Environment

Forestry

Overview

Forestry involves the commercial production of timber resources from state forests, plantations and native forests on private land.  Forestry - on both public and private land - is a substantial and growing industry in Victoria.

 

Policy development and the management of state forests is the responsibility of the State Government. However, local government has an interest in the social, economic and environmental impacts of policy. As such, local government is concerned with ensuring that policy development for forests and forest related activities reflects the broad interest of the community. 

 

The management of Victoria's forests also presents many issues for local government to respond to and manage including compliance with codes of practice on private land, plantation expansion, timber resource use and industry reforms.  A key role for local government is forest management on private land.  Councils provide and maintain infrastructure for timber haulage, value the land used for commercial timber production and undertake planning and prevention of bushfires.

  

Local government, as the local planning authority, is responsible for ensuring that forestry activities on private land comply with the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production.  This responsibility involves ensuring that forestry activity on private land is appropriately planned, developed, managed, harvested and restored/revegetated.

Initiatives

Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) 

Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) is an incorporated local government association representing the interests of municipal councils in forestry on both public and private land. The Association’s primary function is to provide a forum for local government to address the management of forests and forest industries and their impact on local communities.

 Find out more about Timber Towns Victoria (TTV)>