Forestry Corporation of NSW has finished replanting 1,500 hectares of pine plantations across the Bombala region to provide timber for homes of the future.

Forestry Corporation’s Silviculture Supervisor Daniel Buckley said each winter around 8,000 hectares of pine plantations across NSW are replanted as a future timber resource.

“The seedlings will be harvested as timber in around 30 years – it’s exciting to think the work we are doing today will provide the building blocks for the homes of our children and grandchildren,” Mr Buckley said.

“This year we have planted around 1,900,000 seedlings in the Bombala region, which were grown in Forestry Corporation’s Tumut production nursery and under contract from Arborgen Nursery.

“These seedlings have restocked plantations that have been harvested for timber in recent years in Bondi, Coolangubra, Glen Allen and Towamba State Forests.

"This also includes the re-establishment of our latest land purchase 'Glengarry', which will now be a part of Coolangubra State Forest."

The planting operation provides significant regional employment, with around 35 contractor staff engaged during the planting season.

“Each seedling is planted by hand and an experienced planter can plant over 3,000 seedlings a day,” Mr Buckley said.

“We plant in winter when pine seedlings are somewhat dormant, which gives them the best chance of survival in our local climate.”

Forestry Corporation has around 230,000 hectares of pine plantations in NSW and produces enough timber to construct a quarter of the homes built in Australia each year.

Media contact: Rod Campbell 0428 058 549