Huge softwood plantation for Gippsland
A new softwood timber plantation covering about 14,000 hectares will be established in Gippsland.
Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the plantation would be established by Hancock Victoria Plantations (HVP), one of the largest plantation companies in Australia which already has a significant presence in Gippsland.
Ms Tierney said 16 million trees would be planted in the estate over an area the equivalent of 7000 MCGs (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and the government would match the company’s investment almost dollar-for-dollar.
The minister’s announcement did not stipulate where the plantation would be located but it will be across various Gippsland locations to reduce water impacts on existing plantations and other land uses including agriculture.
She said subject to final approvals plantings would begin next year.
Ms Tierney said the plantation would protect timber supply for the construction industry, had the potential bring international processors to the region and would ensure a longterm sustainable future for Victoria’s forestry industry.
It also will contribute to the state’s emission reduction targets by removing 7.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years.
Ms Tierney said five of every six trees currently harvested in Victoria were from plantations and over time the new investment would make that six out of six.
However, the Forests and Wood Products Association says in an interim report that Australia’s manufacturing and construction sectors will face a critical timber shortage and a doubling of the ever-increasing reliance on imported timber by 2050 unless an additional one billion production trees are planted.
And the Australian Furniture Association warned of hardwood timber supply challenges and an increase in illegally harvested timber because of the Victorian and West Australian governments plans to to shut down native hardwood timber harvesting.
It claimed that would increase demand for high value hardwood timber from the USA, Europe and South-east Asia.