The projects will bolster Australia’s future timber supply
Australia has announced grants of over $10.4 million for 14 new plantation projects through round 3 of the Support Plantation Establishment program. The program is playing an important role in stimulating investment and growth in Australia’s wood supply.
The 14 projects will establish hardwood and softwood plantations ranging in size from 21 to 1928 hectares, to a total of approximately 5,500 hectares, in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
The projects will bolster Australia’s future timber supply while contributing to meeting Australia’s carbon emissions targets.
Australia is strongly committed to sustainable forestry, and invests in forest industry innovation, manufacturing and skills. In addition, governament is supporting the initiative with more than $300 million to help improve the capacity and capability of the sector.
These new projects are in addition to 27 existing plantation projects, with the program now providing $26.2 million in grant funding to support the establishment of over 13,750 hectares of new hardwood and softwood plantations across Australia.
The growth of Australia’s plantation industry will also create jobs in regional areas and increase the availability of timber to meet the increasing demand for forest products in the construction and manufacturing industries.
Additional funding is still available for private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters, and state and territory government forestry bodies to establish new plantations through round 3 until 5 November 2025. The new projects are expected to be delivered by June 2027.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP said, “Australia doesn’t have enough domestically grown timber. That’s why this program has enabled new softwood and hardwood plantations across Australia, including in my home state of Tasmania. It’s part of a wider program of support for our forestry industry worth $300 million, which also includes the establishment of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations and funding to combat illegally logged timber products from entering Australia”.
