Tasmania’s forestry industry is growing strongly under the leadership of the Hodgman Liberal Government.
Production has more than doubled and, as the Hermal project confirms, confidence is also up.
The challenge now is to capture the opportunities flowing from this growth – and the private sector will be pivotal because three quarters of all forestry production by volume now comes from private growers.
Private Forests Tasmania is the only government supported independent authority established anywhere in Australia to actively promote the private forests sector and help shape sustainable growth. Funding is also provided by private forest service levies.
I am delighted to announce that one of our foremost forestry leaders, Evan Rolley, has been appointed to Chair the PFT Board.
Mr Rolley is an experienced private tree grower and farmer in the Huon Valley who has more than 40 years’ experience in the broader forestry sector. He helped in shaping the establishment of PFT and was Commissioner for Private Forests in the formative years.
Mr Rolley is a former Chief Forest Practices Officer, Chief Commissioner for Forests and Managing Director of Forestry Tasmania.
In more recent years, he has been active in the private sector and been a Director and strategic advisor to a range of State, National and International bodies. He has a strong focus on research, innovation and markets for products.
Mr Rolley is also a former Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and a former Tasports Board member.