Forests NSW plants four million pines in South West Slopes

An estimated four million pine seedlings are being planted by Forests NSW in the south west slopes region of the State around Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba.

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said 2500 hectares of pine was being replanted in previously harvested plantations as well as in areas damaged by the Billo Road fire in December.

An additional 1500 hectares is being replanted in areas affected by last year’s drought.

"This year’s pine planting program is essential to ensure we have a sustainable and well managed State-owned plantation estate to supply the softwood processing industries, which are major economic drivers in a number of areas of regional NSW," Minister Macdonald said.

"We will need good rainfall during the spring months to ensure the trees establish well and thrive.

"The bulk of seedlings and cuttings used are supplied from Forests NSW Blowering Nursery near Tumut.

"Additional seedlings have also been raised at Forests NSW nurseries at Narrandera and Grafton. These nurseries have grown the seedlings as containerised stock, which enabled late sowing of the seed following the Billo Road fire."

Minister Macdonald said that the growth of softwood processing industries, established to take advantage of the Forests NSW plantation resource, was now attracting significant private investment in plantation development.

He said private forestry managers, including Willmott Forests and Gunns are also establishing more than 3000 hectares of new plantation in the region.

"The ongoing development of private plantings will facilitate the future expansion of local processing industries which underpin the regional economy," Minister Macdonald said.

Forests NSW manages about 90,000 hectares of pine plantation in the South West Slopes region, which contribute an estimated $1 billion to the regional economy every year.

The plantation management and timber processing activities also support some 2000 local jobs including approximately 100 contract employees hired by Forests NSW during the planting season.

Timber grown in the South West Slopes supplies major customers in the region including pulp and paper producers Norske Skog and Visy and sawmillers Weyerhaeuser and Hyne Timber.