That is according to a peer-reviewed study published this year in npj Natural Hazards, which used the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and an ensemble of dynamically downscaled CMIP6 climate projections to model how extreme fire weather will evolve under different levels of global warming.

Across Australia, once-in-twenty-year and once-in-fifty-year extreme fire events are projected to become 2.7 and 3.7 times more likely under 3°C of global warming. Whilst in southeast Australia’s eucalyptus forests those same benchmark events are projected to be 2.1-2.5 times more likely at the same warming level.

Tasmania faces the sharpest trajectory of any region studied.

Under 3°C of warming, 20-year return interval fire weather events are projected to become 3.2 times more likely, whilst 50-year return interval events are projected to become 4.1 times more likely. And even at 2°C of warming, Tasmania’s equivalent risk multipliers are 2.0 and 2.3, respectively.

The study, led by Ryan McGloin, warns that the Tasmanian findings warrant special attention, describing the projections as “particularly significant given Tasmania’s history of destructive bushfires and unique and vulnerable ecosystems that are potentially at risk of being replaced by more flammable vegetation when exposed to more frequent fires.”

The warning is grounded in history. The 1967 Black Tuesday fires killed 62 people and destroyed nearly 3,000 structures across southern Tasmania. Whilst in January 2013, fires razed 203 homes in the village of Dunalley alone. And unlike mainland forests, Tasmania’s vegetation mosaic — fire-sensitive rainforests, alpine shrublands and wet forests — faces a feedback loop in which more frequent fires progressively shift the landscape towards more flammable, fire-adapted vegetation.

A cycle, the authors say, has no natural brake.

The drivers differ by region. In Tasmania and southern Victoria, for example, projected increases in extreme fire weather are driven primarily by rising maximum temperatures, compounded by declining spring rainfall, which lifts the drought factor and lowers relative humidity on the continent’s worst fire days.

In the subtropical eucalyptus forests of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, increasing humidity associated with a shift towards positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode partially moderates the temperature impact, resulting in the study’s lowest projected increases. There, 20-year and 50-year return interval events are still projected to become 1.8 and 2.0 times more likely at 3°C — figures the researchers describe as not immaterial.

Spring has emerged as the season of greatest concern. Severe fire weather days (FFDI ≥ 50) are projected to rise substantially in north-western and central Australia, while Very High fire weather days (FFDI between 24 and 50) are projected to increase in both the north and south. The pattern points to an earlier onset and overall lengthening of the fire season — with a shrinking window for hazard-reduction burns, a direct operational consequence for fire agencies.

The study — authored by Ryan McGloin, Ralph Trancoso, Jozef Syktus, Rohan Eccles, Nathan Toombs and Andrew Dowdy — is the first to apply the latest CMIP6 downscaled projections under different global warming levels to fire weather extremes specifically for southeast Australia’s eucalyptus forests.

For more information: McGloin, R., Trancoso, R., Syktus, J. et al. Substantial increases in the likelihood of extreme fire weather events for fire-prone ecosystems in Australia. npj Nat. Hazards 3, 28 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00193-9

That is according to the latest ABARES Agricultural Commodities Report, published yesterday, which revealed that the gross value of forestry (GVP) production is expected to reach $2.23 billion in 2026-27 — a 3 per cent nominal increase or a 1 per cent real increase. And over the medium term, the GVP is projected to drop back $2.1 billion, with no material growth expected until at least 2030-31.

By the numbers, total gross value production in forests has dropped by 36 per cent over the past eight years — from about $3.4 billion in 2017-18 — with softwood relatively steady at about $1.5 billion, hardwood plantations flatlining at $0.5 billion and native forest continuing what is now a 20-year decline.

According to Diana Hallam, CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association, whilst the topline figures point to the vital role of sustainable forestry in producing essential products, the report also identified serious challenges and headwinds for the sector.

“Some of these challenges and risks include high manufacturing and energy costs, greater use of structural steel in residential and mid-rise construction, as well as a growing amount of imported timber products of varying quality flooding the Australian marketplace, including from China,” she said.

Hallam said the new estimates also reaffirmed the importance of aligning the government’s policy with Australia’s Timber Fibre Strategy, which outlines opportunities for the industry to make a greater contribution to national goals in carbon, innovation, and housing construction.

