Warwick men involved in Fraser Island fires front court
Four men from the Warwick area have faced charges over their role in the fires, which burnt through 87,000 hectares of bushland.
Warwick
Don't miss out on the headlines from Warwick. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two Warwick men involved in the lighting of a campfire that turned into a wildfire that scorched half of Fraser Island have pleaded guilty to unlawful lighting of a fire.
Travis Robert Lowe and Lachlan James Brown both had their matters mentioned in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Brown pleaded guilty through a legal representative.
The matter was adjourned to February 15.
Lowe submitted a letter to the court pleading guilty and saying he was extremely sorry for his involvement and sincerely believed the fire had been extinguished.
In the letter, Lowe said he loved camping and never meant to harm or risk the environment.
He said it was a terrible mistake and he had a greater respect for rules as a result of the incident.
Magistrate Stephen Guttridge dealt with the matter in Lowe's absence, fining him $667 with no conviction recorded.
Two others had already been dealt with over the campfire, which caused bushfires that raged on the island for seven weeks and came close to homes and properties.
The court heard Cheshire made frank admissions about lighting the fire. In a letter to the court, Cheshire said he was embarrassed and remorseful for his actions. He stated he sincerely believed he had extinguished the fire. Cheshire was fined $1334 and no conviction was recorded.
Dominic Glynn Mcgahan, another member of the group, also pleaded guilty to lighting a fire and was fined $667 with no conviction recorded.
MORE WARWICK NEWS:
Grove Juice faces huge blow over tough new health laws
$5M+ PROJECT: Huge St Mary's upgrades under way
Alfred set to dump up to 150mm, cause flash flooding in southwest
The wider Darling Downs hasn’t quite escaped the clutches of the backlash from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred with the region set to receive up to 150mm in the next 24 hours, before settings its sights on the west. Here’s the latest.
Warwick sale and auction results, week ending March 9
See the latest auction and sales results in Warwick for last week.
Warwick sale and auction results, week ending March 8
See the latest auction and sales results in Warwick for last week.
Mercy flight for stranded Dolphins after contentious game
Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport has once again been the Qld touch down point for rugby league stars stuck in NSW while their families bunkered down for the now ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
Young man flown to hospital after being badly burnt in campfire
A man in his 20s has been flown to hospital after suffering burns from a campfire in the Maranoa region. DETAILS.
‘Poor little fella’: Classic Oz reactions as cyclone snakes move in
From eight snakes arriving at the one property to increased sightings on windows, aircon units and even the pantry, here’s how snakes are sharing our space across SEQ and northern NSW. VIDEO, GALLERY.