The Morrison Government has today announced the 14 successful applicants for the Forestry Recovery Development Fund, which will provide $40 million in grant funding to help the forestry industry to recover from the devastating bushfires last summer.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said the grants of between $1 million and $5 million were delivered through a competitive grants process, with funding for projects to be provided until 30 June 2023.

“The Australian Government is committed to supporting the forestry industry to recover from the bushfires and grow, in the immediate, medium and long term,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Projects include upgrades to existing facilities and technology, installation of new facilities that complement existing activities, and adjustments or diversification to make businesses more resilient.

“The forestry industry is in a strong position to continue to grow and recover, and the Australian Government will be there every step of the way.”

Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said the grants would be critical in helping the forestry industry to adopt smarter, more efficient practices in product processing and forestry operations.

“These projects will strengthen industry and secure forestry processing assets while safeguarding and creating jobs, particularly in our regional communities,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“The bushfires last summer were devastating for the forestry industry – they impacted around 130,000 hectares of plantation forests and about two million hectares of public native forest available for timber production.

“These grants will support Australia’s forestry industry to build back better by investing in public–private partnerships that deliver innovation and industry diversification for long–term success.”

Applicants Name Project description Funding amount (includes GST) Location
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods Pty Ltd A new manufacturing line for pine columns and beams not currently produced in Australia. The columns and beams will be used in construction on multi-story government, commercial and residential buildings. 1,939,850 Heyfield, VIC
South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd Eden Energy Resilience project will replace fire damaged, aged and obsolete HV infrastructure to ensure that electrical supply to all parts of the site is reliable. 2,249,679 Eden, NSW
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers Ltd The Kangaroo Island Biomass Pellet Mill and Handling Facility will create a new timber product using bushfire-affected timber on Kangaroo Island. 5,500,000 Kangaroo Island, SA
Hyne & Son Pty Limited The Tumbarumba Mill Optimisation project will deliver better resource management practices through innovation, upgraded efficiencies and new technology to assist in offsetting increase in manufacturing costs. 3,508,474 Tumbarumba, NSW
AKD NSW Pty Limited Tumut mill investment proposal will adopt the latest technology and equipment to ensure logs are cut more efficiently and effectively. The project will deliver an 8% increase in timber recovery, generating more timber from the scarce log resource. 5,500,000 Tumut, NSW
XLam Holdings Pty Ltd The project will update equipment at the existing XLam wood processing facility in Wodonga to reduce the cost of production and be more internationally competitive. 1,529,198 Wodonga, Vic
Ryan & McNulty Proprietary Limited An investment in technology and new processes allowing the mill to process a lower, smaller grade log (salvage logs) to produce a quality value added product that is suitable for structural beams, and furniture manufacturing. 1,188,330 Benalla, Vic
Alpine MDF Industries Pty Ltd A project to undertake a large capital expansion in remanufacturing, through installation of new plant equipment supported by product innovation to increase production capability of primed mouldings and painted flat panels. 4,379,100 Wangaratta, Vic
D&R Henderson Pty Ltd A new heat plant for the sustainable use of waste products as a fuel source to provide energy to kilns. It will save in energy costs and reduce waste to landfill. 3,294,500 Benalla, Vic
Nungatta Station Pty Ltd Update and expand timber handling and processing, along with improved safe working conditions and make the facilities more fire safe in the future. 1,111,000 Far East Gippsland and South East NSW
AAM Investment Group Pty Ltd Upgrade and integrate new technology associated with the company’s trimming, sorting, stacking capacity and product re-entry into the saw line. 5,334,261 Bathurst, NSW
Allen Taylor & Company Ltd The project will install a new linear finger jointer into the hardwood dry mill sites which will produce a new range of jointed flooring, decking and structural products. 1,441,084 Kyogle and Herons Creek, NSW
Ironwood Taree Pty Ltd A new and improved processing line using automated machines for both in-feed and out-feed to secure their capacity to deliver existing products with substantial output to an expanding market. 3,921,347 Taree, NSW
VISY Industries Australia Pty Ltd Visy’s Fibre Line Modernisation project will provide significant upgrades to various parts of Visy’s Tumut Mill to maintain and secure commercial mill operations in the face of future wood deficit. 3,103,177 Tumut, NSW

 

*The grant agreements are expected to be finalised within coming weeks