An announcement was made on 23 May 2023 regarding a revised timeline for Victoria’s native timber transition: Delivering certainty for timber workers.
Native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests has ended with existing supports being brought forward and scaled up.
There are a range of supports available for businesses to support them through this transition.
Support will continue to at least 2026.
For support in your area, please contact:
Sawmill businesses and harvest and haulage contractors:
Supply chain manufacturers impacted by the native timber transition:
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.
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 Forestry Transition.
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.
Forest Produce Licence operations will continue until the licences expire on 30 June 2024.
Forest Produce Licence holders can also access the Community Forestry Support Package which includes:
Community forestry businesses and workers can also Worker Support Payments, including a one-off hardship payment, through the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program.
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 will be extended to harvest and haulage sub-contractors, chip truck drivers and other forestry businesses impacted by the Forestry Transition.
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.
Sawmill Voluntary Transition Packages are now available for Forest Produce Licence holders who operate a sawmill.
These packages compensate sawmills for contracted timber that will not be delivered in 2023-24 and provide plant and equipment payments and reimbursement of employee statutory redundancy payments.
It will provide a payment for businesses as compensation for having to cease purchasing Victorian native timber early.
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 and 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 and a loss of income payment to eligible businesses that provided forest-based services to VicForests.
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 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: 18/07/24