Tasmanians have to challenge this ridiculous notion there is no alternative for the Tasmanian forestry industry other than just locking up forests, according to Coalition Forestry spokesman Senator Richard Colbeck. Source: Timberbiz
“That is absolute rot and part of the solution is right under their noses,” Senator Colbeck said after a visit to the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW).
“The future for timber in Tasmania and nationally is in smart technologies and materials, and high-end, high-value products.”
CSAW operates out of the School of Architecture and Design at the University’s Newnham campus in Launceston. It houses nationally recognised researchers, laboratories, test buildings, and advanced design and fabrication tools.
“Timber is the construction material of the next century. You can build faster, cheaper and with a far lower carbon footprint than other traditional materials such as metal and concrete.”
Senator Colbeck said it was vital to get policy and industry settings right to encourage investment in the sort of technologies and tools on display at the CSAW.
“There is a real plan for the future of forestry in Tasmania. The Coalition has been articulating it for months, it’s just some people don’t want to listen.
“We’ve said over and over again that a Coalition Government will not recognise any of the reserves created from this sham IGA. We’d be working to build confidence knowing there is a bright future for the forest and timber sectors.”
