Tim Bull
With the cooler weather fast approaching, Nationals Gippsland East MP Tim Bull, is encouraging those with solid fuel heating to consider participating in the domestic firewood collection season which opened this month, while also flagging concerns with availability of wood to commercial suppliers. Source: Timberbiz
“Unfortunately, I have had commercial suppliers contact my office saying they cannot get access to their coupes due to the timber industry shutdown the State Government refuses to fix.
“Last sitting week, I raised this issue in Parliament and asked the Minister for Environment what she is doing to ensure Victorians will have access to firewood to heat their homes this winter.
“We knew the shutdown of the timber industry would have dire consequences in our communities, and now we are seeing some of the unintended consequences that will impact vulnerable people.
“I doubt whether many of these city-based Labor MPs have seen a wood splitter or understand the ramifications of their war against the timber industry,” Mr Bull said.
“The result is contractors cannot fulfill their annual firewood orders for the elderly and others who cannot collect their own wood and it is a major concern with the colder months arriving quickly.
“Making matters worse is that the scarcity of commercially sold firewood is also driving up prices of what stocks remain. People on a fixed low income will unfairly be priced out of the market due to the demand.
“And it won’t be any better next year, as wood typically collected in one season needs to be stored and dried in preparation for the following winter.
“I have not yet had a response from the Minister after three weeks and it seems this Government has absolutely no idea no how to fix this mess they have created.
“If you are in the position to be able to collect firewood this season, please consider helping those who can’t do it themselves, as it may be one of the greatest gifts you can offer this winter,” Mr Bull said.
The public firewood collection for autumn is open until 30 June and a full list of firewood collection areas is available online at https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collection-in-your-region
