Tronn Alstergren of Platt-Hepworth and Associates can see the potential of radiata pine plantations in this region, despite its minor timber industry.

He is well placed to judge. Mr Alstergren’s family and descendants in Norway have harvested pine forests on their property near Lillehammer for the past 700 years. His father was one of the first people in Australia to market radiata pine through his company Softwood Holdings, of which Mr Alstergren was a director until its sale to CSR in 1996. As a merchant banker in Sydney he also took a keen interest in plantations.

Under the proposal to plant some 50,000 or more acres in the Goulburn, Crookwell, Taralga area, farmers would provide the land while State Forests would plant, maintain, clear fell (through contractors) and market the resource for a small fee. Most of the return would go to the farmer or investor through management fees and profits. Mr Alstergren will release more precise figures at a public meeting early this year.

The arrangement is a far cry from previous set-ups according to Mr Alstergren.

“Most of the plantations planted in the last 50 years have been private venture tax driven and with little planning or maintenance of the infrastructure to accommodate large scale industry such as that based at Bathurst, Orange, Tumut, Canberra or Penrose.

“Now with State Forest support there is a real opportunity for farmers, private investors and fund managers to take an interest.

“The position of plantations is very important. The proximity to rail and ports for export and infrastructure such as saw mills, pressure treatment plants, medium density fibre board plants and paper mills is crucial but with the right amount of resource the manufacturing side will fall into place,” Mr Alstergren said.

The proposal is aimed at the patient investor and farmers looking for a retirement income. The first ‘thinning’ occurs after 12 years and then again at 18 years. This could generate initial infrastructure and employment in trellis and fence post manufacturing followed by saw mills, particle board plants and paper mills.

Mr Alstergren said pine plantations grow best in areas with substantial top-soil.

“They thrive in what’s known as the green triangle in the Millicent, Portland and Penola region of South Australia where there is a lot of heath, flat ground and sandy, well drained soil. But there is no reason why they can’t grow on most of the grazing country in the Goulburn, Taralga, Crookwell district. Modern plantations are planted with cloned seed and the best suited stocking rate with potential to grow pulpwood, posts, rails, trellising and sawlog. Sawlog is selected early using high pruning techniques to improve the eventual quality. It is desirable to clear fall at 25-30 years for the project to be financially viable,” he said.

Mr Alstergren has been liaising with one of Australia’s foremost authorities on radiata pine, and State Forests executive general manager, Peter Crowe.

Mr Crowe said he and Mr Alstergren were interested in generating development for the area.

“While we won’t be taking a lead role, the regional plantations committee will advise landholders on what they need,” Mr Crowe said.

Southern Meats abattoir principal Neville Newton has already expressed keen interest along with other local industry leaders. They will join a small group including Mr Crowe, farming and council representatives for a meeting in February. This will be followed by a public meeting to gauge interest in the proposal.