Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) has been fined $15,000 for allegedly failing to comply with a post bushfire condition imposed to protect critical habitat in a forest near Batemans Bay, NSW.
The Site Specific Operating Condition required FCNSW to permanently retain all hollow bearing trees. Hollow bearing trees are important to many native animals in the forest, including threatened species that are dependent on these trees for their survival – providing further protection to the environment from further harm after the forest was damaged by fire.
NSW EPA Acting Executive Director Regulatory Operations Regional Greg Sheehy said the requirement to retain all hollow bearing trees was clear and it’s concerning that better systems were not put in place to ensure it followed through.
In July 2020, NSW EPA issued FCNSW with a Stop Work Order to stop the harvesting of trees in part of the forest for 40 days, after an inspection found hollow bearing trees that were either damaged or felled. The penalty followed the resumption of logging in that area, after FCNSW were required to put in place additional checks to ensure they met the conditions.
A Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) was issued to FCNSW for allegedly failing to comply in Compartment 58A in South Brooman State Forest.
$15,000 is the largest fine NSW EPA is able to issue under the legislation.
