The State Government officially launched its South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan in the Limestone Coast last week.
The plan has been developed by the Forest Industries Advisory Council of South Australia (FIAC-SA) in consultation with the Minister for Forest Industries Clare Scriven, to grow South Australia’s $1.4b forest and timber industry now and into the future.
Present for the occasion were South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister Scriven, Fennell Forestry managing director Wendy Fennell, South Australian Forestry Product Association chief executive officer Nathan Paine and FIAC-SA co-chair Tammy Auld.
The SA Government will invest $2m over three years into the plan which identified three main goals: the right resource and capability, a future focused workforce and a clean and green circular economy.
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 and technological developments.
Premier Malinauskas said the plan was important for the entire forestry industry, not just the Green Triangle but the nation as a whole.
“The State Government is releasing our forestry master plan that has been a piece of work that we have been committed to over the course of the last 18 months,” he said.
“We made it clear prior to coming to the government that we were going to allocate $2m to the establishment of a master plan and associated funding to make sure we are investing in the ever-growing rate of productivity in the forestry sector in South Australia.
“This is an industry of the future, it is true the Green Triangle is home to the nation’s oldest serious effort at plantation in the forestry industry but it is also true that it is an industry of tomorrow.
“The opportunity before the State Government and South Australia more broadly is to make policy in and around innovation and productivity to make sure we are not just growing fibre but also utilising it to the benefit of the local economy more broadly.”
Minister Scriven said the forest industries were a significant contributor to the state’s economy which is reflected in the master plan.
“This South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan presents the vision to be a future focused circular economy, sustainably driving the state’s economic prosperity with globally recognised skills and innovation,” she said.
“I am delighted that government has worked side by side with a broad section of the forest industries to deliver this election commitment, and this plan will be of significant benefit to this vital industry.
“Collaboration has been a key part in the development of this master plan and I look forward to the ongoing partnership with industry through FIAC-SA as the associated projects are implemented to ensure that all South Australians continue to benefit from the sustainable growth and future success of South Australia’s forest industries.”
Mrs Auld said FIAC-SA was happy to be involved in the development of the forestry masterplan and look forward to driving the plan forward and creating action.
“The plan has been very much developed through consultation with industry through the Forestry Industry Advisory Council,” she said.
“We are very passionate about the plan, it has demonstrated government’s commitment to fulfilling their election commitments.
“We are certaintly very passionate about the plan as it goes forward, we want to keep every stick that’s grown here, processed here in South Australia so that we can grow jobs for the future.”
