Opened at the start of December, the Victorian Government’s Community Forestry Support Package aims to provide more support for the industry in the transition away from native timber harvesting.
The new package allows Forest Produce Licensees and firewood operators to access Timber Sales Agreements compensation to cover the impact of undersupply since November 2022, as well as compensating operators for plant and equipment no longer required and reimburse businesses in full for worker redundancy payments.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence said the Community Forestry Support Package provides community foresters with clear options and pathways to make decisions about their future and transition out of the native timber industry.
“We will continue to support community foresters so that they make the right decisions for their businesses and their workers,” she said.
The Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program will also continue to support industry workers, including seed collectors and chip-truck drivers, through Worker Support Payments, including redundancy top-ups and a $3,000 one-off hardship payment.
Businesses may choose to exit the industry immediately from 1 January 2024 or can nominate a date up to 30 June 2024 and continue working until then.
The supply of native timber has been heavily reduced since the end of 2022, with stop-work orders issued by state logging company VicForests following a number of Supreme Court rulings prior to the announcement that the end of native timber harvesting was to be brought forward, made by the Victorian Government in May this year.
Updates to Forest Produce Licenses will also be made in the next six months to allow for limited and very small-scale felling for niche industries such as instrument making.
“Since the Victorian Forestry Plan was first announced in 2019, we have made sure small amounts of supply is available for niche products such as instrument-making,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.
Any businesses that are not eligible for the Community Forestry Support Package, but are heavily dependent on the native timber industry, will be able to access plant and equipment compensation and reimbursement in full for worker redundancies through the Forestry Business Support Package due to open by the end of the year.
Accessing the Community Forestry Support Package now does not prevent businesses from undertaking any future community forestry activities.
The Victorian Government has also announced that they will be offering VicForests harvest contractors secure five-year Forest and Fire Management Services Agreements, starting from 1 July 2024, to carry out bushfire risk reduction works for Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic).
“We have listened to the timber industry – and this support provides certainty of work for harvest contractors, their families, communities and local businesses for the next five years,” said Mr Dimopolous.
“Our new contracts for forest contractors will help to reduce Victoria bushfire risk and ensure our communities and landscapes are better protected.”
Harvest and Haulage contractors will also be able to undertake forest and fire management works through three seasonal work packages until 30 June 2024. A Harvest and Haulage Support Package has also been released, which includes compensation for equipment, loss of income and will reimburse businesses in full for worker statutory redundancy payments.
“The Forest and Fire Management Services Agreements and the Harvest and Haulage Support Package provide contractors with a clear pathway into new work or out of the industry,” said Ms Spence.
For more information on how to get local support, please visit vic.gov.au/forestry or contact the Forestry Transition Hotline on 1800 318 182.
To register for the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program call 1800 177 001 or visit forestworks.com.au.
