Peter Johnstone
An apparent attempt at stealing timber from Forestry Tasmania-managed land could have ended in disaster at Mount Arthur just east of Launceston. Source: Timberbiz
A sizeable stringy bark gum tree with sawlog timber reckoned to be worth more than $400 was felled across a road which gives access to a section of a popular mountain bike trail.
But North East Harvesting and sales co-ordinator Peter Johnstone said it was brought down in a dangerous manner at a right angle to the way it was intended to fall.
“The high winds during the period it was cut down and the inexperience of the faller probably contributed to how it was felled, but it certainly would have been a danger to anyone nearby including the chainsaw operator,” he said.
“That might also explain why it was simply left and no attempt made to cut it up.”
Mr Johnstone said Forestry Tasmania would probably have to go to the expense of hiring an excavator to remove the tree.
“The road that is blocked is an important access to the Juggernaut mountain bike track and is used by cyclists to access a section of track about the half way point and more importantly provides access for ambulance or recovery vehicles if there is a crash on the steepest section of the track,” he said.
“So these people are not only putting themselves at risk, but also innocent users of the forest and bike tracks.”
He said theft of firewood from Permanent Timber Production Zone land was becoming an epidemic.
The criminal activity was not only theft but jeopardised good forest management because mature trees providing habitat and seed banks for future forest growth were being removed.
