Two Aussies cop $35,000 fine for "illegal" enterprise
A pair of Aussies have copped a $35,000 fine for illegally collecting masses of firewood for a black market enterprise.
The duo were caught during a targeted patrol inside a national park in Victoria, where fallen timber is supposed to be left as wildlife habitat.
They fled after they were approached by officers, according to Parks Victoria, but had left behind evidence of their illegal enterprise.
Officers found records that identified the 44-year-old man and 31-year-old woman in their abandoned Commodore, as well as their sales record and social media accounts promoting their black market business.
The pair were convicted of six charges at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on November 22, with the man fined $20,000 and the woman $15,000 for cutting, removing and selling firewood in the Lower Goulburn National Park in May, 2023.
The couple faced additional charges for damaging wildlife habitat.
On Wednesday, Parks Victoria issued a warning to the public to not fall for firewood scams and illegal wood sellers after almost 10,000 trees had been illegally felled across 462 hectares of public land last year.
"The illegal cut and take of firewood from national parks and protected public land is theft," Andrew Dean, a Parks Victoria Senior Enforcement Officer, said in a statement.
"Theft damages and destroys wildlife habitat and robs Victorians of the natural places they love to visit. Magistrate Zebrowski's verdict sends a strong and clear message: firewood theft will not be tolerated, and offenders will be held accountable for their actions.
"We encourage consumers to use common sense when purchasing firewood. Any time a deal is too good to be true, it probably is."
Fallen logs are important and a key habitat for Australian wildlife including the marbled gecko, brown treecreeper and Peron’s tree frog.
Images: Parks Victoria