Wood collectors in the Junee Shire Council will be forced to have $20 million in public liability insurance if a draft policy being considered is adopted. Source: Junee Southern Cross
Council has published a draft wood collection policy following a spate of illegal felling and subsequent wood collection last year.
Junee shire residents now have the opportunity to shape the wood collection policy.
Councillors were presented with a draft, which is made available for public comment.
The policy also requires people collecting wood to park vehicles at least six metres from the road unless they have a valid traffic management plan.
Several roads have been deemed to be high and medium level conservation areas, banning wood collection from them.
Council’s general manager James Davis said the policy would be a way to educate residents on where they can collect wood from and at the same time prevent collection for commercial purposes.
“It isn’t that different than our original decision in July last year,” Mr Davis said.
Council’s engineering director Will Barton said several conditions had to be imposed through policy due to state and federal regulations.
“Some things like public liability or traffic control need to be implemented but in the easiest way possible,” Mr Barton said.
While Junee Shire Council would enforce the policy, Mr Barton said other organisations such as NSW’s Environment Protection Agency had their own rules, which could be enforced without council’s knowledge.
Mayor Neil Smith said he wanted to see the community get involved and comment on the policy.
“We need a policy which enables residents who need to collect wood for domestic cooking and heating purposes, but also prohibit profiteers and vandals on our roadsides grabbing up the wood supply,” Councillor Smith said.
“There are people out there who need wood to keep warm … it’s a resource we should be able to tap into.”
Cr Smith said while council would enforce the rules he wanted help from shire residents.
“The public will be our eyes and ears, council has limited staff,” he said. “The idea of having a draft is a chance for people to tell us what they would like.”
The protection of council land and roadside vegetation and habitat policy will be open for public comment for the next 28 days.
