I would like to draw attention to the ongoing issues with wood collection from the forest under National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Permit holders have received emails advising of the extension of the collection period to the end of November, as well as an increase to their annual household limit from six to eight tonnes.
They have also advised of the new collection point where wood from the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism site is available for permit holders at Crossing Rd (just before the Edward River Campground on Toc Rd).
Unfortunately, the communication has been less than helpful.
There have been some elderly members in the community who have shown up thinking it was split wood ready for collection, when in fact it is a paddock full of large segments of tree to be cut by the permit holder.
On receipt of my collection point permit (separate from forest collection), I have found most of the wood to be unusable.
Most of the lengths are around 1m plus wide - too big for most domestic chainsaws to handle, especially for older people who use smaller units due to weight.
The smaller wood has mostly been piled together haphazardly, making it difficult to access safely.
Included in these piles are pieces of old fence with hidden and visible bolts in them. Hit one of these and you could be killed.
It was reported to me there was smaller wood earlier, but this has been taken and not replenished.
Upon inspection it is clear the wood has been sitting in water for some time.
It was suggested the wood has been cleared from the regulators in the forest as well as old creek beds, and is full of dirt and sediment which blunts chains quickly.
It also means the wood burns black, which will build up the creosote in the chimney leading to blockage or possibly chimney fires.
There are also many hollow logs in the collection area. I thought we were supposed to preserve the hollow logs for habitat?
Most domestic wood collection in the forest is done over weekends due to work hours, however the collection point is only open every second weekend and only between the hours of 7.30am and 5.30pm.
This set up would possibly assist commercial firewood suppliers, but certainly isn't helping the battlers in the community like pensioners.
This has been presented under the guise of the state government helping the community after removing our right to collect wood for the foreseeable future.
Shame on them. They take away the local way of life and add insult to injury by giving us an unsafe and unusable alternative.
The country way of life is being dictated to by a bunch of city dwelling bureaucrats intent on helping themselves and making their mark on politics.
Yours etc.
Dani Joss
Mathoura
20°C