When you drive into the town of Manjimup, 295 kilometres south of Perth, the timber logging legacy is clear to see.In 2021, the then McGowan government turned the industry on its head, saying there would be no more native timber logging from 2024.As part of the announcement, there was an $80 million Native Forest Transition Plan to soften the blow for people and businesses impacted by the change.
"I walked away from it because I knew damn well that by doing it that way the only choices I had were to go broke or go bankrupt," he said.Mr Trease uses expensive and niche equipment, including this profile grinder.Mr Trease said he felt as if he never should have taken the chance to get into the industry as his options for a comfortable retirement now seemed dire.
"All of those who wanted employment now have employment and a number of people transitioned to retirement," she said. "The decision to end forest logging was welcomed by the beekeeping industry statewide because we are so reliant on those mature forests to produce the honeys we do," owner Mikey Cernotta said.Mr Cernotta said his experience of applying for the grant, for which he received $572,000 from the state government, was quite transparent and would help bring on another six full-time workers.
"Some timber mills are receiving timber from mine site clearing, so when a mining company applies to clear, it is a requirement that they make that timber available as well through FPC but also some timber millers are receiving timber from plantations or other private resources." and the South West Timber Hub have partnered to show the benefits of ecological thinning to the industry and community.