Victoria
Coalition promises to revive Victorian native timber industry
The Victorian Coalition has pledged to revive the native timber industry by doubling planned burns and salvage harvesting for sawmills.
The Victorian Coalition has pledged to revive the state's native timber industry by doubling planned burns and allowing sawmills to process salvaged wood. The policy, announced as part of a new state election commitment, aims to manage forest fuel loads while supporting regional forestry communities.
According to a wire report, the opposition's plan focuses on the collection and processing of forest fuel loads. Under the proposed policy, wood cleared during fire mitigation activities would be directed to local sawmills rather than being left on the forest floor or burnt as waste.
By doubling the target for planned burns, the Coalition aims to reduce the risk of severe bushfires in Victoria's vast forested areas. At the same time, the opposition argues that salvage logging of these fuel loads will provide a vital lifeline to the state's native timber sector, which has faced phase-outs and closures under the current government.
The policy represents a significant shift in forest management strategy, linking bushfire prevention directly with industrial timber production. However, exact details on how the logistics of the salvage operations will be funded, which specific regions will be prioritised, and how environmental protections will be maintained under the doubled burn targets have not yet been fully detailed.
The announcement is expected to draw strong reactions from both timber industry advocates, who have long campaigned for greater resource security, and environmental organisations concerned about the impacts of increased forest clearing.
Observers will be watching closely to see how the state government responds to the opposition's forestry and fire management platform in the lead-up to the election.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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