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Permits Eased For Firewood Collection

Permits to collect firewood from public land are no longer required, Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today.

By Russell Northe - 7th September 2011 - Back to News

ˇ§The Victorian Coalition Government abolished the requirement for a permit to collect firewood for personal use from state forests and parks where collection is allowed from 1 September 2011,ˇ¨ Mr Northe said.

ˇ§We have cut the red tape introduced by the former Labor Government to make the process much easier for those people who rely on firewood for heating and cooking,ˇ¨ he added.

Under this new policy residents can collect firewood for domestic use in autumn and spring between March 1 to June 30 and September 1 to November 30.

Mr Northe said it was important residents were aware of the changes to the firewood collection policy.

These include:

„h Firewood collection is only allowed in designated firewood collection areas (directions to these areas is now available by calling the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or www.dse.vic.gov.au)

„h Collection areas are located, where possible, to avoid sites of environmental and cultural significance

„h Firewood collection is for domestic use only

„h Firewood collected without a permit cannot be sold

„h Roadside collection of firewood in State forests is only allowed in designated firewood collection areas

„h Permission is required for collection of firewood from roadsides managed by local government. VicRoads does not currently allow firewood collection on roadsides they manage

„h If a fire danger period is declared before 30 November, the spring firewood collection season may end early.

ˇ§Firewood is important for many households throughout the Morwell electorate and this new policy should make firewood collection easier and cheaper, especially for people who rely on firewood for heating and cooking,ˇ¨ Mr Northe said.

For more information go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/forests/firewood

Media: Russell Northe 0408 225 523 / Julia Auciello 5133 9088

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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