The future of Limestone Coast forestry was the theme of a candidates forum hosted by the SA Forest Productions Association last week.

Held at the University of South Australia Mount Gambier Campus, it featured Independent Troy Bell and Labor candidate Katherine Davies, along with Liberal candidate Ben Hood who joined the debate online.

Alan Richardson moderated the forum, while those attending also watched a video from Forestry Minister David Basham and a presentation from Labor MLC Clare Scriven.

“The seat of Mount Gambier is the home and the heartbeat of forestry, so what we wanted to do as an association was have a forum where the industry could ask their questions of those seeking and vying for their support,”Association chief executive Nathan Paine said.

“This was an opportunity for the community to ask the candidates the hard questions and hear their answers.”

Association chair Tammy Auld said the industry needed policies to halt the loss of plantation estate.

“We need a water allocation plan based on achieving a sustainable water resource for all users and for the environment,” she said.

“We want to unleash our industry’s carbon benefits, we see ourselves as a part of the solution for the future, we want a supercharged new domestic manufacturing, it will drive new jobs, it will drive jobs here.

“And we want to protect our sovereign capability by securing 50 million new trees over the next four years.”

Minister Basham said the State Government had committed an additional four years of funding for the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation and was committed to research and development in forestry.

He said a priority of the Forest Industry Advisory Council – established at the last election, was developing a Wood Encouragement Policy, which was currently out to consultation.

“This is just another step in the right direction for timber to be recognised for its significant building, health and carbon benefits,” he said.

Ms Scriven acknowledged the huge contributions that forest industries made to the South Australian economy, generating significant employment and about $3b each year.

Ms Scriven said there were many opportunities for further expansion, new technologies and value adding.

“We want to make sure that this is an industry that is future-proofed, and that means getting the policy settings right so that we can grow more trees to meet the increasing demand,” she said.

A major question for candidates was how they would change or introduce policies to achieve the goal of planting 50 million trees by 2026.

Mr Hood said industry owners needed to work with farmers to demonstrate benefits of farm forestry and the water resource must be fair and equitable for all primary industries.

“We certainly do need 50 million more trees planted in the South East, we are a net importer of timber in Australia and we need trees in the ground,” he said.

Ms Davies said Labor recognised the importance of halting estate loss and putting policies in place that supported the growth of more trees.

“When it comes to planting trees, you need to get the water policy right for all users, that’s forestry and all other users as well,” she said.

Mr Bell said the forestry faced many hurdles and emphasised that to plant more trees, land was required, and the price of land was an issue that needed addressing.

“What we’re all after is a sustainable future, not just for forestry but for all land users in the South East,” he said.

Candidates were asked if there should there be a preference scheme in place for purchasing timber products, for example government projects, and if so how should it work.

Mr Hood said it was an issue he would continue to advocate for as he had done as a Mount Gambier City councillor.

“We should be looking in every aspect and every opportunity to be able to utilise timber in construction and other things across government,” he said.

Mr Bell believed these policies should be rolled out through local government associations.

Ms Davies said a Labor government would build more public housing using exclusively South Australian manufactured products, which would also assist with the housing issue across the state.

All candidates strongly agreed the region needed a Cross Border Commissioner.

The final question focussed on regional population growth and up-skilling current workers.

“We have a city state issue here in South Australia, we have 1.3 million people in Adelaide and surrounds and we have 400,000 people in the regions, we have to change that,” Mr Hood said.

However, Mr Bell said it needed to be done in a sustainable way, with housing as the predominant limiting factor.