>(L) Lumberjack felling a tree using an electric saw.

You can literally see the pull-start cord on the chain saw in the photo. I'm kind of doubting anyone is making a hybrid gas/electric chain saw (but will be happy to be corrected). Why are either of those two images even included in the article?

It's long been a problem, couple decades at least in North Queensland, especially along the built up areas adjacent to a beach or rocky outcrop where some specially clever arsehole has figured if they were buying for cheap they could have million dollar views with a little bit of sweat and a half a bucket of poison. Same I feel was the case for selling a sheltered property that could have a couple of spectacular views which would afford it thousands extra in value and or easier to sell. For the most part these dolts figured naughty farmers would get the blame since the diuron die-back [1] problem, consensus framed diuron and its use in agriculture, especially sugar cane farming along the Queensland coastal regions. Personally as someone who used it sparingly who had a light science background, areas away from large agriculture outflows the mangrove scrub seem to be worse off, particularly near housing developments and agricultural outflow via the river did not seem to be the likely candidate as well as other things [2] -- however IMHO there was an issue with a move to a dry diuron formulation. [3]

I no longer accurately recall but I think the first time this sort of BS in my locale was newsworthy it regarded near quarter mile (300 m) of beach seaoaks (Casuarina equisetifolia) that had been poisoned or ring barked along the coastal beach dune which fronted an older suburb. Obviously one of the new owners had decided they wanted a better view, the local council responded iirc by hanging two or more widths of shade cloth on tall poles along the entire length to ensure even those with an observation deck at a higher vantage point were met with a blocked view.

[1] https://jennifermarohasy.com/2026/06/25-years-diuron-mangrov...

[2] A merely anonymous but believable account of early to mid 00s had some local water authority near Rockhampton (Central Queensland) applying around 95 tonne (three truck tractor [semi trailer] loads delivered to site) of soluble diuron, in a spraying campaign on its waterways to combat a problem weed - and to date I've not heard any accounts of severe die-back along the banks of the Fitzroy or mangrove thickets near Rockhampton.

[3] Diuron started to be sold as a dry formulation for easier storage and handling. Unfortunately the dry formulation I've used and observed, as well as when other farmers have used it, it was easy to spot a fine coat of undissolved particles on the leaves of any plants in the spray zone. I found when it was mixed as instructed with water and / or other herbicides and additives, it did not fully dissolve, with a significant proportion of the product being a fine suspension - to fully dissolve and get bang for buck I found it required treating the dry diuron with suitable solvents and emulsifiers until it was fully dissolved first and then added as per usual. I would speculate higher than expected diuron measurements from samples, it was the undissolved particles which were quite significant, would have slowly washed off the plant and a fraction of it would have been undoubtedly in heavy rain events, carried with run off water to the coast line and out to sea, along also with oil laden leaves of various trees, which given time would slowly dissolve the diuron consequently harm any susceptible plant life

There is no better view than a tree.

Brilliant.