Confidence is growing in a resurgent Tasmanian forest industry under the majority Hodgman Liberal Government.
Today, I am pleased to announce that there has been great interest in the Government’s $1.25 million Wood and Fibre Processing Innovation Program.
Funding to help 41 projects with a total value of $56 million is being sought by individuals, businesses and local government authorities.
More than a third of the proposed projects are for biomass, bioenergy or similar initiatives, and a significant number are aimed at improving the efficiency of sawmilling operations to reduce waste.
Other projects include wood-waste-fired kilns for timber drying, engineered wood, and biochar.
Clearly, industry is responding positively to the Government’s efforts to rebuild forestry, with no lack of ideas or a willingness to invest.
This program is all about value-adding through innovation to create more jobs for Tasmanians.
The program incorporates, and builds on, the Government’s existing funding commitments to support bio-energy initiatives in the Dorset and Huon municipalities, and the funding committed, as part of the AgriVision 2050 Plan, to facilitate commercial utilisation of plant biomass from forestry and agriculture.
Applications closed late last month and I look forward to announcing the successful applicants, who will receive grants of up to $100,000, in the near future.
Guy Barnett, Minister for Resources
