Progress on the implementation of the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement 1 July 2009 - 30 June 2010

3

The Parties to fully implement the actions recommended in the Report of the Inquiry on the Progress with Implementation of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (2002), subject to the exception outlined in clause 5.

No date

The recommended actions have either been fully implemented or are continuing to be implemented. A detailed report on each action was provided as part of the Second Five Yearly Review undertaken in 2007.
The TCFA has superseded some of the recommended actions in this Report.

5

Recovery Plans will continue to be the mechanism for compliance with the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

No date

The Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments have drafted 11 new recovery plans (5 of these are multi-species plans) for Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed species associated with Tasmanian forests. As at 30 June 2010, these plans were progressing through public comment processes ahead of formal endorsement. Public information relating to the status of these plans is available on the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website.
Recovery plans for listed threatened species and ecological communities that have been made or adopted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 can also be found on the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website. For further information.

6

The Parties to protect one million hectares of old growth forest – 977,000 hectares on public land.
A minimum of 25,000 hectares will be protected on private land by the Commonwealth to add to the 5,000 hectares already protected under the RFA Private Forest Reserves Program.

No date

The commitment target for public land has been reached.
The area of RFA old growth forest protected in formal and informal reserves on public land at 30 June 2010 was 980,700 hectares, an increase of 3,700 hectares from June 2009.
See clause 21 for progress on protecting old growth forest on private land.

7

The Parties to add approximately 141,000 hectares of public land to the CAR Reserve System.

June 2006

The commitment target has been reached.
However, the addition of approximately 3 500 hectares of Hydro Tasmania vested land is yet to be finalised (see clause 15).

8

The Parties agree that all additional protected areas on public land will remain available for mineral exploration and mining under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 in accordance with clause 79 of the RFA and subject to any requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.
All of the new reserves on public land are available for mineral exploration and mining under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995.

9

The State to finalise the boundaries of the new reserves, with the exception of Commonwealth owned land, at a scale of 1:25,000.

June 2006

Completed in 2005‑06.

10

The State to submit plans of new Formal Reserves to Parliament for approval.

June 2006

Completed in 2005‑06.

11

The State to finalise informal reserve boundaries and identify on Management Decision Classification maps and manage these areas for protection of CAR values, subject to field verification of the existence and extent of those values.

June 2006

Completed in 2005‑06.

12

The State to progressively amend Forest Management Plans to include new Formal and Informal reserves.

June 2008

Completed in 2008‑09.

13

The Commonwealth to protect approximately 500 hectares of Commonwealth owned land as informal reserves. These reserves will be included in new or revised management plans prepared with public participation.

30 June 2009

The Commonwealth Government Department of Defence has incorporated this additional area into environmental management planning systems for the Buckland Military Training Area. The plans have been developed incorporating information from key stakeholders.  This was done in conjunction with the Tasmanian Government.
The Department of Defence management of these areas is addressed through existing ongoing frameworks including the Department’s Tasmanian Environmental Management System, Fire Management Plans and other subsidiary plans, Environmental Sections of Range Standing Orders, and the Defence Environmental Clearance Certificate processes.

14

The State to protect 3 900 hectares of old growth forest on unallocated Crown land pending completion of the Crown Land Assessment and Classification Project.

No date

All identified areas of old growth forest on unallocated Crown land are being managed for protection pending implementation of the outcomes of the Crown Land Assessment and Classification (CLAC) project.
The CLAC assessment has been completed with more than 107,000 hectares of unallocated Crown land and Public Reserves included in nearly 6 000 separate parcels having been assessed. Of this, some
78 600 hectares have been recommended for reservation under the Nature Conservation Act 2002 and a further 14 200 hectares recommended to be reserved (or retained) as Public Reserves under the Crown Lands Act 1976. The Tasmanian Government has accepted the recommendations of the CLAC project and is further considering the issues related to tenure and management arrangements arising from the recommendations.
The Tasmanian Government will seek to complete implementation of this commitment during 2010‑11.

15

The State to protect 3 500 hectares of old growth forest on Hydro Tasmania vested land pending a review of Hydro Tasmania’s infrastructure management needs. Old growth forest on land not required by Hydro Tasmania to be protected.

