Rural MPs are sounding an alarm over the scarcity of firewood collection areas, since the season opened on March 1.
There are very few places available to northern Victorian residents, unless you have access to a four-wheel drive. Moira Shire and Ganawarra Shire residents have no collection points in their areas.
Firewood collection is managed by DEECA, and is open from March 1 to June 30, and from September 1 to November 30.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is calling on the Allan Government to guarantee that enough firewood will be available for collection throughout the season.
“The locations of designated firewood collection areas have only just been released, and these spots are few and far between for many of our regional communities,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Last year, we saw collection areas struggling to meet demand, and the number of available areas continues to decrease year-on-year.
“There are also many in our communities — the elderly, the frail, the disabled — who simply cannot collect their own firewood.”
In Euroa, the closest collection area is 40 minutes from town at either Mt Albert Track or Ruoaks Rd.
Seymour residents must travel just under 30 minutes to the Tallarook State Forest, while the closest pick-up area to Benalla is more than 30 minutes away at Tiger Rd.
Speaking in parliament, State Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell said it was disappointing that more collection points had not been made available in several local government areas within her electorate.
“Like previous years, residents of Moira, Gannawarra and Mildura local government areas have no firewood collection points in their respective shires and people are forced to drive many hours to get firewood to heat their homes,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“For residents in Barmah for example, they face a three-hour round trip to a collection point south of Warrenbayne, which is ridiculous considering the perfectly good wood laying at their doorsteps in the Barmah Forest.
“Many residents needing firewood are elderly or pensioners and do not have the spare funds to be travelling hours out of their way to collect firewood, or pay the exorbitant prices charged by firewood sellers.”
For more information, go to: https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collection-in-your-region
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