McLeish calls to allow roadside firewood collection

Rules on roadside firewood collection must be changed to allow Victorians to make the most of this valuable resource and ensure it doesn’t go to waste and become a fire hazard.

State Liberal Member for Eildon, Cindy McLeish is calling for the rule to change after the community was heavily impacted by the storms that tore through much of the state, including the Yarra Ranges, Murrindindi, Nillumbik and Mansfield Shires.

Ms McLeish said, “The clean-up efforts from the storm have been long and laborious.”

“Thousands of trees were uprooted in the severe weather. Homes were lost or damaged, community facilities destroyed, and many roads blocked by fallen trees and debris.”

Hundreds of uprooted and cut up trees still line roadsides. Locals are calling for roadside firewood collection rules to be changed to allow local people to help the clean-up while making use of a resource that will otherwise go to waste.

As we fast approach the warmer months, bushfire risk comes to the forefront. The large amount of wood and debris that remains, strong northern winds and a hot day is a recipe for disaster in an already high-risk bushfire area.

Ms McLeish continues, “We can put common sense rules in place to support the clean-up and reduce bushfire risk, while also making sure a valuable resource of firewood doesn’t go to waste.”

“The Labor Government must listen to the calls of local people by temporarily changing the rules to allow fallen logs to be collected for firewood,” Ms McLeish concludes.

The work of our emergency services volunteers and staff to respond to thousands of calls for help across the state saved lives and protected property and now supports our communities in the recovery phase.

Current rules prevent firewood collection along VicRoads managed roads, while permits can be obtained for council-managed roads. The autumn firewood collection season closed on June 30.