Starting to take shape

New artist impressions of the Forestry Centre of Excellence being built in Mount Gambier were released by the South Australian Government last week, in conjunction with new research and development projects being launched.

A key State Government forestry commitment, the Centre of Excellence (FCoE) is a collaborative project between the State Government, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the forest industry.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who was in the region last week, said the Green Triangle plantation forest region was one of the powerhouses of the Australian forest and forest products industry.

“The South Australian portion of the region contributes more than $860 million to the state’s gross product annually – making it one of our most productive primary industry sectors,” the Premier said. “We are delivering on our election commitment to establish a world-leading Forestry Centre of Excellence to strengthen this already thriving industry.”

The centre is on the same site as the UniSA Mount Gambier campus, the new Mount Gambier Technical College and the Mount Gambier TAFE – providing a unique opportunity to create an education, training and research precinct.

UniSA Chancellor Hon John Hill said the University of South Australia was honoured to host the new Forestry Centre of Excellence, which has evolved from Forest Research Mount Gambier, established in 2018 by the State and Federal Government, UniSA and the forestry industry.

“The model of recruiting UniSA researchers into the forestry industry has resulted in a more efficient, safer, progressive, and profitable industry, establishing standards for best practice,” Mr Hill said. “Together with the State Government, we are proud to continue this partnership and help advance research and development projects to ensure the industry’s economic prosperity committing more than $6 million towards the Centre’s operations and building along with significant in-kind support.”

The design for the facility is due to be finalised next month with building construction due to commence in April next year and an expected completion in January 2026.

Vital research underway in temporary facilities was showcased at a special launch, on site, today and includes projects on:

• structural timber market access

• improving safety

• fire detection from cameras and satellites

• suppression, recovery and analysis of digital forestry data using artificial intelligence

• immersive data analytics using VR and AR to understand the implications of climate change on plantation growth yield and water use.

Following a global search, Professor Jeff Morrell was appointed as the Forestry Centre of Excellence’s inaugural director due to commence in mid-January next year.

Previously, Professor Morrell was director for the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life based at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The FCoE links to the forest industry and its key attribute of collaboration, connection and partnerships through its research, training education, development, and extension activities, has been reflected in the new FCoE brand of interlocking abstract trees also unveiled with the building design.

South Australian Minister for Forest Industries Clare Scriven said these latest exciting steps in the establishment of the Forestry Centre for Excellence would further drive existing and future research, development, and extension activities, covering the social, economic, and environmental aspects of forestry in the Green Triangle region.

“This centre will support the full forestry supply chain including plantation management, harvesting and haulage and timber processing and will also aim to cover the technical, safety, and training aspects relevant to those sectors, whilst building greater connections with our First Nations people,” she said. “This is a momentous occasion recognising the hard work and investment put in by my Government, UniSA, Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, South Australian Forest Products Association, and the wider Green Triangle forest industries.”

The Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH) used the visit and design unveiling to brief the State Government on its Splinters to Structures project, which has created a new engineered wood product utilising softwood pulp and hardwood log, which has traditionally had no specific domestic application.

The collaborative research project, delivered in partnership with Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) with funding from the Federal Government, is favouring a Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) product made exclusively from Eucalyptus Globulus (Bluegum) grown in the Green Triangle. Hub members are now planning to conduct a feasibility study to understand how to commercialise the product.

Hub board member, Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP) CEO Russ Hughes, said the FCoE will play a pivotal role in bringing the whole supply chain together, understanding how to optimise fibre use and generate new value-add.

“We applaud both the State and Federal Government for their commitment to invest in research, working in partnership with industry, to deliver transformative projects which increase the sustainability of our sector, supporting the development of new wood innovation which will deliver long-term regional economic outcomes,” he said.

“The Splinters to Structures project is providing a pathway to diversify the region’s market base, providing a new domestic building product with a low carbon profile supporting the imbalance between supply and demand for such high value products. Importantly the FCoE will provide industry with the tools to deliver more market capability in the long-term, building greater regional capacity and supporting our international reputation.”

GTFIH deputy chair Laurie Hein said the hub looked forward to working with Professor Morrell to build a visionary research plan, concentrated on increasing expertise across the workforce.

“The work delivered by the hub through its partnership with UniSA over the past five years has been progressive, supporting this new product development, intelligence on plantation water use, the estate’s carbon capability and delivering a toolkit for farm forestry expansion and broader state and federal policy outcomes,” Mr Hein said.

“The launch of the FCoE will supercharge this strategic approach, enabling broader national and international collaborations and partnerships to position the Green Triangle as a global leader in plantation research and development.”

For further information on the Forestry Centre of Excellence visit the website.