A STAWELL man has been fined $607 after he was nabbed illegally cutting and collecting firewood on Crown land.
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The incident occurred on June 17 when the man was found cutting fallen timber in the Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve.
In May, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning launched a statewide blitz – dubbed Operation Axe – targeting illegal firewood collection.
DELWP Wimmera District Planning Manager Glenn Rudolph said that “in general” it is against the law to collect timber from Crown land reserves.
“Anyone found cutting or taking two cubic metres or less may be given an infringement notice, which as of July 1 will increase to $622, or if taken to court, could receive up to a maximum penalty of $3100,” he said.
“If found cutting or taking more than two cubic metres, the maximum penalty is $7750 or imprisonment for one year, or both.”
Mr Rudolph said the department was serious about cracking down on people illegally sourcing and selling firewood outside the designated collection periods.
“The aim is to gather information from the community about the illegal sale of firewood from public land and then prosecute anyone found to have broken the law,” he said.
“This follows last year's Operation Chainsaw, which resulted in the identification of 121 persons of interest and the prosecution of numerous individuals who were convicted and fined, as well as having items such as chainsaws and trailers seized and forfeited to the Crown.
“Firewood is still being illegally removed from public land and sold.
“This activity is making a profit from taking firewood that should be available free of charge to the community during the domestic firewood season.”
Anyone with information can contact the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
All domestic firewood collection areas closed on Thursday.