Reports that Griffith City Council's mayor had breached state land clearing rules have been proven false.
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Several trees had been knocked over on Councillor John Dal Broi's property near Little Road and it had been reported to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).
A department spokesman said reports of land clearing in Hanwood had been investigated.
"DPIE concluded its investigation and found that no breach occurred under the Local Land Services Act 2013," the spokesman said.
Cr Dal Broi said confirmed there had been trees which had been knocked down on his property.
"The trees were planted 20 years ago. My neighbour was planting rice and I didn't want to conflict with him," he said.
While the trees were used as a moisture barrier, he said the trees grew too large and began interfering with irrigation equipment, and provided cover for people to dump rubbish illegally.
"We decided the trees had to come out, I should've gotten a permit from council but we didn't," he said.
"I paid a fine and there's a condition that we will replace the trees."
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A Griffith City Council spokeswoman confirmed council staff investigated a matter involving the removal of vegetation without the consent of council on Little Road.
As a result, a penalty infringement notice and order was issued.
Meanwhile, the NSW Rural Fire Service's MIA district are investigating a fire on a different property nearby.
Operational officer Stephen Kada said the call on November 12 was for Mansell Road, but volunteers found no fires there.
"However, there were fires located on Joncondon Road," Mr Kada said.
"The smouldering fires were extinguished, the fires are believed to have been lit before the total fire ban," he said.
Mr Kada said there was a responsibility for landholders to extinguish all fires before a total fire ban.
Mr Kada said RFS investigators were working with police and council.
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