Australia’s largest plantation precinct in PortlandFriday 12 Dec 2025
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Julie Collins and Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence today announced a joint $2.95 million investment in research to support the initial stages of the ‘Precinct Project’ in regional Victoria. Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) will lead the feasibility study of a new processing facility in Portland, so that more locally grown timber can be manufactured locally, into products like glue laminated timber, laminated veneer lumber, and housing solutions – reducing Victoria’s reliance on imports and creating up to 200 jobs. The project unites industry, academics, Traditional Owners, and all levels of government to undertake an over $7 million research, development and feasibility project for a new advanced plantation timber manufacturing and innovation hub in Portland over the next two years. This research will support the development of a shared advanced manufacturing facility, where expert manufacturers work together to connect forests to frames and harvests to homes – combining supply chain businesses to make production as efficient as possible. Businesses will operate independently but share key resources like roads, energy, water, and transport hubs. These facilities will unlock the full potential of locally grown certified plantations to produce higher value timber products and enable faster, more efficient and affordable prefabricated housing solutions while reducing carbon emissions. The Precinct will be located near the Port of Portland and key infrastructure positioned at the heart of the Green Triangle – a major forestry region in south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia that supplies large volumes of plantation hardwood and softwood timber and drives the regional economy. It builds on the Allan Labor Government’s investment in the Green Triangle, including $500,000 for a Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub Feasibility Study, and $4.8 million for key freight road upgrades under the Portland Economic Diversification Plan – complementing the Government’s $190 million to grow Victoria’s plantation estate. The timber hub feasibility study initially assessed the viability of glue-laminated timber production in the Green Triangle, from the plantation hardwood resource that have traditionally been exported. We’re also backing in AFWI’s ongoing research and development work to identify new opportunities for Australia’s timber industry through the Australian Centre for Climate Smart Forestry at the University of Melbourne. More >> Source: Victorian Government Also read: Hub welcomes State Government investment to advance Portland’s Precinct Plan (Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub)  | ||
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