DPI&F LAUNCHES NEW TREES FOR QUEENSLANDS NATIVE HARDWOOD PLANTATIONS

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has provided a major boost to Queensland’s emerging hardwood plantation industry with the release of a new hybrid of the native spotted gum.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the hybrid was an excellent outcome for the environment and the Queensland economy.

“Plantation grown timber is the way of the future, and support for this industry will ensure that by 2025, harvesting from state forests will cease,” Mr Mulherin said.

The South East Queensland Forests Agreement (SEQFA) which was signed by the Premier in 1999, outlined a vision for the use and conservation of south east Queensland’s state forests.

“Most of Australia’s industrial forest growers are now operating in Queensland. “These companies are looking to heavily invest in Queensland to capitalise on opportunities in land availability, infrastructure, proximity to markets and Queensland’s subtropical and tropical environment,’’ Mr Mulherin said .

“To accommodate the need for an appropriate species to populate these plantations, DPI&F researchers have bred the new Corymbia hybrids. ‘’

Mr Mulherin said the major economic benefit from the project would be derived from making available the required quantities of this improved hybrid planting stock to industry in a relatively short period of time.

“This will enable substantially larger areas of plantations to be established annually, ensuring plantation industry growth.

“Our researchers, led by Dr David Lee, have spent nine years perfecting varieties which they feel will pave the way for a successful and lucrative hardwood plantation program for Queensland.

“The evolution to these trees—now available for commercial release—has been a rigorous, exacting and scientifically thorough process,” Mr Mulherin said.

Dr Lee said scientific staff had considered no less than 86 hardwood species in more than 600 hectares of trials and in seed orchards since 1997.

“Our trials have all indicated that spotted gum within the genus Corymbia, the most commonly harvested hardwood timber in Queensland with excellent timber qualities, was the right type of tree but had some problems for plantation growth,” Dr Lee said.

“We found however that when combined with its close relative Corymbia torelliana, we gained the ability to propagate the trees, overcame disease problems and produced varieties that grow faster than either of the parent species.

The Corymbia hybrid clones were launched in Gympie today by Primary Industries and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt.

Ms Jarratt said the Corymbia hybrids were the right tree for Queensland’s future hardwood and forest product needs.

“In Queensland in 1999–2000, we consumed $3.1 billion worth of forest products, with about 83 percent of that demand being met locally.

“Queensland’s rapid population growth, coupled with increasing overseas demand for our timber and forest products highlights the need for an improved hardwood species to take this industry forward,” Ms Jarratt said.

Ms Jarratt also acknowledged the role of the Department’s commercial partner in the venture.

“To help the department manage the propagation, promotion and marketing of the new hybrids, the commercial group Dendrotech Pty Ltd, based at Indooroopilly, has been selected to commercialise the product.

“Dendrotech has begun contracting nurseries to begin the propagation.

“With the release of this new hybrid, I believe we will reduce risks for investors and play a key part in expanding Australia’s subtropical hardwood plantation industry,” Ms Jarratt said.

Media: Verena Mette 0404 847 005