Post Hydro review

Hydro Tasmania has protected all identified areas of old growth forest on Crown land vested to Hydro Tasmania pending the Hydro Tasmania’s consideration of the recommendations of the review of Hydro Tasmania’s land requirements, which has been completed. Boundaries of areas to be divested have been identified and procedures for the inclusion of these areas into the CAR reserve system have been progressed by the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and Forestry Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Government will seek to complete implementation of this commitment during 2010‑11.

15

Hydro Tasmania to covenant
1 300 hectares of sub-alpine forest on its freehold land.

No date

Discussions have continued between Hydro Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment with a view to covenanting the identified areas under the Nature Conservation Act 2002.Hydro Tasmania is finalising draft plans and developing covenants in consultation with the Department of Primary Industries and Water.
The Tasmanian Government will seek to complete implementation of this commitment during 2010‑11.

16

The Parties agree that any changes to those elements of the CAR Reserve System in Informal Reserves:
- will only occur in accordance with the RFA; and
- will maintain the level of protection of identified values at the regional scale; and
- that information on all such changes will be publicly available.

Ongoing

These requirements are being applied to the new Informal Reserves.
The processes and changes were audited as part of the Second Five Yearly RFA Review process undertaken in 2007.

17

The State to maintain records of all changes to informal reserves and net impact on CAR reserve values changes will be recorded.

Ongoing and reported as part of five yearly RFA reviews

Forestry Tasmania continues to maintain records of all changes to Informal Reserves on State Forest and CAR values within changed areas. Information on changes was reported as part of the Second Five Yearly RFA Review process undertaken in 2007.

18

The State to provide digital data of new formal and informal reserves to the Commonwealth.

June 2006

Completed in 2005‑06.

19

The Parties to ensure access to data continues to be provided in accordance with clause 90 and Attachment 14 of the RFA.

Ongoing

Data access arrangements have been maintained.
Boundaries of all Formal Reserves and Informal Reserves are publicly available data in the Tasmanian Land Information System (LIST).
For further information.

20

The Parties to co-operate to improve the protection of Old Growth forest on private land, particularly for forest communities that complement the new reserves on public land.

Ongoing

The Tasmanian Government has continued to cooperate with the Commonwealth in the implementation of the Commonwealth’s Forest Conservation Fund (FCF) program.
See response to clauses 23 and 24 for progress on the FCF program.

21
(part 1)

The Commonwealth to establish, administer and fund a new market-based program [the Forest Conservation Program (FCF)] to protect and manage up to 45,600 hectares of forested private land, additional to that secured under the Private Forest Reserve Program, targeting old growth forest and under reserved communities.

Ongoing

The Commonwealth has implemented the FCF program and further details regarding outcomes are at clauses 23 and 24.
For further information.

21
(part 2)

The program will include a component, capped at $3.6 million, to protect up to 2400 hectares of forested land in the Mole Creek area.

30 June 2008

Completed in 2007-08.

23

The Parties to jointly develop and manage the Forest Conservation Fund program through a steering committee and consult with Tasmanian private forest owner representatives on design and implementation.

Ongoing

A joint Steering Committee was formed to manage the FCF program. An Advisory Group, with representatives of key stakeholders, met on several occasions throughout the design and implementation of the program.
The FCF Program developed a competitive tender process within which landowners applied for funding for the covenanting of their forested land. On-ground implementation occurred through a service provider team based in Hobart that employed a network of conservation advisors.
The FCF Program concluded on 30 June 2009. Registration of covenants on titles and final payments to landowners was finalised by December 2010. (Also refer to Clause 25).
Total funding approved for covenants and land purchases under the FCF program (including Mole Creek under Clause 21, part 2) was at around $43 million for 28 023 hectares of under-reserved forest types, of which 11 039 hectares was classified as old growth forest.
The FCF Revolving Fund was established in 2007-08. In 2008-09 the Revolving Fund was extended for an additional 5 years to 2013-14. Through this mechanism, forested land is purchased, placed under covenant and revolved for sale on the open market.

24

The Parties to develop a strategic plan under which the Forest Conservation Fund will be administered.

September 2005

Completed in 2005‑06.

