South Australia’s downtrodden forestry industry has a bright future according to a blueprint laid out for the sector and backed by the State Government. Source: ABC Rural
A depressed housing market, increased competition from imports, mills changing hands and the forward sale of Government harvesting rights have dampened the industry’s spirits and put a curb on positive sentiment.
And despite the state-owned body Forestry SA, which manages around 120,000 hectares of plantations shedding jobs recently, the Government still said there was a future for the industry in the state’s south-east.
The blueprint for the future South Australian forest and wood products industry was put together by the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board, and its chair Trevor Smith said the industry’s future lies in increasing the amount of wood produced, and getting the industry to work more collaboratively.
Mr Smith said the products produced in South Australia have the opportunity to replace steel and concrete in the construction industry and the industry needs to take advantage of this.
“We have the ability, by changing the building codes that currently exist, to have a number of our products replace steel and concrete used in apartments and high rise buildings,” said Mr Smith.
The Minister for Forests Leon Bignell said the Government would still be able to support the industry, even though it has given up controlling the management of the state’s forests.
