To increase the supply of timber supplies for the housing industry the Marshall Liberal Government has opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) process aimed at manufacturing additional logs into structural timber for local South Australian home builders.
Depending upon the proposals received, there is up to $2 million available to increase the supply of house building timbers.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the EOI process was a step towards addressing the unprecedented demand for building timbers currently being experienced by South Australian builders.
"Our forest and wood products and construction and building industries all play an essential role in the success of the state's economy," Minister Basham said.
"The booming local housing industry is great news for the South Australian economy but the increased demand for timbers is putting real pressure on our supply chains.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is working with industry to explore all options to boost supply to meet house-building demand and support local jobs in our regions and suburbs.
"This EOI process is looking for innovative options and projects that will result in the manufacture of additional building timbers in the short term to support the construction of homes in South Australia.
"Project proposals we are seeking include the upgrade or purchase of sawmilling equipment or workforce expansion or upskilling that can lead to the efficient delivery of additional building timber.
"Proposals must be able to commence delivering additional timber to the local market inside six months, with preference given to proposals able to start delivering within three months.
"The EOI process follows the recent announcement of ForestrySA tenders which will see all log of sawmill quality being provided to the processing industry for value-adding here in regional South Australia.
"No logs of sawmill quality will be exported as a result of these tenders, in a strong sign of ForestrySA's support for the local industry.
"Pleasingly, as a result of a new 10-year log supply agreement, KSI Sawmills have committed to building a new $4.5 million sawmill in the Adelaide Hills which will increase supply of essential timber products and create local jobs."
The EOI process will close on Thursday, 15 July 2021 at 11.59pm.
For further information on the EOI to increase manufacturing of structural timbers and to submit a proposal visit www.tenders.sa.gov.au.