25

The State will establish conservation covenants on land titles under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002 on lands protected under the Forest Conservation Fund (including the Mole Creek area). The Commonwealth to reimburse the State all costs associated with covenanting the land.

Ongoing

The Forest Conservation Fund program officially concluded on 30 June 2009, however the then Prime Minister approved the extension of the program to December 2010 to allow the State government to complete the required covenanting process under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002.
The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment continued processing and executing conservation covenants in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the Commonwealth.
By 30 December 2010, 137 covenants were registered on land titles.

26

The State to provide monitoring and management support services to owners of covenanted land.

Ongoing

The Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment have agreed on the arrangements for providing monitoring and support services.
The Tasmanian Government, through the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, has commenced providing these services and is contacting owners as the properties are covenanted.

26

The Commonwealth to provide $5.5 million to the State for ongoing monitoring and management support services to owners of covenanted land.

30 June 2006

Completed in 2005‑06.

27

The Parties agree that the Private Forest Reserves Program will continue until 30 June 2006, at which time the Program will cease.

30 June 2006

Completed in 2008‑09.

28

The Parties agree to negotiate a new financial agreement for the use of the remaining Private Forest Reserves Program NHT funds held by the State.

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.

28

The State to transfer any remaining Private Forest Reserves Program NHT funds to the Forest Conservation Fund program.

30 June 2006

Completed in 2007‑08.

29

The State to transfer any remaining Private Forest Reserves Program State Trust Fund funds, at 30 June 2006, to a State Private Property Vegetation Conservation program.

30 June 2006

Completed in 2007‑08.

30

The Parties to jointly fund a package of forest management and operations, industry development and research and development activities for reducing clearfelling of old growth forest on State forest.

2010

The funding for the Alternatives to Clearfelling research has been completed this year. The development of the program has enabled substantial progress towards reduced clearfelling in oldgrowth forests. The $2 million Alternatives to Clearfelling research and development program was funded by the Commonwealth and administered by Forestry Tasmania and ongoing work has been incorporated into Forestry Tasmania business activities.
The main alternative for tall, wet oldgrowth forests has been the development of variable retention silviculture as described in the Variable Retention Manual.
In 2009‑10, 14 variable retention coupes were established. Operational outcomes for all regenerated coupes were recorded.
Since the inception of the TCFA, up until 30 June 2010, 38 coupes, totalling 1 400 hectares, have been established using the variable retention technique.
Variable retention is now proven for use in tall, wet oldgrowth forests. harvesting of around
1 000 hectares by variable retention silviculture is planned for 2010‑11 in order to meet the TCFA target to achieve non-clearfell silviculture in a minimum of 80 per cent of the annual oldgrowth harvest area from the 2010‑11 reporting year.

31

The State to publicly report the area of public old growth harvested by silviculture technique each year.

Annually

The area of old growth harvested on public land for the reporting year is detailed in the Stewardship Report 2010 (page 16).
The area of old growth harvested on State forest in 2009‑10 was 1 320 hectares, of which 580 hectares (44 per cent) was clearfelled.
For further information

32

The State to review progress in achieving safety, regeneration and log supply objectives through the new old growth forest silviculture.

2007

Completed in 2008-09.

33

The Parties agree that, further to clauses 75 to 77 of the RFA, further Intensive Forest Management will be used to mitigate the impact of the new reserves and the reduction in use of clearfelling in old growth forest.

Ongoing

See report on clause 34.

34

The State to deliver an integrated program of existing plantation productivity improvement, new plantation establishment and enhanced native forest thinning designed to maintain RFA targets for sustainable sawlog and veneer supplies to industry from State Forests.

2010

During 2009-10 the State achieved the following:

• 1 308 hectares of new plantation established
• 515 hectares of land prepared for planting in Spring 2010
• 2 815 hectares of existing eucalypt plantation pruned
• 6 775 hectares of existing eucalypt plantation fertilised
• 872 hectares of native forest regrowth thinned

36

The State to deliver management and planning of new reserves on public land.

Ongoing

All new reserves on public land are being managed by Forestry Tasmania or the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment as part of their larger land estate and consistent with relevant reserve management objectives and the Tasmanian Reserve Management Code of Practice 2003.

