The Government of South Australia has committed $15 million over 10 years to fund the new South Australian Forestry Centre of Excellence – the first of its kind in the state.
The centre will be based at Mount Gambier in the Green Triangle, a region with a forestry industry that goes back for generations. The industry’s success is partly a result of continued investment in education and training, and a commitment to working collaboratively and sharing knowledge.
The Green Triangle region has delivered some of Australia’s leading innovations in plantation products and practices. The new centre aims to maximise this wealth of local expertise, skills and knowledge.
It will be housed at the existing University of South Australia (UniSA) and TAFE precinct in Mount Gambier, which is also home to the National Institute of Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI), the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH), Tree Breeding Australia and the Logging Investigation and Training Association (LITA Training).
Additional funding is expected to come from UniSA, and as a result of applications and submissions to FWPA and Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI).
Strategic plan
The centre’s strategic plan was finalised last year in consultation with key industry stakeholders. It is designed to prioritise investment in the development of new innovations and opportunities to boost the region’s economic outcomes, encourage increased and diversified market demand for wood fibre, address barriers to growth, and enhance global competitiveness.
You can view the full strategic plan by clicking here.
Moving forward
The next step is to finalise a strategic collaboration agreement between UniSA, the South Australian State Government and industry, which is expected during the next couple of months. Once established, a Transitional Board will commence the global search to recruit a Director and a number of other key personnel.
“The centre will have the advantage of being embedded in an area synonymous with and surrounded by the forestry industry, so there are opportunities for fast and easy knowledge transfer between academia and the sector,” UniSA General Manager Forest Research Jim O’Hehir said.
“This collaboration between industry and academia will support efficiencies, productivity and profitability, as well as enhancing workforce capability and increasing employment opportunities.”
The Forestry Centre of Excellence will conduct research relating to all aspects of the forestry supply chain including plantation management, harvesting, haulage and timber processing. It will also provide evidence-based education and training to industry in support of continuous improvements in safety, efficiency and productivity across the supply chain.
“The Government of South Australia recognises the important and significant role forestry-related industries play in contributing to the state’s economy,” Director Forest Industries with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions Rob Robinson said.
“That’s why we’re so committed to creating this long-term forestry research and development capability at Mount Gambier. The centre’s activities will ensure maximum value is extracted from our fibre resources, reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, and create new and more diverse economic activity.”
International expertise
Austrian wood product engineer Professor Rupert Wimmer is set to complete a Visiting Research Fellowship at UniSA, part of which will see him help design the centre’s research program. This will be done in collaboration with industry to ensure their research priorities are met and the most useful outcomes are generated.
“We are delighted to welcome Rupert to Australia, and that he has agreed to help develop this program,” Mr O’Hehir said.
“With Rupert’s expert guidance we can ensure a research program that focuses on maximising the use of mass timber in construction, with advantages including minimising timber waste, overcoming issues associated with labour shortages, cutting costs, and enabling a speedier build … not to mention the many environmental benefits.”
A specialist precinct for forestry education and training
The establishment of the centre is part of the State Government’s broader vision to create the Mount Gambier Education and Training Precinct.
It plans to invest more than $59 million in research, education and training in the Limestone Coast area, including the $15 million commitment to establish the new Forestry Centre of Excellence, as well as $39 million for the establishment of a new Technical College, and a $5 million upgrade of the TAFE South Australia campus.
“This investment is of strategic importance in meeting the education and training needs of industry and the community, which is critical to the economic development of the Green Triangle,” Mr Robinson said.
