A petition has been launched to overturn the NSW Government decision to permanently close the Murray and Murrumbige National Parks’ Riverina Domestic Firewood Collection programs after October this year.
It was started by Deniliquin resident Judy Theobold, who has received support from NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s electorate office to ensure the petition meets government standards.
Ms Theobold said the government’s decision will affect many people negatively and must be reversed.
She said alternatives of commercial firewood or state forest harvesting (the nearest being Koondrook Barham) is not feasible for everyone.
“There’s a lot of people who can’t afford electricity, or afford the cost of getting a commercial supply of firewood,” she said.
“Commercial firewood loads might cost hundreds, where you can get a firewood permit to gather it yourself for just $20 or $30.
“Our house has an electric heater, but it’s quite inefficient as it only manages to heat one room. And then what about the elderly who rely on firewood?
“We want this decision overturned.”
Ms Theobold said there’s also a fire risk in closing the parks for firewood collection foraging, which she said may result in a catastrophic fire.
All her concerns are captured in the formal petition, which asks the Legislative Assembly to:
• Reverse the decision to permanently end the Riverina Domestic Firewood Collection Program in Murray Valley National Park and Murrumbidgee Valley National Park;
• Not make future changes to the program until the NSW Rural Fire Service has assessed and publicly reported on the bushfire consequences, and to publish an updated fire management strategy for both parks;
• Guarantee an affordable alternative source of firewood for Riverina households, at a price and travelling distance comparable to the current program, before any change takes effect;
• Release the review and survey data on which the decision was based, and consult properly with the affected communities; and
• Give local residents and permit holders a formal and continuing role in the consultation and management of these parks.
The firewood collection program was introduced in 2010 when state forests were transferred to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Information supplied to the Pastoral Times last week by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water suggested this was “only intended to be a temporary measure”.
A NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said the decision is based on a review which found “collection cannot be sustained beyond the 2026 season” and would “protect the long-term health of the Riverina red gum forests and the native wildlife that depends on them”.
Ms Dalton has backed the petition now circulating, saying “it’s not too late for the NSW Government to do the right thing”.
“Anyone who lives here knows that there is no shortage of fallen trees in these parks, and if a significant amount of this wood isn’t removed before summer, the risk of bush fires will be dangerously high,” Mrs Dalton said.
“The NSW Government needs to acknowledge how much locals rely on this wood to keep their homes warm.
“There are people who don’t turn lights on at night during winter and early spring because they simply can’t afford their power bills. Access to this wood saves peoples’ lives, literally.”
Petitions will be available at multiple locations through the impacted areas, including at Ms Dalton’s Deniliquin, Griffith and Buronga offices.
Anyone who would like to host a copy of the petition can request it through Ms Dalton’s offices.
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