A report into Tasmania’s privately owned hardwood plantations has found the industry could underpin a range of value-adding opportunities for the State. Source: Timberbiz
Minister for Energy and Resources Bryan Green said the report reinforced the value of the State’s plantation estate.
“Tasmania’s privately-owned hardwood plantations are a world scale resource largely developed to supply a pulp mill,” Green said.
He said that the report found Tasmania had about 236,000 hectares of hardwood plantations, of which 177,000 hectares were on private land.
“This represents about a quarter of all hardwood plantations in Australia.
“Potentially these private plantations could sustainably produce up to 3 million tonnes of wood each year.”
The Minister said the report highlighted the importance to Tasmania of the proposed pulp mill at Bell Bay, and that the Government strongly supported the project.
“These plantations are a very valuable asset and will underpin any future investment in a pulp mill.”
Consultative Panel chairman and former Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said the report had been prepared for the Government after wide consultation.
“We have consulted with private forest growers, private landowners and other key stakeholders, to explore options for the plantation estate in Tasmania.”
Ferguson said a pulp mill remained a good option for the end use of the wood but added there was a range of other value-adding opportunities.
“These include using the resource for bio-fuels and engineered timber products, particularly for wood in Southern Tasmania now that the Triabunna mill and port appears to be no longer available.”
