❓ Hon Diane Evers questions the Minister for Environment regarding illegal firewood collection in WA's national and state parks. The response reveals data collection limitations and enforcement actions taken under the Conservation and Land Management Act.
AnsweredQoN 1140Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS —
ILLEGAL FIREWOOD
1140. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
(1) How many
reports of illegal cutting or taking of timber for firewood or other use in
national and state parks did the department receive in each of the years 2017–18,
2018–19, and 2019 to date?
(2) Which parks did these reports of
illegal activity relate to?
(3) How many of these reports were
followed up, and how many resulted in fines or other penalties?
(4) What is the
time frame for following up on a complaint of illegal activity involving the
cutting or taking of timber?
(5) Does the department report back
on the outcome to the original complainant?
ILLEGAL FIREWOOD
1140. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
(1) How many
reports of illegal cutting or taking of timber for firewood or other use in
national and state parks did the department receive in each of the years 2017–18,
2018–19, and 2019 to date?
(2) Which parks did these reports of
illegal activity relate to?
(3) How many of these reports were
followed up, and how many resulted in fines or other penalties?
(4) What is the
time frame for following up on a complaint of illegal activity involving the
cutting or taking of timber?
(5) Does the department report back
on the outcome to the original complainant?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions does not maintain a central
database of public reports relating to illegal cutting or taking of firewood.
DBCA has nine regions across the state that deal directly with members of the
public with regard to local reports of illegal taking of firewood. DBCA
regional and district offices maintain records, which in many cases are kept in
hard copy. Obtaining a response to this question is not possible in the time
frame and compilation of this information would require a review of hardcopy
records, diverting considerable staff resources from other core business
duties.
(3) The following offences are recorded under the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, section 103, ''Taking
Forest Produce'', for the respective periods: 2017–18, seven
cautions, 23 infringements and two prosecutions; 2018–19, eight
cautions and 13 infringements; and 2019–20, two cautions and two infringements.
(4) There is a 45-day
limitation for the issuing of infringement notices pursuant to the Conservation
and Land Management Act 1984 and regulations, and a two-year statute of
limitations should prosecution action be initiated.
(5) There is no
legislative requirement for this to occur; however, DBCA staff endeavour to
respond to the complainant if the person who made the report requests it. On
many occasions, reports of illegal activity that are reported to DBCA are
anonymous.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions does not maintain a central
database of public reports relating to illegal cutting or taking of firewood.
DBCA has nine regions across the state that deal directly with members of the
public with regard to local reports of illegal taking of firewood. DBCA
regional and district offices maintain records, which in many cases are kept in
hard copy. Obtaining a response to this question is not possible in the time
frame and compilation of this information would require a review of hardcopy
records, diverting considerable staff resources from other core business
duties.
(3) The following offences are recorded under the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, section 103, ''Taking
Forest Produce'', for the respective periods: 2017–18, seven
cautions, 23 infringements and two prosecutions; 2018–19, eight
cautions and 13 infringements; and 2019–20, two cautions and two infringements.
(4) There is a 45-day
limitation for the issuing of infringement notices pursuant to the Conservation
and Land Management Act 1984 and regulations, and a two-year statute of
limitations should prosecution action be initiated.
(5) There is no
legislative requirement for this to occur; however, DBCA staff endeavour to
respond to the complainant if the person who made the report requests it. On
many occasions, reports of illegal activity that are reported to DBCA are
anonymous.
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