THE Victorian Government has been slammed over a lack of firewood collection points in northern Victoria.
Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell claimed the government failed to establish additional firewood collection points in many local government areas throughout the electorate.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action released the collection point locations on March 1, coinciding with the start of the autumn firewood collection season.
Mrs Tyrrell said it was disappointing that more collection points had not been made available in several local government areas within her electorate.
“Like previous years, residents of Moira, Gannawarra and Mildura local government areas have no firewood collection points in their respective shires and people are forced to drive many hours to get firewood to heat their homes,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“For residents in Barmah, for example, they face a three-hour round trip to a collection point south of Warrenbayne, which is ridiculous considering the perfectly good wood laying at their doorsteps in the Barmah Forest.”
Mrs Tyrrell said she previously met with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos to discuss the need for more firewood collection points throughout Northern Victoria and was “instrumental in the minister arranging a firewood collection point in Barmah in September last year”.
“Many residents needing firewood are elderly or pensioners and do not have the spare funds to be travelling hours out of their way to collect firewood, or pay the exorbitant prices charged by firewood sellers,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
The department said there would be reduced supply of firewood available and fewer collection areas open.
Opening of the Gunbower State Forest designated firewood collection area was delayed to April 1 due to fire risk.
Only residents from Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon and Swan Hill council areas can collect from Gunbower State Forest.
Meanwhile, collection areas in state forests in Central Victoria will be restricted to residents in the Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra council areas to name a few.
Mildura and Swan Hill council area residents will have access to firewood in the Robinvale area.
“Domestic firewood on public land is a limited resource that needs to be carefully managed,” DEECA said in a statement.
“It is important for forest health, wildlife habitat, public safety and the sustainability of firewood resources that local communities rely on, that they are managed this way.
“Many animals rely on fallen timber and tree hollows for habitat.
“Crevices under logs and hollows in trees provide safe places for mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates to live and are the perfect place to protect their young from predators.
“Fallen timber and tree hollows also have value far beyond basic shelter, providing food resources and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem as it decays.
“We encourage the community to consider where the firewood they get comes from.
“Victorians are urged to ask questions before they buy, to avoid inadvertently supporting illegal firewood operators and to reduce the impact of these illegal activities on our environment.”
