Millions of trees to be planted after bushfires
THE FORESTRY and timber industry will benefit from the rejuvenation of burnt-out forests - after the State Government set aside $46 million for Forestry Corporation NSW.
Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, said more than 10 million seedlings are set to be planted over the next 12 months which will grow into timber for house frames, floorboards, decks, fences, bridges, power poles and other essential renewable timber products.
"The forestry industry was devastated by an unprecedented bushfire season, with more than 50,000 hectares, or around 25 per cent of the State's pine plantations burnt," Mr Singh said.
"The $46 million injection into the forestry industry will give the replanting efforts a great start, helping to get state-owned pine plantations back to pre-bushfire levels of stocked trees within a decade.
"More than 10 million seedlings will be planted this year, then a total of more than 14.5 million trees each year across the State from 2021 - a massive 40 per cent increase on 2019 plantings."
Plantings will include:
500,000 hardwood seedlings on the North Coast
4.4 million seedlings in the Tumut area
2.4 million softwood seedlings in the Bathurst area
1 million softwood seedlings in the Bombala area
740,000 softwood seedlings in the Grafton area
500,000 softwood seedlings in the Walcha area.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro, said The Nationals were committed to supporting the future of forestry.
"Forestry is a long-term, renewable industry and replanting and regrowing these plantations will ensure they continue producing renewable, sustainable timber products for generations to come," Mr Barilaro said.