Softwoods Working Group

18/08/2026

🌲 National Forestry Day 2026 | Grown for Australian homes 🏡

Today, SWG and the Murray Region Forestry Hub celebrate the people and businesses behind Australia’s renewable timber supply chain.

Across our region, our members are growing the trees, producing the timber and creating the frames that become Australian homes.

From seedlings in the nursery and sustainably managed plantations, through to timber processing, manufacturing and construction, forestry supports regional jobs and communities while supplying a renewable resource for the homes Australians need.

This National Forestry Day, we’re proud to recognise our members and the important role they play - growing today to build Australia’s tomorrow.

🌱 Grown in our regions.
🪵 Made into timber.
🏠 Built into Australian homes.

11/08/2026

📣 MEDIA RELEASE | Roadmap - Securing the future of the South West Slopes plantation timber industry

The Softwoods Working Group has today issued a media release calling on NSW election candidates and political parties to back the infrastructure and policy priorities needed to secure and grow the South West Slopes plantation timber industry.

The SWG always aims to work with the NSW Government to develop solution supporting regional NSW, especially the contribution of its timber plantation industry which includes 125,000 hectares of sustainably managed plantations, supporting more than 5,500 regional jobs and its $2.3 billion annual contribution to the regional economy.

The Roadmap outlines the priorities for the region including critical regional road upgrades, bushfire preparedness, coordinated blackberry management, plantation investment and investigation of a Strategic Plantation Economic Zone.

With the NSW election approaching, this is an important opportunity to put the future of our region’s plantation timber industry and the communities, jobs and manufacturing it supports firmly on the agenda.

🌲 Read the media release and learn more about the priorities we are putting forward 👉 https://zcu.nz/xJYG?m=0

22/07/2026

Congratulations to all recipients and thank you Hyne Timber for such fantastic and ongoing community support.

The Hyne Community Trust Committee is pleased to announce the successful recipients for the 2026 round of grants.
Funding is now committed to both the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed for a new shed extension as well as the Tumbarumba Golf Club for replacement doors to the training and main function room.
Trust Chair, Kerrie Downes said 2026, once again, saw a high calibre of applications as part of the competitive selection process:
“The Committee’s assessment and selection meeting is the most challenging meeting of the year with consideration for budget, and maximum benefit to the broader community.
With several eligible applications received this year, robust discussion and tough decisions have resulted in what we believe, will be a great outcome for the community.
The Tumbarumba Men’s Shed is held in extremely high regard for the products they make and, the important mental health benefits in keeping people connected and engaged in the community.
They are limited by capacity so by supporting the funding of a new, additional shed, the Trust can make a real lasting benefit for our community.
The Tumbarumba Golf Club is also recognised as a multiple use facility for our community, run by volunteers and delivering much needed training, services and events. The Trust is, once again, pleased to be supporting the improvements to the Club.
On behalf of the Trust, I congratulate the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed and the Tumbarumba Golf Club on their successful Trust applications and we look forward to the progress of their respective initiatives”.

25/06/2026

🌲 Great to meet with Carlie Porteous, Executive Officer of Softwoods Working Group, and Kristina Kaminski, Manager of the Tumbarumba Hyne Mill, during their visit to Parliament House.

We discussed the vital role the timber industry plays in supporting workers and regional communities, and why a sustainable forestry industry matters for Australia's economy. 🪵

Australian Forest Products Association AKD Softwoods