37

The Parties agree that the management arrangements for new reserves in north west Tasmania will involve consultation with Aboriginal and other communities to maintain access for traditional land uses and to maintain cultural links and uses, consistent with conservation values.

Ongoing

The Cradle Coast Authority has convened a stakeholder advisory group to provide a forum for information sharing. The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment and Forestry Tasmania are represented on this group.
Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources have engaged the community in Northwest Tasmania in relation to planned tourism developments based on new TCFA reserves.

38

The State to phase out the use of 1080 on State Forest.

December 2005

Completed in 2005‑06.
The use of 1080 on State forests ceased from 31 December 2005.

39

The Parties to work collaboratively on a joint program to accelerate research into and implementation of alternatives to 1080 for browsing animal control on private forest and agricultural lands.
The Commonwealth to provide $4 million in a research, field testing and demonstration program of alternative options for private landholders and work with the State to continue to reduce usage of 1080 on private lands.

30 June 2007

The agreed Operating Plan for the program has continued to be implemented. The Operating Plan sets out the agreed objectives, outputs, governance, reporting, communications strategy and milestones for the program.
Over the last four years the Alternatives to 1080 Program has committed over $4 million to a number of research and extension projects ranging from investigations into the potential for alternative humane toxins through to integrated non-lethal techniques for reducing browsing damage in plantations.
The program is now concluding, final grant reports are being received and final payments are being made. A final summary report is being drafted for delivery in 2011.
Communication has been a key part of this Program, and as well as the regular newsletter and the annual workshop which had over 80 attendees, the Program had a major presence at Agfest 2010 in Carrick, was a regular contributor to ABC’s Landline, and has participated or hosted several workshops and public forums over the year to keep stakeholders aware of the Program’s work. The Program has delivered several practical and on ground outcomes with the most notable being the release of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research’s Wallaby Proof Fencing Guide launched in 2009.

For further information. The knowledge generated from the Alternatives to 1080 Program is expected to be the springboard from which the State Government, through the Wildlife Management Branch of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment, will continue to work towards the continued reduction in usage of 1080 for browsing animal control in the State. This will happen whilst ensuring that Tasmanian producers have a range of viable options to protect their crops from wildlife damage.
For further information on research and other projects funded under this program, see website.

41

The State to develop a pilot wallaby management plan for a forested area on Tasmania’s mainland as a priority.

ASAP

Given the complexity of the proposed wallaby trade management plan, initial attention has been given to the development of a wildlife trade management plan for possums, which will be used to inform the wallaby trade management plan.
A copy of the approved possum wildlife trade management plan is available on the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities website

42

The Commonwealth to progress the regulatory process for the wallaby management plans for Flinders and King Islands and the proposed mainland area referred to in clause 41 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Ongoing

Wallaby Management Plans for Flinders and King Islands were approved by the Commonwealth in 2005. Approval of the Flinders and King Island wallaby management plans expired on 30 June 2010.
The Tasmanian Government has not sought further approval.
See Clause 41.

44

The State to deliver low-impact access roading to and management of special timber management units on State forest for selective harvesting and access to leatherwood apiary sites to maintain sustainable supplies of leatherwood honey.

2007

Completed in 2006‑07.
A total of 72 kilometres of roads were built over three years at a total cost of $3 million.

45

The State to revise the Permanent Forest Estate Policy so that:

• 95 per cent of the 1996 area of native forest will be retained
• broad scale clearing and conversion of native forest on public land will be phased out by 2010
• broad scale clearing and conversion of native forest on private land will be phased out by 2015; and
• assessment criteria for regulating forest clearing and conversion ensure regional biodiversity and water quality values will be protected and salinity objectives met.

November 2005

Completed in 2005‑06.
The Tasmanian Government revised the Permanent Forest Estate Policy (PFEP) to include the agreed policy provisions. It was publicly released on 14 November 2005.
The PFEP was further revised in February 2007 to incorporate implementation guidelines.
In December 2009, the PFEP was again revised and released by the Minister for Energy and Resources. The revised PFEP provides a 40 hectare limit to the area of native forest that can be cleared and converted on any property until 2015, when all broadscale clearing will end.
For further information.

