Page 3135 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 10 September 1991
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION N0. 438
Forestry Industry
Mr Humphries - asked the Minister for Urban Services:
(1) What is the Executives policy on publicly owned forestry operations in the ACT.
(2) How much land in the ACT is currently under
afforestation.
(3) What is the maximum possible area that could be devoted to the forestry industry in the ACT.
(4) What private forestry companies operate in the ACT and in what operations are they involved.
(5) What economic potential could be provided to the ACT by increased forestry operations.
(6) What is the value of publicly owned forestry
plantations in the ACT.
Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members question is as follows:
(1) The past policy has been to manage the commercial softwood plantations to maximise the long term return on assets employed while providing other community benefits compatible with the commercial operation. ACT Forests and its operations are under review. The recommendations of the review team will be taken into account in developing future policy on publicly owned forestry operations.
(2) Commercial softwood afforestation in the ACT now totals 16000 hectares net. A further 190 hectares of eucalypt plantation for fuelled production has been planted.
(3) The maximum area that could be planted at present
in the ACT for softwood production forests is
approximately 16200 hectares net, the area designated
for this purpose in the Territory Plan. If planning
approval were available, around 4000 hectares more
could be planted with softwood. Additional area within
the ACT would be suitable for plantations of other
species including eucalypts, depending on site
conditions and markets. No assessment of this
additional area has been made.
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