A high level panel has been established to help secure Tasmania’s privately-owned hardwood plantation industry.
“The Government is strongly focussed on helping landowners and forest growers realise the opportunities this important resource holds for them and Tasmania,” Mr Green said.
“The plantation estate that exists around Tasmania is critical to the future.
“The loss of Gunns, the collapse of MIS schemes and changing global markets for timber products has made it very difficult for many landowners.
Mr Green said former Federal Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson would chair the panel which will consult with private forest growers, private landowners and other key stakeholders to explore options for the future.
“Martin has been a champion of Tasmanian forestry and farming communities throughout his career and has a thorough understanding of the challenges facing the industry.
The panel will also include Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Jan Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Private Forests Tasmania, Tom Fisk and the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Mr Norm McIlfatrick.
Mr Green said the first objective would be to get a clear picture of the plantation estate.
“A detailed assessment of the industry is needed to determine the best way forward.
“The first task will be to gather data on the type, quality, location and tenure of the existing hardwood plantation estate across Tasmania and report to the Government.
“The second stage will involve broad consultation with the forest industry and communities to help develop recommendations on the best ways to enhance the value of plantations and capitalise on future opportunities.
Mr Ferguson said he looked forward to supporting the industry as it faced the challenges ahead.
“There is no doubt that Tasmania’s substantial and established hardwood resource will play an increasingly important role as we move forward,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The timely establishment of this panel and the valuable data and evidence it will develop will ensure that it is well placed to build on the outcomes of the Tasmanian Forests Agreement to secure its future,” Mr Ferguson said.
Bryan Green Minister for Energy and Resources
Frank Strie on study-tour in Europe
September 17, 2013 at 01:25
Here we go again:”Mr Green said the first objective would be to get a clear picture of the plantation estate.
“A detailed assessment of the industry is needed to determine the best way forward.
“The first task will be to gather data on the type, quality, location and tenure of the existing hardwood plantation estate across Tasmania and report to the Government.”…
… Mr Ferguson said.
“The timely establishment of this panel and the valuable data and evidence it will develop will ensure that it is well placed to build on the outcomes of the Tasmanian Forests Agreement to secure its future,†Mr Ferguson said.
Considering that the Hardwood Plantations were established under the watchfull administration and control of key Government Institutions such as Private Forests Tasmania PFT, Forestry Tasmania FT, and the world leading Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority FPA – there will only be a few Mouse-Clicks required and a printer to present us all with the whereabouts and volumes of hardwood plantations in Tasmania.
Every single hectare of both, soft- and hardwood plantations were officially recorded and statistically reported on.
For many years now the promotion was informing us that in Tasmania the latest land mapping and planning system was in use, this to guide the world class plantation estate development to provide factual data for potential industrial investment opportunities.
So, the following questions seem fair and logical to me:
* “What does it take to get up to date, factual data in Tasmania?”
* What have decades of taxpayer investment created that we need yet another report?
We shall judge the people and institutions by their actions and answers.
During my 5 week study tour I come to the conclusion that if every forest and plantation business and country would work on the “under Down Under” plantation planning and recording format, there would be simply no investment possible anywhere without great financial risk.
How can we invest in top class processing in Tasmania when such fundamental data is still to be established now in late 2013?
Is this just a bad joke Minister?
It is embarrassing actually!
My meetings with key timber processing industries are based on soft data? Someone must be less that serious!?
David Obendorf
September 17, 2013 at 03:51
Frank, yes a very bad joke indeed…it is another attempt at providing [b]$1500 a day[/b] to a Labor mate and trying to quieten angry land owners with trees who are being asked to hold off while some snake-oil salesmen buy some time and somebody else pays for it.
Really pathetic that no one calls these antics for what they are. Stop the bull-shitting and the mind-fucking.
phill Parsons
September 17, 2013 at 11:19
Burn baby burn. Flim flam man brought in to justify wood fired power stations. Step by step on the way to a pulp mill.
Frank Strie
September 17, 2013 at 12:51
Not sure if it was successfully posted a few minutes ago, so just in case it was not:
TAS ABC TV NEWS REPORT:
“An assessment of the size of Tasmania’s privately-owned hardwood plantation estate has been ordered by the Tasmanian Government.” …
“The Government is trying to find out just how many trees they are growing, and what kind.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-17/moves-to-help-tree-farmers-hit-by-gunns-collapse/4963508?§ion=news
The above looks like a typical case of KISS – “Keep it simple stupid”
http://changingminds.org/principles/simplicity.htm
The KISS principle is a useful thought to hold in any communication.
So what?
When seeking to change minds, start with how the other person understands, then simplify such that you only have that which will persuade, and that this will be optimally tuned for the person in question.
Note also that complexity can be a persuasive principle, using confusion to create uncertainty which you then address. –
IN OTHER WORDS
“Catch us if you can”.
Again and again – who cares anyway?
gizmo
September 17, 2013 at 21:10
Frank (#1 and #4), you should heed the advice given to politicians when overseas but are tempted to comment on something domestic – don’t.
Unlike North Korea, China, East Germany and other ex-Soviet block countries, in Australia/Tasmania a private entity growing plantations has absolutely no obligation, nor should they, to report to anyone what, where and when they planted, what its expected growth rate and yield are etc. It’s a free country, you see, and not likely to be run by communists any day soon (e.g. the Greens), especially so after their 7th September slaughter.
BTW, you clearly don’t understand the roles of PFT, FT and the FPA.
Karl Stevens
September 17, 2013 at 23:11
Kevin Rudd poured millions into building school libraries just as books had become obsolete. Now we get Martin Ferguson investigating how many pulp wood trees are in the ground so KordaMentha can sell a pulp mill just as writing paper is becoming obsolete.
pilko
September 18, 2013 at 02:52
I smell another round of timber industry “compensation”. Throw in a pulp mill for these failed business people to put their poxy trees through. Never mind the fact that these dilapidated plantations represent a real & present fire risk.