Softwood timber figures from 1995
Industry: Softwood Timber - Private
Gross value of production |
$0.4 million |
Number of growers |
40 |
Number employed |
45 |
Current annual production |
10,000 tonnes |
Projected 5 year annual production |
as above |
Hectares |
1500 |
1. Description of Product:
Top quality softwood (pine) timber.
2. Location of the Industry:
There are private plantations in the Kinglake Alexandra Mansfield area and a few in the north around Mitta.
3. Employment and Labour Requirements
a. Number of Producers
40. Most of these are part of the North East Victoria Forest Growers Co-Operative.
25 growers have plantations of 40ha or less.
b. Number Regularly Employed
For 80ha, a team of 7 people are needed to maintain thinning and harvesting. It is estimated that there are 5-6 teams servicing the private plantation industry.
4. Annual Production :
From 1500 ha, annual production of 10,000 tonnes per annum is predicted beginning in 1995 and continuing for 10-15 years. Private plantations were established approximately 20 years ago under a farm forestry loans scheme.
5. Value of Product:
The average value of production is anticipated as $40/tonne although careful marketing is resulting in significantly better returns of $125-250/tonne (of treated pine). The annual gross production from 1995/96 onwards is predicted to be $400,000.
6. Production Trends Over the Next Five Years:
a. Projected:
There will be no increase in private softwood plantations. In fact there are many disincentives for growers.
b. Potential
The potential of the softwood timber industry lies in the strong export demand, and in import substitution as Australia imports 4 times as much wood and wood products as is exported. There is potential in this sector of the softwood timber industry for niche marketing.
Extracted from the Bright Report
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