Kerryanne,

The Councils and the RTA built the fireplaces in designated cleared areas.
Where I live people have wood heaters and it was common to gather dead wood from the sides of rural roads.
This had multiple benefits, people got some free wood, fire hazards were reduced, there were less damaging objects if someone were unfortunate to run off the road and the visual aspect was improved.

Presumeably the Greens didn't like this state of affairs and prevailed on the ALP State Government to bring in this stupid law.
It goes even further and there are restrictions on cutting dead wood on private land as well.

New houses now usually have electric heaters thus pushing up costs for heating (lowest last night was 1 degree C)and increasing the release of climate change gasses via the burning of more coal.

So it's not a small thing to whinge about but an intrusion into the lives of poorer people that can well be done without.
Government ought to be doing all in its power to encourage people to use renewable resources and to help keep our roadsides clear of hazards.
Remember the Greens copped a lot of the blame for the last disastrous fires in Victoria because of their policies on burning off and general hazard reduction.

@ Is Mise:

Unless it's out of date, this fact sheet would seem to belie your claims:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/factsheetKtpDeadwoodRemoval.pdf

Also, how are the Greens responsible? I don't recall the NSW ALP government being particularly beholden to the Greens at any time.

Do you just make this stuff up, or are they factoids you get from talkback radio or something?

That 2003 Fact Sheet just might be a bit out of date.
I dropped in to the local shire office and saw the Engineer and he assured me that collecting firewood from the side of the road is a big NO and that the fine is $5,000 (maximum).
Once upon a time people would call into the office and find out where trees had fallen and the council would gladly direct them to where they could get an easy load of wood.
Their man who known the Acts was out but I'll call in tomorrow when I'm in town and find out the details.

Let you in on something, the Greens have been known to swap preferences with the ALP and that has been their best lever for a bit of legislation their way now and again.

Is Mise

*Where I live people have wood heaters and it was common to gather dead wood from the sides of rural roads*

.Ok now this is different. So you don’t want to light the fire at the camping ground- just clearly you used to nick the wood for your home.
Many areas are trying to do away with food fires because of the environment . Its more likely to be your problem.
No it's not a small thing to whinge about and if you can prove it lives of poorer people i would be happy to lobby the councils to have wood supplied to the effected locals.
It is unreasonable the elderly and poor people who once replied upon gathering wood to keep warm now fear a $5000 fine.
We need to look at what’s available from wood delivery services & by using a sensible means test have fire woods either delivered free after councils works or subs put in place.
If what you are saying is true is a dam disgrace . As this forum has no PM service contact me through the web site- below where you will see the email or phone contact.

I would be happy once your claims are supported to assist you to lobby for a fair go.
While i don’t want wildlife and properties destroyed I agree to just change a law that’s been in place forever is unfair.
Although I would assume if you’re in the country many would have their own supply on their acreages.
If elderly and poor are suffering because of a change in law i will be furious & in truth I never thought about it.
I support the greens because their policy is to ban live exports but some of their ideas drive me crazy.
The removed the stock that used to stop fires and keep the weeds out of the creeks.
This of course increases cruel feed lots that the public are forced to pay & well we all saw the results of an over fueled area- several
Just click on contact us-

http://www.halakindmeats.com/

@Is Mise:

I've investigated a bit more and it looks like the collection of firewood from roadsides is now banned or regulated in most States in Australia. As stated in the fact sheet I linked to above, the reason for this is apparently to protect endangered species whose habitat is dependent on dead wood.

Yes, I'm aware that preference swaps occur in exchange for outcomes, but I'd like to see some evidence that this was the case in every state where such regulation has occurred, or even just in NSW.

I'll let you into a little secret: the Greens aren't responsible for all 'green' legislation, or even most of it, despite the efforts of people like you to spread disinformation. In any case, the bans appear to be based on scientific research rather than political machinations and have been put in place for good reasons. While I'm aware that extinctions of native fauna aren't high on many rural people's list of priorities, that's precisely why some 'traditional' activities like firewood collection have to be officially regulated.

But back to the main point - do you have any evidence that firewood collection on roadsides was banned in NSW as part of a deal with the Greens political party, or is it just supposition on your part?

I don't have any direct evidence that the ban on firewood gathering was part of a deal between the then NSW Government and the Greens apart from personal discussions with some Green MPs at the time. They were 'cock-a- hoop' at their success.
My local council kindly gave me a print-out on the subject of wood gathering.

From Crown Lands Regulation 2006 (up-dated 20th July 2010)

"46.Unauthorised activities on public land.

(1). . .

(i) camping.

(l)removing any dead timber, log or stump, whether standing or fallen, except for the purpose of cooking food on the public land."

So it seems that one may light a fire to cook and that such cooking must not be part of camping activities.

The local council doesn't give permission to gather wood under the Act seemingly it is safer for them that way as there seems to be some doubt whether they would be held liable in some way if an accdent happened.

The poorer people in the district as well as the disabled and war widows etc. are looked after by various community groups who get wood from local properties without worrying much about the welfare of any rare and almost extinct beetles that may call the logs home as they're going to be burnt in the next bushfire.