Firewood collection season closing

Thursday 21 June, 2012

The Autumn firewood collection season closes this Saturday, 30 June at 5pm and anyone collecting firewood in state forests or parks after this time will face heavy penalties.

Regional Director of DSE’s Port Phillip Region, Rodney Warren, said that firewood collection seasons combined with collection limits helps ensure that firewood from public land is managed sustainably and distributed in an equitable way.

“Firewood on public land is a limited resource that needs to be actively managed.

“The two statewide firewood collection seasons aim to minimise risks to people, the environment and infrastructure by avoiding firewood collection during winter and during periods of highest fire hazard.

“People collecting firewood after the close of the firewood season this Saturday will be very visibly doing the wrong thing and we will be conducting targeted patrols in forests and parks.

“The next opportunity to collect firewood from public land, for personal use only, will be the commencement of the Spring firewood collection season on 1 September.

“In the meantime, people purchasing firewood should check that they are buying it from a legal source, such as someone who has a commercial forest produce licence from the Department of Primary Industries.

“If you purchase wood sourced from public land by an unlicensed operator, then you are supporting an illegal activity and denying firewood to individuals who want to collect their own wood.

“Firewood from collection areas in public land is for all Victorians.

“Everyone has a right to an equal share of it, which is 2 cubic metres per person per day and a maximum vehicle and trailer combination carrying capacity of 2 tonne.

“We are determined that this limited natural resource from our public land is managed sustainably and distributed fairly,” he said.

Rules and regulations apply to firewood collection and penalties apply under the Forests Act 1958, Wildlife Regulations 2002 and Land Conservation (Vehicle Control) Regulations 2003.

For more information or if you suspect illegal firewood collection or sale, phone the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.