46

The State will design the approach outlined in clause 45 in consultation with the Commonwealth and implement the approach, including the public release of the revised Permanent Forest Estate Policy.

November 2005

Completed in 2005‑06.
The implementation guidelines contained in the February 2007 version of the PFEP were developed by the Tasmanian Government in consultation with the Commonwealth Government.

47

Controls on private forest clearing and plantation conversion will not constrain private forest owners from undertaking sustainable commercial harvesting and regeneration of native forests and other land uses on their land that maintain the native forest cover.

Ongoing

The PFEP specifically provides that sustainable commercial harvesting and regeneration of native forests and other land uses that maintain the native forest cover are not constrained by the policy.

48

The State to introduce new statutory mechanisms to Parliament to prevent clearing and conversion of threatened non-forest vegetation communities on public and private land and use best endeavours to secure the enactment of the proposals.

December 2005

Completed in 2006-07.

48

The Parties to amend the 2003 Natural Heritage Trust 2 Bilateral Agreement consistent with this Clause.

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.

53

The Parties agree to jointly manage a program to facilitate industry retooling and investment in new plant and technology with the aim to maximise recovery of forest products from use of regrowth, plantation and other changes in the resource mix.

30 June 2008

Completed in 2008-09.

54

The Parties to consult with industry to determine priority areas for funding [of the program in clause 53].

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.

55

The Parties to provide assistance to country sawmillers and to special species timber mills significantly affected by the new agreed reserves in north-west Tasmania.

30 June 2007

Completed in 2008-09.

56

The Parties to provide assistance for improved marketing, recovery and value adding for special species timbers.

No date

Forestry Tasmania released the Special Timbers Strategy in February 2010. The strategy sets out three key objectives: sustaining the resource; maximising value recovery; and promoting Tasmania’s special timbers to the world.
Fine Timbers Tasmania a not-for-profit organisation promoting chain of custody certification to a wide range of Tasmanian businesses and continues to increase customer awareness of timber legally sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Island Specialty Timbers Tasmania is an enterprise of Forestry Tasmania and commenced operations at Geeveston, continued to increase sales from Strahan and is nearing completion of site works at Smithton.
Tasmania’s special timbers were promoted and sold at the Timber & Working with Wood shows held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.
A further 133 hectares of blackwood rich coupes were fenced to protect blackwood regrowth from browsing

58

The State to implement publicly accountable systems for monitoring the impact of residue harvesting for biomass energy plants on biodiversity.

No date

No biomass energy plants have been established to date: hence, implementation of a monitoring system has not been required.

59

The Parties to fund and the State to deliver additional roading and other infrastructure to support implementation of changed harvesting programs required for the introduction of new silviculture in public old growth forests.

No date

Completed in 2009-10.
Forestry Tasmania expended a further $4 million during 2009‑10 as part of its overall roading program to adjust to new harvesting requirements.
This commitment is now complete.

60

The Parties to progress all required assessment processes of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for a pulp mill in Tasmania.

As a priority

The former Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water Resources approved the Gunns Limited pulp mill on 4 October 2007 under the EPBC Act.
The approval contains 48 conditions which are designed to ensure matters of national environmental significance are protected. As part of these conditions Gunns Limited must submit an Environmental Impact Management Plan (EIMP) for the Minister’s approval. In considering the plan, the Minister takes into account expert scientific advice from a specially appointed Independent Expert Group. The conditions impose stringent requirements, including controls on effluent discharge and measures to protect listed threatened species.
Due to the significance of this issue in Tasmania, this report provides information beyond the reporting date of 30 June 2010 to indicate the status of the pulp mill proposal in relation to the assessment process.
On 10 March 2011 the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities approved the remaining modules of the EIMP required under the EPBC Act conditions of approval for the Bell Bay pulp mill. At this time the Minister also approved tougher environmental controls sought by Gunns Limited to be incorporated into the EIMP. The plan now specifies that Gunns Limited will only use plantation timber for the pulp mill and a bleaching process that uses less chlorate than first was proposed. This undertaking is now a legally binding commitment required to be implemented as part of the Commonwealth Government conditions of approval for the mill operations.
The March 2011 approval of the final three EIMP modules and tougher environmental controls completes the necessary Commonwealth environmental approvals for the Gunns Limited Bell Bay pulp mill.
The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority and the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities continue to work closely to coordinate their respective regulatory activities and information requirements.

