Planned burns doubled and salvage wood to go to industry under Coalition election pledge
In short:
Native timber would be processed at Victorian mills if the Coalition wins next month's Victorian election.
asserted
Coalition → double → election
The Coalition said its forest management plan would increase cultural and planned burnings while working to reduce invasive pests and weeds.
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plan → say → pests
A Gippsland timber mill has welcomed the news that milling could be revived.
uncertain
milling → welcome → news
Native timber from Victoria's bushland could be processed at local sawmills under a Coalition government as the opposition announces a suite of forest management pledges ahead of next month's state election.
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opposition → process → election
Twice the amount of planned fuel-burning works would take place each year as part of the proposal.
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amount → plan → proposal
The Coalition's forest management program would thin and reduce fuel loads across 5,000 hectares of public forest each year, which Nationals leader Danny O'Brien said would support regional jobs.
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O'Brien → thin → jobs
Timber harvested from state-managed bushland as part of forest restoration and fuel reduction programs would be processed at Victorian mills and used for sawlogs, firewood, biochar and mulch.
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Timber → harvest → sawlogs
The pledge also included an expansion of cultural burns and a doubling of planned burns to address a recommendation from the Bushfire Royal Commission.
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pledge → include → Commission
The Coalition said old-growth and hollow-bearing trees would be protected, while reducing the threat of invasive species and weeds.
It has also promised to invest $2.52 million across four years, partnering with industry on a $4.41 million bushfire detection camera network across eastern and western parts of the state.
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It → say → state
Coalition spokesperson for public land management Melina Bath said the firebreak work under the management plan would produce logs for processing at local mills.
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work → say → mills
She said the closure of Victoria's timber sector had hurt regional communities, particularly in Gippsland and the state's north-east.
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closure → say → Gippsland
"Make no mistake, this is about forest management," Ms Bath said.
"
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Bath → make → management
We have had too long a 'lock it up and leave it' approach.
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We → have → approach
"This is about making sure that we actually manage the forest, that we treat the pests and weeds, that we provide the fire breaks … to ensure that firefighters can get in there when the wildfires come.
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wildfires → make → breaks
"And making sure that when there is timber … that we put it [to] its most high-value use and that we support local jobs here in Gippsland and in other areas of the state."
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we → make → state
The Victorian government ended native timber harvesting in Victoria in 2024, with the forestry transition program ending in June this year.
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program → end → June
The Coalition's pledge to remobilise native timber processing follows One Nation's plan to revive native timber harvesting in Victoria.
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pledge → remobilise → Victoria
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) managing director Vince Hurley said the industry around Heyfield in Victoria's east had been calling for active forest management.
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industry → say → management
"Remember Heyfield's been impacted by bushfire three times in the last 25 years," Mr Hurley said.
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Hurley → remember → years
"Having active forest management to enable bushfires to be controlled properly … is good for Heyfield and good for local communities, but it's also good for employment here."
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it → have → employment
He said using timber from native forest would benefit the community and consumers, many of whom purchased timber from interstate and overseas.
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many → say → timber
"They'll be able to buy timber that's produced locally in Victoria at a better price," Mr Hurley said.
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Hurley → buy → price
He said the sector had faced headwinds since Victoria's native timber industry was closed.
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industry → say → headwinds
We've had to source our timber from elsewhere," Mr Hurley said.
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Hurley → have → timber
"We've had to buy operations in other states.
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We → have → states
We've had to go to the United States and buy raw materials out of the United States and manufacture in Australia.
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We → have → Australia
We've also had to spend a lot of money on capital works.
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We → have → works
"
'Disastrous' for environment
Environmental groups have pushed back on the Coalition's election pledge.
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groups → push → pledge
The Victorians for Nature alliance said the management program would face regulatory challenges, including court cases which have found native forest logging breached environmental laws.
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logging → say → laws
The alliance is made up of the Victorian National Parks Association, Environment Victoria, the Wilderness Society and the Victorian Forest Alliance.
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alliance → make → Association
Victorian Forest Alliance spokesperson Nic Fox said logging native forest was "catastrophic for wildlife", particularly species such as greater gliders and powerful owls.
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logging → say → gliders
"Forests are worth so much more standing; providing clean drinking water, reducing erosion, carbon capture/storage, habitat and destination tourism," Mr Fox said.
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Fox → provide → erosion
"It is pointless to restart something with such low public support, and so many flaws, barriers and costs."
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It → restart → support
Victorian National Parks Association's nature campaigner Jordan Crook said the policy was "logging wrapped in new branding".
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policy → say → branding
"But with the same ecological, hydrological and fire-increasing issues," he said.
"
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he → increase → issues
From examples around the world, we know the term 'active management' just means logging native forest."
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term → know → forest
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