Firewood collection
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:23): (1321) My question today is for the Minister for Environment. During the clean-up after the January bushfires many trees were removed for public safety, especially in the area of the Longwood bushfire. These trees now sit in piles all along the roadside unused, with no real plan for what to do with them. Many of these trees are minimally damaged and are perfect for use as firewood. Meanwhile, families, the elderly and vulnerable people in the Northern Victoria Region go cold, either with nowhere to legally collect firewood or being forced to pay exorbitant prices from wood sellers. Minister, will you instruct DEECA to make these removed trees available for residents to collect?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:24): I thank Ms Tyrrell for her question on a really important issue. It is something that I have really looked at closely since getting into the portfolio, because it affects so many people, especially as we enter into the winter season. Firewood is an important source of heating for many Victorian families, not only in the regions but even in the suburbs. Labor understands how important it is to have fair and reliable access. You would appreciate that our government has developed a clear framework for incidental timber by-products so that suitable material can support domestic firewood access, community uses and appropriate timber utilisation where possible.
Timber generated through firebreak construction, roadside clearing and storm recovery should deliver benefits back to local communities, so I am working with the department to make sure it is more accessible. There are many examples where DEECA has worked with local communities and where Forest Fire Management Victoria has worked with communities so that we can provide access to important firewood and forest by-products. We are doing that work. Obviously it complements some of the work we are doing with native timber harvesting, so there is a bit of a crossover. But we will make sure that in the autumn domestic firewood collection season – which is open now, since 1 March, with adjustments in fire-affected areas following the January bushfires – we are working quickly to establish new collection points.
There will be new collection points. I understand the department is working on that, and there will be further information provided in due course.
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:25): I thank the minister for his answer. Last fire season showed us what happens when fuel load reduction works are lacking. It puts lives and communities at risk. Allowing residents to collect deadfall from state parks and forests could greatly reduce the risk of bushfires in the coming years. Will the minister open the state parks and forests in the Northern Victoria Region for firewood collection to aid in fuel load reduction?
The PRESIDENT: I am not too sure, but the minister is to answer as he sees fit.
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:26): I thank the member for her question and her interest, because it is an issue of real importance to many people as we enter the winter season. It is a policy that our government has created a clear framework on, but I think domestic firewood collection must balance community access with bushfire safety, road conditions, biodiversity protection and long-term forest sustainability. We are working to increase supply. I think that is a priority, and that has been clear in my discussions with the department – that we want to see greater supply as we enter the winter season. But that needs to be done responsibly, and we need to make sure that seasonal protections are in place for public safety. We cannot open it all up. I know that some may feel that that is logical; that is actually risky. It puts the community at risk as well. We are going to do that response in a balanced way. I think just look out for further announcements before winter.