Building a stronger Queensland forest and timber industry |
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North Queensland Highlights - Silvopastoral Tour explores opportunities for the future - Introducing: New Hub projects - Hub committees welcome new appointment and themes - Stakeholder engagement and Hub outreach |
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South & Central Queensland Highlights - Strategic Review Workshop a success in Gympie - Hub projects update - Stakeholder engagement: Connecting with our community - Steering Committee and working groups making good progress |
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NORTH QUEENSLAND HIGHLIGHTS |
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Hulton King Hub Manager North Queesland Forestry Hub |
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Silvopastoral Tour explores opportunities for the future |
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The Hub Steering Committee’s most recent meeting was in Cardwell, where an additional field trip component was included to visit the site for the Hub’s Collaborative Silvopastoral Pilot Project. The Project, led by the CRC for Northern Australia, is taking place within an existing HQPlantations softwood pine plantation just south of the Cardwell township. Silvopastoral systems involve grazing livestock within forestry operations. Members of the project team from Central Queensland University and Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry presented to several stakeholders, discussing some of the project insights gathered to date across plantation and pasture growth, livestock performance, carbon market estimations and general observations. |
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Top: Project team discussing soil quality and biomass estimates for carbon Above right: Weight station for cattle to track productivity across the project |
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Introducing:
New Hub Projects |
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Hub committees welcome new appointment and themes |
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Several new projects for the Hub were recently launched, following a very high-quality round of submissions for technical work. Spatial Land Assessment and Regional Suitability for Plantation Forestry Project Lead: Greenwood Strategy Project timeframe: 9 months North Queensland Forest Industry Labour Demand and Training Capacity Assessment Project Lead: Industry Edge Project timeframe: 4-6 months Private Plantations Historical Performance Assessment Project Lead: Daryl Killin Project timeframe: 6 months |
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The Hub Steering Committee has welcomed a new member with the appointment of Kate Malouf, North Queensland Regional Manager, Ag Force. Kate has already provided valuable insights from the agricultural sector as the Hub is looking to work with existing landholders and producers. Additionally, the Hub has established working groups to discuss specific theme areas at a sub-committee level. Native Forest and Timber and Plantation Forestry sub-working groups have plans to further refine and develop projects in those areas. The Hub is expecting to form an Indigenous Forestry sub-working group once Engagement Protocols, currently under development, are published. |
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Stakeholder engagement and Hub outreach |
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Hub Manager Hulton King recently attended the International Union of Forest Research Organisation (IUFRO) DIV 5 Conference to present on Hub projects and give a historical and contemporary snapshot of the forestry industry in the region. Held in Cairns, the international conference attracted presenters and delegates from all points of the globe to discuss research around various forestry topics including novel forest-timber products, forestry practices, and indigenous-led management of forests. Hulton also recently presented at the Doing Timber Business in Queensland Symposium, hosted by Timber Queensland in Brisbane. The event was a valuable opportunity to garner insights from stakeholders from southern Queensland and visit several key research facilities conducting innovative timber research. |
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Top: Presentation at the IUFRO Div 5 Conference Bottom: Robbie McGavin from the Qld Government's Salisbury R&D Facility providing a research tour |
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SOUTH & CENTRAL QUEENSLAND HIGHLIGHTS |
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Kerry Fullarton Hub Manager South & Central Queensland Forestry Hub |
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Above: The Gympie workshop was well attended |
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Strategic Review Workshop a success in Gympie In May this year, the Hub held a Strategic Review Workshop in Gympie - two years since the initial Marybourough workshop was held to establish the initiative. Well attended by 50 forest and timber industry stakeholders on the day, the workshop was an opportunity to review progress and identify strategies to further improve the industry’s performance. Outcomes from this discussion will be reflected in the upcoming Hub Strategy Report. |
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Hub projects update Two projects were completed in early 2023 - view the technical reports on the Hub website: Three projects are currently underway: Forest & timber industry awareness pilot project Cypress plantation feasibility scoping study Spatial modelling of financially suitable afforestation under different scenarios for timber production and carbon storage with key prospective wood species.
Other projects that are under development with our Hub working groups include: Recognising the carbon in native forest regrowth Review of QDAF commercial assessment methods Improved cypress regrowth management scoping study Cost benefit analysis to evaluate digital platform & micro credentials in plantation softwood sector.
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Stakeholder engagement:
Connecting with our community In April, Kerry attended the Fraser Coast Workforce Solutions Breakfast alongside Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development, Di Farmer. The event brought local businesspeople, industry representatives and the community together to discuss local workforce challenges and solutions. In May, Kerry was again on hand to attend the Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett (RDA WBB) Coastal Connectivity tour to discuss the region’s current digital capability and future infrastructure needs. Other events included meetings for the Regional Forestry Hub Managers and the Grow Gympie – Economic Development Alliance; as well as the Gympie Chamber of Commerce breakfast which brought the business community, educators and high school students together to explore the skills industry need, and how educators can align their programs to help learners gain those attributes and qualifications. |
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Above: Meeting with the Minister for Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development, Di Farmer Below: Connecting with peers |
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Steering Committee and working groups making good progress |
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Our Hub Working Groups have been busy developing materials to support submissions for upcoming projects under the Native Forest Management theme - keep an eye on the Queensland Hubs website for further updates. The Hub Steering Committee welcomed two new members: Leann Wilson from Regional Economic Solutions and Bronson Thomas from the Australian Workers' Union Queensland. The second Steering Committee meeting was held at Wondai in June, and included a tour of the Parkside Group facility. |
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