Softwood up, hardwood down, native at historic lows

The value of softwood plantation production is forecast to increase slightly in 2026-27, driven by short-term movements in detached housing demand. But ABARES warns that a gradual shift toward higher-density dwellings is expected to temper timber demand over the medium term, whilst projected increases in softwood log availability will ease unit prices.

Hardwood plantation production, however, is heading the other way.

And that’s because ongoing shifts in global paper markets are placing downward pressure on woodchip demand, whilst Vietnam’s growing share of global trade — combined with projected exchange rate changes — is continuing to erode Australia’s competitiveness overseas. ABARES expects Australian hardwood woodchip exports to settle at similar volumes but lower unit prices, with Australia holding a smaller, more specialised role in the market.

And then there is native forestry, where production has now fallen to historically low levels following 20 years of contraction driven by the transfer of multiple-use public native forests to nature conservation reserves and increased harvest restrictions.

A $570 million downward revision

ABARES has slashed its forestry forecast by more than $570 million — a 21 per cent revision from its December report — with exports the major driver of the writedown, down more than $619 million amid weaker production and prices.

It comes days after this masthead reported on a new white paper from the Rozetta Institute arguing that Australia needs a national roadmap to boost forest productivity and encourage new capital into the market.

On Friday, Wood Central spoke to the white paper’s lead author, Steve Walker, Principal of Terrafolia Advisory, and co-author Dr Lyndall Bull, who revealed that Australian plantations produce just 15 to 18 cubic metres per hectare per year against international benchmarks of 30 to 50.

And on Monday, Walker went further, telling Wood Central the sector’s decades-long focus on cost discipline had come at the expense of genuine value creation. “Lifting productivity on the land already planted is the fastest and most scalable opportunity,” Walker said. “International benchmarks in Brazil, India, Vietnam and China demonstrate that 30 to 50 cubic metres per hectare per year is achievable using proven technologies already available.”

“If we can do this, we can ultimately strengthen our capacity to produce more competitive engineered wood products like LVL and other EWPs,” he said, adding that the downstream benefits could add tens of millions of dollars to regional communities.

• For more information, including the ABARES full March 2026 Agricultural Commodities Report, visit the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

Now, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) — the country’s largest hardwood processor — says a $600,000 AFWI-funded research project is helping the industry find its way forward, with new species, new engineered products and new performance data that could change how timber windows are specified in Australia.

Daniel Wright, ASH’s National Business Development Manager, told Wood Central that window manufacturers are a big part of the company’s supply chain — from commodity and painted windows through to high-end architectural manufacturers — mostly across south-eastern states, but with a growing presence in northern New South Wales.

And Wright said the fallout from the decision to cease harvesting in Victorian forests has been immediate. “The window manufacturers of south-east Australia have been forced into a lot of change with the cessation of native timber in Victoria — just like we have,” he said. “But they also have upcoming changes to the NCC, which will structurally change how many of them operate.”

“Of course, what impacts our supply chain also impacts us.”

That disruption created confusion. “We’ve recently seen imported plantation timbers in the window market that don’t meet the specs they are intended for,” Wright said. “This was a direct result of Victoria’s hardwood being suddenly ceased. The window makers were trying to do the right thing, but were forced to make quick decisions.”

As one of the major stakeholders in the AFWI–AGWA Modernising Timber Windows project, led jointly by the Timber Development Association and the Australian Glass and Window Association, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods is providing timber species for testing their performance in modern systems.

“When we were asked to be involved, we saw this project as an opportunity to work together and help the window makers collectively find pathways forward that not only suit their specific needs, but also comply with upcoming changes to the NCC,” Wright said.

The project is also a chance for ASH to advance one of its newer species — Plantation Oak — as the company rebuilds markets lost when Victorian ash was taken away. Made from Shining Gum logs grown in a plantation for pulp, Plantation Oak is upgraded by ASH into higher-end, longer-term applications. Wright said a small part of every log can be used for architectural applications, but the majority needs to be engineered to get the best out of it.

“We’ve had success with Plantation Oak in MASSLAM, but in order to use this fibre in other market segments, we need to help build the standards and examples that everyone can follow with confidence,” he said. ASH is one of 10 timber suppliers involved in the project, alongside the Pentarch Group and others.

