A $115,000 Community Development Fund grant for a National Seeds Institute feasibility study in Orbost to leverage the district’s long history and proven expertise in seed testing, breeding and storage has been announced by the State Government in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz
The new funding will enable the Orbost Chamber of Commerce to develop an investment case and business plan in collaboration with local community members, seeds businesses, nurseries and RMIT University.
“Victorian seed growers have to send their seeds to testing facilities interstate and overseas. A Seeds Institute is an exciting proposal to harness Orbost’s home-grown expertise to support local farmers and local jobs,” Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said.
“We are backing local communities and timber businesses through dedicated support to identify and harness the economic opportunities that are right there in front of them.”
The State’s leading forest flowering and seeding expert Owen Bassett warned recently that Victoria’s Ash forests were on the brink of ecosystem collapse following a poor flowering season and repeated fire events.
“What this means for Victoria’s Ash forests is that they are at serious risk of ecosystem collapse, because they will not have the capacity to naturally regenerate themselves come the next fire season,” he said.
Seed collection has also been part of Mr Bassett’s work with seeds gathered used to assist forest regeneration after fire and storm events.
Seed collection is one of the services provided by Victoria’s forest agency VicForests which deposits into the seed bank seed from timber harvest and specific collection operations.
However, Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said this service may be lost following the native timber sector shutdown in Victoria.
“If we are serious about meeting Greenhouse Gas emissions targets, then we must do more instead of taking people such as highly skilled seed collectors out of the forests,” she said.
The National Seeds Institute proposal is a community-led initiative informed by more than 150 interviews with local businesses and residents.
The Government’s Forestry Transition Program is supporting impacted workers and businesses into alternative employment in growth areas in their local communities – including construction, manufacturing, and energy – following the decision to shut down the native timber industry in Victoria at the end of this year.
The Seed Institute project is one of five innovation areas identified in the region’s Local Development Strategy – a roadmap for the future of Orbost, which is supported by a further $500,000 investment from the Labor Government.
The Community Development Fund and Local Development Strategy Grants are providing medium to long term support and funding for 11 priority native timber communities to identify new markets and create jobs.
For more information on how to get local support, please visit www.vic.gov.au/forestry or contact the Forestry Transition Hotline on 1800 318 182.
To register for the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program, visit www.forestworks.com.au
