A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the Department of CALM's actions regarding illegal jarrah tree felling in the proposed Greater Preston National Park, and subsequent enforcement efforts. The response indicates no apprehension in the specific case, but outlines general enforcement practices and ongoing investigations into other incidents.

AnsweredQoN 1492Legislative Assembly
Asked
7 May 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What actions have the Department of CALM taken to find and take action against the person or persons who cut down and removed jarrah trees in the proposed Greater Preston National Park, as reported in the
Bunbury Herald
of 13 August 2002, and in the
South Western Times
of 8 August 2002?
(2) Have the person or persons been located and, if yes, what legal or other action has been taken against them?
(3) Has the Department changed its enforcement activities in an attempt to prevent similar illegal tree felling and timber removal in our forests?
(4) Since August 2002, what further reports of illegal tree felling and timber removal have been reported to the Department and have any successful prosecutions resulted?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
5 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
29 days
(2) No person has been apprehended in relation to the breach. (3) No. However, additional ranger patrols have resulted from the government’s provision of funding for new national parks. The Department traditionally employs a range of compliance and enforcement practices that includes the provision of public information, responses to reports of suspected illegal activities and special dedicated investigation teams where appropriate. Various surveillance technologies are also utilised. Where appropriate the Department works with other authorities and the police. (4) There have been several reported incidents of suspected illegal tree removal in the South West Region of the Department of Conservation and Land Management since August 2002. Investigations are still current in some cases and as yet no prosecution has been initiated. The Department has successfully prosecuted offenders for illegal tree removal in the past and will do so in the future as circumstances warrant.
(3) No. However, additional ranger patrols have resulted from the government’s provision of funding for new national parks. The Department traditionally employs a range of compliance and enforcement practices that includes the provision of public information, responses to reports of suspected illegal activities and special dedicated investigation teams where appropriate. Various surveillance technologies are also utilised. Where appropriate the Department works with other authorities and the police. (4) There have been several reported incidents of suspected illegal tree removal in the South West Region of the Department of Conservation and Land Management since August 2002. Investigations are still current in some cases and as yet no prosecution has been initiated. The Department has successfully prosecuted offenders for illegal tree removal in the past and will do so in the future as circumstances warrant.
(4) There have been several reported incidents of suspected illegal tree removal in the South West Region of the Department of Conservation and Land Management since August 2002. Investigations are still current in some cases and as yet no prosecution has been initiated. The Department has successfully prosecuted offenders for illegal tree removal in the past and will do so in the future as circumstances warrant.

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