Forestry welcomes $1.3m spend and looks to do ‘more with less’ to combat Australia’s timber deficit

With an election on the horizon, Scott Morrison has announced a $1.3m plan to explore new products to combat a critical product shortage.

With the federal election just a month away, the government has announced a major cash spend in the state’s South East.

Battling a major timber deficit, the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub welcomed the $1.3m investment that aims to lessen Australia’s need for imported timber products.

UniSA Forestry researcher Dr Jim O’Hehir, Tony Pasin MP, Borg Manufacturing facility manager Greg Kenny and GTFIH executive general manager Liz McKinnon. Picture: Supplied Portland Forestry funding announcement

GTFIH executive general manager Liz McKinnon said the grant to Forest and Wood Products Australia would fund the creation of a hybrid product designed to help make up the timber shortfall and keep profits in Australia.

Every year nearly flows million tonnes of low-grade timber flows through the port of Portland.

This is exported overseas where it is turned into timber products that Australia buys back at a loss.

“What we’re saying is let’s not buy it back, let’s do the value add here and export it out,” Ms McKinnon said.

Softwood and hardwood trees go through several trimmings before they are ready for harvest, with a softwood pine tree taking nearly 35 years to reach full maturity.

Ms McKinnon said only some of the wood, which is trimmed, can be processed locally.

The grant funding announcement follows the Liberal’s $219.5m forestry election promise last week.

Forestry industry welcomes $1.3m grant funding to explore new hybrid timber products. Picture: Supplied

Ms Mckinnon said the money was due to arrive soon, it was not dependant on the LNP winning in May and that it was already added to the FWPA budget.

“We’re starting the project immediately,” she said.

“Export log bans to China highlighted the lack of domestic processing opportunities for both softwood pulp log and hardwood chip.

“At the same time there has been a shortage of structural timber to meet growing housing demand.

“Australia is a net importer of wood now.

“We know demand is going to quadruple not only here but globally by 2050.”

Ms Mckinnon said even though the project would help Australia do “more with less” the ultimate solution was getting more trees in the ground.

“Our trees into farming project is just one opportunity to do that,” she said.