Tree advocates and council election candidates are calling for the City of Melville to increase its penalties for damaging or removing trees.

Penalties for removing or damaging trees in the city currently include a $500 fine. Prosecution can also be sought in the Magistrates Court, where a penalty of up to $5000 can be imposed.

The city can also treat the removal or damage of a tree as a civil matter and seek compensation for the damage caused.

The City of Canning recently increased its fine for damaging trees from $250 to $1000, but even then Canning councillor Hardeep Singh said a $1000 penalty was “nothing” to people living in multimillion-dollar homes.

Esther Cole from the Melville Tree Canopy Advocates said a proposal to strengthen verge tree protections was put on hold by the Mel

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