Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
A KEY state Liberal Party powerbroker has called for all stakeholders reliant on water to “come to the table” to map a way forward.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone flagged brokering a solution for the forestry sector during a visit to the Blue Lake city this week.
The minister attended the second meeting of the Forestry Industry Advisory Council (FIAC), which consists of representatives from across the regional forestry
sector.
His visit comes amid a number of farming sectors calling for no change to water allocation.
High on the meeting’s agenda was the issue of water allocation and the possibility of looming cuts to the forestry plantation sector.
“I have asked the other farming sectors and the forestry industry come to the table to get a better of understanding,” Mr Whetstone told The Border Watch.
He said these sectors were all water users competing for a finite resource.
“Whether it is dairy, vignerons, irrigation for pasture or forestry, rule 101 is understand your competitor’s needs,” he said.
Mr Whetstone revealed Environment and Water Minister David Speirs would determine any decision.
“The directive will come from the FIAC committee as one of its first initiatives to the minister to put a credible proposal to him while we are going through the peer science review,” he said.
“It is an industry that has taken a long time to build and we have to make sure all the science is credible.”
He said the group was canvassing pressing priorities for the sector.
“I think the priorities will be skill-based training, but the water issue is probably number one and understanding what the science means for the sector,” the minister said.
The forestry sector is conducting a science peer review, which includes a $1.5m contribution from industry.
“There are some asks of the government while that review is going on at the moment, I am negotiating with Minister Speirs on behalf of the industry so FIAC can be the voice to the minister,” Mr Whetstone said.
He said the industry had 8000ha of clear-fell sites that needed to be put under consideration for the sector “to remain viable”.
“We have a nett loss of forestry planting at the moment. For the ongoing viability of the industry, we need a clear direction where the forestry industry is headed,” Mr Whetstone added.
The FIAC meeting also canvassed log supply to regional processors.
“I think there is a clear misunderstanding of what export logs are meaning to our small millers,” he said.
“The conversation is about how we structure a conversation moving forward addressing the issues around export versus domestic and about the future of the industry.
“The government has made it very clear we are supporting the sector to double the value of forest products by 2050 – that is the commitment we have given them.”
He said the government would “stand-by the forestry sector” to deal with the issues through the regional committee.
“There is always a question about whether we have enough log,” Mr Whetstone said.
“Small millers are concerned about the continued supply of log.”
