Don’t you love the thought of a real pine tree, draped with tinsel, baubles and colourful lights in the lounge room on Christmas morning?
Well, if you’re thinking of sneaking down to the Beerwah forestry to chop one down and throw it in the ute, then think again.
Authorities have warned anyone who steals a tree that the crime will cost you a significant fine in the thousands.
On top of that, they explained the trees were selectively bred as building materials, so they make for very average Christmas trees.
The Police, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and even Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have all issued warnings to those tempted to snatch a freebie tree.
“Under the Forestry Act, the maximum penalty for the unlawful removal of trees from a plantation area is a fine of $14,375 for a first offence,” the Premier revealed on her Facebook page.
“…and then up to $28,750 for a subsequent offence.”
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Senior Constable Susan Lowndes from Beerwah Station explained further:
“I’d just like to remind everyone the pine tree plantations around Beerwah are managed and owned by HQ Plantations,” she said.
“It is an offence to take pine trees or ‘wildlings’ from the plantation.
“The pine trees growing on the road reserves belong to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This is also an offence to take these trees.”
A Department of Agriculture and Fisheries spokesperson added that, “Queensland’s plantation pine trees have been selectively bred to grow tall and straight, with fine branching to make superior knot-free timber for house construction and other wood products.
“As a result, they make spindly, disappointing Christmas trees.
“Wildings that grow outside plantations mostly grow on the side of roads and stopping to cut them down poses a safety hazard.
“It’s not worth risking life and limb in the lead up to Christmas for a spindly little tree.”
So perhaps the best advice comes from the Premier, who said: “If you’re after a real tree this Christmas, grab it from your local plant nursery and support good Queensland jobs.”
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