Thursday, 5 October 2023

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:42): (441) My question is to the Minister for Environment. What is the government doing to ensure people can continue to collect firewood this spring? I have been contacted by a constituent who was very frustrated to find that the Wellsford Alexander Road coupe near Bendigo was closed to collection due to a single noise complaint. He contacted the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action several times and was told that firewood could not be collected – he would have to buy it from a merchant or go to a forest with a designated collection area. Other areas have quickly been cleared out, and the amount of available firewood will be drastically reduced after the government’s decision to close the native timber industry. VicForests supplies a large amount of commercial firewood available for purchase, but now these supplies are at risk. Free firewood zones for domestic collection are already under significant pressure. Can you please explain what action the government is taking to address this issue? Regional Victorians will be the most hurt by this debacle, as many rely on firewood for heating and are battling ever-increasing energy costs under this government.