There are 70 piles of wood similar to these spread throughout the Barmah Forest.
Photo by
Nick Marijancevic
Tonnes of flood-damaged firewood in Barmah Forest will now be made available to locals instead of being burnt by the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
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The wood has been pushed into 70 large piles throughout the forest and a DEECA spokesperson said “the flood-affected wood is being assessed and will be used for habitat and environmental projects within the park”.
“DEECA will also make some of the wood available to the public for firewood,” the spokesperson said.
Forty smaller piles of wood have been burnt, but public outcry about the bigger piles also potentially being burnt for no apparent reason, plus approaches to DEECA by Yorta Yorta Elders, prompted the change of direction.
Smoke from the 40 smaller woodpiles burnt by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Photo by
Nick Marijancevic
Final details are still to be released, as the decision to make the wood available creates another round of challenges for DEECA.
By law, no wood can be gathered and removed from declared parks by members of the public, so the wood being made available will have to be collected by authorised staff and moved to a different location.
Then decisions have to be made as to who gets access, how much they are allowed and where they will be able to collect it from.
When charcoal producer Nick Marijancevic heard about the wood he went into the forest to see how much there was.
He took photos of piles of wood in every direction and contacted DEECA to ask for access for his business.
“At the very worst, if it was a ‘no’ for me, I would have thought a logical next step would be to offer the wood to pensioners and those on lower incomes for heating during the frigid winter we are having,” Mr Marijancevic said.
“When I was told no-one could access it I was horrified, it’s bureaucracy gone mad. If it is going to be burnt, why not burn it where it can do some good?
Piles of wood burnt by DEECA at Barmah. It was wood DEECA says was not suitable for anything else after being cleared from existing firebreaks.
Photo by
Nick Marijancevic
“I know it’s not the fault of local DEECA staff, they’re only doing what they’re told, but if people in Melbourne think this is the best outcome it’s just crazy.”
A DEECA spokesperson initially said “flood debris in the Barmah National Park will be burned during the coming weeks to clear strategic fire breaks ahead of this fire season”.
“Strategic fire breaks help protect communities, and the environment, from future bushfires,” the spokesperson said.
“The flood-affected wood was assessed, and where possible, will be used for habitat, erosion control and other environmental projects within the park.
“Firewood collection is not permitted in Barmah National Park or Barmah Island.’’
The current price for a tonne of redgum firewood in Echuca-Moama is between $500 and $600.
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the DEECA decision to waste such a valuable resource had left him “gobsmacked”.
He said with Victoria’s soaring power bills — on top of the cost-of-living crisis — this much wood “offers a massive relief to people struggling to make ends meet”.
Piles of wood burnt by DEECA at Barmah.
Photo by
Nick Marijancevic
“If the wood is going to be burnt, and DEECA has already burnt some, common sense would demand it be burnt effectively — and that would be heating homes or helping small local businesses actually stay in business,” he said.
“And I’m glad somewhere, somehow, that’s where we have finally arrived.
“It’s all very well people being told there are free firewood collection points twice a year, but if you live in my electorate you face a minimum round trip of two hours.
‘’Make no mistake, the many people in northern Victoria who collect firewood for their own use don’t do it for a fun day out, they do it out of economic necessity.’’
A DEECA spokesperson said financial assistance was available for vulnerable Victorians who relied on firewood.
There is targeted energy support and concessions for people on low incomes who buy firewood or need assistance with their energy costs.
This includes tailored support via the Energy Assistance Program, a $250 rebate for eligible households from the Energy Bill Relief Fund, payments of between $55 and $619 per year for eligible households relying on non-mains energy, including firewood for heating and cooking, and up to $650 via the Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant for Victorians on low incomes who rely on firewood as their only source of fixed heating.
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