Free Firewood Collection
Council is offering a free supply of green firewood (maximum of two collections) to support households affected by the January 2026 bushfires; this will help our communities while supporting the clean-up our environment.
Bookings are mandatory and the collection sites are at Springs Road, Terip Terip and Spring Creek Road, Koriella.
Collection sessions run in hourly timeslots and to keep collections safe and orderly, there will be a maximum of five vehicles per site, per hour.
- Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Saturday 2 May in hourly slots from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm
- Sunday 3 May in hourly slots from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
- Thursday 7 May and Friday 8 May from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Saturday 9 May in hourly slots from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm
- Sunday 10 May in hourly slots from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Please bring your permit with you - wear closed-toe-footwear - preferably safety work boots - by completing this form you confirm that you (or your representative) will load the wood yourself by hand.
How to apply
To participate in the free firewood collection, residents must:
- Complete the online application form
- Upload photo ID and proof of residence
- Receive a collection permit
- Select a date and time using the online booking calendar
Need help applying?
Council understands that not everyone is able to upload documents or complete an online form.
Residents who need assistance, or who are unable to upload documents can visit Customer Service or a Recovery Hub in Alexandra or Yea, where staff can sight identification and help confirm details online.
If you’re unsure about the process or need support, Customer Service staff are available to help.
We appreciate the patience shown by our community as we worked to prioritise support for those most impacted with the first week of the free firewood program and ensure the program runs safely for everyone.
Who is this program for?
As of Monday 20 April, this program is for all Murrindindi Shire residents and ratepayers.
Prior to this, it was only for residents in eligible townships, with priority given to households most impacted by the January 2026 bushfires (e.g. loss of home, sheds, firewood supply, fences etc).
Why are some people prioritised?
Priority is given to ensure people most impacted by the bushfires receive support first.
This is not a first come, first served program.
Priority is based on evidence of bushfire impact such as property loss, damage to sheds or loss of firewood supply. Council assesses applications against these criteria.
Can people apply if the property is not their primary residence?
Yes. They can still apply, but they may be assessed as a lower priority, depending on demand.
Why do people need to upload ID and proof of residence?
This helps Council:
- Confirm eligibility
- Ensure the support goes to the right people
- Speed up processing at the collection site
ID helps us make sure the support reaches the right people and allows us to keep the site moving safely.
If uploading documents is hard, Customer Service or the Recovery Hub can help — you won’t be turned away for asking for assistance.
What if all timeslots are full?
Capacity is limited to keep collections safe and orderly.
We will keep adding future dates and times as required, while supply of firewood is available. Keep an eye on the Fire Recovery E-newsletter and on Council's FB account.
What do I need to bring with me?
- Bring your permit – either printed out or you can show it on your phone.
- Make sure you’re wearing closed-toe footwear – preferably safety work boots.
- Do not bring chainsaws – they are not permitted on site.
- It may be useful to bring gloves as free firewood needs to be loaded by hand.
Can someone collect the firewood on my behalf
Yes – if you have authorised that person and provided them with your permit.
How much can I take? Can I come back twice? Can I fill my ute and trailer?
Residents are requested to only make two booking per property.
One standard load per booking – approximately 1 cubic metre or a loaded 10ft by 6ft trailer.
You can fill your ute and a smaller trailer - please do not take more than 1 cubic metre.
Why are trailer size and self-loading requirements enforced?
For site safety and to ensure collections can be managed safely and fairly.
If a person cannot meet these requirements, they cannot proceed.