❓ A parliamentary question seeks details on the allocation, consultation, and progress of the WA government's softwood plantation expansion in the Warren-Blackwood region following the native forest logging ban. The answer provides details on site selection criteria, land acquisition processes, and plantation establishment.
AnsweredQoN 52Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the $350 million committed to expanding softwood plantations in Western Australia, announced by the WA State Government in September 2021 as part of its response to the decision to end native forest logging by 2024, and I ask : (a) How much of the $350 million committed to expanding softwood plantations has been allocated to sites within the Warren–Blackwood region ; (b) What consultation has occurred with local government and industry stakeholders in identifying suitable land for plantation expansion in this region ; and (c) Has any planting commenced in Warren–Blackwood under this initiative, and if so, where and how many hectares?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2025
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Forestry
Response time
9 days
(a) There are no specific allocations by region. Instead, sites are selected based on rainfall, soil type, distance from market, land availability and price.
(b) Land acquisition is undertaken through the open land market, via competitive processes and suitability assessment is undertaken within the FPC. Once suitable land has been identified and commercial processes are underway, the FPC provides Plantation Management Plans to the relevant shires for their consideration.
(c) The following table sets out the areas of plantation established from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2025 in the Warren-Blackwood region (as represented by the Warren-Blackwood Alliance of Councils).
Shire
Area of plantation established (hectares)
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
55
Boyup Brook
1,505
Donnybrook-Balingup
0
Manjimup
402
Nannup
151
(b) Land acquisition is undertaken through the open land market, via competitive processes and suitability assessment is undertaken within the FPC. Once suitable land has been identified and commercial processes are underway, the FPC provides Plantation Management Plans to the relevant shires for their consideration.
(c) The following table sets out the areas of plantation established from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2025 in the Warren-Blackwood region (as represented by the Warren-Blackwood Alliance of Councils).
Shire
Area of plantation established (hectares)
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
55
Boyup Brook
1,505
Donnybrook-Balingup
0
Manjimup
402
Nannup
151
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