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Hundreds attend timber fest in Gympie

Hundreds of industry workers and their families, whose livelihoods and businesses are supported by Queensland’s sustainable forest and timber industry, welcomed the support of local leaders at the Queensland Timber Fest in Gympie last weekend. Source: Timberbiz Timber Queensland’s CEO Mick Stephens said the family fun day at the Gympie Woodworks Museum was a good reminder for Governments that the industry is relied upon by thousands of people and their families. “Our industry supports over 25,000 jobs and injects $4 billion into the state economy every year, providing essential materials for the building and construction industry,” said Mr Stephens. “Everyone at the event welcomed the support of local leaders Tony Perrett, Member for Gympie and Glen Hartwig, Gympie Regional Council Mayor, who made it clear they recognise the value of the industry in growing regional jobs, providing materials to meet housing demand and delivering environmentally sound land management,” he said. “Going forward, a key issue facing the industry is a lack of policy certainty over access to public and private native forests for sustainable hardwood production, as well as minimal incentives and measures to promote plantation and farm forestry expansion to increase timber supply. “With the right policy settings there is significant potential for the industry to grow and prosper and deliver positive economic, social and environmental benefits for the state.” Tony Perrett, Member for Gympie and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said. “The attendance of so many workers and their families is proof why the industry needs certainty to secure timber for production and guarantee a strong future for this valuable renewable and sustainable resource. “I’m committed to providing that security for our valued timber industry.” Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said he thinks there is a good opportunity to manage our state forests to harvest the appropriate timber but also maintain the environmental significance of the areas for generations to come. “That’s the vision I have for Gympie which will give sustainability, it’ll give long-term jobs and it’ll give certainty to those people that have invested in the industry, but most importantly it pulls carbon out of the atmosphere and puts it into homes,” said Mayor Hartwig. The Queensland Timber Fest was an opportunity to celebrate the history and collective value of the forest industry across the softwood plantation, native hardwood and native cypress sectors. More than 250 people attended, and Timber Queensland acknowledges the support of the many industry exhibitors and community partners on the day.