Fine for clearing forest

THE chance discovery of more than two hectares of bulldozed forest inside the popular Carnarvon National Park led to a farmer being hit with a $6000 fine.

The Emerald Magistrates Court heard John William Roberts used a bulldozer to clear trees, soil, grass and rocks to create a track just over a kilometre long into the national park from his neighbouring property.

The 63-year-old also cleared an area at the end of the track in the national park to install temporary cattle yards, and brought a dog, horses and used an unregistered vehicle in the national park to muster cattle that had escaped from his property.

Waste was also left behind after the mustering.

In early 2021, Department of Environment and Science officers were flying over the national park and identified an area where there was suspected unauthorised clearing.

During their investigation, departmental officers executed a search warrant at the property, located the bulldozer involved in the clearing works and gathered evidence.

They found Roberts had cleared the area in the national park, which included clearing native eucalypt trees and cycads, and unlawfully mustered 35-38 head of cattle.

Roberts told the court he was aware that his property bordered the national park, but he did not know he had cleared into the national park as he did not check his boundary prior to conducting the clearing.

In sentencing, the court considered the offending was serious, and the Carnarvon National Park is a pristine region of great importance to the community and home to a number of protected plants.

The court accepted that Roberts was remorseful and did not intend to clear in the national park, and that he wanted to do the “right thing” in the future.

The department spokesman welcomed the fine and said it sent a message to Queensland’s grazing community, particularly those that neighboured national parks and state forests, that activities in the national park must not be unlawful.

“Graziers are reminded to check property boundaries prior to conducting clearing on their property and apply for the appropriate mustering permits to facilitate the removal of stock from national parks in an expedient manner,” he said.

“As the environmental regulator, DES will take strong enforcement action, including by prosecuting people who clear any natural or cultural resources or unlawfully muster cattle in national parks.”

The unlawful clearing charge can attract a fine up to $411,000 or two years in jail.