Vic forest industries goes West

One of the top priorities for the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) in 2015 is to advocate especially with a new state government in place. Source: Timberbiz
One of the ways that the association is working towards that aim is by meeting with members and other industry stakeholders across the state.
In January the VAFI was in the Yarra Ranges, next week staff will be in Western Victoria visiting Geelong, Colac, Hamilton and Portland.
With the transfer last year of all commercial timber harvesting in Victorian state forests west of the Hume Highway to VicForests, the VAFI is keen to engage and re-engage with businesses in the west of the State.
But it’s not just native forestry that VAFI is interested in.
The Green Triangle region of south-eastern South Australia and Victoria’s south-west is home to almost 20% of the nation’s plantation estate, with almost 300,000 hectares of pine and blue gum plantations.
Forestry and processing is responsible for 12% of the total jobs in the region, and about 23% of all employment in the region’s primary industries. Either directly or indirectly the industry employs almost 9000 people across the region.
“As an industry, we are all facing issues that affect each step of the supply chain, and it is important that we work together towards a sustainable future,” said VAFI CEO Tim Johnston.
“I believe that securing the future is one of the most important objectives for our industry and I am highly optimistic about our prospects.”
With this in mind the VAFI has an open invitation to those in the western region to attend an industry networking dinner in Hamilton on Wednesday, 4 March 2015. RSVP by Friday, 27 February to [email protected]