State member for Northern Victoria Region Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell was not impressed.
Mrs Tyrrell criticised the Allan Labor Government for not expanding firewood collection points across Northern Victoria, leaving many residents in her electorate without access.
Having previously raised the issue with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Mrs Tyrrell was involved in securing a firewood collection point in Barmah last September.
“Like previous years, residents of Moira, Gannawarra and Mildura local government areas have no firewood collection points in their respective shires and people are forced to drive many hours to get firewood to heat their homes,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“For residents in Barmah for example, they face a three hour round trip to a collection point south of Warrenbayne, which is ridiculous considering the perfectly good wood laying at their doorsteps in the Barmah Forest.”
During the adjournment debate in state parliament, Mrs Tyrrell expressed disappointment that her calls for more collection points had not been addressed and urged Mr Dimopoulos to direct DEECA to expand the number of sites available this season.
“Many residents needing firewood are elderly or pensioners and do not have the spare funds to be travelling hours out of their way to collect firewood, or pay the exorbitant prices charged by firewood sellers,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“We are in a cost-of-living crisis, and perhaps it is time the Minister left his city office and took a drive through the areas his portfolio covers.”
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