Tasmania Forestry Hub funding extended to 2025

MEDIA RELEASE

15 November 2021

The Tasmania Forestry Hub today welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a $900,000 investment to support growth in the state’s forest and forest product industries. General Manager Simon Talbot said it comes at a vital time with the industry now entering a new phase of opportunity.

The funding—announced by Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Senator Jonno Duniam at the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW)—further demonstrates the government’s commitment to growing a sustainable forest industry.

Assistant Minister Duniam said he looks forward to continuing to work with the Tasmania Forestry Hub to support the sector.

“The Australian Government is providing more than $10.6 million over four years for existing Regional Forestry Hubs and the establishment of two new hubs in Eden NSW, and the Northern Territory,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“Tasmania is a key forestry area with strong potential for growth and innovation, with skilled forestry workers, transport routes and processing plants.”

Tasmania Forestry Hub General Manager, Simon Talbot said the Tasmanian forestry sector is on the cusp of a unique period of growth, with unprecedented demand for value-add products—including construction and housing materials—driving innovation, investment and employment opportunities.

“This investment is a show of confidence in our industry and the Hub will use this federal funding to help create a unified 2050 vision for Tasmania’s forest products,” Mr Talbot said.

Tasmania Forestry Hub’s key priorities and opportunities include:

  1. Supporting the implementation of innovation to further value add to Tasmania’s unique resource;
  2. Aligning agroforestry opportunities within the state’s Agriculture Growth Strategy, enabling our position in carbon sequestration;
  3. Creating an investment-ready prospectus encouraging both financial and human capital to enter the sector;
  4. Benchmarking Tasmania against the world’s best forest regions on sustainability, value and product differentiation; and
  5. Driving productivity investments in our Tasmanian supply chain; ports, roads and rail.

“Ultimately we need to win in the first kilometre and last kilometre— winning when we harvest, haul replenish and winning with consumers who use the product, solidifying that Tasmanian forestry products are world class,” Mr Talbot said.

ENDS.

Media Enquiries: Simon Talbot, Tasmania Forestry Hub General Manager— 0447 599 622.