This year’s Autumn Domestic Firewood Collection Season will open 8 March 2013 to 30 June 2013.

During this time firewood can be collected for personal use, without a permit, from designated firewood collection areas within state forests or from parks and reserves where collection is allowed.

Firewood collection is subject to available supply, fire danger ratings, flooding, wet weather and other conditions determining safe access to tracks and forest.

Seasons and collection areas apply to safeguard the environmental sustainability of our forests and parks and mitigate safety risks.

Where can I collect firewood?

Collection is only allowed in designated firewood collection areas, marked by official signs. Rules apply.

Firewood collection areas may also close if conditions become unsuitable due to flooding and wet conditions, high fire risk or if fire wood supplies become low.

Barmah National Park

Legislation now permits local residents to collect sawlog harvesting residue as firewood in some former logging coupes at Barmah National Park.

Collection at Barmah National Park will be restricted to residents living in the Shire of Campaspe, Shire of Moira and the Greater City of Shepparton, as well as the Yorta Yorta people. People collecting firewood in Barmah National Park may be asked for their name and address.

Visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/forests/firewood/collection-areas and select your region to check what’s open locally.

How much firewood can I collect?

The maximum volume of firewood per household is 16 cubic meters per year. The maximum amount of firewood an individual can take is two cubic metres per day.

Signs at designated sites will display the rules for collecting domestic firewood.

Firewood collected from some parks and forests may be green. Green wood burns well if cut and stored correctly for 12 months.

What happens if I don’t abide by the collection conditions?

Parks Victoria and DEPI conduct regular patrols of designated firewood collection areas. Under new legislation, heavy penalties apply to offences such as collecting firewood outside of designated collection areas and allocated time periods and collecting more than the maximum allowable amounts.

Typical on-the-spot fines will be around $560. More serious offences that go to court may be liable to a maximum penalty of a $7,042 fine, one year imprisonment or both.

More information

More information is available on DEPI's Domestic firewood collection on public land fact sheet.

Contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 13 6186 or drop into your local Parks Victoria or DEPI office.