THE hunt is on for environmental vandals who chopped down more than 17 trees at a Burrungule property last week.
The lives of the 14-year old oak, wattle and maple trees were cut short after unknown persons sawed through the trunks and left them on the ground.
Resident Teresa Hodge documented the vandalism and contacted The Border Watch in a final bid to stop offenders.
The 78-year-old woman was left devastated after being notified about the senseless act by a neighbour on Friday.
“I was told by the person that leases my property all my trees had been cut down on the corner of the Princes Highway and Kongorong Road,” she said.
“He said he noticed them gone on Wednesday morning and he thinks they were still standing on Tuesday.”
Ms Hodge, whose deceased husband planted the trees almost two decades ago, said she could not understand the motive given the trees were left where they lay after being cut down.
“I do not know why they did it,” she said.
“They did not take the wood.
“These trees were very expensive, some were $120 each as little trees.”
Ms Hodge estimated the clean up and repair bill to reach hundreds of dollars.
“I have to go ahead and clean up down there, take all the trees away and heap it all up probably,” she said.
“There is a lot of money involved because I will have to get someone to do it and they are not cheap.
“They are anything between $30 to $45 an hour and that might be for about four hours work.
“Now the electric fence is not working because the tree is across the fence, so the cattle are not secure.
“There is also sentimental value in them because my husband put them all in.”
Ms Hodge said the illegal tree felling is among a number of strange disturbances to have occurred around the usually quiet rural location.
“One of my neighbours has sold his other house and he said the new owner was up there and she saw a torch flashing around outside her window,” she said.
“She went outside to see what was going on and she saw a person in a hoodie casing the backyard out.
“The next day, my neighbour said the trolley that was up there was gone.
“There is somebody hanging around in Burrungule at night time doing strange things.”
The widower claimed to have seen a white ute parked near her Princes Highway and Burrungule Road boundary fence in the afternoon of January 23.
“I think it happened on the 23rd, because I was out most of the day,” she said.
“I thought I heard a chainsaw going but did not go out to have a look.
“It’s scary to think someone is going around with a chainsaw.
Millicent police officer Sergeant Rick Errington urged members of the public to remain vigilant of illegal firewood.
“These trees are valueless when they are up, but when they are cut down they are worth something,” he said.
“Once they are chopped up, they can sell for a lot as firewood.
“If anyone is found trying to sell the unique wood, please contact police.”
