The Victorian Government has decided to bring forward the cessation of native timber harvesting to 1 January 2024.

The Government has also announced an additional $200 million in funding for support arrangements for workers, sawmills, contractors and those in the supply chain.

VicForests will continue to work closely with industry and remains focused on delivering timber until 1 January 2024.

We are pleased the Government wants to retain the skills and capabilities of our foresters and contractors into the future. Harvest and haulage contractors will be offered alternative work in forest and land management across Victoria, which will also secure their critical skills, experience and specialised equipment for use in bushfire prevention, response and recovery.  

In today’s announcement there is specific reference of the requirement to deliver a program of works to manage the 1.8 million hectares of public land currently subject to the timber harvesting allocation order. 

VicForests thanks all those involved for their dedication to the native timber industry in Victoria and to the communities that they live and work in.