Studies highlight opportunities for QLD's forestry future [AU]

Friday 25 Sep 2026

 
Queensland's future homes, manufacturing capability and regional economies will depend on decisions made today about the state's future forest resource.

A technical report commissioned by the South & Central Queensland Regional Forestry Hub has identified significant opportunities to strengthen future timber supply, support regional investment and improve long-term resource security across Queensland.

The study explores plantation expansion, afforestation opportunities, native forest regrowth management, carbon sequestration and forest resource planning.

The technical report was commissioned to help address one of the most significant challenges facing the forest and timber sector: ensuring Queensland can meet future demand for timber products while supporting regional jobs, manufacturing growth and environmental outcomes.

The work aligns closely with Queensland Future Timber in Focus: Prosper 2050 Delivering Now 2026–2030, the Queensland Government's first five-year implementation plan under the Queensland Future Timber Plan 2050, which aims to secure and grow sustainable timber resources to support housing, infrastructure, economic development and environmental outcomes.

The study findings highlight several significant opportunities and challenges for the sector:
  • Spatial modelling identified significant areas of land suitable for future plantation development and assessed opportunities involving timber production, carbon storage and grazing across the South and Central Queensland region.
  • A study undertaken through the native regrowth carbon sequestration project identified approximately 1.5 million hectares of commercially important regrowth or potential regrowth forest and highlighted opportunities to better recognise the carbon value of managed forests.
  • A technical report examining manufacturing competitiveness identified constrained timber supply and increasing demand as key challenges for future industry growth
  • Analysis of forest management models found multiple-use forests consistently generated greater long-term benefits than protection-only models, with an assessment estimating approximately $5.4 billion in benefits over a 100-year evaluation period.
Kerry Fullarton, Manager of the South & Central Queensland Regional Forestry Hub, said the study provides practical evidence to support future planning and investment decisions. "Queensland has significant opportunities to strengthen its future forest resource, but realising those opportunities requires informed decision-making and a long-term view of resource security, " said Mrs Fullarton.

"This study provides industry, government and investors with practical evidence about where future timber supply opportunities exist and the planning, investment and policy settings that can help support them," she said.

The Queensland Future Timber Plan identifies supply, supply chains and markets, regulatory settings, workforce development, and research and innovation as critical priorities for the sector. The Hub's study contributes evidence across many of these priority areas, including plantation expansion, afforestation opportunities, carbon outcomes, resource security and future investment confidence.

Kerry Fullarton said the findings demonstrate the important role evidence-based planning will play in achieving Queensland's long-term timber supply goals. "The Queensland Future Timber Plan recognises the importance of securing future timber resources to support housing, manufacturing, regional jobs and economic growth."

"The study commissioned through the Hub helps identify practical opportunities to expand future timber supply while supporting environmental outcomes and regional development."

"Most importantly, it provides a strong evidence base to help inform future industry, investment and policy discussions."

Further resources can be found here.

Source & image credit: South & Central Queensland Regional Forestry Hub



2025 Forest Products Industry Maps for AU & NZ


Share |


Copyright 2004-2026 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved.