A Batemans Bay Police spokesperson said Christopher Paul McMahon, 72, had been located and was granted conditional bail to appear at Moruya Local Court.

A warrant was issued for the Deua Valley man on March 13 after he failed to appear in court on the three dates he was due since January.

Magistrate Doug Dick convicted him in his absence of permitting a fire to escape on December 26, 2019, causing damage in the Deua River Valley, including to the Wandera communications tower.

He was also convicted of lighting a fire for land clearance or a fire break without a permit.