Ugly billboard replaces poisoned trees at Trinity Beach
A billboard has been erected on a Cairns beach where trees were illegally poisoned late last year.
Cairns Regional Council hasn’t determined who is responsible for the deaths of the three 75 year-old beach almonds, however in January, Councillors agreed to put up a sign to block the views of the ocean.
It was a motion put forward by Councillor for division 9, Brett Olds.
“I had heard of other regions around Australia that had used this approach as a deterrent in the past,” he told Tropic Now.
"Any future wannabe environmental vandals might now think twice before attempting to destroy something in order to get a better view for themselves, as they might end up with a nice billboard to look at instead!
“I am hoping that the community will see that we really do value our natural beauty.”
When questioned over whether the sign is big enough to act as a deterrent, Cr Olds was confident it would.
"It's 2.4 metres wide and 1.2 metres high but it seems bigger than that," he said.
"If you go and look at it, I think it's going to do a really good job and I can tell you the guy that was renting one of the houses behind it wasn't very happy about it.
"I'm very happy because I think justice has been served."
The sign is expected to remain in place for at least two years, until vegetation is restored.
New trees, most likely beach almonds, will be planted within the next few months.
