SEVERAL government agencies are running a combined operation to stop firewood being collected illegally from parks, forests and reserves.
Operation Hollows is designed to protect wildlife habitat from the impacts of illegal wood removal.
Firewood should only be collected from designated areas during the two collection seasons, as trees and fallen wood outside these areas are crucial habitats for native wildlife, including birds, animals and reptiles.
The ongoing operation also targets people selling illegal firewood.
The maximum penalty for people caught illegally destroying habitat trees is $8261 plus potential seizure of equipment, including vehicles and chainsaws and/or one year in prison.
From March to November 2020, 183 people were fined a total of $98,801 for illegally removing wood from widespread areas across the state.
For details of where, when and what firewood can be collected, visit www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood and https://www.vic.gov.au/collecting-firewood.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 1 June 2021
