Yarra Ranges Council hosting free Storm Firewood Collection

All trailers/vehicles must be roadworthy and able to securely load the firewood without exceeding load limits. Picture: SUPPLIED

Yarra Ranges Council are offering their second free firewood collection from the June 2021 storm event, available to Yarra Ranges residents only from Monday 9 May to Friday 14 May between 8am and 5pm each day.

Residents can collect firewood either from Wandin East Recreation Reserve on the corner of Monbulk-Seville Road and Old Baker Road or Don Road Sporting Complex, 263A Don Road, Healesville.

Bookings are essential and Councils Parks and Bushland team members will be on-site to ensure bookings are checked and to direct residents to the collection location.

Some of the firewood is unseasoned with a limited amount provided to each resident.

Each timeslot will be allocated 20 minutes to fill a trailer/vehicle and secure the load. Two able people are recommended per vehicle as Yarra Ranges Council is unable to assist with loading vehicles.

Residents are to ensure that the vehicle is in roadworthy condition, that all loads are fully tarped, securely tied down and that the load rating for the trailer is not exceeded.

Over the past 11 months, Yarra Ranges Council has been continuing to reuse fallen trees with logs provided to a variety of community groups for reuse and 17,000 cubic metres of mulch given to residents free of charge.

Some of the habitat logs have been kept and reused in council and community projects, as a reflection of the significance of the trees in Yarra Ranges and their value to the local biodiversity.

Community groups were consulted over where to distribute firewood with over 800 cubic meters of wood reaching these groups to date.