Removing firewood from national parks is usually prohibited, but firewood collection is allowed in designated areas in the Riverina with a permit. The areas can change from time to time depending on conditions like flooding and the amount of woody debris available. Tree-felling is not allowed, and firewood cannot be collected for sale or commercial use.
Firewood collection permits are available to permanent NSW residents who live in the Riverina Bioregion and Balranald Shire. Permits are only valid for 10 days from purchase and each household can only collect up to 6 tonnes per year.
Collection in national parks
Firewood collection is allowed in select areas of Murray Valley National Park, Murrumbidgee Valley National Park and Yanga National Park from 1 April to 30 September. Collection may not be available outside of these dates or if:
- park access is restricted due to public health, fire, safety, conservation, or operational requirements
- coarse woody debris levels fall below 45 tonnes per hectare.
Apply for a permit or contact 1300 072 757 (13000PARKS) for more information.
Firewood collection permit conditions
- Firewood obtained under this permit shall only be for the personal domestic use of the permit holder and shall not be re-sold.
- Firewood is restricted to River red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) only.
- Firewood collection is permitted only in the approved area indicated on your permit confirmation, and it's included in the relevant boundary map.
- Firewood collection in Murray Valley and Murrumbidgee Valley National Park is restricted to dead wood on the park floor. No trees (alive or dead) are to be felled, nor are branches to be cut from standing trees (alive or dead).
- Firewood collection in Yanga National Park is restricted to milled timber offcuts from the designated collection area indicated in your permit application and approval, known as the nominated firewood collection area.
- Firewood may only be collected between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm.
- The collector must not cause any damage to infrastructure or vegetation while taking firewood under this permit.
- The collector must only drive on formed roads.
- The use of heavy machinery (wheeled tractors, dozers, front-end loaders, swing saws, saw benches, mechanical block splitters) is not permitted.
- This permit is not transferable.
- Firewood must be transported in a nominated vehicle that appears on the permit confirmation.
- Only the permit holder or the nominated collector listed on the permit approval is authorised to collect firewood using this permit. If a collector is not listed on the permit, that person may be issued with a penalty infringement notice under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
- The collector must cooperate fully with any NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service staff requesting personal identification documentation or inspection of their collected firewood. Inspection for the purposes of this permit may include stopping your vehicle for safe inspection at a nominated firewood collection area, on the way, or at delivery points.
- In the event of any conflict as to the determination of volume measurement of a load, the collector agrees to the volume measurement determined by an Authorised Officer of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
- The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water does not take responsibility for the safety or any injury of persons collecting firewood under this permit.
- Failure to comply with any of the above conditions may result in the cancellation of this permit or the issuing of a penalty infringement notice.
- Significant and prolonged restrictions on permit holders' ability to enter parks and reserves due to a public health, fire, safety, conservation, or operational requirements may be required. No refunds or extensions, or refunds or extensions on a pro rata basis, will be granted.
- Unused or unwanted permits will not be refunded.