A tougher stance against illegal loggers is about to be taken as more reports of historic trees being cut down for firewood come to light.
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A third case of illegal logging has been reported, this time on land in the Buttai/Buchanan area, off John Renshaw Drive where 20 mature ironbarks have been destroyed.
Fairfax Media carried a report recently about 100-year-old trees being felled illegally on council land at Mount Vincent Road at East Maitland and on land opposite owned by Bloomfield Colliery.
About 30 trees were cut down for what is believed to be commercial gain, in a sick act of vandalism, outraging local residents and Maitland Greens.
Maitland resident Dennis Thurlow documented the vandalism and contacted Fairfax Media in a final bid to stop offenders. What upset him most was the destruction of endangered mature ironbark trees, some more than a metre in diametre, in what is known as an ironbark and spotted gum forest.
About 20 mature ironbarks have been cut down with about 10 to 15 metres taken and the crown left
- Dennis Thurlow
This week Mr Thurlow contacted Fairfax again after inspecting damage to the Buttai/Buchanan site which he described as worse than the site off Mount Vincent Road.
“About 20 mature ironbarks have been cut down with about 10 to 15 metres taken from the trees leaving the crown,” Mr Thurlow said. “Some of the trees appear to have been cut down a few months ago, others more recently. They were probably taken for firewood, possibly by the same person who destroyed the trees on Mount Vincent Road.”
Mr Thurlow was contacted about the destruction by Cessnock/Kurri Greens.
He contacted the Office of Environment and Heritage and representative was sent out to inspect the sites.
“The main thing now is for police to be notified so they can add the offences to their data base,” Mr Thurlow said.
Penalties for destructing native vegetation range from $22,000 to $1.65million, depending on the offence type. Two years imprisonment can also be imposed on top of any proven offence for trespassing.
Maitland City Council rangers and members of the Regional Illegal Dumping Squad are stepping up patrols in the area which is also used as an illegal dumping ground and dumping hot spot for stolen vehicles.