Man caught illegally felling River Red Gums at Reedy Lake

During a targeted patrol, Authorised Officers caught the man in the act of cutting a recently felled, dead River Red Gum tree on the dry lakebed. He admitted to felling and processing the tree for firewood. In the first interception, he was advised he would be issued infringement notices for:

• Unlawful tree felling in a Wildlife Reserve.
• Operating a vehicle off-road on public land.
• Illegal cutting and removal of timber from public land.

The man was directed to unload the timber and warned that further offending could result in the seizure of any equipment involved.

Later the same evening, the offender was observed returning to the reserve under the cover of darkness. With assistance from Victoria Police, Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers intercepted his vehicle, towing a tandem trailer loaded with freshly cut River Red Gum timber.

Authorised Officers seized the trailer, the timber, and a chainsaw. Investigations are ongoing, and the man is expected to face court over alleged firewood-related offences.

River Red Gum trees - whether alive or dead - are vital to our environment and protected under law; it is an offence to cut them down. Dead, standing River Red Gums provide critical roosting habitat for some of our most threatened species, such as the White-bellied Sea Eagle.

This case forms part of the Conservation Regulator’s targeted focus on the illegal take of firewood for commercial purposes, under Taskforce Ironbark. Taskforce Ironbark is a state-wide initiative, led by the Conservation Regulator in partnership with Parks Victoria, aiming to crack down on commercial firewood thieves.

If community members observe suspicious firewood activity, they are urged to call 136 186. Reports can be made anonymously.

For more information, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/sourcing-firewood

Quotes attributable to Conservation Regulator, Manager Regulatory Operations, Hume, Greg Chant:

'This was a blatant and repeated breach of environmental laws, and our officers acted swiftly to prevent further damage to this ecologically and culturally significant area.'

'Let this be a clear warning to black market firewood operators - if you’re caught illegally harvesting timber from public land for commercial sale, you will be held accountable for the environmental damage, and risk facing prosecution and losing your vehicles and equipment.'