62

The Commonwealth to consider giving the Gunns pulp mill project major project status and facilitation of the project at the national level.

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.

63

The Commonwealth to fund and administer, in cooperation with the State, a $10 million Tasmanian softwood industry assistance program.

30 June 2008

Completed in 2008-09.

64

The Commonwealth to consult with the State and the Tasmanian softwood industry to determine the priorities to increase value added investment in softwood in Tasmania.

No date

Completed in 2005‑06.

66

The Commonwealth to fund $4 million and administer a program to support improved training and skills development throughout the forestry sector, including environmental care, changing forest management and wood processing, safety, product quality and business skills

30 September 2010

Completed in September 2010.

This commitment has been delivered through Forest Works Ltd under an agreement with the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations signed in June 2006. As the commitment was completed within three months of the reporting date, it has been included to provide closure on this commitment.
Under this agreement, funding was provided to Forest Works Ltd for a ‘Skills Enhancement and Training’ (SET) project, which concluded with publication of three project reporting products:
1. SET Project Executive Summary – outlines, in a booklet, the key messages conveyed by the Project evaluation.
2. SET Project Overview Report – contains the highlights of the SET Project Technical Report.
3. SET Project Technical Report – contains detailed information resulted from the Project evaluation.
These reports can be viewed on the Forestworks website.
While the SET project was delivered in Tasmania, it was designed to deliver benefits to the forest industry nationally.
The major benefit of the SET project was the provision of expert advice and support to enterprises, registered training organisations (RTOs) and other stakeholders. This enhanced the level of knowledge and engagement between enterprises and service providers such as RTO’s Australia Apprenticeship Centres, Group Training Organisations and Job Services Australia and supported improvements to skills and training development, careers promotion and pathways and employment outcomes within the industry.
SET Project achievements are aligned to four project objectives:
Objective 1: Building Tasmanian enterprise capacity, skills advice, options and education.
Objective 2: Provide workers assistance and develop careers and pathways.
Objective 3: Enhancing Training and Assessment.
Objective 4: Improving employment, skills and training materials to enhance learning processes.

Some key achievements include:

• Under the project’s Worker Assistance Program, 64 of the 70 workers eligible for redundancy from a north east Tasmania sawmill were provided with specialist assistance including financial, career, personal counselling and job seeking advice. Seventeen of these workers were supported into training and at the conclusion of the project 52 of the assisted workers had found employment.
• The Mentored Model of Harvesting and Haulage Training: Carer Enhancement Program and the Hybrid Qualification Program for Haulage were developed and implemented to improve retention rates of new employees and trainee completion rates in the harvesting and haulage sector.
• A program that assisted Forestry Tasmania to develop its employees for future roles in the organisation was implemented. Under the program 18 employees were assisted to gain high level technical qualifications as prospective foresters.
• Assistance was provided to a joint Forestry Tasmania and Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association (TFCA) initiative to improve safety and reduce lost time injuries in the harvesting sector. The SET project successfully accessed funding and mentored TFCA staff undertaking Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to deliver safety skill for the industry.

A number of products have been produced by the SET Project. These products have supported project activities and achievements and include:

• Six programs/projects to improve skills development capacity
• Ten reports/research papers/publications
• Twenty-four assessments developed to a nationally compliant standard
• SET Project staff worked with over 70 enterprises to provide advice and build their understanding of skills development opportunities.
• Two website functions for use by industry and job seekers on the ForestWorks website (developed with assistance from the project)

Project achievements and products can be viewed in further detail on the Forestworks website.

67

The Parties to fund the development of forest tourism and visitor facilities focusing on new reserves on public land created under this Supplementary Agreement.

