Collaboration the key as masterplan unveiled

It was a case of hitting the ground running with the South Australian Government’s unveiling of its South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, allocating $200,000 to locally based innovative industry leader and major regional employer Fennell Forestry to continue its electric log truck trial.

The Master Plan, which was created by the Forest Industries Advisory Council of South Australia (FIAC-SA) in consultation with the Minister for Forest Industries, the Honourable Clare Scriven provides a vision to further grow and develop South Australia’s $1.4billion forest and timber industry for now and future decades.

Helping fund Phase Two of the Fennell Forestry electric log truck trial was just the first practical iteration of the plan.

Phase Two will examine how heavy vehicle decarbonisation can contribute towards a green circular economy, building on the outcomes of a Phase One trial run last year by Fennell Forestry as they put Australia’s first electric heavy vehicle on the road.

In addition to the electric log truck trial, the State Government has also announced $70,000 in funding for the South Australian Forest Products Association to develop a State of the Industry Report.

South Australian Forest Products Association Governing Council chair Tammy Auld said they were grateful to the State Government, especially the Minister for Forest Industries Clare Scriven for listening and working in collaboration with the industry to deliver this Master Plan.

“The Masterplan has been developed in consultation with stakeholders from the forest and timber industries through the revitalised Forest Industries Advisory Council with an aim to work towards a future where all fibre grown in the region will be locally processed”, continued Ms Auld.

“We know that if we can process all the fibre grown in the region, we have the ability to create over 20,000 new jobs, ensuring that South Australia has sovereign fiber capacity at the same time as decarbonising our economy”, Ms Auld said.

“With projects such as the Fennell Forestry electric log truck, the Government isn’t just talking about change, but supporting transformation and innovation within the region.

“Our industry certainly believes that the forest industries have a big role at the heart of the Government’s ambition for re-industrialisation, and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with the Minister, Premier and all members of Parliament to protect, enhance and innovate our beloved forest industries.”

Three goals have been identified through the Master Plan to strengthen the state forest and timber industries, domestic manufacturing and infrastructure capability, including the right resource and capability; a future focused workforce and a clean and green circular economy.

“The South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan provides a strategic direction for the industry to build on its numerous strengths particularly through the further investment in major value-adding activities such as sawn timber, engineered wood products and in emerging markets such as carbon farming and biomass,” Mr Malinauskas said.

Minister Scriven was not only excited to release the industry blueprint but was already looking to the ongoing work required on such a vital working document.

“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,” she said.