SA border jumpers fined for firewood offences in Victoria

Three South Australia men have been fined a combined total of $4,810 after illegally cutting down trees for firewood in the Nangeela State Forest in September and October last year.

The three men, all aged in their 20s, admitted to cutting and taking four cubic meters of red gum wood after Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers caught them on concealed cameras targeting illegal firewood operations along the South Australian border.

Two of the men received infringements for illegal off-road driving under the Land Conservation (Vehicle Control) Regulations 2013, while all three were fined for cutting and taking the timber, a breach of the Forests Act 1958.

In Victoria, it is illegal to cut and take timber from standing trees, or take fallen trees or branches from public land without authorisation.

The loss of standing and fallen mature trees and their hollows risks the survival of many of Victoria’s native mammals, reptiles, birds. Firewood users can help preserve habitat and protect community resources by ensuring they source firewood from legal collection areas or buy firewood from reputable sources.

The Conservation Regulator is targeting illegal firewood theft through Operation Hollows, a partnership with Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria. Authorised Officers regularly patrol forests, parks and reserves and will penalise anyone attempting to take firewood illegally.

For more information about firewood regulation in Victoria, visit www.vic.gov.au/collecting-firewood

Anyone with information about illegal firewood theft or other environmental crimes can report it to DEECA on 136 186 and can remain anonymous.

These fines should serve as a reminder to anyone thinking about taking timber from our parks and forests that they will be caught and face consequences – no matter where they live.

Anyone illegally taking timber from public land is destroying wildlife habitat and putting our threatened native species at risk.

Simon Donald
Forest and Wildlife Officer, Barwon South West Region