Sunshine Coast uni helps grow a ‘green’ timber industry for Qld
Published Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
University of the Sunshine Coast research important to building a ‘green’ forest and timber industry will receive major funding from the Queensland Government.
Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Dr Stephen Trueman from the University would receive a $875,000 grant for a joint project with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
The research group will look at improving the wood quality of trees sourced from hardwood plantations. Their grant was one of five projects totalling $2.4 million the Minister announced today as part of the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund.
“The funds support research and development projects that help the State move from native hardwood forest harvesting to a plantation-based industry,” Ms Boyle said.
“We plan to phase out timber harvesting in Crown native hardwood forests by 2025 and have been working with the forest industry to decrease our reliance on native forests for timber production by building an economically sustainable hardwood plantation industry in the State.
“There are a few issues around the quality of plantation hardwood timber in comparison to its native forest equivalent and Dr Trueman and his team of researchers will look at improving the breeding of hardwood trees for commercial production.”
Ms Boyle said the project would help accelerate the development of a home-grown, commercially viable and green timber industry, which would generate both economic and environmental benefits for Queensland – key priorities under the Government’s Q2 vision.
She said Queensland had more than 42,000 hectares of hardwood plantations, but that only about 10,000 hectares were currently managed for sawn timber and high-value products.
“A key impediment to the expansion of the sawn timber and high-value products industry is that suitable tree species for commercial operation are not easily available,” Ms Boyle said.
“Both the Government and private companies have been developing seed orchards for some time and these are now reaching an age when selection for growth, form and wood properties is possible.
“So researchers will look at what trees in these orchards have the magic combination of good growth, form and wood properties. These select trees will then be fast tracked for release as elite varieties resulting in better plantation trees.”
Ms Boyle said other Queensland projects announced today through the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund included testing the durability of plantation hardwood timber and managing pests and diseases.
Queensland’s forest and woods products sector comprises some 2200 businesses that directly employ more than 19,000 people.
The industry is estimated to have an annual turnover of $2.7 billion and value-added activities.
The Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund is a component of the Queensland Government’s Statewide Forests Process which is securing a sustainable future for the State’s timber industry.
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
November 2008
Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Dr Stephen Trueman from the University would receive a $875,000 grant for a joint project with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
The research group will look at improving the wood quality of trees sourced from hardwood plantations. Their grant was one of five projects totalling $2.4 million the Minister announced today as part of the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund.
“The funds support research and development projects that help the State move from native hardwood forest harvesting to a plantation-based industry,” Ms Boyle said.
“We plan to phase out timber harvesting in Crown native hardwood forests by 2025 and have been working with the forest industry to decrease our reliance on native forests for timber production by building an economically sustainable hardwood plantation industry in the State.
“There are a few issues around the quality of plantation hardwood timber in comparison to its native forest equivalent and Dr Trueman and his team of researchers will look at improving the breeding of hardwood trees for commercial production.”
Ms Boyle said the project would help accelerate the development of a home-grown, commercially viable and green timber industry, which would generate both economic and environmental benefits for Queensland – key priorities under the Government’s Q2 vision.
She said Queensland had more than 42,000 hectares of hardwood plantations, but that only about 10,000 hectares were currently managed for sawn timber and high-value products.
“A key impediment to the expansion of the sawn timber and high-value products industry is that suitable tree species for commercial operation are not easily available,” Ms Boyle said.
“Both the Government and private companies have been developing seed orchards for some time and these are now reaching an age when selection for growth, form and wood properties is possible.
“So researchers will look at what trees in these orchards have the magic combination of good growth, form and wood properties. These select trees will then be fast tracked for release as elite varieties resulting in better plantation trees.”
Ms Boyle said other Queensland projects announced today through the Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund included testing the durability of plantation hardwood timber and managing pests and diseases.
Queensland’s forest and woods products sector comprises some 2200 businesses that directly employ more than 19,000 people.
The industry is estimated to have an annual turnover of $2.7 billion and value-added activities.
The Plantation Hardwoods Research Fund is a component of the Queensland Government’s Statewide Forests Process which is securing a sustainable future for the State’s timber industry.
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
November 2008