Wagga Wagga City Council is calling on the community to help put a stop to the ongoing vandalism of facilities and theft of plants at the city’s botanic gardens.
In 2025, vandalism and theft at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens cost Council more than $12,000 in maintenance fees and the cost to replace plants and furniture that were stolen from the grounds.
Mayor, Dallas Tout said the poor treatment of the treasured community facility needs to stop.
“The Botanic Gardens contributes to the liveability of our city and is an attraction for visitors. To see ongoing vandalism and theft happening at the site is very disappointing,” Mayor Tout (pictured, right) said.
“Wagga Wagga City Council provides the Botanic Gardens as a place for residents and visitors to come and relax, be outdoors, be together and to feel close to nature.
“This ongoing vandalism and theft disadvantages the whole community. No one wants to arrive at the gardens to find the facilities are unusable due to vandalism, and there are bare sections of garden beds where plants have been stolen, not to mention the cost to ratepayers per year.”
Team Leader Parks Operations (Botanic Gardens), Jonathan Nicoll said the vandalism and theft of property at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens was an ongoing issue.
“Vandalism cost Council $6,000 in 2025; this was mostly for repairs to the toilets and barbeques,” Mr Nicoll said.
“We also spent $6,000 replacing plants that were stolen, including 50 proteas from the Protea Garden, 25 roses, and over 70 plants from the Tree Chapel, Brolga Pond, Camelia Garden, Succulent Garden and Chinese Garden.
“It is disheartening to see some people do not respect the work that is put in to make these grounds an asset to the city.”
The Council is now placing signs in the garden beds where plants have been stolen in an effort to create awareness of the theft that is occurring.
This strategy comes after Council staff painted sections of street trees throughout the city purple to indicate they had been vandalised by unauthorised lopping, pruning and poisoning.
It says the extra attention to the issue has prompted members of the community to start reporting suspicious behaviour relating to the street trees.
“It is hoped that placing signs where plants have been stolen from garden beds will encourage the community to keep a look out for suspicious behaviour and report it,” the Council said.
Report vandalism and theft at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens by contacting Council via 1300 292 442, email: council@wagga.nsw.gov.au or report it online via Request It Report It.
