Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - Aujourd'hui 00:08

Locally sourced timber commitment for Tasmanian projects

Tasmania’s forest and timber industry is calling for a stronger commitment to locally sourced timber and downstream manufacturing as the State prepares to deliver a major pipeline of housing and infrastructure projects. Source: Timberbiz The Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) said Tasmania had a major opportunity to build in a way that balances environmental responsibility with economic growth, regional jobs and long-term community benefit. TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said Tasmania’s future should be built on balance, using renewable local materials, supporting sustainable industries and ensuring more value stays within Tasmania. “If Tasmania is serious about building more homes and major projects, we should be using more Tasmanian timber,” Mr Steel said. “It’s renewable, it stores carbon, it supports regional jobs and manufacturing, and it keeps more economic value here in our State rather than importing materials.” Mr Steel said local timber and downstream processing would play a critical role in helping Tasmania deliver future housing and major projects while reducing transport emissions and supporting sovereign manufacturing capability. “Every extra step of processing undertaken in Tasmania means more jobs, more investment and more opportunity staying here,” he said. “The story of forestry is not just what happens in the forest, it’s what happens afterwards in manufacturing plants, workshops, transport businesses and construction sites across Tasmania.” Mr Steel said the industry wanted to work collaboratively with Government on what it is calling a Tasmanian Timber Guarantee, a long-term commitment to greater certainty around project pipelines, procurement pathways and the role local timber can play in public construction and housing delivery. “Tasmania is talking about major housing programs, urban renewal and significant infrastructure investment, including projects like the Macquarie Point Stadium,” he said. “But right now there is not enough certainty around how local timber and local manufacturing capability fit within that pipeline.” “That certainty matters because businesses make investment decisions years ahead. Industry needs confidence to invest in advanced manufacturing capability, workforce growth and apprenticeships.” Neville Smith Forest Products (NSFP) CEO Andrew Walker said businesses like Neville Smith demonstrated the broader social and economic contribution of Tasmania’s timber industry. “When people walk through operations like this, they see advanced manufacturing, skilled jobs and Tasmanian products helping build homes and infrastructure,” Mr Walker said. “But they also see businesses investing in people and communities.” Mr Walker said NSFP worked closely with parts of the disability sector and vulnerable members of the community to help create meaningful employment pathways. “That’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” he said. “These industries are deeply connected to regional Tasmania and provide real opportunities for people who can sometimes struggle to access secure and meaningful work.” Mr Walker said rising fuel, freight and operating costs continued to place pressure on regional manufacturing businesses and reinforced the importance of strengthening local supply chains. “The opportunity is here for Tasmania to lead with renewable materials, lower-carbon construction and a stronger local manufacturing base,” he said.