Residents of Soldier Road at Ravenswood contacted the Express last week angered at the desecration of a number of mature eucalypt trees on a local roadside.
The furious residents said someone had taken it upon themselves to cut down four of the 30-foot trees on the picturesque roadside for firewood.
The perpetrator has also reportedly ‘ring-barked’ another five trees in the area near the intersection of Hokins Road.
“They are obviously waiting for those to die and then they will return and finish the job. It’s just disgusting and we are livid,” one resident told the Express.
One of the residents said that from time to time locals stopped to collect fallen limbs and branches to tidy up the roadsides to reduce potential fuel, but this latest act was clear and blatant and involved the destruction of healthy eucalyptus trees.
Fuming local residents have raised the matter with the compliance team at the City of Greater Bendigo.
City of Greater Bendigo statutory planning manager Ross Douglas said the council had responded to this complaint and attended the site where four dead standing trees had been felled, cut and removed. Another five live tree trunks had been ring-barked.
“The city is still investigating who may be responsible,” Mr Douglas said.
“An infringement notice can be issued for breaching the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme. The penalty for this type of offence could be a fine of up to $826 for an individual or criminal charges with higher penalties,” he said.
Roadside collection for domestic firewood is only allowed in designated firewood collection areas of state forests during firewood collection seasons, Autumn March 1-June 30 and Spring September 1-November 30. Penalties for not following these rules include fines up to $8261 or up to one year’s imprisonment.
To find out where you can collect firewood visit www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/find-a-firewood-collection-area
