Gippsland, Launceston & Mount Gambier Centres Objectives & Outcomes

Program Objective
The Gippsland, Launceston and Mount Gambier Centres of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation aim to grow Australia’s forest and forest products industry by exploring and facilitating innovation in the forest products sector in areas such as forest management, timber processing, wood fibre recovery, value adding, advanced manufacturing and the bio-economy.
Innovation is defined as an idea that translates to a solution that industry adopts.
Outcome Statement
“Improving the returns to industry and the community from our plantation and native forest estates consistent with their sustainable management”.
The outcome statements for the NIFPI Gippsland, Launceston and Mount Gambier Centres are consistent with the Vision and Growth Objectives outlined in Transforming Australia’s Forest Products Industry (Recommendations from the Forest Industry Advisory Council), the opportunities identified in the Blueprint for the Future South Australian Forest and Wood Products Industry (2014-2040) (SA Forest Industry Advisory Board, 2014), and in the Tasmanian Forest Industry Growth Strategy (A Strategic Growth Plan for the Tasmanian Forests, Fine Timber and Wood Fibre Industry, MAC 2017).
Photo: Rohan Rainbow

NIFPI Priorities

Projects are not limited to these priority areas if they can demonstrate innovation and potential benefit across a wide cross – section of the plantation and forest products industry. There is an expectation that outcomes of projects will have national applicability where practicable and relevant.
Gippsland Centre calls for project proposals to conduct research and development projects in (but not limited to) the following priority areas relating to Victoria’s forest resources:
i) improved resilience, productivity and utilisation of the forest resource
ii) new timber products development and improvements to existing products
iii) non-timber forest products and services
iv) improved supply chain safety and efficiency
v) social engagement, awareness & responsibility

 

    Launceston Centre called for project proposals to conduct research and development projects in (but not limited to) the following priority areas relating to Tasmania’s forest resources:
    i) improved utilisation of the forest resource
    ii) new product development
    iii) non-timber forest products and services
    iv) improved efficiency and safety along the supply chain

    Mount Gambier Centre     calls for project proposals to conduct research and development projects in (but not limited to) the following priority areas relating to the Green Triangle’s plantation resources:
    Round 3 Priorities
    i) Development of new products – composites, engineered wood products, extractives, bioenergy, increased timber recoveries and ecosystem services
    ii) Innovative, safe, efficient, productive, diverse and inclusive workplaces
    iii) Tree growing improvements, including genetic gain, climate change impacts, nutrition and management
    iv) Improved utilisation of digital data, including for fire detection, forest management and mill operations
    v) Growing the productive forestry estate through improved water use for better outcomes for industry, the environment and the community
    Round 1 and 2 Priorities
    i) Development of new products – composites, extractives, bioenergy
    a. Better utilisation of pine core wood
    b. Better value recovery from waste products of log and timber manufacturing
    c. Energy utilisation and management strategies
    ii) Innovative, safe and efficient work places
    a. Improved safety and productivity outcomes through improved understanding of Fatigue Management throughout the forestry supply chain
    b. Develop innovative systems to transport new and existing products
    c. Maximisation of output efficiency and safety of local processing facilities
    iii) Tree Growing
    a. Forest Health: Surveillance and monitoring across the Green Triangle region
    b. Improvements relating to genetic gain to maximise/optimise fibre production
    iv) Precision Management
    a. Fire detection systems using technology for rapid and reliable detection
    b. Application of remotely acquired data and remote sensing technologies
    c. Improved provision and utilisation of resource and product properties into and out of mills
    v) Social Licence
    a. Better understanding of groundwater flow patterns
    b. Best practice plantation water use monitoring and soil moisture measurement
    vi) Robotics, automation and Artificial Intelligence
    a. Better use of data streams (e.g. Robotics and automation systems).