Fined for cutting wood

Pair found with chainsaws in protected forest

TWO men who took their chainsaws into a protected East Coast forest and filled their ute with illegally obtained wood have been fined on charges of crimes against the environment.

In August 2018, Bridgewater men Justin and Anthony Rogers drove 90 minutes to the Butler Ridge Nature Reserve, north of Triabunna, which is a known Tasmanian devil habitat.

The Hobart Magistrates

Court heard on Wednesday that they planned to collect about a tonne of wood between them — worth about $ 130.

But a ranger on patrol heard chainsaws and walked about 1.5km into the forest where he found a ute parked off the side of the trail, loaded with wood.

Both men claimed they wanted the wood for personal use and had no plans to sell it.

The court heard a nature reserve was a high- value protected area under law and was deemed unique and important for biodiversity.

A prosecutor explained the Butler Ridge Nature Reserve was set aside from logging to protect its eucalypt forests.

She said the men’s actions could have compromised the area, which was known for its wild tussock grasses and as a habitat for Tasmanian devils.

The court also heard that unauthorised vehicle access could damage tracks and increase the risk of soil- borne disease in the area.

Justin Rogers, 38, said he had been in the same bush area in March that year collecting wood and had already been caught illegally taking wood.

He pleaded guilty to several charges, including destroying a fallen tree, collecting firewood, possessing a chainsaw on reserved land, and driving a vehicle on reserved land.

“There wouldn’t be a nature reserve if people were putting themselves above the environment,” Magistrate Jackie Hartnett said.

Rogers argued he hadn’t cut down any trees, but Ms Hartnett said taking fallen trees “upsets the whole ecosystem”.

Ms Hartnett fined him $ 400 for the March offending and a further $ 600 for repeating his crimes in August.

Anthony Rogers, 43, pleaded guilty to destroying a fallen tree, collecting firewood, possessing a chainsaw on reserved land and driving a vehicle on reserved land during August 2018.

“I thought I was in the right area, the maps are hard to read,” he said.

“I had no intentions of going on a nature reserve.”

But Ms Hartnett said whether or not he knew he was committing the crime was irrelevant under the laws in question and slapped him with a singular fine of $ 700.