DEECA and Parks Victoria burn firewood before allowing local access
By Aaron Cordy
THE debate on whether locals should be able to collect firewood in Barmah Forest has had a twist of the bizarre, with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) collecting over 100 large piles to be burnt within the forest.
Most of the wood collected in Barmah National Park and on Barmah Island is debris from the 2022 floods and fallen timber within an area of Barmah Island that is regularly slashed to reduce fire risk. But the question remains why this wood is not made available to the public?
Member for Northern Victoria Region Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell raised the issue of collection points in Moira Shire in State Parliament last week in the wake of the State Government’s decision to burn piles of fallen wood in the Barmah Forest that should be made available to residents.
“Moira Shire residents have been forced to either pay excessive prices to buy firewood or travel hours out of their way to be able to collect it themselves and need a firewood collection point closer to their homes,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“We are continually told by the government that firewood is a finite resource yet here we see piles of good, useful firewood going to waste.”
The call appears to have fallen on deaf ears as some of the wood piles collected by DEECA that could have been used by families to combat the recent spate of cold days and bitter nights have already been burnt.
“Works to clear flood debris within strategic fuel breaks in the Barmah National Park are being undertaken ahead of the fire season,” said a DEECA spokesperson.
“Strategic fuel breaks help protect communities, and the environment, from future bushfires. The flood-affected wood is being assessed, and where possible, will be used for habitat and environmental projects within the park.
“DEECA is also working with Parks Victoria and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation to determine if some of the wood can also be made available to the public for firewood.”
