HUNDREDS of families are expected to rally in Maryborough this Sunday, concerned over radical changes planned for vegetation management laws that could see the hardwood industry shut down.
The family friendly 'Wood is Good' event has been organised in response to the Palaszczuk government's proposed vegetation management laws for forestry, which will substantially reduce the amount of timber able to be harvested.
Sean Ryan, Private Forestry Service Queensland, said resource security was essential for investment and financing requirements in the timber industry.
"Without a guarantee of long-term timber supply there is a significant risk of industry collapse, mill closures and job losses across the region," Mr Ryan said.
"Under the South East Queensland Forest Agreement the supply of state-owned native sawlogs is to cease from 2024, which assumes an adequate resource from plantations and private native forests will replace it.
"However, with insufficient development of the private native forest resource and the inadequacy of the plantation resource as a substitute, there is no long-term resource security."
Sawmiller Sam Slack, Slacks Hardwood, Gayndah, said changes to the code of conduct for forestry on private land would wreck the hardwood industry in the long term.
"Increasing the density of trees from 150 stems a hectare to 300 stems a hectare means those more closely growing trees cannot ever grow into millable timber," Mr Slack said.
"Combined with trigger mapping, these new laws are set to ruin a sustainable, carbon friendly industry for no apparent gain.
"The thousands of people who work directly in the industry, the landholders who manage the trees, and the environment will all be losers. These laws are taking this industry in the wrong direction."
The family focused event will run from 11.30am to 3pm at the Granville Soccer Club, Maryborough.
