Firewood the new toilet paper with COVID concerns leading to panic buying
Is firewood the new toilet paper? Adelaide wood yards are at critically low levels of red gum as residents stockpile and spend more time at home amid the COVID crisis. But the elderly are paying the highest price.
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Adelaide wood yards have extended an urgent plea to residents to stop panic buying firewood as stock levels plummet.
South Australia’s COVID restrictions during the cold months has seen an increase in firewood sales, specifically red gum, as locals spent more time at home and others try to stock up.
The Firewood Association of Australia estimates sales were three months ahead of schedule, warning stock levels would reach critical levels in the weeks ahead.
Operations Manager for Verdun Adelaide Hills Garden Supplies and Woodside Landscape Supplies Graeme Nimmo said the shortage had left buyers desperate, including the elderly, who relied on firewood during the winter months as their main heating source.
“Verdun had 40 tonne of red gum in the yard on Saturday and that all went in two-and-a-half hours,” he said.
“So now, there’s a bit of blue gum around but not much else.
“That said, Verdun is meant to get four trucks (of wood) this week which is good as they have a big waiting list which has around 20 people on it at the moment.
“But we don’t take anyone’s money till we see the trucks rolling in.”
Mount Barker Landscape Centre owner Ryan Bailey said senior residents had been hit the hardest by the shortage.
”Our problem is that we have a lot of pensioners that like to come in weekly to grab their boot load and because of the shortage we’re getting people that normally wouldn’t buy from us,” Mr Bailey said.
“So these people come here to hoard firewood, like they did with toilet paper and our regulars are missing out.
“So my concern is that we have to find a way to look after people, especially the elderly, who don’t have other means of heating.”`
Firewood Association of Australia General Manager Dane McGreevy said the firewood shortage was affecting most of Australia.
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“The coronavirus kicked the season off with a bit of panic buying back in March and April, which is very early for people to be buying firewood and it’s fair to say that midwinter levels were going on at that stage,” he said.
“So now were three months ahead of where we should be and still got a long way to go till the end of the season.
“We also don’t have enough people producing firewood...so I’m afraid, it’s only going to get worse.”
Bunnings Director of Merchandise Phil Bishop said SA branches were meeting demand for firewood.
“Over the past few months as Australians have spent more time at home there’s been an increase in demand for firewood and we’re doing our best to meet this demand by also sourcing from secondary suppliers,” he said.
“We understand the increase in demand is causing constraints for the whole industry.”
According to Bunnings’ website, 120kg of firewood costs $95.88. This compares to $47 at a wood yard.