What impact will plantations have on 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 and environmental issues facing rural Western Australia:
- Decrease in native forest logging
- Amalgamation of farming properties in order to maintain viability.
- Mechanization of farming technology.
- Decline in some farming commodities and town services.
Decrease in viable farming land due to land degradation - salinity, soil erosion, lack of shelter for stock
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 where houses have either been rented or taken up by plantation employees, cumulatively, theses issues affect the long term viability of the community. Local businesses reliant on servicing farming 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 has commenced, job opportunities and both small and large businesses in rural towns have increased. Mt Barker, which is close 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, and grocery and clothing stores .
Plantation forestry in the form of farm forestry or integrated tree farming, has the potential to assist small communities by improving the viability of farms. In high rainfall areas, plantation companies are prepared to pay annuities 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. Plantation related industries are exploring opportunities with the district witnessing new industries as timber preservative treatment and woodcrafts.
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 2003 to investigate a forestry development plan for the 400 - 550mm rainfall zone.
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