The Malinauskas State Government is delivering on another forestry focused election commitment with the release of the South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan.
The Master Plan provides a vision to further grow and develop SA’s $1.4 billion forest and timber industry for now and future decades. The Plan has been developed by the Forest Industries Advisory Council of South Australia (FIAC-SA) in consultation with the Minister for Forest Industries, the Honourable Clare Scriven MLC.
Three goals are identified through the Master Plan to strengthen the state forest and timber industries, domestic manufacturing and infrastructure capability. These include:
- the right resource and capability
- a future focused workforce
- a clean and green circular economy.
The Master Plan will immediately start investing in projects identified as priorities. A $200,000 investment for Fennell Forestry is set to commence Phase Two of an electric log truck trial – examining how heavy vehicle decarbonisation can contribute towards a green circular economy. The trial will build on the outcomes of a Phase One trial run last year by Fennell Forestry, testing Australia’s first electric heavy vehicle.
The Master Plan will be reviewed annually to keep pace with socioeconomic and environmental changes influencing the industry, particularly in such areas as:
- international trade
- climate change
- technological developments.
In addition to the electric log truck trial, the State Government has announced $70,000 in funding for the South Australian Forest Products Association to develop a State of the Industry Report. Other projects identified as priorities through the Masterplan will be developed and implemented over the next 3 years as part of the State Government’s $2 million election commitment.
For further information on the South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, see Forestry.