The Mirboo North Timber Reclamation Project continues to demonstrate the lasting benefits of the community’s response to the February 2024 storm, with free firewood now allocated to almost 110 local households.
Originally established as part of the Mirboo North Storm Cell Volunteers’ community-led recovery effort, the Timber Reclamation Project focused on salvaging windblown timber and ensuring it could be used for the benefit of the community. One outcome was the production of firewood for local residents in need, while another was the milling of suitable timber for the Community Garden and other future community projects.
The response to the free firewood program has been tremendous. All available firewood has now been fully allocated, and the online registration form has been closed.
Thanks to a partnership with the Wednesday Warriors and some grant funds, reclaimed timber suitable for firewood is being cut, split and delivered to eligible households in our postcode. With almost 110 households scheduled to receive a cubic metre of firewood, the Wednesday Warriors have already delivered to one-third of those. The task is substantial and organisers ask recipients to be patient while deliveries are completed over the coming weeks. The Warriors are working steadily through the remaining deliveries.
Timber Available for Community Projects
While the firewood component of the project is now fully subscribed, the Mirboo North Timber Reclamation Project has a quantity of reclaimed and milled Radiata Pine available for community projects.
The timber is best suited to indoor applications and could be used for a wide range of community, educational, artistic or not-for-profit projects. Community groups, schools, clubs and organisations with a project that could make use of the timber are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their needs via the MN Timber Reclamation group’s Facebook page or mntimberproject@gmail.com.
A big thanks is owed to both the MN Timber Reclamation and the Wednesday Warriors. The distribution of both firewood and community timber highlights the original vision of the project and what can be achieved when local volunteers, community organisations and residents work together for the common good.