Register of Crown forestry investigations
View the register of EPA investigations into native forestry operations in Crown forests.
Previously we reported only on investigations that were in response to a community report. We are now reporting on all Crown forestry investigations.
- To make a report, contact the EPA’s Environment Line on 131 555 or [email protected]
- For information on any investigations contact us on 131 555 or [email protected]
The stages of an investigation are:
- Under Investigation: the EPA is investigating the matter, collecting evidence to determine if a breach has occurred.
Investigation timeframes include both collection of evidence and legal review. - Prosecution Commenced: the case is with the courts for a ruling or for sentencing. This category only applies to matters for prosecution.
- Investigation Completed: the investigation has been finalised and an outcome reached or recommended.
Current investigations
Last updated 31 July 2024
|
Investigation Title |
Investigation Stage |
Date Investigation Commenced |
Allegation Category |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Boambee State Forest |
Under Investigation |
July 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Moonpar State Forest |
Under Investigation |
November 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Conglomerate State Forest |
Under Investigation |
December 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Styx River State Forest |
Under Investigation |
July 2024 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Mistake State Forest |
Under Investigation |
May 2024 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Bulga State Forest |
Under Investigation |
October 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Flat Rock State Forest |
Under Investigation |
November 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Orara East State Forest |
Under Investigation |
June 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Doubleduke State Forest |
Under Investigation |
April 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Styx River |
Under Investigation |
November 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Tallaganda State Forest |
Under Investigation |
August 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Nadgee State Forest |
Under Investigation |
22 March 2022 |
Alleged damage to a tree retention clump |
|
Nadgee State Forest |
Under Investigation |
29 November 2022 |
Alleged breaches of the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (CIFOA) |
|
Bago State Forest |
Under investigation |
December 2022 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Benandarah State Forest |
Under Investigation |
27 March 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Shallow Crossing State Forest |
Under Investigation |
27 March 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
South Brooman State Forest |
Under Investigation |
27 March 2023 |
Alleged breaches of the CIFOA |
|
Clouds Creek State Forest |
Under Investigation |
March 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Wedding Bells State Forest |
Under investigation |
December 2022 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Mogo 146A |
Under investigation |
January 2022 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
|
Bagawa State Forest BGW001 |
Under investigation |
February 2023 |
Alleged soil erosion and/or water pollution |
|
Wild Cattle Creek 32, 33, 34 |
Prosecution commenced |
July 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Completed investigations
|
Investigation Title |
Date Investigation Commenced |
Allegation Category |
Outcome |
Date Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yambulla State Forest 299A |
October 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
FCNSW convicted of two charges and ordered to pay a fine of $360,000 |
31 July 2024 |
|
Orara West State Forest |
June 2023 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities
|
Advisory Letter issued |
19 July 2024 |
|
Mogo 174A |
April 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
FCNSW convicted of 1 charge and order to pay a fine of $20,000 and the EPA’s legal costs of $84,340 |
21 December 2023 |
|
Coopernook State Forest |
December 2021 |
Alleged damage to environmentally significant area |
Enforceable Undertaking |
8 November 2023 |
|
Currowan 502A |
January 2022 |
Alleged breach of tree retention requirements |
Advisory letter issued |
13 July 2023 |
|
Shallow Crossing 211A |
January 2023 |
Incursions into threatened species exclusion zone |
Penalty notice issued |
7 August 2023 |
|
Conglomerate State Forest |
May 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Official caution, advice and advisory letters issued |
17 January 2023 |
|
East Boyd Timbillica State Forest |
August 2022 |
Alleged breach of road and track crossing conditions |
Advisory letter issued |
11 November |
|
Tomerong State Forest 1199 |
October 2019 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Discontinued |
5 December 2022 |
|
South Brooman 58A – Part 2 |
6 October 2020 |
Alleged felling of 1 hollow bearing trees after re-commencement of harvest operations (post SWO) |
Penalty notice issued to FCNSW |
23 June 2022 |
|
Dampier State Forest |
May 2019 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
FCNSW were convicted of 3 charges, ordered to pay fines of $230,000 and the EPA's costs of $8,000 |
23 June 2022 |
|
Wild Cattle Creek Cpts. 537 539 540 and 548 |
December 2018 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
FCNSW were convicted of 4 charges, ordered to pay fines of $135,600 and the EPA’s costs of $150,000 |
9 June 2022 |
|
Lower Bucca State Forest 8-14 CIFOA |
June 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Official Caution and advisory letter issued to FCNSW |
19 April 2022 |
|
Lower Bucca State Forest 8-14 CIFOA |
June 2020 |
Alleged issues identified relating to operational planning requirements |
Discontinued. Closed out with correspondence |
19 April 2022 |
|
Forestry Corp of NSW – Norwood Western Land Lease |
May 2021 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Discontinued due to lack of evidence |
7 April 2022 |
|
Forestry Corp of NSW – Woodmount Western Land Lease |
May 2021 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Discontinued due to lack of evidence |
10 March 2022 |
|
Mogo 161, 173A, 174 |
August 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
3 penalty notices issued to FCNSW |
21 December 2021 |
|
Yambulla S.F, Cpts 345A, 350A, 355A, 357A. CIFOA -SSC |
22 July 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Advisory letter written. |
3 August 2021 |
|
Bago 47A |
October 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Advisory letter written. |
16 November 2020 |
|
Styx River State Forest |
29 October 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Formal warning issued. |
20 January 2021 |
|
Wild Cattle Creek State Forest -Compartments 551, 552 and 553 -old IFOA |
27 February 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Advisory letter written. |
2 February 2021 |
|
Olney erosion control |
23 April 2020 |
Alleged soil erosion and/or water pollution |
Official caution issued. |
3 September 2020 |
|
Olney exclusion zone breach |
23 April 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Penalty notice issued. |
16 February 2021 |
|
South Brooman Compartment 58A (Part 1) |
June 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Discontinued due to lack of evidence. |
2 May 2022 |
|
Kalateenee State Forest, South Kempsey |
22 May 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Discontinued due to lack of evidence. |
16 February 2021 |
|
Girard State Forest -Compartment 456 |
21 February 2020 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Advisory Letter issues |
4 June 2021 |
|
Bodalla State Forest, Boyne State Forest and Mogo State Forest (Swift Parrots) |
24 July 2019 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Two penalty notices issued and three official cautions issued to FCNSW. |
1 March 2021 |
|
Ballengarra State Forest |
21 August 2019 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Two penalty notices and an official caution issued to FCNSW. |
26 February 2021 |
|
Tantawangalo |
29/01/2019 |
Contravene requirement of integrated forestry operations approval |
Penalty Notice |
21 April 2020 |
|
Tantawangalo |
29/01/2019 |
Contravene requirement of integrated forestry operations approval |
Penalty Notice |
21 April 2020 |
|
Orara East 565 566 |
November 2018 |
Alleged damage to habitat of threatened species and/or ecological communities |
Two penalty notices issued |
7 January 2020 |