Prime Minister Scott Morrison
The Liberal and National Party candidates vying for the federal electorate of Eden-Monaro in NSW, have demanded that the Tumut-Tumbarumba region be included in the initial list of ‘pilot’ Regional Forestry Hubs. Source: Timberbiz
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in February that nine new Regional Forestry Hubs would be created with $12.5 million in funding, but limited the initial rollout to four ‘pilot’ Hubs: north west Tasmania, south west Western Australia, the north coast of NSW and the Green Triangle which overlaps South Australia and Victoria.
The Tumut-Tumbarumba area, called the ‘South West Slopes’, is listed as one of five named Hubs delayed until 2020 for rollout, despite it being one of Australia’s largest forestry regions in terms of employment and wealth generation.
According to the Tumut and Adelong Times, the Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro, Fiona Kotvojs said she is working with industry and the Morrison Government to have the planned Tumut-Tumbarumba Hub brought forward.
The Tumut and Adelong Times also reported National Party candidate Sophie Wade saying, “I am already working towards getting the South West Slopes included as one of the pilot Hubs.”
“It is completely understandable that the thousands of people who work in forest industries in the South West Slopes, one of Australia’s most important forest industry regions, are bewildered at their omission from the list of pilot Hubs,” Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Ross Hampton said.
“The plantation timber industry in the region contributes more than $1 billion to gross regional prouct annually and supports more than 50% of jobs in the Snowy Valleys Council area.
“I commend the candidates for voicing their support for the immediate upgrading of this area. There has been no adequate answer given as to why there are four initial Hubs with five to follow at some later stage including this one.
“The rollout of the Hubs is needed urgently right around Australia. The Government’s commitment to planting one billion new trees is very welcome but we must ensure plantation growth occurs in the areas where it is most needed to secure downstream manufacturing jobs,” Mr Hampton concluded.
