A Ballarat man faces a $2,000 fine after thorities cght him hling stolen firewood from state forests, part of a broader effort to curb rampant thefts targeting public lands.

Multi-Agency Operation Targets Black Market Firewood Scheme

thorities estimate that between 9,000 and 10,000 trees vanish annually from Victoria’s state forests, with much of the timber funneled into a black market for firewood sold to unaware consumers. A coordinated operation involving police, parks officers, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) focuses on disrupting organized networks operating north of Ballarat and northwest of Melbourne.

Over the past 13 months, intensified patrols and surveillance have yielded equipment seizures, more than 14 infringement notices, and fines exceeding $12,000. The initiative lnched in response to a sharp rise in illegal native timber harvesting, led by prosecutions from the Conservation Regulator within DEECA.

Environmental Toll of Illegal Harvesting

Victoria’s native species teeter on the edge of extinction following decades of systematic logging, largely ended by the state government in 2024. Brian Hamer, a manager at the Conservation Regulator, emphasizes the damage: “Stealing firewood strips wildlife habitat, leaving animals without the critical shelter they need to survive.” He adds, “We’re continuing to target organized groups who profit from destroying wildlife habitat.”

Recent Bust: Trailer Seizure in Glen Park and Creswick Forests

In February, investigators spotted a 36-year-old Ballarat resident and an accomplice outside a permitted collection area in the Glen Park and Creswick state forests. Their trailer brimmed with mixed native hardwood, prompting the seizure of the trailer, its load, and two chainsaws valued at $5,000.

The man appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court, where the Regulator secured the $2,000 penalty. Hamer notes, “This conviction marks another step forward, with further investigative work continuing.”