On Tuesday, September 3 the 36-year-old man was convicted and fined $3000 by the Echuca Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to charges of illegal cutting, taking and selling of river red gum timber, as well as causing significant damage to wildlife habitat on public land.
Parks Victoria senior enforcement officer Andrew Dean said actions that jeopardise Victoria’s natural and cultural heritage would not be tolerated.
“The conviction of this individual serves as a strong reminder that illegal activities in our national parks or reserves will be met with decisive action,” Mr Dean said.
“We urge the community to report suspicious activity, including dodgy firewood sellers, to Parks Victoria.
“Together, we can protect these invaluable ecosystems for generations to come.”
The prosecution was the result of a thorough operation conducted by Parks Victoria in March 2023, in which surveillance cameras captured the offender removing 12 cubic metres of river red gum timber while obscuring the registration plates of his vehicles and trailer.
Authorised officers also found the 36-year-old illegally promoting the firewood for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Lower Goulburn National Park is a vital 9000-hectare landscape stretching from the outskirts of Shepparton to the Murray River and is protected under the National Parks Act 1975.
The area is home to countless native species dependent on fallen timber, and the removal of native trees poses a serious threat to the delicate balance of this habitat.
Any suspicious activity can be reported anonymously to 131 963.
