Council has announced new dates for the free firewood trial, previously delayed due to COVID restrictions. Council is offering 135 residents and ratepayers a free trailer load of wood of up to two cubic metres (2m3). This trial will allow Council to ensure the correct processes are in place before the program is rolled out more broadly.  After the trial dates, free firewood distribution will be rolled out more broadly across Hepburn Shire.

The dates for collection are:

  • Monday 11 October – Trentham Transfer station
  • Tuesday 12 October – Creswick Transfer station
  • Wednesday 13 October – Daylesford Transfer station

All available spaces for these dates have been carried over from the previous postponed trial. If you held a booking for the previous trial dates, you will shortly receive a new voucher by email for the same time slot on the new date.

If you are unable to collect wood on the new date, contact Ryan Turner on rturner@hepburn.vic.gov.au to cancel your spot. You will be able to rebook when further dates are released.

Firewood collection is only available to people who register. Proof of residence must be provided at the time of collection. No waste will be accepted by the transfer station on these dates.

The firewood is to be collected from transfer stations at Trentham, Creswick and Daylesford. Firewood will be loaded into trailers and utility trays (at your own risk) only.

The firewood is green and will need to season  for at least 12 months before it is suitable to burn. Some of the wood blocks are rather large at 12 – 14 inches wide. They may require further splitting to fit most fireplaces.

Once the trial ends,  more booking times will be opened. Availability of bookings will be announced on Hepburn Shire Council’s Facebook page and the monthly Council e-newsletter.

Following this trial, there will be measures in place to ensure everyone is able to book a time to collect a load of firewood even if they do not have internet access.

There is a substantial stockpile of firewood already at Council depots and the stockpile will continue to grow over the coming weeks and months as more wood is processed.

Commonwealth and State Government funding has been provided to support this storm damage clean up project.