Box-ironbark Firewood Season 2009 (Bendigo Forest Management Area)
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 Introduction The Box-Ironbark Firewood season (applicable to Bendigo FMA only) has seen a number of changes over the past few years as a result of the Firewood taskforce Report recommendations in 2004. We believe today's firewood licence system to be less complicated and more flexible for customers wanting to purchase firewood.  Community Firewood Supply Areas - Bendigo FMA (Work Centres) (PDF - 608 KB) Bendigo Forest Management Area (PDF - 537 Kb) | |
Application Forms to purchase a Domestic Firewood Licence
For convenience, customers will be able to purchase a domestic firewood licence 2 weeks prior to the firewood season opening. Licences will be available from DSE offices from Monday 16 March 2009. The firewood collection season will commence on Saturday 28 March 2009 and close Sunday 30 August 2009.
This year DSE has revised the existing application forms into one form for all customers (both new and existing). New customers will be required to sign the declaration section near the bottom of the form.
2009 Application Form
2009 Firewood Application Form (PDF - 44 KB) The Application form is also available by:
- Phoning the DSE Bendigo Firewood Hotline on (03) 54 304 666.
- Visiting your local DSE Office during office hours.
- The Box-Ironbark firewood collection season opens on Saturday 28 March 2009.
- Dry and Green firewood can be collected from Saturday 28 March 2009.
- Dry firewood collection will be available until 30 August 2009.
- Green firewood collection will be available until 30 August 2009 this season. It is in place mainly to assist new customers with the phase-in to a predominantly green firewood system.
A Set of Information Sheets has been created to assist customers in understanding the Box-Ironbark Domestic Firewood Licence System.
2009 General Information Sheet (PDF - 224 KB) 2009 Firewood Costs - Bendigo FMA Box Ironbark (PDF - 210 KB) 2009 Nominated Firewood Agents (PDF - 198 KB) Green Firewood Phase In Information Sheet (PDF - 227 KB) Chainsaw Safety (PDF - 247 KB) Environmental Care during Firewood Collection (PDF - 179 KB) Changes to the firewood licence system
Changes were made to the Box-Ironbark Domestic Firewood Licence System in 2004 to create a more flexible and easier system to purchase and collect firewood.
In summary the key changes are:
- For ease of accessing a licence, all customers both existing and new, may mail their application form with payment and have their licence mailed back to them (See Information Sheet No. 1).
- For ease of accessing firewood, there is flexibility to collect firewood from neighbouring Community Firewood Supply Areas. (See Information Sheet No. 3)
- Licence volumes now have a fixed collection time within the firewood season, to minimise theft (See Information Sheet No. 1)
- A Firewood Hotline (5430 4666) has been established to answer inquiries during business hours. The Hotline can also be used to report suspected illegal firewood activities 24-hours/7 days/week.
- New customers must plan for green firewood phase-in. From 2008, only green firewood will be available to most customers as recommended by the Firewood Taskforce. Customers have had the opportunity to purchase and store two additional green firewood allocations between 2003 and 2007 ready for use.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment is aware that there are many households within the Box-Ironbark supply areas that rely upon wood as a heat source for cooking and hot water services. These require a low cost source of small sized wood for heating. In an attempt to meet this need, DSE has introduced stove wood.
Stove wood has been defined by DSE as solid wood that is generally 25mm (1”) to 100mm (4”) in diameter. Stove wood is predominantly wood that comes from the branches or tops of trees.
Stove wood is ideal for use in wood stoves and heating hot water services, because of its small size. The wood is easier to handle and collect than larger firewood and does not require splitting. Stove wood is also ideal for use because it is dry and ready for immediate use.
Stove wood is cheaper than firewood. The cost has been made less to help meet the need of people who require the wood for heating and cooking. People are able to purchase a licence for both stove wood and firewood.
To purchase a permit for stove wood, download the application form and take your completed form to your local DSE office. For further information download the information sheet or contact the Firewood Hotline 5430 4666. Application form and Information sheet also available from DSE offices.
Stove wood Application Form
2009 Stovewood application Form (PDF - 41 KB) Stove wood Information Sheet
2009 Stovewood Information Sheet (PDF - 204 KB) Green firewood in the future
The Box-Ironbark forests in the future will predominantly supply green firewood. It is intended that from 2008, mostly green firewood will be available to local residents.
Customers must start to plan now for their future firewood needs. To assist new customers to adapt to the green firewood collection system, a phase-in process is being offered. During the phase-in period it will be possible to purchase a green firewood licence, in addition to a dry firewood licence in any 2 years. Only a limited supply of dry firewood will be available from 2008 onwards, mainly to eligible concession card holders and new customers.
Accreditation for falling Green Standing Firewood
The Department of Sustainability and Environment has put together an information pamphlet detailing what is required to obtain your accreditation if you wish to fall green standing firewood.
Domestic licensees wishing to fall green standing trees will be required to successfully complete the nationally accredited chainsaw course FPIFGM110A Fall Trees Manually - basic (non-commercial/non-production).
Accreditation - Falling Green Standing Firewood (PDF - 146 KB) Tips for storing and drying green firewood Storage:
- Store firewood in an area of direct sunlight, usually facing north
- Store in an area where good air circulation is possible
- Cover firewood stack with tarpaulin or plastic sheets when wet weather is expected
- When dry store in a covered area such as a garage, shed or old tank.
- Shorter lengths of firewood dry faster
- Split firewood also dries quicker
- Stack firewood to dry in an east to west direction with the ends facing north.
Season Report and Community newsletter
For information on last season's facts and figures as well as information on this year's Domestic Firewood Season, click on the Community Report link below.
2009 Season Community Report (PDF - 317 KB) Useful links
For more information on Forests and firewood, visit the Bendigo region page
For further information on Firewood Collection in the Bendigo FMA:
Bendigo Firewood Collection
Forestry in the Box-Ironbark
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.