❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Minister for Forestry regarding the ecological thinning special purpose account, seeking details on fiscal drawdown, funding allocation, geographical locations of works, and tree characteristics. The Minister provides some financial details and refers to publicly available information.
AnsweredQoN 1155Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ECOLOGICAL THINNING
1155. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I
refer to the ecological thinning special purpose account established in
December 2023 for the purpose of conducting ecological thinning works
under the 2024–33 forest management plan.
(1) As of 17 September 2024, what
is the fiscal drawdown on this SPA?
(2) What is the
value of funding apportioned to active ecological thinning works that have been
undertaken, and what is the value of funding apportioned to administration
costs?
(3) What
geographical locations have had dedicated ecological thinning works actively
undertaken, and what volumes of thinning associated with each location have
been produced?
(4) What is the
average bole diameter and range of bole diameters of trees harvested for
ecological thinning to date?
1155. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Forestry:
I
refer to the ecological thinning special purpose account established in
December 2023 for the purpose of conducting ecological thinning works
under the 2024–33 forest management plan.
(1) As of 17 September 2024, what
is the fiscal drawdown on this SPA?
(2) What is the
value of funding apportioned to active ecological thinning works that have been
undertaken, and what is the value of funding apportioned to administration
costs?
(3) What
geographical locations have had dedicated ecological thinning works actively
undertaken, and what volumes of thinning associated with each location have
been produced?
(4) What is the
average bole diameter and range of bole diameters of trees harvested for
ecological thinning to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) From 1 January
2024 to 31 August 2024 the total drawdown was $15.5 million.
(2) Of the $15.5 million,
administration costs from 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2024 totalled $885 000.
(3) Forest enhancement areas—FEAs—are
publicly available on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions website. Ecological thinning is undertaken for forest health
outcomes, not timber volume.
(4) The size and
type of material removed from FEAs for ecological health vary across the
landscape and geographical location.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) From 1 January
2024 to 31 August 2024 the total drawdown was $15.5 million.
(2) Of the $15.5 million,
administration costs from 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2024 totalled $885 000.
(3) Forest enhancement areas—FEAs—are
publicly available on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions website. Ecological thinning is undertaken for forest health
outcomes, not timber volume.
(4) The size and
type of material removed from FEAs for ecological health vary across the
landscape and geographical location.
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