❓ Question regarding the Water Corporation's radiata pine planting program for carbon credits and timber supply, and the disparity in carbon credit eligibility between pine and native hardwood harvesting.
AnsweredQoN 1021Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION — CARBON CREDITS —
RADIATA PINE
1021. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the government media
statement of 10 September 2024 entitled ''Millions of Pines planted as
Water Corporation targets net zero'', which suggests that these pines
will provide resource security to the Western Australian building industry. I ask
for the following information as at 10 September 2024.
(1) How many
radiata pine seedlings have been planted at the Boyup Brook and Boddington
sites, and what are their current ages?
(2) At what age can a mature radiata
pine be harvested for commercial building usage?
(3) How many of the radiata pines planted at Boyup
Brook and Boddington are of harvestable, commercial-usage age and when
will they be available for the Western Australian building industry?
(4) Why is the
government able to claim carbon credits for pine that is planted for
construction but not for native hardwood that is harvested for construction and
replanted?
RADIATA PINE
1021. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I refer to the government media
statement of 10 September 2024 entitled ''Millions of Pines planted as
Water Corporation targets net zero'', which suggests that these pines
will provide resource security to the Western Australian building industry. I ask
for the following information as at 10 September 2024.
(1) How many
radiata pine seedlings have been planted at the Boyup Brook and Boddington
sites, and what are their current ages?
(2) At what age can a mature radiata
pine be harvested for commercial building usage?
(3) How many of the radiata pines planted at Boyup
Brook and Boddington are of harvestable, commercial-usage age and when
will they be available for the Western Australian building industry?
(4) Why is the
government able to claim carbon credits for pine that is planted for
construction but not for native hardwood that is harvested for construction and
replanted?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for some notice of the question.
(1) Approximately
two million seedlings have been planted across Water Corporation sites in 2022,
2023 and 2024.
(2) They are
approximately 12 years old.
(3) The trees
will begin to be harvested in 2033–34.
(4) Under the Forest
management plan 2024–33 , the commercial harvesting of our
unique WA forests is not permitted. The Cook Labor government, through its $350
million softwood investment program, is acting to invest in the future of the
state's softwood estate to ensure that the construction and housing
industry in WA will have the resources that it will require into the future.
This investment is being made following years of inaction under the previous
Liberal–National government.
I note that a Clean Energy Regulator
methodology does not yet exist to claim carbon credits from production harvest
in a native forest.
member for some notice of the question.
(1) Approximately
two million seedlings have been planted across Water Corporation sites in 2022,
2023 and 2024.
(2) They are
approximately 12 years old.
(3) The trees
will begin to be harvested in 2033–34.
(4) Under the Forest
management plan 2024–33 , the commercial harvesting of our
unique WA forests is not permitted. The Cook Labor government, through its $350
million softwood investment program, is acting to invest in the future of the
state's softwood estate to ensure that the construction and housing
industry in WA will have the resources that it will require into the future.
This investment is being made following years of inaction under the previous
Liberal–National government.
I note that a Clean Energy Regulator
methodology does not yet exist to claim carbon credits from production harvest
in a native forest.
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