Catch a Cod, not a fine

Conservation Regulator and Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Authorised Officers will be visiting popular fishing and recreation spots over the coming weeks, to ensure everyone understands the dos and don’ts around litter, campfire safety, driving on public land and firewood collection.

On-the-spot fines will be issued to anyone caught breaking the rules.

Conservation Regulator Acting Program Manager, Glenn Smith said while most people will do the right thing when out camping and fishing, we want to ensure everyone understands their responsibility to keep each other safe and protect our environment.

“Our patrols will be visiting as many sites as possible near rivers and waterways, to ensure people are enjoying the areas safely and obeying the rules,” Mr Smith said.

“Please take your rubbish with you. What you take in you must take out. Littering near waterways can have devastating impacts on native marine wildlife.

“If you are camping, you must ensure campfires are built according to regulations and don’t forget a bucket!

“All campfires must never be left unattended and need to be extinguished with water, not soil, as fires can still smoulder under soil. If a fire is cool to touch, it is safe to leave.”

“The 2021 firewood season ends today, Tuesday 30 November. People can no longer collect firewood from public land until the Autumn firewood season starts on 1 March 2022.

“With recent flooding and environmental watering of floodplains in Gunbower Island, near Cohuna, residents are urged to check for track closures before they head out to explore.

“Driving off-road can be dangerous and also detrimental to the environment because it causes soil erosion and damage to native vegetation.”

For updated track closures, visit MapShareVic.  

To learn more about rules in state forests, visit Rules in State Forests.