THE Spring Firewood Collection Season has kicked off across Victoria and is open until Friday, November 30.
Hume’s assistant chief fire officer, Jarrod Hayse said, “We want to remind people that it will once again be legal to collect firewood from designated areas on public land during the collection period.
“It’s important that people only collect firewood from designated collection areas in state forests or parks where collection is allowed and stay within collection limits.
“You may collect up to two cubic metres of firewood per person per day, and up to 16 cubic metres per household per year, this prevents households stockpiling large volumes of firewood and denying others a supply.
“Some designated firewood collection areas may not open at the beginning of the season for various reasons, including supply or accessibility due to wet conditions.
“Firewood collection areas that have proposed burns within them may be closed early and at short notice to allow burning operations to be undertaken safely. Closures of firewood collection areas due to burning operations will be notified on site, at local DELWP offices and on the website, and DELWP Hume Facebook page if time allows.
“FFMVic and Parks Victoria staff will be patrolling parks, forests and reserves to make sure people are doing the right thing while collecting their firewood.
“The felling of any trees for firewood is strictly prohibited and it’s also illegal to sell firewood collected on public land without an appropriate permit or licence,” Mr Hayse said.
To manage future firewood supply, this spring there will be no firewood collection areas in River Red Gum parks managed by Parks Victoria. Future collection from these areas will be subject to access and supply.
Any information the community may have about the illegal removal of firewood for sale can be reported to DELWP on 136 186, quoting Operation Sawdust.
