Walcha timber is proving popular in China

"We looked to the international market after our local customers decided to close a couple of years ago and we’ve now loaded our 5,000th container of locally-grown radiata pine onto the train at Newcastle for export," Mr Miller said.

“Over the past eighteen months we’ve exported 150,000 tonnes of radiata pine logs from the plantations around Walcha and Nundle and we are currently shipping out about 60 containers of locally-grown pine every week.”

The exported timber is used for a range of purposes in China. 

“Most is used as general construction lumber, with some plywood and furniture making,” Mr Miller said.

“We’ve really ramped up local operations in line with the increase in exports, which has kept harvesting crews and haulage contractors busy and created a steady stream of seasonal work as we replant harvested plantations in the local area.

“Timber from our region’s State forests is in demand because it’s good quality and certified sustainable, so we’re expecting to keep these local crews and contractors busy for quite some time.”

Forestry Corporation met with some of their best customers last month, including both their first customer in China and largest customer in China, to mark the dispatch of the milestone container for export, build relationships and discuss new opportunities. 

The group inspected operations and standing plantations in Riamukka State Forest south of Walcha.

“Customers and the people involved in marketing the timber in China were able to inspect the local timber resources,” said Mr Miller.

“Some were here for the first time and this was an important opportunity for them to see the available timber and consider potential suitable markets as well as opportunities into the future.”