General News
22 June, 2026
Warning over illegal firewood
WIMMERA residents are being reminded to ensure the firewood they purchase this winter has been legally sourced, as authorities crack down on illegal timber harvesting right across the state.
The Conversation Regulator, alongside Crime Stoppers Victoria, just launched the illegal firewood: The Cost is Wild campaign, encouraging Victorians to check where their firewood comes from and report any suspicious activity.
An estimated 9000 trees are unlawfully cut down in Victorian national parks and forests each year, with much of the timber later sold as firewood.
Acting Media and Communications Manager for the Office of the Chief Conservation Regulator, Bayley Cocking, said the illegal removal of firewood was having an impact on local forests and native wildlife.
“Mature trees in local forests provide critical wildlife habitat, and their loss has immediate and long-term impacts on local species,” he said.
Mr Cocking said illegal firewood collection often targets certain tree species that provide valuable habitat and food sources for native animals within the Grampians region.
“Brown Stringybark, River Red Gum, and Yellow Box are tree species often targeted in the Grampians region, with Brown Stringybark particularly important as a food source for the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo,” he said.
The warning follows the prosecution of a Ballarat man who was fined $2000 for cutting and removing timber from the Creswick and Glen Park State Forests.
Beyond its environmental impacts, Mr Cocking said illegal firewood collection can create significant safety hazards in local forests.
“Illegal firewood collectors often partially fell trees and leave unstable, hung up branches that pose a safety risk to land managers, Authorised Officers, and members of the public moving through these areas,” he said.
The campaign encourages residents to purchase firewood from reputable suppliers, ask where the timber has been sourced, and report any suspicious activity.
Authorities hope this campaign will help protect the forests, wildlife, and public spaces of the Wimmera and Grampians regions from the impacts of unlawful firewood collection.
Reports relating to the illegal purchase or sale of firewood can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000.