A dispute which has ended up in the courts has cut off the supply of native timber used in the events.
Victorian Axemen’s Association president Brad Meyer said the association had a enough alpine ash for a couple of shows but they would soon run out.
Competitions at Warrnambool, Berwick and Geelong shows and the Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival have been cancelled, and an appearance at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo is also under threat.
The association will also have to decide within the next month, whether it can run a competition at the Melbourne Royal Show.
The association draws its timber from VicForests, a state-owned business responsible for the sustainable harvest, regrowing and commercial sale of timber from public forests on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Mr Meyer said the association had an agreement with the Victorian Government to access the timber as a recognised heritage sport, dating back to 2006.
They were supplied with a yearly maximum of 2000 cubic metres of alpine ash, also known as woollybutt.
Mr Meyer said plantation timber was not suitable for the competitions.
He also said the association did not use timber from old growth forests.
The sport originated in Tasmania in 1870 and has since spread overseas to dozens of countries.
A court order is limiting harvesting in areas managed by VicForests, and Victorian Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy said a VicForests court appeal set for late March would be too late for some events.
“Already we have seen woodchopping cut from the 2023 Berwick Show, and it’s looking more likely that woodchopping won’t be a part of this year’s Melbourne Royal Show,” Ms Kealy said.
“The Andrews Labor Government’s inaction to find a workable solution to allow VicForests access to the timber it has been allocated is obvious.
“This decision to make VicForests jump through yet another hoop, delaying timber harvesting further, is to the detriment of regional Victorians.
“Woodchopping is a major drawcard of agricultural shows around the state and a sport that attracts international attention.
“The Nationals have raised this issue in parliament and we want to see a solution to what has become a bizarre situation.”
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