NSW timber figures show 84% sawlog on North Coast
Timber NSW has challenged former treasury head Ken Henry’s claim that 90% of NSW native timber ends up as chip and firewood. The industry body says the claim does not match sales data from the NSW North Coast.
According to Timber NSW chief executive Maree McCaskill, “On the NSW North Coast, sawlog accounts for 84% of sales by volume.” Timber NSW used that figure to reject Henry’s 90% claim.
Northern NSW also has no woodchip facility, according to Timber NSW. The group says that weakens the claim that most native timber goes to woodchip.
McCaskill said, “There is no woodchip facility in northern NSW and firewood is the lowest value use of timber with the exception of garden mulch. No business will turn quality sawlogs into firewood.”
Timber NSW also points to new products in the sector. The group says companies are developing structural laminates and combining timber with hemp.
However, Timber NSW says supply limits have hit many businesses. It blames political decisions that further constrained timber supply while consumer demand increased.
NSW forest and economy figures
Timber NSW says 90% of publicly owned forests in NSW are already in national parks and conservation reserves. The group puts that area at nearly 8 million hectares.
Meanwhile, Timber NSW says state forests cost less than a tenth of the price of managing national parks. It also says state forests support an industry that adds $1.1 billion to the NSW economy each year.
More than half of all state forests, or about 1 million hectares, are managed exclusively for environmental conservation. Timber NSW says that shows state forests have both production and conservation roles.
McCaskill also criticised Australia’s reliance on imported hardwood. She pointed to imported merbau, which the briefing describes as a listed threatened species.
Timber NSW also says Australian paper-making businesses have been driven out of business. The group says even paper bags sold at Woolworths supermarkets now have to be imported.
