Three Shepparton men were fined a combined amount of $5000 after they were found guilty of charges related to illegally taking firewood from the Lower Goulburn National Park in September 2021.
On Monday, February 20, a 35-year-old man was convicted and fined $3000 for five offences at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court, including cutting and taking away more than two cubic metres of fallen or felled trees, damaging wildlife habitat and abusing and threatening a Conservation Regulator authorised officer.
A 53-year-old man was also convicted and fined $1000 on the same day for illegally taking away firewood, an offence under the National Parks Act 1975.
In a related case, which was resolved on January 19, a 62-year-old man was fined $1000 after admitting to illegally cutting and removing trees and destroying wildlife habitat.
“The damage these people have done to wildlife habitat in the Lower Goulburn National Park is serious and will last for generations,” Conservation Regulator manager regulatory operations for the Hume region Greg Chant said.
“(This) result shows our commitment to finding and penalising offenders.”
The Lower Goulburn National Park extends north of Shepparton either side of the Goulburn River.
The men were all detected via concealed cameras installed by Conservation Regulator authorised officers as part of Operation Rivergum in 2021.
Operation Rivergum is a joint operation between the Conservation Regulator and Parks Victoria to address illegal firewood removal from vulnerable ecosystems along the Murray River corridor. It targets people who are removing firewood in large quantities for commercial gain and in doing so, destroying areas of wildlife habitat and native vegetation.
The community can report suspected illegal firewood collection by calling 136 186.
The autumn firewood collection season opens on March 1, with designated collection areas and limits to protect the environment and community firewood resources.
For more information, visit ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collection-in-your-region