The Tasmanian Government is investing in its $1.2 billion timber and forestry industry to gain higher returns by increasing value-added production and supporting more jobs in regional Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz
Seven projects around Tasmania will share in a $6 million investment through the Forestry On-Island Processing Program to help the sector turn existing wood supplies, as well as wood residues, into higher-value products.
This injection of funds will lead to a direct $23 million investment in modern processing and production processes in facilities located around the State, from Smithton to Bell Bay to Glenorchy.
“This important program recognises and supports Tasmanian businesses to continue to transform and develop into world leading producers of the world’s most sustainable and carbon friendly building product, wood,” Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel said.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said that the successful projects would add value to the current timber harvest, better utilise wood waste, help insulate the industry from international commodity markets, reduce the need for imported wood products and support the construction industry locally.
“It will also help secure scores of jobs across Tasmania and lead to at least 30 new direct and indirect positions,” he said.
The projects receiving funding include upgrades to processing facilities that will see more value coming from Tasmanian’s renewable forest supply by converting low-grade plantation timber into high value boards and also construction of wall and roof trusses to be sold across Tasmania and Australia.
The program is also helping to improve timber recovery processes that will see more local wood replacing imported timber, increased output of treated pine products and an expansion of the amount of sawn timber and by-products generated from lower grade logs.
The successful projects are:
- Timberlink Australia Pty Ltd to spend $1,063,304 to create a finger-jointing and priming line to convert low-grade and short length plantation pine into high value boards, fascia and posts,
- CMTP Pty Ltd to spend $2,500,000 to upgrade their Branxholm Sawmill facility to a world class standard, significantly increasing processing volumes of sawn log at increased lengths, with an improvement in timber recovery. The additional sawn timber volumes will replace imported timber,
- McKay Investments Pty Ltd to spend $1,049,235 to upgrade truss plant facilities for the manufacture of wall and roof trusses and install an upgraded finger jointing and laminating plant,
- Britton Brothers Pty Ltd to spend $689,000 towards a specialised timber recovery line that will join short lengths of timber into useable long sections,
- GL & VN Barber Pty Ltd to spend $250,000 to upgrade the existing kiln drying facility and install timber moulding capability to produce sawn timber and by-products from lower grade logs,
- Koppers Wood Products to spend $250,000 to upgrade their Longford pine processing facility to reduce waste and significantly increase the efficiency and output of treated pine post-production processing,
- Bakes Sawmill Pty Ltd – $147,668 for the purchase, installation and commissioning of wood treatment equipment to produce treated timber for a range of products – adding value to what is currently chipped residue wood.
