What happens if a tree is chopped down in a national park?

By Shepparton News

Aug 22, 2024

Greater Shepparton has a number of parks and reserves, and Parks Victoria encourages people to treat them with respect. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

A concerned member of the public reached out to The News recently about an increase in trees being chopped down in a local national park.

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The News asked Parks Victoria what happened when someone reported an incident.

In its response, Parks Victoria said it had received multiple reports of illegal firewood collection occurring in Greater Shepparton; including Shepparton Regional Park, Lower Goulburn National Park and Gemmill Swamp Wildlife Reserve.

Firewood theft in the region’s parks and reserves has been a significant issue over the winter months, devastating areas of crucial habitat for native species.

This season, Parks Victoria has issued five infringements for illegal firewood theft in Greater Shepparton.

It is illegal to cut down and remove trees from Parks Victoria land without authorisation. The community is encouraged to report illegal activity, including suspicious sellers, to Parks Victoria on 131 963.

Parks Victoria also has three matters from Greater Shepparton before the courts, stemming from incidents reported in 2023.

For more information, visit parks.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/using-firewood