18 August
2006 - Almost 25 million trees will be planted
on farms across Western Australia by 2008 thanks
to a $64 million project launched today by the
Australian and Western Australian Governments.
Run in partnership by regional
groups and the Forest Products Commission, the
Strategic Tree-Farming initiative is the largest
publicly-funded tree planting scheme in Australia.
It is also the biggest project under the joint
National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
programme.
Australian and Western Australian
Ministers celebrated the launch with communities
and landholders today at a property near Mount
Barker in the State’s south.
Australian Ministers for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter
McGauran, said the initiative would develop new
industries, create jobs and tackle salinity.
“It can be challenging to develop
a fully commercial venture in places with lower
rainfall and sandy soils, and that’s where our
project comes in,” Senator Campbell said.
“Joint funding has already helped
plant six million Maritime Pine, Sandalwood and
Eucalypt seedlings. These hardy trees lower water
tables, reduce salinity and when mature can be
used for a range of products.
“The first phase of planting
involved almost 100 landholders in the Northern
Agricultural, Avon, South West and South Coast
regions, with many more expressing interest in
work ahead.
“This project shows that the
environment can be good for business, and business
can be good for the environment.”
Western Australian Minister
for Agriculture and Food; Forestry, Kim Chance,
said participating farmers received an income
from the use of their land.
“This is a good mix of upfront
payments and annuities for managing the trees,
and profit-sharing for a return on the end products,”
Mr Chance said.
“Trees like Sugar Gum, Sydney
Blue Gum and Sandalwood were chosen for this project
because they have a proven ability to deliver
commercial returns in medium rainfall zones.
“The gums are used for things
like flooring, joinery and furniture, while Sandalwood
is used for oils, perfumes, incense and crafts
through local and export markets. In fact Sandalwood
has been a major export for Western Australia
since the mid 1800s.
“We’re keen to see this project
serve as a model for other States and hope it
will also encourage private sector investment
in sustainable, profitable industries.
“The trees will also provide
long-term benefits over the life of the first
rotation, which could be 30 years or more.
“One of the reasons we’re providing
direct payments is that we recognise crops will
have off-farm advantages like better water quality
and healthier soils.
“Plants like Maritime Pine thrive
in deep-draining sands, which are susceptible
to erosion and often the culprit of high groundwater
recharge. This can affect both farms and the surrounding
environment.”
Western Australian Minister
for the Environment Mark McGowan said planting
in Esperance, for example, was helping protect
the Lake Gore system, which is on the Ramsar list
of internationally significant wetlands.
The ministers congratulated
regional groups on their cooperative approach
and dedication to the project, and wished them
well with the work ahead.
Detail on funding and planting
locations is below. For more information contact
James Dallmeyer on (08) 9475 8882 or 0429 111
487 or visit www.fpc.wa.gov.au. For more information
on the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water
Quality visit www.nrm.gov.au
Marianne McCabe (Senator Campbell)
Russ Neal (Minister McGauran)
Alicia Miriklis (Minister Chance)
Kym Coolhaas (Minister McGowan)
