Victoria's Firewood Strategy for Public Land
Firewood collected from Victoria’s public land is an important and affordable source of heating and energy for many people and generates income for regional communities. So it’s vital that firewood collected from public land remains available to Victorians, on a sustainable basis into the future.
This is why the Government is developing a state-wide firewood strategy for public land. The strategy will outline Victoria’s plan to improve the way we manage firewood collected from public land, balancing the needs of local communities with the health of the environment.
Developing the strategy is a consultative process, in this process Government will consider community input on the following six key areas:
- Future planning and management of firewood on public land
- Sales system and service to customers
- Firewood collector responsibilities
- Safety
- Planning for future household and firewood energy use
- Opportunities to improve household energy efficiency.
Representatives from stakeholder organisations will be invited to discuss specific issues with the government during the development of the firewood strategy.
In addition, the findings of a range of studies will be conducted covering: the cost to government of supplying firewood from State forest; the cost to householders in consuming firewood; options for future firewood pricing and distribution systems; and the ecological impacts of firewood collection. The studies will draw on information and advice from across government and from independent experts.
The strategy will be finalised during early 2010.
Further information
DSE Firewood Discussion Paper (PDF - 3.6 MB)Please note: the file size is large and may take some time to download.
Box IronBark: Bendigo case study factsheet (PDF - 228 KB) North East Victorian Firewood Strategy case study factsheet (PDF - 241 KB)If you require further information, please email Firestrat.Publicland@dse.vic.gov.au.