THREE South Australian 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 metres of red gum wood after Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers targeting illegal firewood operations along the South Australian border, caught them on concealed cameras.

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.

Barwon South West Region Forest and Wildlife Officer, Simon Donald said the fines should serve as a reminder to anyone thinking about taking timber from parks and forests that they would be caught and face consequences – no matter where they lived.

“Anyone illegally taking timber from public land is destroying wildlife habitat and putting our threatened native species at risk,” Mr Donald said.

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.

The autumn firewood collection season is open until 30 June and during the season firewood can be collected from designated firewood collection areas in state forests or parks across the region and is for personal use only - collected firewood cannot be sold.

Firewood can only be collected from public land for domestic use during the two designated seasons in Autumn and then Spring, from 1 September until 30 November.

Access to firewood collection areas may be disrupted at short notice due to planned burning or other fuel management operations, more information can be found at https://plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au/.

Barwon South West Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Andrew Morrow said there were 16 firewood collection areas available across the region in this collection period.

“Please check for updates before heading to a collection point, and observe all access, regulatory and safety related signage in the forest. Respect the environment and be careful of your own safety when collecting firewood,” he said.

Any information the community may have about the illegal removal of firewood for sale can be reported to FFMVic on 136 186.