WA's largest firewood supplier has reported a surplus of firewood for the first time in a decade, despite winter coming to an end.
Just two years ago, the industry flagged a potential shortage of timber following the ban on native logging.
Bunbury Firewood Supply supplies timber to homes in Perth, as well as surrounding regions including the South West and parts of the Wheatbelt.
In a normal year, the business would usually send two to three road trains full of timber to Perth each day.
However, managing director Jeff Loton said this year it was an average of two to three road trains per week.
Mr Loton has reported a surplus of around 4,000 tonnes. (ABC South West: Andrew Williams)
"We're down about 30 per cent on what we'd normally be selling," he said.
"This is the first time probably in the last 10 years that we've actually got an oversupply."
Other businesses in the region reported a similar surplus of firewood.
Giovanetti Firewood Bunbury co-owner Steve Giovanetti said this winter had been the slowest in his 20 years of selling the product.
Steve Giovanetti says he still has almost 2,000 tonnes of firewood on his lot. (ABC South West: Andrew Williams)
Mr Giovanetti believed many factors had contributed to the unprecedented surplus.
"There was a late start to the season due to the warmer autumn. The winter itself hasn't been that cold and the economic climate is affecting people's cash flow," he said.
Albany Eco House owner Jessica Wood said the warmer winter had also impacted the sales of wood fire heaters at her business.
"This winter we have definitely seen a difference in buying patterns," she said.
"We have seen a reduced amount of sales back to more of a pre-COVID winter. It has also been a warmer winter so we personally haven’t used half as much wood as we did last year."
Online 'black market'
Mr Giovanetti said another key factor in the widespread industry dip was the increase of online "black market' sellers".
He referred specifically to Facebook Marketplace sellers, and said the platform had made it much easier to access cheaper and often unregulated firewood, especially amid the cost of living crisis.
"It's always been there, it might be more prevalent this year because of the current economic climate," he said.
'It's definitely had an effect on us. It's a growing market, meanwhile we are going backwards."
Mr Giovanetti said he wanted to see the state government do more to address the issue before it was too late.
The firewood supplier said while he understood the resources required to monitor the state forests would be massive, something still needed to be done.
Mr Giovanetti says most of his stock will last for next year but his cash flow has been seriously affected. (ABC South West: Andrew Williams)
"We are abiding by all the rules. You can't do anything about the weather, but the legislation is there and needs to be enforced," he said.
"If nothing happens, nothing will change. If demand remains like this next year I don't know what we will do."
The question of how some unregulated online sellers obtained firewood has also raised concerns around biosecurity.
"There's hygiene issues as well with the spreading of dieback. People travelling around and accessing state forests is a huge risk," Mr Giovanetti said.
There are hundreds of ads for firewood on Facebook marketplace around Bunbury in WA's South West. (Supplied: Facebook)
Authorities probe questionable sellers
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions spokesperson said social media and online selling platforms presented unique challenges for regulating the buying and selling of firewood.
"Where DBCA authorised officers become aware of suspicious ads, they investigate, and report ads found to be from non-compliant sellers to the platform and request the ads be removed," a spokesperson said.
"A recent compliance campaign has seen online advertisers that do not provide a DBCA flora licence in their advertisement being sent a compliance and education letter outlining the licensing requirements.
"To ensure firewood has been legally sourced, the buyer can ask to see a licence or other authorisation.
"The seller should be able to provide details of where the firewood is from, verifying the firewood has been lawfully sourced."