Tim Whetstone SA Primary Industries Minister
The Australian Forest Products Association SA Branch (AFPA SA) has welcomed the forest industries measures announced in the South Australian State Budget. Source: Timberbiz
“It’s great to see that the SA Government has heeded the advice of AFPA SA provided during the state election campaign earlier in the year, announcing that it will deliver a Forest Industries Advisory Council (FIAC),” SA Branch Manager, Leon Rademeyer said.
“This effectively means there will be a formal body of industry stakeholders to advise the Minister for Primary Industries on how to develop the forest products sector and presumably how to deliver on the election commitments made to our industry.”
More than $8.5 million has been allocated for forestry in the budget with other SA Government targets for 2018 including the completion of the South East Forestry Partnerships Program projects to improve the productivity and sustainability of industry in the South East, and the monitoring of compliance with contractual requirements of the forward sale of the Government’s Green Triangle plantation harvesting rights.
“We also note the nearly $15 million that has been allocated over two years for the Penola bypass to allow heavy vehicles to bypass the town’s main street,” Mr Rademeyer said.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the State Government to get better policies in place for our industries, and especially realising the Government’s election commitment of assisting us to double domestic timber manufacturing by 2050.”
