Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Minister for Forestry regarding an ecological thinning trial conducted by DBCA in Collie, focusing on timber volume, residue, sales, timeline, and area. The Minister's response emphasizes forest health outcomes over timber production and clarifies the roles of DBCA and the Forest Products Commission.

AnsweredQoN 1098Legislative Council
Asked
17 September 2024
Portfolio
Forestry

QuestionView source ↗

ECOLOGICAL THINNING
1098. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I
refer to an ecological thinning trial happening on Mornington Road between
Harris River Road and Gastaldo Road in Collie with a sign claiming it to
be the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions conducting
ecological thinning.
(1) What volume of log has been
harvested as ecological thinnings on the site?
(2) What volume of residue has been
produced in the process?
(3) To whom have the ecological
thinnings been sold or to what market will they be presented?
(4) When did the ecological
thinning commence on the site and when will it finish?
(5) What is the total area of land
on which DBCA is conducting ecological thinning?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The question has been directed to me as Minister
for Forestry.
(1)–(3) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' ecological
thinning program is based on forest health outcomes, not timber production,
under the forest management plan. The Forest Products Commission undertakes
this ecological thinning work for DBCA and salvages any timber for use by local
businesses in WA.
(4) Ecological
thinning of the Hamilton forest enhancement area commenced under the previous
FMP as part of machine operational trials and continues under the current 2024–33
FMP.
(5) The Hamilton forest enhancement
area is 451 hectares.

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