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Firewood

The following information answers some of the most common questions on obtaining firewood within Western Australia

Can I collect firewood from Crown land, including pastoral leases for my own use?

The collection of firewood from Crown Land, including pastoral leases, by the general public for their own personal use is managed and administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

Rules and regulations regarding firewood collection are available from all DEC regional and district offices and from DEC’s State Operations Headquarters at Kensington.

Note that firewood collected for private use may not be sold.

What is the FPC’s policy regarding commercial harvesting and sale of firewood?

Commercial firewood operations are managed through contracts administered by the Forest Products Commission (FPC). The system is designed to ensure the equitable and orderly marketing of the firewood in accordance with an internationally recognised environmental management system.

There are two types of contracts:

  1. Harvesting contracts
    Harvesting (logging) contractors work for the FPC to harvest timber from the forest. These businesses have the responsibility to harvest logs, including firewood logs, according to stringent conditions to ensure that the forest environment is not damaged. The contractors are paid by the FPC to produce and deliver all types of logs, including firewood logs, to the FPC’s customers. Harvesting contracts are awarded after the calling of public tenders.
  2. Sale contracts
    Businesses who buy logs, including firewood logs, from the FPC do so under ‘contracts of sale’. These buyers have logs delivered to their mill or yard by the FPC’s harvesting contractors. Most contracts of sale are won following public tender.

When will the FPC be next selling firewood by auction or tender?

Open tenders for purchase of firewood logs under Contract of Sale are held at irregular intervals, depending on demand, availability of raw material, and performance of existing contract customers. Tenders are advertised in The West Australian newspaper.

Can you tell me the names of people who supply firewood?

Yes.

A list of businesses that purchase firewood logs commercially from the FPC is attached. Further information can also be found on our website, at www.fpc.wa.gov.au/buytimber.

How much does the FPC charge for firewood logs and other products?

Delivered prices for firewood logs typically vary from around $55 to $90 per tonne, depending on haulage distance. Fencing logs will cost around $90 per tonne delivered.

The price of delivered firewood and other log products sold by the FPC is made up of a number of components as explained below:

  • Stumpage: to cover the value of the wood
  • In-forest costs: to cover FPC’s in-forest management costs
  • Roading: to cover the cost of building and maintaining forest roads
  • Administration: to cover administration of the contract
  • log production cost: to cover the cost of felling, extracting and loading the logs onto a truck
  • log delivery cost: to cover the cost of delivery of the logs to the buyer’s yard

Prices are subject to indexation at six monthly intervals - 1 January and 1 July. It is possible that a stumpage higher than the standard is paid. This happens where a business has bid a higher price following a public tender or auction.

What is the quality of the firewood logs?

The current standard specification for domestic firewood logs sold by the FPC is as follows:

  • Species: jarrah, or any other species made available by the FPC and acceptable to the buyer.
  • Moisture content Any moisture content; i.e. either ‘green’ or ‘dry’ (see note below).
  • Dimensions
    • Diameter:
      • minimum underbark 150mm
      • maximum underbark 1200mm
    • Length:
      • minimum 1.8m
      • maximum unlimited
  • Unacceptable defects
    • Decayed wood, if the proportion by volume is greater than 15%.
    • Shattered wood.
    • Double heart or spiral grain likely to hinder manual splitting of sawn blocks

Note: Firewood logs must be segregated into ‘green’ or ‘dry’ logs. Dry logs are those cut from standing dead trees with most bark absent, or from logs that have been lying on the ground for at least three years. Green logs are all other logs.

FPC sells firewood logs wholesale in their raw state to firewood merchants. These logs will have variable moisture contents. Environmental Protection regulations do not allow green or unseasoned firewood (moisture content greater than 20%) to be retailed to the public in the greater metropolitan area.

Is firewood available for collection or can it be supplied during winter?

Yes, although restrictions apply in many areas.

  1. Availability for public collection: The public should contact the nearest DEC District office to ascertain where public firewood may be obtained in winter.
  2. Supply to contracted customers: Supply of firewood logs, like all other forest products from the jarrah forest, is often severely limited in winter months to minimise the risk of spreading jarrah dieback. The FPC requires contract buyers of logs to accept logs during the summer months for stockpiling and sale during winter. This also gives more time for ‘green’ logs to be processed and dried before sale to the public.

More information

Further information may be obtained by contacting your nearest FPC office, or by writing to the FPC at:

Attn: Business Operations
Forest Products Commission
Locked Bag 888
Perth Business Centre
Western Australia 6849

You can also download the following documents which provide additional information.

Downloads

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