The Stawell Urban Landcare Group has released a message of disappointment at the treatment nature reserves in the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The community group said they have had reports of several instances of 'illegal activity' and they want the community to step in and help.
"Increased incidents of illegal activity are evident in nature reserves local to Stawell," they said.
"Hard working volunteers of the Stawell Urban Landcare Group have been dismayed to discover the results of these events.
"Only a day after an onsite planning meeting with Parks Victoria staff, damage to bollards and interpretation infrastructure occurred at Deep Lead Nature Conservation reserve.
READ MORE:
"The week before, scalped fox carcasses were strewn along tracks in the Rifle Range Reserve.
"Earlier in the year a research camera set up to monitor feral animal populations was stolen.
"Other illegal activity such as vehicles driving off track destroying native plants, rubbish dumping, collection of fallen timber, fossicking and dogs off leash have been witnessed."
The volunteer group urged residents to step in and report any activity they witnessed which damages the conservation areas.
"If you witness illegal activity or evidence of such in a Nature Reserve, you can report it to Parks Victoria on 13 19 63," they said.
"Photos of vehicle registration plates or the activity can be helpful.
"You do not have to confront offenders to report activities.
"It is the responsibility of those using these reserves to be informed about the permitted activities and to know the boundaries of these areas.
OTHER NEWS:
"Within nature conservation reserves it is illegal to dump rubbish, to take fallen timber, to damage or steal native vegetation, to fossick, to have pets unleashed.
"Please check the Parks Victoria website for reserve boundaries and permitted uses."
The Stawell Urban Landcare Group said the box ironbark forests form the basis of most of the reserves around Stawell and are remnants of much wider woodlands and open forests that have largely been cleared.
They form the homes of many native species including birds, arboreal mammals, reptiles and insects.
The Stawell Urban Landcare Group said the conservation land's primary purpose is for the protection of native flora, fauna, endemic and rare species.
The Stawell Urban Landcare group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm at Project Platypus office Stawell. For more information see Platypus.org.au.
If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.
