Tasmanian Forestry Hub update
24 April 2021
Since the Hub’s southern infrastructure report commenced last month, stakeholder consultation is progressing at pace and key priorities are being identified. The project’s key focus is to define and prioritise the infrastructure needs of the forest industry in southern Tasmania, with a special focus on Hobart Port as the importance of this asset was highlighted by the Hub’s stakeholders.
The Hub has also been in consultation with the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) to provide feedback on Tasmania’s priorities in terms of streamlining the plantation forestry method under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) to make it more accessible for end users. The ERF incentivises landholders to undertake activities that store carbon. By participating in the ERF landholders can earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by carrying out carbon farming activities. The CER is currently in the process of developing a new method.
The Hub was established as part of the Commonwealth Government’s National Forest Industries Plan – Growing a Better Australia – A Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth, which is focussed on driving a billion new trees in forestry plantations to meet Australia’s future needs for wood and fibre in the next decade.