Now, the testing programme is about to shift up a gear.

Speaking to Wood Central today, Kylan Low — the Structural Engineer at the Timber Development Association leading the project — said next week’s round will put four configurations through their paces: a double-hung window, an awning and casement window, an awning and double casement window, and a centre bifold door. Low said the configurations are designed to capture various hardware setups used across the industry and will be tested under combined air and water pressure for durations representing storm periods.

In January, Low told Wood Central that the industry had been craving this kind of data for a very long time: “Window data hasn’t kept up with changes in codes, glazing, and timber supply.”

The project has also given a platform to the next generation. Jesse Ross — a Graduate Engineer at AGWA who has been working alongside Low since the project’s inception — recently shared his reflections on what has become his first major engineering project. Ross said that, unlike uPVC and aluminium systems, there was no prime operator in the timber window sector, meaning the entire system had to be built from the ground up.

Early testing revealed that some Australian hardwoods, such as Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, could outperform European staples. But given the project’s focus on species substitution, the team chose to work with the lowest passing species it could find. Designs have settled on 55/58 mm sash profiles with 24 mm glazing pockets, accommodating modern insulated glass units and manufacturable by small-scale workshops.

Ross said the industry engagement phase — travelling to state forums, meeting joiners, hardware suppliers and timber providers — was one of the most eye-opening parts of the experience. He found some joineries still working with outdated designs that didn’t fully comply with AS 2047 or accommodate drained insulated glass units.

“I learned that innovation is not just about creating new ideas,” Ross wrote, “but also about making them accessible to your audience.” The documentation phase — technical manuals, substitution procedures, shop drawings — is now underway, aiming to give any Australian joinery everything it needs to start building with confidence.”

The Modernising Timber Windows project is one of 30 research initiatives funded through AFWI — a $200-million-plus institute backed by $100 million in Commonwealth funding. It is generating new structural and performance data across a range of solid and engineered wood products, testing how timbers perform under AS 2047, Australia’s mandatory standard for windows and external glazed doors.

• To learn more about the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations programme, visit AFWI’s dedicated website.

The study, led by PhD researcher Huanhuan Wang from The University of Western Australia’s Centre for Water and Spatial Science and School of Environmental Engineering, has been published in Environmental Research Letters. It is the first to combine satellite observations with groundwater, soil and geophysical data to map how forests across the South West responded to last summer’s extreme climate stress.

Wang said the findings revealed that forests growing on shallow soils, rocky terrain, and areas with limited groundwater access were far more vulnerable to heat and moisture stress: “We found these areas showed much stronger declines in forest health than areas with deeper soils and better subsurface water availability,” she said. “The results suggest forest vulnerability depends not only on extreme climate conditions, but also on what lies beneath the surface.”

By integrating multiple data sources, the researchers uncovered spatial patterns of vulnerability that would have been invisible from climate data alone — insights that could reshape how land managers prepare for a hotter, drier future.

Co-author Professor Sally Thompson, also from UWA’s Centre for Water and Spatial Science, said the study provided real‑world evidence for a recently published framework describing how ecosystems adapt to drying climates. “The jarrah forest study showed how the framework can be applied in practice, helping forest managers decide where to act — such as by thinning — and where to prioritise protection of areas that cope better with heat and drought,” Professor Thompson said.

The research also highlights the growing value of pairing remote sensing with hydrological science to understand how forests respond to climate extremes: “By integrating satellite data with subsurface process knowledge, the study improves our ability to understand ecosystem vulnerability and support more targeted forest management strategies,” Wang said.

The findings come as Western Australia faces intensifying climate pressures, with scientists warning that rising temperatures and declining rainfall will continue to challenge the resilience of native forests.

“Wesbeam has a foundation where capable, committed people are aligned to a clear purpose and take pride in what they deliver. My focus is on strengthening that culture while driving disciplined performance and operational excellence,” Everest said. “Wesbeam’s scale and national reach, combined with its reputation for quality and reliability, position us strongly as engineered timber continues to gain broader acceptance in residential and commercial construction.”

With an eye to the future, Everest said his focus is on disciplined execution and extracting full value from the platform already built. His priorities include operational excellence and productivity, safety leadership and capability development, strategic customer and stakeholder partnerships, sustainable and disciplined growth, and market expansion through innovation.

