Zoe Moffatt
The Conservation Regulator will be cracking down on firewood thieves around the Macedon Ranges ahead of winter.
The state regulator said areas around Macedon Regional Park have been targeted by firewood thieves in recent years and it will be cracking down on the illegal collectors.
A spokesperson from the regulator said they are “investigating several cases of firewood theft in the Wombat State Forest, which involved dangerous tree felling over the summer period.”
“The illegal take of timber for firewood is a state-wide issue, causing environmental damage in areas including parts of Melbourne’s northwest fringe and further out into northern and western Victoria.”
Chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said Victorians need to source firewood responsibility to protect wildlife habitat and Aboriginal scarred trees.
“We can all do our part in protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage, wildlife habitat and biodiversity by knowing where, when and what firewood can be collected,” Ms Gavens said.
“It can take hundreds of years for nature to create tree hollows and habitat loss from illegal firewood collection has a serious impact on the future of our iconic native species.”
The autumn collection season, which runs from March 1 to June 30, allows people to collect firewood for domestic use from designated public land.
The regulator said only fallen timber without hollows can be collected and is limited to two cubic metres of firewood per person per day, and 16 cubic metres of firewood per household per financial year.
Forest Fire Management Victoria and Parks Victoria have teamed up through Operation Hollows to educate the public and catch thieves.
On the spot fines of $740 will be handed out to anyone caught breaking the rules, and if the matter is taken to court the maximum penalty is $9,246 and/or one year jail.
In 2022, 625 charges were laid, 85 infringement notices were issued and 16 official warnings were handed out, the regulator said.
Details: www.vic.gov.au/collecting-firewood
