More than 7,000 tonnes of storm-thrown timber was processed into firewood in the monster storm that hit the Hepburn Shire Council in June 2021.
The council acknowledged the milestone as they continued to recover mentally and physically from the storms that affected many people and properties across our Shire.
Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said the year anniversary was a very difficult time for some members of our community encouraging them to continue to reach out to the storm recovery team by calling on 43737373..
“There has been an extraordinary amount of work undertaken since the storm, beginning with the enormous task of clearing fallen trees from roads,” said Cr Drylie.
“Storm-thrown timber was processed locally and distributed within the Shire, including 7,000 tonnes of firewood distributed to the community via our three transfer stations and community groups (for fundraising or donating to vulnerable community members).
“Much of the firewood came from twisted timber that was of no practical value beyond firewood, however, salvageable timber was transported to the processing site at Romsey in the Macedon Ranges and turned into fence posts, which have been returned to Hepburn Shire and distributed to farmers and rural storm-affected landholders.”
The rare pieces of the highest value timbers were sent to the Creswick Timber Training Centre for training purposes and milling. The mulch by-product was distributed locally for free and totalled around 25,000 cubic metres.
“The processing site was extremely busy and closed at the end of 2021,” he said.
“Habitat protection had been ensured and the site has been rehabilitated, with no sign of the frantic activity that had preceded. Council has worked closely with Bushfire Recovery Victoria to facilitate public and private property clean-up, and with partner agencies to address financial, psychological and practical recovery, including ongoing one-on-one support for some severely affected residents.”
Towards the end of this winter, Council will work with the Creswick Timber Training Centre to offer free chainsaw classes in the hope that participants can learn new skills, and by joining a community group, utilise those skills within a supportive team. Participants can then clean up their own properties and assist others to do the same.
As a measure to encourage wildlife back into the forest, a successful habitat program has seen nest boxes and native trees distributed within the community.