Asked why Wesbeam, Everest pointed to the company’s reputation for quality, reliability, and national reach — attributes that have cemented its role as a critical supplier to builders, merchants, and frame-and-truss manufacturers across the country. Wesbeam, he said, is a business built on “capable, committed people aligned to a clear purpose,” adding that strengthening that culture while driving disciplined performance will remain central to his leadership.

Wesbeam operates a world‑scale, 24/7 manufacturing facility in Neerabup, Western Australia, supported by a long‑term plantation timber supply agreement with the WA Government. That agreement provides a level of security and consistency that has become increasingly rare in a market grappling with supply‑chain volatility.

Everest also acknowledged the outstanding contribution of outgoing CEO James Malone, who retired after leading Wesbeam through major phases of growth and capability development. “James and the team have built strong foundations,” Everest said. “My focus is on respecting that legacy while helping the organisation continue to evolve, execute and perform.”

Founded in 2001, Wesbeam has grown into a nationally significant manufacturer with distribution hubs across Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The company employs just under 300 people and has been recognised as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years, whilst investment in automation, plant upgrades and sustainability initiatives continues to lift productivity as Australia looks to expand housing supply and reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

• To learn more about Wesbeam and its projects, click here for Wood Central’s special feature on Bluerock Project’s Tupy Gardens, a $25 million timber-framed apartment complex where Bluerock picked Wesbeam’s LVL over brick.

The findings come from professional forester Frank Batini, a retired environmental consultant and former Adjunct Professor of Environmental Sciences at Murdoch University, who has reviewed long‑term hydrological and ecological data for a soon‑to‑be‑published journal article. His analysis focuses on a 2,000‑hectare research catchment in the state’s south‑west — the same region the WA Government cited when it decided to cease native forestry in 2023.

Batini says the jarrah forest covers two million hectares in the extreme south‑west of the state, growing in a Mediterranean‑type climate with “hot, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters.” The forest, he told Wood Central, carries high biomass but grows slowly on ancient, nutrient‑poor lateritic soils. Individual trees may live for 350 years and tolerate moderate bushfire.

Since 1965, rainfall across the region has fallen by about 20 per cent, water tables have dropped more than 10 metres, and inflows into Perth’s water‑supply dams have reduced by 80 per cent. Batini said that “such a large change in hydrology over a period of 60 years should have had a substantial effect on biodiversity and tree health.”

The research catchment — monitored since 1972 and containing 500 vegetation plots — provides one of the most complete long‑term records in the region.

Batini said studies conducted between 2006 and 2012 found that “rainfall had declined by 15%, streamflow by 75%, flow days by 50%, and water tables had fallen by several metres.” At the same time, streamflow was “about 5% of rainfall, mostly coming from storage,” he said, adding that a model “accurately matched these trends” and was used to assess thinning effects on soil storage and streamflow. “Evapotranspiration (Et) matched the rainfall,” with interception and evaporation from bare areas forming significant components.

Despite these shifts, Batini says the forest remained in strong condition.

“In 2025, the trees and understorey vegetation were healthy,” he writes. As a result, “the populations of birds, mammals and insects that depend on this vegetation for food and shelter were unaffected.” Only “a few aquatic invertebrates with longer life cycles were no longer represented.”

And even after the extremely dry years of 2010 and 2024, impacts were minimal and highly localised. Batini reports “scorch, canopy loss and some tree deaths” confined to shallow soils over clay or near basement rock — less than 10 hectares, or 0.5 per cent of the monitored area. Two eucalypt species that favour swamp margins showed a slight shift toward wetter sites.

Batini disputes claims that the forest is in an unprecedented state of collapse. “Despite the statements from politicians, government agencies, academia, environmental NGO’s, IUCN and the press that the current dry spell is ‘unprecedented’ and that the forest is in ‘imminent threat of collapse’ due to human‑induced Climate Change, the resilience shown by this ecosystem to date is very encouraging,” Batini said, arguing that this is “probably due to the fact that similar or even worse droughts have occurred many times before.”

Three independent tree‑ring studies support that view, showing “many multi‑decadal pluvials and droughts” over the past 650 years. All studies record that “the 19th Century (when carbon dioxide levels were low) was extremely dry and that the 1911 to 1965 period was the wettest on record.” The current dry spell, Batini writes, “is considered to be neither ‘unprecedented’ nor ‘exceptional’.”

