Charlotte Varcoe
TIMBER mills from across the Green Triangle Region have thrown their support behind a $300m investment into low-carbon timber made by the Federal Government.
Announced earlier this week, the investment will be made through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
The corporation will finance eligible projects and encourage mass timber construction across the industry while cutting construction-related emissions and providing a greener alternative to conventional construction materials.
Timberlink chief executive officer Ian Tyson welcomed the investment labelling it the future of building.
“We must look at materials that provide low-carbon and low energy benefits and are also renewable to build with,” Mr Tyson said.
“This is something the Timberlink is invested in with the cross-laminated timber plant as it is taking timber in its low embodied energy form and putting it into a whole new building market.
“I am glad the federal government has supported this as it will open up the market for us which we are very excited about.”
Mr Tyson said low-carbon timber will continue to store carbon in the product’s cells throughout production.
“The carbon is then stored while it is in a building for many years and can be renewed in years to come,” he said.
“Rather than emitting carbon in the manufacturing process we can store it and convert it and put it into an application where it will be stored which is fantastic.”
South Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Nathan Paine said it also welcomed the commitment of the funding, stating it will further support the local region.
“This will reduce the carbon footprint of our building sector,” Mr Paine said.
“The new program is another pathway for more of our timber to stay on-shore to support the creation of clean green buildings and development in innovative wood products.”
He said it comes after a number of investments into new engineered wood products including Timberlink’s cross-laminated and glue-laminated sawmill at Tarpeena.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the new investment would support jobs across the region and lead to lower emissions from the construction industry.
“This investment will help our industries to make more innovative forest and wood products right here in Australia and create more jobs,” Mr Pasin said.
“The program will also help to develop local skills and experience that will lead to more low‑carbon timber-based building activity in the future.”
