Native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests ended on 1 January 2024.
There are a range of supports available for businesses to support them through this transition.
Support will continue to at least 2026.
Mental health support
Dedicated mental health support is available in your area if the forestry transition process is affecting your health and wellbeing, or people you know are being affected.
Get in touch
For support in your area, please contact:
Sawmill businesses and harvest and haulage contractors:
- Gippsland: Andrew van der Kaap, Business Transition Coordinator, 0417 992 636
- Rest of Victoria: Debbie Buchanan, Business Transition Coordinator, 0436 914 532
- Forestry Transition Team on 1800 318 182
Supply chain manufacturers impacted by the native timber transition:
Support is available through the Victorian Timber Innovation Grants Program to assist affected forestry businesses to transition from native timber to plantation fibre and transformative industry investment.
Eligibility of Round 3 has been extended to harvest and haulage sub-contractors, chip truck drivers and other forestry businesses impacted by the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria.
Sawmill Voluntary Transition Packages are now available.
These packages compensate sawmills for contracted timber that will not be delivered in 2023-24 and provide plant and equipment payments and reimbursement of statutory redundancy payments.
It will provide a payment for businesses as compensation for having to cease purchasing Victorian native timber early.
The Forestry Transition Fund provides grants up to $1 million for businesses and industry groups - including chambers of commerce and associations, peak bodies and businesses networks - to apply for grants to expand, diversify or start new businesses.
Applicants that directly employ displaced native timber workers will receive a $20,000 wage subsidy per worker in addition to their grant.
Funding is also available to local councils, water corporations and utility providers to make sure there is the right infrastructure in place to support businesses’ applications.
Support is available through the Victorian Timber Innovation Grants Program to assist affected forestry businesses to transition from native timber to plantation fibre and transformative industry investment.
Round 2 of the program is currently closed.
Eligibility of round 3 has been extended to harvest and haulage sub-contractors, chip truck drivers and other forestry businesses impacted by the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria.
The Forestry Transition Fund provides grants up to $1 million for businesses and industry groups - including chambers of commerce and associations, peak bodies and businesses networks - to apply for grants to expand, diversify or start new businesses.
Applicants that directly employ displaced native timber workers will receive a $20,000 wage subsidy per worker in addition to their grant.
Funding is also available to local councils, water corporations and utility providers to make sure there is the right infrastructure in place to support businesses’ applications.
The Forestry Business Support Package is available to support native timber dependant businesses not covered by the Sawmill Voluntary Transition Package, Harvest and Haulage Support Package or Community Forestry Support Package.
It provides funding to eligible forestry businesses, such as:
- haulage sub-contractors
- chip truck drivers
- seed collectors
- businesses that provided forest-based services to VicForests.
The package includes:
- Compensation for the decreased value of plant and equipment previously used to support the commercial harvest or haulage of native timber from State forests.
- Reimbursement of employee statutory redundancy payments (capped) made due to the forestry transition.
- A loss of income payment to eligible businesses that provided forest-based services to VicForests.
Harvest and haulage contractors have the option to transfer their harvest contracts to DEECA Forest and Fire Management Services Agreements or exit the industry.
A Harvest and Haulage Support Package is available to support the transition to new contracts or support business’ exits.
The package includes:
- compensation for loss of income
- plant and equipment compensation
- a payment to reimburse employee statutory redundancy payments.
Contractors can access different components of the package depending on their circumstances.
Applications are open from 1 December 2023 to 31 July 2024.
Support is available through the Victorian Timber Innovation Grants Program to assist affected forestry businesses to transition from native timber to plantation fibre and transformative industry investment.
Eligibility of Round 3 has been extended to harvest and haulage sub-contractors, chip truck drivers and other forestry businesses impacted by the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria.
The Forestry Transition Fund provides grants up to $1 million for businesses and industry groups – including chambers of commerce and associations, peak bodies and businesses networks - to apply for grants to expand, diversify or start new businesses.
Applicants that directly employ displaced native timber workers will receive a $20,000 wage subsidy per worker in addition to their grant.
Funding is also available to local councils, water corporations and utility providers to make sure there is the right infrastructure in place to support businesses’ applications.
The Forestry Transition Fund provides grants up to $1 million for businesses and industry groups - including chambers of commerce and associations, peak bodies and businesses networks - to apply for grants to expand, diversify or start new businesses.
Applicants that directly employ displaced native timber workers will receive a $20,000 wage subsidy per worker in addition to their grant.
Funding is also available to local councils, water corporations and utility providers to make sure there is the right infrastructure in place to support businesses’ applications.
Gippsland National Institute of Forest Products and Innovation (NIFPI)
The Gippsland National Institute of Forest Products and Innovation (NIFPI) was established in 2020 as a hub of expertise and collaboration across the forest industry.
Since July 2021, over $8.4 million has been granted for 11 research projects.
The NIFPI receives administrative support from Forest and Wood Products Australia. It promotes cutting-edge research to secure investment and boost the sector and future jobs in Gippsland.
Page last updated: 07/10/24