As the Snowy Valleys begin a bushfire recovery effort set to span decades for the local softwood industry, the South West Slopes Forestry Hub is seeking community input.
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The hub, set up to lead expansion efforts for the region's plantation network, has released a community engagement survey seeking a clearer picture of community understanding and opinions around the softwood industry.
Executive Officer Phil Clements said while there was potential to expand the industry in the region, the first steps now would be to recover from the Snowy Valleys fires which burnt through about 40 per cent of the plantation area.
"We say we're damaged but we're not destroyed," Mr Clements said.
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He said growers in the area had an "ambitious program" to replant trees lost over the next seven to eight years which he believed was doable.
As replanting efforts continue, Mr Clements said there may be an overlap with plans to expand the overall plantation area to help meet a national shortfall.
"Any number of things could come into play there that would enable us to grow more fibre and provide the wood that's going to be desperately required from within Australia," he said.
Mr Clements said engaging with the community was a part of expansion efforts and promoting goodwill, and the survey was mainly about understanding what the community knew about the industry and what they would like to know.
"With the fires just gone by, I think people that have perhaps been close to plantations and forests have probably got opinions that they may not have had a chance to share and we're happy to hear all those," he said.
"It's a bit of a two-way street if you like, we want to get community feedback, we know what elements of the community are thinking but then we wanted to be more broad with seeking out those opinions and thoughts."
He encouraged South West Slopes residents to fill out the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWSForestryHub before October 18.