❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Minister for Environment regarding fallow areas within state forests, particularly in light of the pine shortage for housing. The Minister provides information on the area deemed fallow and the rationale behind it, highlighting groundwater recharge priorities.
AnsweredQoN 987Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FORESTRY — FALLOW AREAS
987. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Conservation and
Parks Commission's End-of-term review of performance of the forest
management plan 2014–2023 , and to the statement on page 67 that ''consideration
will be given to re-establishing plantation areas, within areas of state forest
that are currently fallow''.
(1) What is the total area of state
forest that is currently deemed fallow?
(2) How long has each area that has
been deemed fallow been so categorised?
(3) What is the
rationale for letting each identified area of state forest lie fallow, in light
of the critical shortage of pine for house construction in WA?
(4) Why has the Conservation and Parks Commission
undertaken to consider re-establishing these plantations , rather than
immediately getting on with it?
987. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Conservation and
Parks Commission's End-of-term review of performance of the forest
management plan 2014–2023 , and to the statement on page 67 that ''consideration
will be given to re-establishing plantation areas, within areas of state forest
that are currently fallow''.
(1) What is the total area of state
forest that is currently deemed fallow?
(2) How long has each area that has
been deemed fallow been so categorised?
(3) What is the
rationale for letting each identified area of state forest lie fallow, in light
of the critical shortage of pine for house construction in WA?
(4) Why has the Conservation and Parks Commission
undertaken to consider re-establishing these plantations , rather than
immediately getting on with it?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the
Opposition for some notice of the question. The following answer has been
provided to me by the Minister for Environment.
(1) The total
area of state forest and timber reserves that is currently deemed fallow is 19 030
hectares, which includes 17 140 hectares on the Gnangara mound—the
Pinjar, Gnangara and Yanchep plantations—that is no longer available
for pine plantation.
(2) I table the information.
[See paper 1745 .]
(3)–(4) A large portion of the fallow area is on the
Gnangara mound, where the priority land management objective is
groundwater recharge. The Forest Products Commission has advised that it is
standard practice in other areas to re-establish plantations within 12 months
in most cases.
Opposition for some notice of the question. The following answer has been
provided to me by the Minister for Environment.
(1) The total
area of state forest and timber reserves that is currently deemed fallow is 19 030
hectares, which includes 17 140 hectares on the Gnangara mound—the
Pinjar, Gnangara and Yanchep plantations—that is no longer available
for pine plantation.
(2) I table the information.
[See paper 1745 .]
(3)–(4) A large portion of the fallow area is on the
Gnangara mound, where the priority land management objective is
groundwater recharge. The Forest Products Commission has advised that it is
standard practice in other areas to re-establish plantations within 12 months
in most cases.
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