Mallee campers thanked as most found doing the right thing

With more than 1,000 campers in state forests and parks near Mildura last weekend, the Conservation Regulator (CR) thanks Mallee campers who were generally found doing the right thing.

Published:
Thursday, 8 July 2021 at 3:57 am
Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers patrolled parks and forests near the Hattah Desert Race

However, disappointingly dozens of illegal campfires were detected throughout the weekend.

CR Acting Program Manager Loddon Mallee Georgia de Salis said CR Authorised Officers worked with Forest Fire Management Victoria and Parks Victoria crews over the weekend to patrol public land near the Hattah Desert Race, targeting illegal activity such as off-road vehicles and unattended campfires.

“We were really pleased to see so many campers doing the right thing, and we hope people continue to be diligent when building, lighting and extinguishing their campfires.

“Patrolling campsites is an opportunity for our officers to chat with campers and other forest users to help them understand what they can and can’t do when it comes to campfires and enjoying the bush.

“Unfortunately, 30 unattended campfires were detected and an additional 10 campfires which breached safety rules.

“These breaches included having logs longer than one-metre on campfires, fires not being appropriately dug into a pit 30cm deep or not clearing the appropriate three-metres around fires from all debris.

“Unattended and unsafe campfires can result in devastating consequences, even in winter.

“Officers also detected nine incidents of trees illegally cut down, two cases of vegetation damage, two cases of illegal camping, two off-road driving offences and one litter offence. These offences all harm the natural environment public land users want to enjoy.

“Infringements of up to $909 were given to a number of offenders, while others received official warnings.”

The maximum penalty for breaching campfire rules is $18,174 if the matter is prosecuted in court, under the Forests Act 1958.

Find more information rules on public land, including campfire safety

 

Conservation Regulator Victoria

Updated