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Permit Required To Collect Firewood For Winter

As autumn progresses and nights start to cool, many Gippsland residents will be planning to stock up on firewood for winter warmth.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 18th April 2007 - Back to News

Some people drive out to the forest to collect their firewood, but it’s important to remember there are regulations to abide by to protect our forests for the future.

Before collecting firewood from any State forest you must have a firewood permit. These are available from either a Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) office or through a number of retail outlets across the region.

Firewood collection is not allowed in National Parks, Flora and Fauna Reserves, Special Protection Zones and some areas set-aside for conservation. Collection is also prohibited from all Shire and VicRoads roadsides.

In many places, DSE has set aside specific coupes for firewood collection, especially where normally-used areas have been affected by fire.

A map supplied with the permit outlines areas where collecting wood is permitted. Additional information may be available from your local DSE office.

The Department would like to remind people that firewood patrols are carried out on a regular basis both on the ground and in the air. Anyone caught illegally removing wood without a permit is liable for an on-the-spot fine of $100 or a court appearance.

Patrols conducted last firewood season by DSE Officers in the Bairnsdale area resulted in fines of $1000 and $500 being issued. The fines were in relation to felling of trees and collecting forest produce without a permit.

Permit applicants should familiarise themselves with the status of the land that they intend to collect firewood from to ensure they are not illegally removing wood.

Firewood is sold on a cubic metre basis, which is roughly a 6' x 4' trailer stacked 18" high. An average family burns around 10 cubic metres over the cooler months.

The cost per cubic metre of firewood varies, depending on the species of trees and where the firewood is to be collected, but in general it is about $10 to $20. Concession rates apply.

For further information on where to obtain permits, please contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136186.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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