FIREWOOD USE IN THE NORTH EAST

Indigo Shire Council provides representation on the North East Firewood Strategy Implementation Committee, which oversees the implementation of the Strategy.  A recent survey organised by the group aimed to provide a focus for implementation, in relation to the actions listed in the Strategy, as well as augment the knowledge of firewood use in local areas.  The survey builded on initial survey work carried out by the same student in late 2006 and elicited 1620 responses across the targeted townships of Beechworth, Chiltern, Eldorado and Wangaratta.  Below are the key findings from the survey.

§         49% of all respondents utilised wood fire heating as the primary source of heating in the home with gas (28%) and electric (19%) the second and third most common heating type­ 

o       Chiltern had the highest level of dependence on wood fire based heating

o       32% of those that utilised wood fire heating had an open system

o       Chiltern had the highest level of open wood fire heating system representation

o       60% of those that utilised wood fire heating had systems aged >10 years old

§         57% of firewood users utilise their wood fire system for heating purposes only

§         51% of all firewood users source firewood from their own property

§         20% source firewood from a merchant

§         Majority of users (93%) estimate their firewood usage over a winter period between 1-6 cubic meters

§         Firewood purchasing decisions for the vast majority of firewood user (75%) are based on price alone

The North East Firewood Strategy Implementation Committee is working hard to improve the profile of the firewood industry to provide a sustainable source of firewood to supply communities in the north east for twenty years and beyond.   We see firewood as a valuable greenhouse friendly energy source.

 Firewood Collection

• Firewood collection from roadsides requires a permit (as is public land) – covers dead fallen timber – collection of anything other requires planning permit
• Roadside Firewood Policy – not policy per se but part of Roadside Management Plan (RMP)
• Plan development guided by steering committee comprised of reps from CFA, DSE, TXU, env’t groups, Municipal Fire Prevention Committee, Telstra, VicRoads & VFF
• RMP specifies a conservation value for all local roads (low, medium or high)
• These values specify what mg’t actions can be carried out on roadside
• Firewood collection not permitted on high & medium roadsides (or main roads as under mg’t of Vic Roads)
• Purpose is for protection of habitat
• Various approaches used to remove excess timber from high/medium conservation roads following storm events (each with own pros & cons)
• Case-by-case – in consultation with the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer ie ‘timber presents an immediate fire hazard’
• Opening of road to firewood collection for limited periods
• Transfer of timber to Community Firewood Depots
• These approaches focused on reducing future fire hazard & providing access to timber – never intended to attempt to meet all firewood requirements to communities – this is responsibility of DSE (by Designated Firewood Collection areas)
• There is a need to balance the firewood needs of the community & abide by the RMP (which is a document that has undergone extensive, comprehensive development & been formally adopted by Council)
• RMP is still valid, active document currently being implemented

All actions within the plan are currently being reviewed – it will be recommended to Council to revise the whole document & will be putting it in the budget for next financial year