Anew parliamentary watchdog committee should be established to investigate all aspects of water allocation planning.
Furthermore, the State Government should work with the Federal Government to ensure primary industry sectors, including forestry, maintain equitable access to the water resource.
These are two of the recommendations of the all-party Timber Industry Select Committee and its 83-page report was tabled in State Parliament on Tuesday.
Chaired by Liberal Upper House leader Dr Nicola Centofanti, the Select Committee was established five years ago with two Labor, two Liberal and an Independent member.
In presenting the Select Committee report, Dr Centofanti said water resources are vital for the production of food and fibre.
“We need to ensure that forestry has equitable access to these resources in order to grow the forestry estate into the future,” Dr Centofanti said.
Another recommendation included the need to prioritise the pursuit of a National Forest Industry Code of Conduct.
Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Ben Hood said a code of conduct will improve clarity and transparency of trade between foresters and processors, of which the committee heard significant evidence in favour of.
The committee also chose to prioritise investment in road infrastructure to improve transport efficiency and minimise heavy vehicle maintenance costs.
“Investment in road infrastructure is an investment in ensuring South Australian resources find their way to market, and ensuring that our road infrastructure is maintained to a high standard allows for productivity and efficiency gains for the forest industry,” stated the report.
The committee published 17 recommendations covering aspects of the industry from transparency, infrastructure investment through to industry productivity innovations and the importance of water security.
Among those to make submissions were foresters Michael Bleby, Dr Jerry Leech (now deceased) and David Geddes as well as representatives of timber companies and industry groups.
The Wattle Range Council submission stated radiata pine was being exported through the port of Portland, value-added overseas and then imported back into Australia.