Mr Walsh has appealed to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to open Barmah National Park for public firewood collection in September.
Following pressure last year, DEECA made thousands of tonnes of flood-affected wood available to collect for free, a move hundreds of locals capitalised on.
Many gathered the wood for heating and, in some cases, cooking, and Mr Walsh said plenty of timber from fallen trees and branches would again be available.
“The Barmah project was a picture book example of how desperate people are for timber to offset the soaring price of electricity and gas,” he said.
“In too many cases it is often the only heating people can afford, and now, because of logging bans, it is becoming way too pricey for Victorians.”
His call follows similar concerns from state Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad, who said firewood supply in the region was “worse than ever” this year.
A DEECA spokesperson said the flood-affected wood was cleared from the park and made available for collection last year as part of bushfire prevention efforts.
“The works prepared the strategic break ahead of the 2024/25 fire season,” they said.
“The wood was relocated from Barmah National Park to a nearby collection area and was closed once the firewood was exhausted.”
Twice a year, designated collection sites are chosen based on the availability of firewood, community safety, and to protect areas of cultural and environmental significance.
Public collection from national parks is banned to protect cultural and natural values, with last year’s collection in Barmah organised under exceptional circumstances.
Mr Walsh, who attended the collection, said he saw a respectful display from locals involved, helping each other to make the most of the wood.
“The current firewood collection strategy is a joke. People have to make round trips of hundreds of kilometres to access what little might be available,” he said.
“I am urging the government and DEECA to do it again (in Barmah) this year.”
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