The Western Australian (WA) Government is set to provide $10 million in New Industry Development Grants to attract new industries and support the expansion of existing businesses in the region’s South-West timber areas.
The grants are part of the McGowan Government’s $80 million Native Forestry Transition plan to phase out commercial native timber logging by 2024.
The grants will support innovative and sustainable projects geared towards creating new employment opportunities, protecting existing jobs and future-proofing WA’s regional economies.
Businesses, innovators and organisations with planned, investment-ready projects are encouraged to apply for matched funding grants of up to $2 million.
The McGowan Government has also invested $350 million in new softwood plantations across the South-West, which will create and support WA forestry jobs.
Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis said the grants will help attract new and sustainable industries to the region and allow existing businesses to expand and create more jobs to support WA’s economy as it moves toward the future.
“I encourage any business looking to develop in the State’s south to consider applying for matched funding through the New Industry Development Grants,” Minister Jarvis added.
Meanwhile, Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie said the opportunity will enable new industries to establish or existing businesses to expand their activities in the Native Forest Timber regions.
“The New Industries Development Grants will add value to our local economies and will contribute to the development of a range of exciting new job opportunities,” Kelsbie added.
The decision to end native forest logging from 2024 will preserve an additional 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests, and protect WA’s native forests.
