Forests NSW Greg Lavelle performing basal area sweeps at Wyndham-Chapman Joint Venture near Dorrigo.  Photo by Nick Westman

Hardwood plantations in the north of the state are coming of age, according to Forests NSW Northern Region planning manager Nick Westman.

Nick said approximately 1000 hectares of eucalypt planted on ex-pastureland would be thinned for pulpwood from plantations in the Dorrigo, Urbenville, Casino and Tweed areas in 2008-09.

The trees are 13 to 15 years of age and were established as part of theUpper North East and Lower North East Regional Forest Agreements. 

Nick said it was very exciting because thinning was the first step to producing high-quality sawlogs.
“Thinning gives the remaining trees the opportunity to reach their full potential, and Forests NSW management regime is aimed at growing as much sawlog as possible.

“The real bonus of this thinning operation is the prospect of providing high quality sawlogs for the north coast sawmilling industry,” Nick said.

The initial customer for the pulpwood is Queensland Commodity Exports.

Nick said it was also very pleasing for staff involved in the initial planting to see thinning at last underway.
“Many of these people are still with Forests NSW and it is great for them to see their hard work coming to fruition,” he said.

Forests NSW researchers are also conducting wood quality tests on these plantations, which will improve market prospects in the future.

Forests NSW has approximately 43 000 hectares of plantation eucalypt in the north of the state, ranging from plantation near Newcastle through to the Queensland border.

The four main species of plantation eucalypt grown are Dunn’s white gum, blackbutt, flooded gum and spotted gum.

“Private Managed Investment Scheme companies such as Forest Enterprises Australia have a similar size resource with the same species mix, so there is a significant hardwood estate forming on the north coast,” Nick said.

This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.