He said that “the data do not support the widely‑held hypothesis that the current dry spell is caused by human‑induced climate change.” Instead, “the minor ecological shifts that were observed are simply the result of natural variability in climate.” Batini warns that “a severe bushfire would have a far greater negative effect on water, forest and biodiversity values.”

His assessment contrasts sharply with the WA Government’s position, which has repeatedly cited climate‑driven forest decline as a key factor in its decision to end commercial harvesting.

The report, released last month, updates ABARES’ 2011 estimates of Mean Annual Increment (MAI), a common measure of the amount of wood a plantation produces each year. While MAI is only a partial indicator of productivity, ABARES says it has become increasingly important as the sector faces growing climate and economic pressures. “Productivity growth is essential to offset the impact of climate change and drive the competitiveness of the sector,” the report states.

To update its figures, ABARES consulted plantation growers and key supply chain representatives. Those discussions, the bureau says, revealed “a dynamic industry, with a focus on harnessing technological improvements to at least maintain or improve plantation growth rates and wood quality.”

Softwood plantations have generally outperformed hardwood plantations.

ABARES found that Ssoftwoods have either held steady or improved, particularly in South Eastern Australia — including the Green Triangle, Tasmania, Central Gippsland and Central Victoria — where Pinus radiata dominates. ABARES reports that “softwood plantation MAIs have remained steady or shown moderate increases over the past 15 years,” highlighting P. radiata’s role as “the largest plantation footprint” and a key supplier to the housing and construction sector.

The latest data also shows the top end of softwood performance has lifted. In 2011, only two regions recorded an MAI of 21 cubic metres per hectare per year. In the 2024 update, four regions now exceed that level, with the Green Triangle reaching 24 cubic metres — the highest in the country. ABARES says the lower end of the range has also edged higher, pointing to uneven but genuine productivity gains.

The strongest softwood regions — the Green Triangle, Tasmania and Central Gippsland — now sit around 23 to 24 cubic metres per hectare per year and have improved by up to 20 per cent over the past decade and a half. Other regions, including the Central, Southern and Northern Tablelands, have seen only modest increases. ABARES attributes the differences to climate, soil, water availability and access to improved genetics and silviculture.

In addition, Queensland’s Southern Pine plantations show similar variation, with North Queensland recording growth rates about 30 per cent higher than South East Queensland. Hoop Pine and Pinus pinaster remain important in some areas, although P. pinaster continues to yield less than P. radiata and its plantation area has declined.

Hardwood plantations, however, tell a more mixed story.

ABARES says “trends in hardwood plantation MAIs are mixed,” reflecting the estate’s smaller size, younger age and the split between pulplog and sawlog regimes. Many early estimates were based on expected rather than harvested yields, making comparisons difficult. Where data is available, hardwood MAIs range from 8 to 21 cubic metres per hectare per year, with pulplog plantations generally growing faster due to shorter growing cycles.

Western Australia, the Green Triangle and Tasmania provide the clearest hardwood data. Western Australia shows a slight decline in Eucalyptus globulus growth rates, likely due to drying conditions. The Green Triangle has recorded a small increase, while Tasmania’s E. nitens plantations have seen a more significant lift.

Growers told ABARES they believe hardwood productivity has improved overall, though consistent long‑term data is limited due to changes in ownership and the rapid expansion of plantations in the early 2000s. Across both softwood and hardwood estates, growers pointed to improved silviculture, better genetic stock, advances in harvesting and processing, and ongoing research as key drivers of growth. Climate remains the biggest constraint, with growers emphasising the need for proactive adaptation.

An engineer by training, Malone has been a central figure in the nation’s engineered wood products industry and one of its most influential modernisers.

Wood Central understands that his career includes establishing Australia’s only laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufacturing facility in Perth and leading WESFI Ltd as CEO and Managing Director. In addition to AFPA, Malone was previously chair of Wespine and held senior roles across the Forest Industries Federation of WA, the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia and the Australian Wood Panels Association, helping shape the standards and governance that underpin today’s industry.

