A greedy property developer has been slammed by preservation agencies and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars after he ordered to cut down a 176-year-old protected tree in order to build more homes in the area.
49-year-old Director Fiorenzo Sauro of Enzo Homes Ltd has resorted to illegal felling to clear an area of 70 protected trees including a giant, 90-feet-high and 176-year-old redwood.
After the court heard that the greedy man cut down the protected trees without a second doubt, they fined him a total of more than $500,000 for the destruction of protected ancient woodlands.
During the hearing, Sauro maintained his innocence and claimed that chopping down dozens of trees was “an accident.”
The prosecution, however, wasn’t having any of it, whereas they accused the developer of felling the trees on purpose in order to build 80 homes in the area.
“This was an intentional breach or flagrant disregard for the law. The trees felled are irreplaceable natural resources. The soils in the ancient woodland can never be replicated,” Prosecutor Annabel Graham-Paul said.
“Swansea Council aim to replace the trees within two years but the ancient woodlands are irreplaceable and the redwood is going to take a long time to grow back to its former glory so it is by no means going to be a like for like replacement.”
Defending Sauro, Alex Goodman claimed his client was remorseful and wanted to correct what happened.
“Sauro has sourced replacement trees at his own expense which are being carefully nurtured in a nursery,” Goodman said. “This reflects Sauro’s remorse and regret for what happened.”
Following the hearing, Sauro and Enzo Homes were found guilty of the destruction of preserved woodlands.
“I find it difficult to equate the harm to a monetary value. The harm is much greater. It is inconceivable on this evidence the felling of this tree and the ancient woodland was done in any other way than deliberately,” Judge Neale Thomas said.
“There would have been discussions about how it was to be done, permission obtained to remove the fence and any other preparatory work. Mr Sauro caused the destruction of these trees in the most obvious way: namely by directing they should be felled. This is a deliberate planned breach of the tree preservation order and in defiance of it.”
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Replaced!