Good news for forestry tempered by the bad news

It has been a time of highs, and lows for the timber industry across Australia recently.

On the upside the largely ineffective and controversial “water rule” has been scrapped.

The rule prevented plantation and farm forestry projects from access to the carbon market, held up much-needed investment in new plantations, and discouraged replanting trees sending the total estate into decline.

Removing the “water rule” creates certainty for forestry to better contribute to emissions reduction through increased participation in car- bon farming and investment in new timber plantations.

The amendment clears the way for planting up to 100 million trees Australia-wide by 2030.

Put simply, it will get trees in the ground.

But on the downside the Weekly Times’ reported that almost 900 Victorians have lost or face losing their timber industry jobs by January.

And that 900 could probably conservatively blow out to thousands as businesses that rely on the timber in- dustry pay packets start laying off staff or worse, shutting down.

It reported that a third wave of timber industry job losses looms over regional Victoria, with VicForests’ 163 staff left in limbo, not knowing if they will have a job after January 1.

What is truly offensive is the Victorian State Government’s attitude.

Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney’s office said “no decision has been made about the long-term future of VicForests at this point in time, but we thank VicForests staff for their understanding…”

That must make VicForest staff sleep so much better at night knowing that the Minister has thanked them.

Meanwhile, Australian Forests & Timber News will again host a special feature FORESTRY NOW in our September edition.

FORESTRY NOW will provide key industry statistics, overview, and analysis of the state of the Australian forestry sector, including views and contributions from senior industry figures.

Don’t miss this industryleading report in September’s Australian Forests & Timber News.