Malone has stepped down from the Australian Forest Products Association board after nearly a decade of service, closing a chapter that has influenced national policy and guided the expansion of advanced timber manufacturing for more than 40 years. He is also preparing to retire from his role as Managing Director and CEO of Wesbeam, the company he helped build into a cornerstone of Australia’s engineered wood supply chain.

AFPA Chief Executive Diana Hallam said Malone’s contribution had been exceptional, describing him as “a true pioneer, entrepreneur and highly respected leader of our industry, who has led the way with distinction and foresight over many years.” She said his work across AFPA’s board and numerous committees had strengthened the sector’s foundations and supported its long‑term growth.

Malone was named Forest Industries of WA Leader of the Year in 2006 and was listed in Business News WA’s Power 500 in 2023 for industrial and logistics leadership. He also continues to serve as a Trustee of the Gottstein Trust, supporting research, education and professional development across the forestry sector.

“John’s Building Supplies is a high-quality Western Australian business with deep relationships and a long track record of supporting the trade,” according to John Lorente, CEO of the Big River Group, who announced the plans last week. “This acquisition broadens our presence in a key growth region and strengthens our offering across the structural timber, panels, and building materials categories.”

“We have great respect for the business John Lindsay and his family have built, and we look forward to welcoming the team into the Big River Group.”

Wood Central understands that John’s Building Supplies has served Western Australian building professionals for decades, with product ranges that complement Big River’s national portfolio. Big River Group currently operates multiple distribution sites and manufacturing facilities across Australia, supplying a wide range of products, including formwork and timber, decorative panels, and building materials.

According to Big River’s latest annual report, the company recorded $406 million in revenue for FY2024, driven by acquisitions and sustained demand in trade and infrastructure markets. The addition of John’s Building Supplies is expected to further enhance that growth by extending Big River’s national footprint into Western Australia, one of the country’s fastest-growing construction markets.

John Lindsay, representing the owners of John’s Building Supplies, said becoming part of Big River represents a natural step forward for the business. “Our family has always focused on providing trusted service, quality products, and dependable supply to the WA trade market,” Lindsay said. “Big River shares those same values. Becoming part of Big River ensures our customers will continue to receive the personalised service they rely on, while benefiting from the scale, product range and national strength of a larger group.”

Both companies confirmed that existing customers and supplier partners will continue to be serviced without interruption, with integration plans already in place to ensure a smooth transition. The existing management team at John’s Building Supplies will remain in place following completion. The acquisition is expected to be finalised on or around 15 December 2025, subject to customary conditions. Once completed, John’s Building Supplies will continue operations from its existing Western Australian site under the Big River Group brand.

• To learn more about the Big River Group, including its state-of-the-art ‘future proof’ manufacturing plant in Grafton, NSW, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.

The low-grade logs are a by-product of an existing FPC operation to thin and export logs from 3500 ha of radiata pine planted around the region in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Plantation Energy executive director Gavin Harper said the company was constructing Australia’s first industrial-scale timber fuel pellet plant, scheduled for completion early next year at Albany’s Mirambeena timber precinct. The finished fuel pellets will be exported for domestic and industrial heating.

FPC general manager Dr Paul Biggs said the new contract would help increase the profitability of the Albany radiata plantation operations for all parties – landowners, harvesting and transportation contractors, the FPC and Plantation Energy.

“In any form of primary production, it was always important to minimise wastage and extract the best possible value from the resource,” Dr Biggs said.

“Finding a way to add value to this low-grade resource to manufacture and export a renewable energy fuel product is better for the environment, and at the same time, it will help the entire plantation industry become more profitable.”

Biggs said this was an excellent example of the FPC partnering with industry to produce a win-win-win for the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social sustainability,” he said.

Gavin Harper said Plantation Energy had been developing the fuel pellet concept at Albany for several years before formally launching the company in 2006. “The new plant will bring total investment in excess of $20 million to the Albany region, with significant further investment planned in other regions,” Harper said.

“The new plant will create around 12-15 full-time permanent jobs in Albany, with additional short-term positions during the construction phase. The operation will also employ local contractors supporting the plantation industry in the Great Southern region with the associated general economic benefits to local suppliers and service industries.”

Harper said using fuel pellets sourced from sustainably managed plantations instead of fossil fuels would make a significant contribution to reducing global carbon emissions.