What role will plantations play in rural communities?
Many of the smaller rural communities have witnessed a decline in population. There have been reasons for this decline being directly related to the economic, social and environmental issues facing rural Western Australia. See the report Socio-economic impacts of plantation forestry in the Great Southern Region 2004 - www.daff.gov.au
- Decrease in native forest logging closing family owned businesses i.e. milling
- Amalgamation of farming properties i.e. purchased by neighbouring landowners
- Mechanization of farming technology which depletes the service industries located in townships
- Managing the ebb and flow of rural commodity prices
- Decrease in viable farming land due to land degradation
- Rural youth choosing not to return to the family farm
The plantation industry has contributed to depopulation where whole farms have been purchased and the farmhouses left vacant or removed. There are many cases however, where farm houses have either been rented, used by plantation employees or the landowner in retirement, has been employed as a plantation caretaker. Depopulation in rural areas affects the long term viability of rural communities however, the factors above need to be taken into account prior to placing the onus on the plantation industry. Some local businesses reliant on servicing farm commodities may decline or even close, and those who in the past have supported local organisations such as the fire brigade, schools, churches or social clubs leave the district. In response, some people feeling the isolation follow. Although plantations are not the cause, there is no denying that in some instances they have had an impact.
Will the forestry industry assist small communities?
Now that plantation harvesting is well underway, job opportunities and both small and large businesses in rural towns have increased. Mt Barker, which is central to the resource, has benefited with the establishment and expansion of harvesting companies and haulage contractors, bringing the families of trained employees to the town and thus children attending the local schools. The activity associated with harvesting has improved turnover for many local businesses including fuel suppliers, hospitality service businesses, supermarkets, video, newsagents and clothing stores.
Plantation forestry and integrated tree farming, has the potential to assist small communities by improving the viability of farms and spreading the commodity risk. In high rainfall areas, plantation companies are prepared to pay annuities or leases and meet the costs of establishing trees integrated into farming systems. However, these investments normally have demanding criteria in terms of land suitability and minimum areas. Some companies are planting native timbers as buffers to replace lost resource due to early clearing for agriculture and also add to the scenic impression mixed species of trees present on the landscape. Plantation related industries are exploring opportunities with the district witnessing new industries including timber preservative treatment, an export pelletising plant and investigating renewable energy reliant on biomass, engineered strand lumber products and woodcrafts.
The plantaiton industry has also allowed for innovation in technology with the sale of new equipment to increase productivity in the industry. Australian Allwood Coppicing and Pruning Services (AACPS) has developed a coppicing and roppicing (second rotation coppice) machine to harvest the dense foliage out of a 2 year old second rotation Blue Gum crop. Leaders are trimmed to one stem from 2 years' growth. In June 2009 ACCPS sold 2 new headers to a company in New Zealand.
There is more development of integrated forestry in the drier areas but the returns are less attractive and less proven for the longer term. Ultimately, there is potential for local processing to establish in rural towns near to the resource base as transport costs are relatively high. Timber 2020 is undergoing a consultancy in 2009 to investigate forestry development in the 350 - 550mm rainfall zone in relation to encouraging local shires to build on the opportunities for value adding.
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