April 30th, 2024‘Firewood’ theft from forest lands locals in court

Two Kyneton residents who stole firewood from the Metcalfe State Forest for profit have been ordered to pay a combined amount of $3000 and forfeit the tools and machinery used in their offending, after being found guilty of six charges each at Kyneton Magistrates’ Court.

On Tuesday, April 9, a 37-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were each convicted and fined $1500 after they admitted to illegally cutting, removing, and selling red stringybark timber, dumping rubbish, and damaging wildlife habitat on public land in September 2022.

A 39-year-old male co-offender was convicted and fined $3000 after pleading guilty to two offences related to illegal firewood theft at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court in February.

The offenders were caught on concealed cameras installed as part of the Parks Victoria-led Operation Centaur, targeting the illegal removal of critical habitat and hollow-bearing trees on public land.