TIMBER INDUSTRY STRATEGY
1.
220. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to
the minister representing the Minister for Forestry:
(1) Has the
Forest Products Commission been involved in the development of a timber
industry strategy?
(2) If yes to (1), what is the progress to date?
(3) Did the
Forest Products Commission seek to engage external consultants to provide input
to the forest management plan; and, if yes, who were those external consultants
and what input did they provide to the forest management plan?
(4) Where and when were the terms of reference for the timber
industry strategy advertised?
(5) Will the minister please table the terms of reference?
Hon
KEN BASTON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) Yes.
(2) The Forest
Products Commission is in the early planning stages to prepare a timber
industry strategy. This strategy will be informed to a great extent by the
outcome of the new forest management plan, which is still under consideration.
(3) The FPC
engaged URS Australia to provide advice on timber resources, markets and
opportunities. This was not specifically for the purpose of providing input
into the draft forest management plan. However, the work was used to inform the
draft FMP of industry development opportunities—see page 137 of the
draft FMP.
(4) A consultation process is still to be developed.
(5) Not applicable.