Firewood Collection
Strathbogie Shire Council would like to remind residents about the correct process for collecting firewood from the area beside Council-managed roads.
Firstly, written permission is required from Council, obtained by writing a letter or completing an application form.
Permission is required from Council for risk management and safety reasons. Collecting wood from a roadside has associated dangers and it is a requirement under the Road Management Act that written permission is obtained. The permission letter includes reference to steps that must be taken to ensure safety measures such as: carrying water to put out a fire started by a chainsaw and precautionary traffic management attention.
Fallen and dead timber is an important habitat for many native mammals, birds, bats, reptiles and insects with firewood collection listed as a threat to many native vegetation types, contributing to the decline of some species of fauna.
When issuing permission, Council officers ensure that the relevant roadside is not an important conservation area.
Mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council Howard Myers said that whilst the fire permit was free and that applications were rarely refused a permit it was important that the correct process was followed.
Once written permission is obtained from Council as the road manager, a firewood permit has to be obtained from the Department of Sustainability and Environment who is the “owner” of the wood.
More information can be found at www.dse.vic.gov.au or by ringing Strathbogie Shire Council on 03 5795 0000.
For more information: Marli Kelly 0409 410 178