In November, Mayors, Councillors and CEOs representing Councils with an interest in sustainable forestry from across Australia unanimously agreed to form a National Timber Councils Taskforce. Australian Government Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, strongly encouraged Councillors to form the national group at a breakfast meeting hosted by Timber Towns Victoria in conjunction with the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly.
“I think that such an organisation can bring substantial benefits in terms of a united voice, and it will get Local Government voices heard at a national level,” the Minister said.
National plantation industry organisations, Australian Forest Growers and A3P – the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council, were also represented at the meeting. It was chaired by President of Timber Towns Victoria and Mayor of Wellington Shire in Victoria, Councillor Malcolm Hole.
Councillor Hole agreed that Local Governments working collectively will have a stronger voice to work with State and Federal Governments.
“This taskforce will also allow us to share information about matters of common interest relating to sustainable forestry, such as strategic funding of roads,” he said.
Timber Towns Victoria will support the formation of the taskforce, along with ALGA and Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision.
An initial taskforce development group, comprising Local Government representatives from each State is now being formed to guide the formation. A proposal detailing this formation will be sent out to Mayors of all potentially interested Councils and State Local Government Associations early this year. Along with the taskforce proposal, the breakfast meeting also saw the launch of a new website that brings together scientific and planning information about forestry plantations. www.PlanningPlantations.com.au is for use by Councillors, Local Government officers and people working within the plantation sector. It brings together a range of research based information about the social, economic and environmental impacts of plantations in rural landscapes. The website also contains a set of downloadable maps showing plantation areas by Local Government area.
For further information on the taskforce or the website, email Angela Shepherd, ALGA Assistant Director Environment Policy, at Angela.Shepherd@alga.asn.au
