Firewood in The Basin
The Basin backs onto Doongalla Forest, but it sits in Knox, so the heater and burning rules are the city's rather than the hills shire's.
We connect you with a local firewood supplier who works in the hills.
Ask for a quoteDandenong Ranges. Photo: Patche99z, Public domain
A hills suburb under Knox
The Basin is in the City of Knox, so it follows Knox's rules for wood heaters rather than the hills shire's. Knox asks for a heater certified to AS 4012 and AS 4013 and installed by a licensed person. It also asks that offcuts, fence materials and sleepers stay out of it. If a neighbour's smoke is the problem, Knox suggests talking to them first, then the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, then the council on 9298 8000.
Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria and Knox City Council: wood heaters and woodsmoke.
Doongalla Forest is national park
The suburb backs onto the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Doongalla Forest included. Fallen timber there stays where it is: firewood can't be collected in national parks. Collecting your own means State forest, and this spring's areas are around Powelltown, Warburton and Wesburn. Dates and quantities are in the collecting guide.
Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, Parks Victoria: using firewood and Forest Fire Management Victoria: find a firewood collection area.
Bush blocks and the overlay
About a quarter of The Basin is Rural Conservation Zone and a fifth is low density housing. The Bushfire Management Overlay covers about 60 per cent of its land and about half of its house blocks. On those, and anywhere near the bush, CFA's advice is to keep woodpiles at least 10 m from the house, and in summer a stack by the wall is an ember trap.
Basin-Olinda Road is mostly unsealed. If the drop is up a dirt road or a steep drive, say so when you ask for a quote.
Checked 25 October 2026 against Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb, Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, CFA: Landscaping for Bushfire (version 3, June 2022) and CFA: preparing for bushfire season.
Burning off needs a permit
In Knox, burning off needs a Permit to Burn from the council, and none is issued for the Fire Danger Period, June, July or a Total Fire Ban day. Burning without one can bring a $500 infringement.
Checked 25 October 2026 against Knox City Council: burning off.
Across the boundaries
- Tremont
- To the south, almost all national park, and in Yarra Ranges rather than Knox.
- Kilsyth and Kilsyth South
- Over the line into Yarra Ranges and Maroondah, each with its own burning rules.
- Sassafras and Mount Dandenong
- Up the range, where Mountain Highway climbs to Sassafras. Mostly or wholly Yarra Ranges, with the overlay over all of both.
Checked 25 October 2026 against Wikipedia: The Basin, Victoria, Wikipedia: Tremont, Victoria and Vicmap Planning, the state's zone and overlay maps (DataVic), measured across the suburb.
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