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Government of South Australia - Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

    Forestry and Timber

    A competitive advantage sector for manufacturing in South Australia

    South Australia’s highly productive forestry industry accounts for approximately one third of the nation’s domestically produced house framing and interior sawn wood, one quarter of particleboard, 40 percent of packaging and industrial grade timber, and 60 percent of timbers for agricultural use.

    There are over 168,000 hectares of sustainably managed plantation forests across the Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Mid-North and Limestone Coast.

    The state’s south-east, known as the Green Triangle, has long been recognised as the focal point of South Australia’s forestry and timber industry. The region is Australia’s leading producer of wood products for domestic use, and will soon boast a new $15 million Forestry Centre of Excellence, to be established in Mount Gambier.

    The Centre aims to leverage the wealth of existing local expertise, skills and knowledge to enhance the commercial competitiveness, profitability and prosperity of forestry and, as a result, the region.

    Forestry and timber in South Australia

    $3bdirectly contributed to SA’s economy annually
    18,000people employed directly and indirectly
    35%of Australia’s house framing and interior sawn wood
    25%Australia’s locally produced particleboard

    The opportunity

    The strong national demand for timber products is driven by the increase in new housing and infrastructure built, as well as recent State and Commonwealth Government crackdowns on plastic waste.

    There is also significant opportunity to value-add to the timber products produced in South Australia, with 40% of timber currently leaving the state unprocessed.

    Examples of value-adding activity already taking place include:

    • Value-adding to hardwood
    • Generating new structural timber products
    • Creating new wood products to replace plastic
    • Developing new biofuels and biochemicals.

    Forestry Centre of Excellence

    The South Australian Government has committed $15 million over 10 years to establish the Forestry Centre of Excellence in Mount Gambier. The centre is anticipated to be a global leader in research, education, product and market development.

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