How do I invest in plantation and farm forestry in the Great Southern region of Western Australia?

The easiest way to invest in plantation forestry is to invest in one of the managed investment schemes offered by the members of Timber 2020. While most of these companies offer investment in Blue Gums for the pulpwood market, there are an increasing number of opportunities to invest in other species and those with an end value higher than woodchips, targeting high value sawlogs. Timber 2020 members also manage investment schemes in olives, oil mallees, winegrapes and sandalwood.

Are there opportunities to invest in processing forest products?

There are an increasing number of Growers seeking buyers for their Blue Gum pulpwood resource and/or investors interested in processing the timber locally. The current uncommitted resource will increase to approximately 2 million cubic metres per annum from around 2008. Opportunities for industrial development are being seriously sought. In the revised URS pulpmill study completed for the Office of Major Projects in 2002, Plantagenet is suggested as the most cost effective region to site a kraft pulpmill. Investment is being sought for an Engineered Strand Lumber Plant on Mirambeena Industrial Park at at Albany and there has been much interest in the waste biomass for a Renewable Energy plant to produce electricity. Initial enquiries may be directed to Timber 2020, the Dept of Resources Development or the Great Southern Development Commission.

Several reports have been prepared which outline the opportunities for forest products industries in the region. Timber 2020 commissioned the 'Great Southern Wood Processing Industry Capability Study' revised in 2003 to provide an outline of the regional resources and infrastructure in readiness for industrial development in the region.