Grants up to $2 million available through Tasmanian On-Island Processing Program round two

The Tasmanian government has opened applications for the On-Island Processing Program, offering up to $2 million in grant support for projects involving wood and timber.

According to a statement from state industry minister Eric Abetz on Friday, round two of the program is centred on hardwood plantation timber — though with continued support for other timber types — and has been allocated a total of $8.5 million in funding. Grants are worth between $100,000 and $2 million per project.

The department of state growth mentions $5 million for hardwood plantation projects through the round.

“Processing locally grown timber right here in Tasmania not only value-adds but also creates jobs and opportunity, particularly in regional Tasmania,” said Abetz.

The program was introduced in 2021 and its first round supported seven projects.

According to a summary of the On-Island program, funding will be made available to eligible timber processors for implementing “processing projects with demonstrated feasibility, a strong business case and demonstrated value-adding to the resource. 

“The new resource offers the opportunity to develop quality products such as: sawn timber, veneer, engineered wood products or new high value timber products.”

More information is available here.

Picture: credit Private Forests Tasmania