Source: Kim Yeadon - Minister for Information Technology, Minister for Forestry, Minister for Ports, Minister for Western Sydney

Assured Future for the North East Timber Industry

12 November 1998

The Government’s North East Forest Agreement will generate up to 160 new jobs and assures timber supply to a sustainable industry, Forestry Minister Kim Yeadon said today.

"This term of Government has seen historic achievements in the forest industry," he said.

"While massive new areas of forest reserve have been created to conserve our natural heritage, the Government has set the timber industry in a direction which will allow new business growth and support our rural communities."

The Government’s North East forest industry package, worth more than $53 million over five years, includes an expanded plantations program, timber supplementation from private forests, timber haulage assistance and continued business development assistance from the Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Package (FISAP).

The industry has been guaranteed a minimum annual allocation of 129,000m³ in the Upper North East and 140,000m³ in the Lower North East for the next 20 years.

New jobs in the region will come from forest thinnings operations (61 jobs), plantation expansion (25 jobs) and 105 jobs to manage the new areas of National Park. In addition the Government has committed $2 million towards a potential new Biomass Energy Plant at Walcha which would create 42 new jobs.

"There will be no immediate change for timber businesses on the north coast. The industry package is structured to be phased in over time," Mr Yeadon said.

A Timber Industry Employment Taskforce, headed up by an independent chair, will be appointed to oversee implementation of the package including job protection, timber supplementation and new industry development. This taskforce will include nominees from the industry and union, supported by the relevant Government agencies.

During the past three years there has been unprecedented private investment by the timber industry in new equipment and upgraded operations which has seen timber millers move into more value added markets.

"What the North East decision means is that the industry can have the confidence to continue developing new value added markets which make better use of our timber resource," Mr Yeadon said.

"The reality is that people continue to demand timber products. Isn’t it better that we work to meet this demand with an environmentally sustainable product?"

"This decision achieves that goal."

Contact: Frier Bentley 02 9228 3688

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