A REGIONAL timber processor has thrown its support behind a national campaign urging people to purchase Australian made timber to support the sector through the coronavirus economic downturn.
This comes as demand for structural softwood timber is expected to ease amid a forecast drop in housing construction activity.
The national campaign – Buy Aussie Timber First- has been launched by the Australian Forest Products Association that represents a string of processors across the Green Triangle.
“In normal economic times Australia produces around 80pc of the softwood timber that is used to build homes for Australians,” Timberlink chief executive officer Ian Tyson said.
He said the balance of supply was imported.
“The impact of COVID-19 has seen a significant drop in forecast housing starts, affecting the demand for Australian softwood timber,” the timber industry executive said.
Mr Tyson warned this would have a dramatic impact on the people employed right across the supply chain, with many of those people employed in regional towns across the country.
“At this difficult time as we are working hard to keep our industry capability in place, we are asking Australian businesses in our Australian industry for additional support by buying Aussie timber first,” he said.
“The Australian softwood timber industry directly supports around 45,000 jobs and is key to many regional towns and communities.”
He said choosing renewable Australian plantation timber not only kept mills operating but supported the entire integrated supply chain from the harvesters, growers, logistic providers, processor, through to the timber retailer, framing manufacturer and home builder.
“Additional support will preserve Australian jobs and keep our industry capability in place for the future, while supporting our regional communities both now and into the future,” Mr Tyson said.
“Our Tarpeena mill contributes around $180m to the local economies of Mount Gambier and the surrounding areas.”
Timberlink is investing in its Australian mill upgrade program and is also building a new timber engineered plant, due to open in 2023.
Australian Forest Products Association chief executive officer Ross Hampton said timber was a proven and popular renewable framing material that provided comfort and security for hundreds of thousands of Australian homes.
“When Aussie timber framing is manufactured today it’s replanted for tomorrow, supporting a whole supply chain of Aussie jobs and communities. That’s why Aussie timber is the ultimate renewable framing material,” Mr Hampton said.
He said the association was proud to launch the campaign.
“COVID-19 has caused a significant forecast drop in new homes and associated renewable timber framing product demand,” Mr Hampton said.
The centrepiece of the campaign is a ‘Buy Aussie Timber First’ website with testimonials from timber workers and includes the opportunity to upload a photograph and share your support.
“When Aussie timber framing is manufactured today it’s replanted for tomorrow, supporting a whole supply chain of jobs and communities. That’s why it’s the ultimate framing material,” Mr Hampton said.
