started · updated
Lake Macquarie Council Warns of Dangerous Tree‑Coning Stunt, Issues Safety Alert
Lake Macquarie City Council has issued a warning about a social‑media stunt in which pranksters climb tall trees and place bright orange traffic cones on their crowns – a practice known locally as “coning”. Council manager of city works Barry McDaid said the climbs involve trees up to 25 metres high and pose a risk of serious injury or death, as falling cones or broken branches could strike people below.
The council has already spent more than $5,000 on arborist inspections and the removal of cones and damaged limbs across the city’s eastern suburbs. The TikTok account “Lake Mac Coner”, with about 1,700 followers, has posted videos that have been viewed tens of thousands of times. Similar incidents were reported in New Zealand in 2012, where Norfolk pines at Kaikoura were also “coned”. A NSW Police spokesperson noted that no incident reports have been lodged to date.
Residents are urged to report any further coning activity to the council or to Crimestoppers.
Entities
Barry McDaid · Lake Mac Coner · Lake Macquarie City Council · Norfolk pine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The TikTok page “Lake Mac Coner” has about 1,700 followers and some videos have been viewed over 30,000 times. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Climbing the trees and placing cones can damage branches, leaving “hangers” that may later detach and fall. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Barry McDaid is the manager of city works for Lake Macquarie City Council. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Similar tree‑coning incidents occurred in New Zealand in 2012 on Norfolk pines at Kaikoura. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Lake Macquarie City Council warned that the tree‑coning stunt could cause serious injury or death. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pranksters have placed plastic orange traffic cones on the crowns of trees up to 25 metres high. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] NSW Police reported that no incidents of tree coning had been recorded. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The council has spent more than $5,000 on arborist work to remove cones and damaged branches. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · insidelocalgovernment.com.au