30 June 2007

Completed in 2009‑10.
The Commonwealth funded and administered a $3 million grants program to improve visitor facilities in forest areas of Tasmania, focussing on the new reserves created as part of the TCFA. This program incorporates the $1 million bushwalking infrastructure program under clause 68. The Tasmanian Forest Tourism Initiative concluded on 30 June 2009.
On-ground works for seven projects have been completed in 2009-10.
The completed projects have provided new and upgraded walking and mountain bike tracks, boardwalks and lookouts, signage and interpretation, visitor facilities and tourist brochures.
Financial audit reporting has been finalised for all completed projects with the exception of two Forestry Tasmania projects (the Styx Valley and the Edge Sinkhole).
Total expenditure for the Tasmanian Forest Tourism Initiative projects was $245 949.57.
The Tasmanian Government has provided $2 million towards the development of a tourism project by Forestry Tasmania at Maydena. The “Eagles Eyrie” construction has been completed and the TCFA funding components of the Maydena project finalised. The Eagles Eyrie is currently hosting a range of functions and events as an integral part of the Maydena Adventure Hub. The construction company VOS Constructions was awarded the ‘Excellence in New Construction (commercial) Award’ for its work on the Eagles Eyrie.
Further details.

68

The Commonwealth to fund and administer, in cooperation with the State, and subject to any State approval processes, a $1 million program towards the provision of bushwalking infrastructure in north west Tasmania.

30 June 2007

See clause 67.

69

The Commonwealth to provide $1 million to a catchment water quality program to be developed and delivered in consultation with the State and drawing on CSIRO expertise, and building on State chemical audit and water monitoring programs to assess the impact of chemical usage in Tasmania’s water catchments.

30 June 2007

Completed in 2007‑08.
For further information on this program, see the website.

70

The Parties to support State research into the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease through a collaborative partnership.

No date

Completed in 2006‑07.

71

The Commonwealth to provide $2 million to specific priority projects on research into the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease developed in consultation with the State.

30 June 2007

Completed in 2006‑07.
The TCFA funded component of the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease program has been completed.
The Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Government have subsequently committed to a joint Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
Further information about the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease program

72

The Commonwealth to provide $2.2 million for a communication program to be delivered in consultation with the State.

30 June 2006

Completed in 2008‑09.

75

The Commonwealth to contribute to the State $66 million towards intensive forest management activities and $13 million as a general grant.

30 June 2008

Completed in 2007‑08.

76

The Commonwealth will contribute:
- $2 million towards research into alternatives to clearfalling
- $42 million towards support for the hardwood sawmill industry
- $4 million towards support for country sawmillers
- $2.2 million towards a communication program
- $2 million towards tourism and recreation projects.

30 June 2006
30 June 2008
30 June 2007
30 June 2006
30 June 2007

See comments for clause 30.

See comments for clause 53.

See comments for clause 55.

See comments for clause 72.

See comments for clause 67.

77

The State will contribute $90 million towards the package with specific allocations and estimated expenditure profiles outlined in Tables 1 and 4 of Attachment 2.

30 June 2010

Completed in 2009‑10.
The Tasmanian Government has contributed funding in accordance with progressive expenditure under the TCFA. The final tranche of funding $22 million was made in 2009‑10.

This commitment is now complete.

79

The State to provide the Commonwealth with annual acquittal reports and proposed activity statement on Intensive Forest Management funds.

Annually

Annual acquittal reports and proposed activity statements for the Intensive Forest Management (IFM) program have been provided to the Commonwealth in accordance with the requirements of this clause.
The reports covered the period from 2004-05 to
2009-10. In addition, the Australian and Tasmanian governments intend to undertake a performance and financial review of the IFM program in accordance with recommendation 42 of the Independent Reviewer’s report.

CAR

Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative

CLAC

Crown Land Assessment and Classification (project)

CRA

Comprehensive Regional Assessment

CSIRO

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

EIMP

Environmental Impact Management Plan

EPBC

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

FCF
IFM

Forest Conservation Fund
Intensive Forest Management

LIST

Land Information System Tasmania

NHT

Natural Heritage Trust

PFEP

Permanent Forest Estate Policy

PFRP

Private Forest Reserves Program

RFA
RTO
SET

Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (1997)
Registered Training Organisations
Skills Enhancement and Training (project)

TCFA

Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement (2005)

TCSAP

Tasmanian Country Sawmillers Assistance Program

TFIDP

Tasmanian Forest Industry Development Program

TSIDP

Tasmanian Softwood Industry Development Program