A farmer has been fined for grazing cattle on state owned land in the City of Wanneroo.

The Department of Planning Lands and Heritage (DPLH) said the 72-year-old man had been found guilty in the Joondalup Magistrates Court for illegally grazing his livestock on state government owned land in Pinjar.

A DPLH spokeswoman said Ian Petricevich from Mariginiup was fined more than $10,000 for allowing his animals on properties owned by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) between June 2021 and May 2022.

“The activity contributed to degradation of land which is part of an environmentally sensitive area which includes threatened ecological communities,’’ she said.

Mr Petricevich was charged with driving on state land – regulation 14 of the planning and development regulation 2009 and allowing animals on state land – regulation 13 of the planning and development regulation 2009. He was also ordered to pay $950 costs.

DPLH said prior to commencing prosecution action, Mr Petricevich had received many infringements and warnings regarding securing his livestock and it supported the court’s decision on this matter.

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 12 December 2022.