A motion that Lockhart Shire Council rescind its policy on the collection of firewood from Council road reserves and dead standing trees failed when put to the Council’s June meeting.

At its previous meeting Council had resolved to give notice of the proposed rescission of its policy on the Collection of Firewood from Council Road Reserves and Dead Standing Trees.

A report provided the following reasons for rescinding the Policy:

• Does not meet Council’s obligations under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, as it adversely affects threatened species or ecological communities or could cause species or ecological communities that are not threatened to become threatened.
• Due to extensive clearing for agricultural purposes, roadside reserves may be the only remaining intact natural environment, providing invaluable wildlife habitats and corridors.
• Most councils have rescinded similar policies across the state due to increased liability and for protection of ecosystems under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
• The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 includes objectives to encourage the protection of the environment, including the protection and conservation of native animals and plants, including threatened species, populations and ecological communities, and their habitats as well as reference to ‘ecologically sustainable development.
• Recission of the Policy is consistent with the objectives, strategies and actions contained in the Lockhart Shire Community Strategic Plan “Flora and fauna are protected across the Shire”.
• Increase the amount of native flora, fauna and protect threatened species”
• “Support the increase of food and habitat sources for threatened and endangered species”.
• Increased liability for Council due to community members operating chainsaws in the road reserve under an approved permit.

Council received a number of submissions.

Eastern Riverina Landcare Group was in favour of the recission stating that it wholeheartedly agreed with the reasons given in the report submitted originally to Council in 2020 and again in 2023 – in short: that the policy is out of step with most other Councils; does not meet Council’s legislative obligations (both State and Federal) and is also now inconsistent with Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

“The impact of the policy is not just the removal of valuable woody habitat but also the trampling of fragile flora and fauna and disturbance from chainsaw noise. Council’s liability also extends not just to chainsaw operators but also to other road users – with vehicles and trailers often parked in an unsafe manner on the side of roads,” the group stated.

Concerns were also expressed over how Council intended to enforce the ban if the policy was rescinded.

“With most firewood collection happening outside normal office hours and reporting by members of the public likely to be low and lacking sufficient detail we would like to know how Council intends to avoid a perverse outcome, namely an unregulated ‘free-for-all’.

Brian Whitely expressed his opposition to the rescission and said he believed residents and ratepayers of Lockhart Shire should be able to collect firewood from Council Road Reserves and Dead Standing Trees.

“It helps to clean up the roadside and remove some of the danger of old dead trees from falling onto roads. There are many trees that are hanging over, or near the roadways that sooner or later are going to let go. And they don’t necessarily have to hit a car with the initial fall to cause damage or death, as because they are a dull grey colour, they would be very hard to see at night, and given the size of them, one can imagine the carnage a collision would cause.

“In addition to the personal safety aspect, the removal of such trees and wood debris would reduce the amount of fuel for bushfires”.

Katie Day was against the rescission and asked council to consider keeping the policy 2.35 Collection of Firewood from Council Road Reserves as it was currently written.

“The only case where I would like to see it changed is if it has a dramatic impact on the cost of our public liability insurance cover. Many people in our community are being greatly impacted by the ever increasing cost of power. It is generally the poorer people who collect firewood from our roads.

“Are we as a community going to make it harder for these people to heat their homes in winter? The other consideration is that they reduce the fire load, probably only ever so slightly, but maybe of some help in a bushfire. I strongly urge you to maintain the policy as is.”

On a separate issue relating to trees on roadsides Ms Day said lack of grading had allowed many saplings to grow well above head height and were very quickly becoming a hazard.

Council’s insurer was contacted for comment on the issuing of permits and advised Council against issuing permits to collect wood.

However, if Council decided to continue issuing permits the insurer suggested that Council include a waiver to reduce liability in the event of circumstances that may give rise to a claim. 

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 6 July 2023.