the exact poison used, in the hope of saving the affected trees.

"It appears as though this poison may be affecting the photosynthesis, and maybe their ability to attract sunlight," he said. "We can see that it's extremely aggressive."

Due Process

The councillor declined to speculate about why anyone would want to poison a long line of beachfront trees.

"We've got to follow due process and make sure we deal with it in an appropriate manner," he said.

The ABC reported that if a culprit is found and prosecuted, environmental vandalism can carry fines of more than $130,000.

Residents

Caloundra resident Chloe Christopher, 28, who has lived in the area her entire life, said the area was usually "luscious" and dotted with flowers.

"It's sad to see because we live in such a beautiful part of the coast, so it's really sad to come past and see all of our beautiful plants dying," she said.

Brittany Guy, who lives nearby and spends a lot of time in the area with her young son, said she was furious to learn trees had been poisoned. "What was the point? Do you live around here? Do your children grow up around here?" she said.

Earlier Council Cases

The council has dealt with tree poisoning on the coast before. In an earlier case at the Mudjimba-Marcoola Foreshore Reserve, the council said trees and plants were destroyed inside an 8000 square metre area, creating a significant risk to endangered loggerhead turtles nesting on the beach below. Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said testing there revealed a damaging herbicide that stays in the soil for a number of years.

In another case, at Peregian Springs, the council said dozens of trees and plants were destroyed over 320 square metres of the Ridges Boulevard Environment Reserve. The council says it receives regular complaints of illegal clearing and poisoning of native trees, that people convicted of illegal damage can face fines of up to $131,580 from the council, and that without residents' information it is often difficult to find the culprits.

The council asks anyone who notices suspicious vegetation damage in council-managed reserves or parks to contact its customer services on 07 5475 7272.