The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has welcomed a Land and Environment Court decision fining two landholders for illegally clearing native vegetation in western NSW.
The court found John and Raelene Vassallo guilty of multiple offences of unlawful clearing under the Local Land Services Act 2013 at a property near Coolabah, around 120km from Cobar.
The Court fined Mr Vassallo $315,000 and Mrs Vassallo $116,250 and ordered the defendants to pay the Department's legal costs.
The offences involved clearing about 2,398 hectares of native vegetation between 2021 and 2024, including large numbers of mature trees and important habitat such as tree hollows. The Court found this caused significant environmental harm including the ecological network relied on by several threatened species.
Justice Duggan found the clearing was not in line with the relevant approvals, despite the defendants having access to advice.
DCCEEW will continue to investigate and prosecute breaches of environmental laws across NSW to protect the state's natural environment.
Quotes attributed to Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator Chief Regulatory Officer Adam Gilligan:
"The outcome sends a strong message that unlawful land clearing will not be tolerated.
"Native vegetation plays a critical role in supporting biodiversity, maintaining healthy ecosystems and building resilience to climate impacts.
"This case highlights the serious consequences of failing to comply with land clearing laws, particularly where large-scale impacts to habitat and threatened species occur."
