The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning manages firewood in state forests and Parks Victoria manages firewood in national parks.
Mr Walsh said even though there were hundreds of hectares nearby suitable for collecting firewood, the government, via DELWP, could not have planned a bigger mess if it tried.
“For those in Echuca it is more than an hour trip to the nearest firewood collection site,” Mr Walsh said.
“Make no mistake, the many people in northern Victoria who collect firewood for their own use don’t do it for a fun day out, they do it out of economic necessity.
“They do it because of the excessive burden of power bills or the high cost of bottled gas.”
Firewood collection is open now at designated sites until June 30; however, Echuca’s nearest collection point, Gunbower Island State Forest, has been delayed until April 1 due to high fire danger this year.
This will be limited to residents of the shires of Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon and Swan Hill Rural City Council only.
Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said domestic firewood on public land was a limited resource, requiring careful management.
“Where firewood resources are scarce, priority access may be allowed to particular sections of the community such as local residents, Traditional Owners, those dependent on firewood for heating or concession card holders,” she said.
“In our recent budget we announced more than $330 million for low-cost heating as well as a $250 bonus to reduce the cost of power bills to support low income and vulnerable households doing it tough over winter.
“We continue to look for opportunities to assist the most vulnerable people.”
Mr Walsh called on Ms D’Ambrosio to revisit the number of collection points in northern Victoria.
“Minister, have a look at the map of the firewood collection sites and personally see how far people have to travel to get their firewood,” he said.
“There is plenty of fallen dead timber on public land across northern Victoria, it just needs the minister to step in and make sure these areas are listed as firewood collection points for those people who so desperately need firewood for heating this winter.”
For firewood collection information, including maps of designated collection areas, visit ffm.vic.gov.au
More information on the non-mains energy concession is available at services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/non-mains-energy-concession
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