Barmah residents hope to get better access to forest firewood when the Victorian Government announces rules for firewood collection this week.
The residents have been facing diminishing opportunities to get firewood and increasing prices for commercial supplies.
They lament the closure of firewood access to the nearby Barmah forest since it was declared a national park.
Many of the town’s 280 residents rely on firewood for heating and some use it for cooking.
Pensioner Dean Adams uses around 16 to 20 cubic metres of wood through the winter and has been relying on a dwindling supply on his two hectare property on the edge of town.
“You can’t afford to spend $300 to $400 for a few cubic metres,” Mr Adams said.
“Everything is locked up,” he said of the forest access. “There is plenty of wood in the state forests.”
Mr Adams believes there is so much fallen wood in some parts of the Barmah forest, it is almost a fire hazard.
The government may specify which parts of public land are available for firewood collection and nominate which residents can access it.
The last time nearby Barmah Island was opened up for collection, it was available for Moira, Greater Shepparton and Campaspe shire residents.
Mr Adams investigated getting a split system for his house with a $1000 government grant but found he was still having to pay out $4000 as the grant only covered the installation cost.
Barmah resident Belinda Howard said it was getting to the point where she could not afford to buy firewood.
In the 27 years she has been living in the town, access was getting harder and harder.
She has no other heating options.
Ken Clissold has a holiday house in the town and sources his firewood from a private property but he appreciates that others in the town, particularly pensioners, don’t have the same opportunity.
He believes the regulations are often made by people who don’t understand the bush and have little practical knowledge of the region.
A Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action spokesperson said Victoria’s spring firewood collection season will open on Friday, September 1, and they will prioritise firewood availability for local communities and those who depend on firewood as their primary source of heating and cooking.
A list of designated collection areas for the spring season will be available from September 1 at: https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collection-in-your-region
Firewood in Victoria can be purchased from a licensed seller or collected seasonally for domestic use from designated firewood collection areas in state forests.
The departmental spokesperson said firewood collected from public land in Victoria was free, and as a result, there was always high demand.
“Where firewood supply is low, priority access can be limited to particular community members such as local residents, Traditional Owners and those who depend on firewood for heating.”
Financial assistance is available for vulnerable Victorians who rely on firewood.
In addition to the $250 Power Saving Bonus, the Victorian Government has an Energy Assistance Program with a non-mains energy concession.
This pays between $55 and $619 each year for Victorian households that rely on non-mains energy, including firewood, for heating and cooking, and are either Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card holders.
There is also a non-mains utility relief grant, administered by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, that provides up to $650 to Victorians on low incomes who rely on firewood as their only source of fixed heating.