The Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement Industry Development Programs

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Through the TFCA, the governments committed over $250 million to enhance the protection of Tasmania's forest environment and assist the Tasmanian forest industry adjust to a changes in forest resources. Core to this was the three industry development programs that were available under the TCFA; the Tasmanian Forest Industry Development Program, the Tasmanian Softwood Industry Development Program, and the Tasmanian Country Sawmills Assistance Program.

Tasmanian Forest Industry Development Program

Under the Tasmanian Forest Industry Development Program, the Australian Government has provided $42 million to assist the Tasmanian native timber industry. Specifically, the program contributed financial assistance for 62 projects which have contributed over $160 million of new investment across the harvesting and processing sectors of the native hardwood industry. These projects have improved sawlog utilisation rates, added value to Tasmanian forest resources, developed new products, upgraded harvesting equipment, promoted exports, and supported employment.

Tasmanian Softwood Industry Development Program

Under the Tasmanian Softwood Industry Development Program, the Australian Government has provided $10 million to 16 projects to assist the Tasmanian softwood timber industry to invest in projects worth over $50 million that add value to Tasmanian softwood timber industry. This includes upgrading harvesting equipment, introducing new technology, improving silvicultural management and assisting the softwood industry adjust to an expected reduction in softwood sawlog supply in future years.

Tasmanian Country Sawmills Assistance Program

The Australian Government also committed an additional $4 million under the Tasmanian Country Sawmills Assistance Program to assist country sawmillers adjust to changes in forest resources arising from the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. This program has provided financial assistance for 20 projects worth over $6 million which have improved sawlog utilisation rates, added value to Tasmanian forest resources, developed new products, promoted exports and supported long-term employment.

These programs are now closed.

Each project’s funding deed under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement Industry Development Programs contains clauses that set out the obligations and responsibilities of the grant recipient and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry when the use and/or ownership of an asset changes. The procedures for treatment of assets to be disposed of under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement Industry Development Program provide procedural guidelines for ongoing management in this regard.

An independent audit and evaluation of these programs was conducted in accordance with the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ joint response to the second five-year review of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement. The report was prepared by Ernst & Young and includes six recommendations, all of which have been accepted by the Department.

This report is offered in two formats for accessibility purposes.

Note: This publication was not prepared by the department and may not meet Australian Government accessibility guidelines. If you require an accessible version of the publication, please contact its author.

Freedom of Information

The department received a Freedom of Information Act 1982 request (FOI 2011/12-35) seeking access to documents in relation to Deeds of Agreement made between the Commonwealth and grant recipients under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement from 2005-2007. The applicant has been advised that some of the documentation sought has been released with exemptions.

The information released under the FOI Act is below:

Last reviewed:
05 Apr 2012
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