Where will the timber come from if logging stops?

The great majority of timber produced in Queensland comes from softwood plantations. The following production volumes are for 2021–22:

• softwood plantation sawlogs 1,6111,000 cubic metres
• native forest sawlogs 265,000 cubic metres

Native forests produced just 14% of timber produced in Queensland in 2021–22.

As a structural component in housing, hardwood has long been replaced by LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and glulam (glued laminated timber) made from plantation pine. Its use in housing is largely restricted to flooring, stairs and decking. For the mass housing construction currently being planned, Queensland hardwood is not required.

There is also plantation hardwood potentially available from other states. In 2021–22, NSW produced 102,000 m³ of plantation hardwood sawlogs while Tasmania produced 439,000 m³. (Source: ABARES Australian forest and wood products statistics)

The NSW hardwood plantations are in the north of the State.

A popular plantation hardwood is Plantation Oak produced from plantation grown Shining Gum (Eucalyptus nitens) from Tasmania and Victoria.

Note: The hardwood plantation program established in SEQ for the SEQ Forests Agreement was never taken seriously by the officials responsible.

More comprehensive information on alternatives to native hardwood is available in the following downloadable documents:

Native Forest Logging: Alternatives to native forest hardwoods

Native Forest Logging: Sustainable substitute products