The Spring firewood collection season opens today (Saturday 1 September) and will run until the end of November in the two local sites.

Firewood can only be collected within the designated domestic firewood collection areas and during a domestic firewood season.

Importantly it is illegal to sell firewood from firewood collection areas.

Locations in the Dimboola area include -

  • Barrett West Sugar Gum Plantation, Wallup East
  • Wail East Sugar Gum Plantation, Wail

Domestic Firewood Collection Rules
  • Please ensure that you only collect fallen or felled trees
  • You many not collect more than 2 cubic metres per person per day. Note: 1 cubic metre is approximately a 1.8 metre x 1.2 metre trailer of split firewood, neatly stacked to a height of 0.5 metres
  • Do not collect more than 16 cubic metres per household per financial year
  • Note also that it is illegal to sell firewood collected from domestic collection areas or to use the wood in a commercial enterprise
  • Heavy vehicles (greater than 4.5 tonne GVM including any trailer) must not be brought into or used in a domestic firewood collection area
  • Heavy machinery (e.g. a bulldozer, crane, excavator, forwarder, hydraulic log splitter, saw bench, skidder, skid steer loader and tractor) must not be brought into, or used, in a firewood collection area
  • Do not tow or winch fallen or felled trees along the ground
  • Do not collect firewood within 20 metres of a watercourse
  • Do not drive your vehicle off formed roads or tracks
  • Do not cut, break off or damage standing trees or shrubs (living or dead)
  • Do not take away fallen or felled trees that are visibly hollow or growing moss or fungi with a coverage of greater than 50 percent
  • Do not damage, disturb or destroy native flora and fauna
  • Do not injure, damage, deface, desecrate, destroy or remove cultural heritage sites and artefacts
  • Take all litter with you when you leave
  • Do not enter the forest on days of Code Red Fire Danger rating
  • Do not use chainsaws on days of Total Fire Ban
  • Use only chainsaws fitted with a proper exhaust and spark arrester
  • Only refill chainsaw oil and fuel on an impermeable surface

Safety

Please take care of yourself and others at all times when collecting firewood. In particular:
  • avoid collecting firewood when conditions are wet, windy or hot
  • assess your work area for hazards before you commence your work
  • avoid working near hazards
  • avoid working alone, or with children
  • be trained and competent in the use of firewood collection equipment (including chainsaws) and use well maintained equipment
  • wear appropriate safety clothing and equipment

Hazards

Hazards found in designated firewood collection areas may include, but are not limited to:
  • broken overhead branches, dead standing trees
  • uneven or slippery ground conditions
  • vehicles
  • mine shafts
  • snakes and stinging insects

More details about the Firewood Collection Season can be found on the Forest Management Victoria website