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It’s illegal!It’s been a long cold winter and you’ve probably spent your budget on heating, but if you think removing firewood from roadsides could save you money, you’re wrong! By South Gippsland Shire Council - 23rd August 2004 - Back to News Council has received numerous complaints from concerned residents reporting incidents of people removing wood and damaging roadside vegetation.
If you’re one of the guilty, it could cost you up to $800, an amount which would have warmed you for several winters!
Council’s Local Law No 11 /34 states:
1) No person may, without a permit, cut, remove or damage any vegetation on a road. Penalty $500
2) Not withstanding clause 1, no person may remove any vegetative material from a road for the purposes of use as firewood.
Penalty $300
The maintenance of this roadside vegetation has both safety and environmental ramifications.
Roadside vegetation provides critical habitat for native fauna and this protected space allows the natural regeneration of indigenous flora. With the extensive clearing that has taken place over the past one hundred years, roadsides are often the only pristine remnant vegetation in some areas.
The cutting of timber creates a serious risk of timber falling on roads and possibly vehicles, often with trailers parked unsafely on narrow roads.
Understorey plants are trampled in the process and are threatened when the canopy is altered, reducing the shade necessary for their survival.
If you spot someone breaking this law, take their number plate and report it to Council on 5662 9200. You’ll be protecting the beautiful environment that attracts thousands of visitors to the region each year, injecting sought after tourist dollars into our local economy.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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