Recreation Areas Management Act 2006

If a seized thing is not disposed of under section 177 or forfeited under section 178, the authorised officer must return it to the person from whom it was seized—

at the end of 6 months after its seizure; or

if proceedings involving the thing are started within the 6 months, at the end of the proceedings and any appeal from the proceedings.

Despite subsection (1), unless a thing that has been seized as evidence is disposed of or forfeited as mentioned in the subsection, the officer must immediately return it to the person from whom it was seized if the officer stops being satisfied its continued retention as evidence is necessary.