Two Kyneton residents who stole firewood for profit have been ordered to pay a combined $3000, following a discovery of their diary containing details of their unlawful firewood business.
On April 9, a 37-year-old woman and 33-year-old man were each found guilty of six charges at Kyneton Magistrates’ Court and fined $1500 for stealing firewood from the Metcalfe State Forest.
They were also ordered to forfeit the tools and machinery used in their offending, after they admitted to illegally cutting, removing, and selling red stringybark timber, dumping rubbish, and damaging wildlife habitat on public land in September 2022.
Parks Victoria and Conservation Regulator authorised officers, with assistance from Victoria Police and the Game Management Authority, investigated and executed a search warrant at the pair’s property.
Authorities discovered a diary with ‘Firewood 2022’ on the cover, which contained details of their unlawful firewood business and seized 18 cubic metres of timber, two chainsaws, a box trailer, and a block splitter.
During sentencing, presiding Magistrate Kelly ordered the forfeiture of these seized items.
Parks Victoria ranger team leader Mathew Sobey said the court’s decision sends a clear message that illegal firewood theft is unacceptable.
“It’s heartbreaking to see old-growth trees chopped down and their habitat values destroyed by illegal firewood operators seeking to take advantage of unsuspecting Victorians,” he said.
Conservation Regulator senior forest and wildlife officer Phuong Tran agreed and said it is a reminder to anyone breaking the law.
“This prosecution shows there is no excuse for illegally damaging wildlife habitat for firewood,” she said.
“We take this issue very seriously and the chances of getting caught and penalised are high.”
To avoid inadvertently supporting illegal firewood activity, Parks Victoria said buyers should ask the supplier where the wood is from, request a tax receipt, avoid buying from social media websites, and ask why the firewood might be too cheap.
The community can report illegal firewood theft or suspicious dealers to Parks Victoria on 131 963 or the Conservation Regulator on 136 186.
