It is important to know where firewood comes from, but this isn’t always obvious to buyers when looking at advertisements or signs.
Firewood merchants should source from a wholesale supplier, commercial wood lot or from private land with the permission of the landowner and in accordance with the Guidelines for the removal, destruction or lopping of native . Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, with firewood illegally taken from our forests appearing on the market.
Illegal firewood removal from our forests creates safety risks, damages the environment, and destroys wildlife habitat.
We urge all Victorians to ask questions before they buy, to avoid inadvertently supporting illegal firewood operators and to reduce the impact of these illegal activities on our environment.
Questions for firewood merchants
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Your firewood merchant should be able to provide the details of where the wood they are supplying is sourced from. This includes a wholesale supplier, commercial wood lot or private land with the permission of the landowner.
Firewood should be sourced in accordance with the Guidelines for the removal, destruction or lopping of native .
Further information is also available in the Exemptions from requiring a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation .
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If your firewood merchant won’t provide a tax receipt with a business name and ABN listed, you should wonder why.
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If you’re buying firewood through social media websites and the firewood seems too cheap, ask your supplier why.
The community can report suspected illegal cutting or removal of firewood anonymously by calling 136 186.
For more information on how you can help to protect Victoria’s environment, read the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Biodiversity 2037
Reviewed 07 June 2022