General News
18 August, 2022
Firewood thieves fined for breaching rules in local forests
Six people — including residents from Maryborough and Dunolly — have been fined a combined nearly $5000 for breaching firewood collection rules around the region, with some caught thanks to community reporting. All were fined for removing...
Six people — including residents from Maryborough and Dunolly — have been fined a combined nearly $5000 for breaching firewood collection rules around the region, with some caught thanks to community reporting.
All were fined for removing firewood outside a designated firewood collection area, with two receiving extra fines for illegally driving off-road.
A 36-year-old Maryborough man was fined $727 for taking firewood from the Maryborough State Forest, while a 72-year-old Tarnagulla man was fined $727 and $282 for a breach in the Tarnagulla State Forest.
In the Dunolly State Forest, a 34-year-old Dunolly man was fined $727 and a 52-year-old woman was fined $727 and $282.
In the Longbush State Forest, a 25-year-old Bendigo man and a 21-year-old man from Harcourt were fined $740 each.
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) senior forest and fire operations officer Tim Wishart said authorised officers issued the fines following a successful investigation into community reports of illegal firewood collection in the local state forests.
“The two men cutting wood in Longbush State Forest were caught by authorised officers on regular patrols,” he said.
“Illegal firewood collection is a serious offence and will not be tolerated.
“Anyone found cutting or taking firewood from state forests outside designated firewood collection areas or firewood collection periods will be fined and potentially prosecuted.
“It’s great to see most people are doing the right thing and sticking to the collection seasons and designated areas, however people should know authorised officers regularly patrol parks, forests and reserves to catch those who aren’t.
“We would also like to thank community members who contacted Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to report this suspicious behaviour. It is through community reporting that we were able to identify and fine four of the people.”
Conservation regulator and FFMVic authorised officers can enforce environmental laws and conduct frequent patrols in forests and parks, targeting the illegal collection of firewood from public land.
Those caught breaking firewood collection rules can face penalties of up to $9246 or a year in prison. Vehicles and equipment may also be seized.
The 2022 spring domestic firewood collection season will begin on September 1 and run until November 30.
For more information on firewood collection visit www.vic.gov.au/ collecting-firewood
To report the illegal cutting or removal of firewood anonymously call DELWP at 136 186.