Contractors are stepping up timber harvesting on Kangaroo Island, despite the impact of last year’s fires.

Key points:

  • Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers has awarded a contract to harvest 200,000 tonnes of pine on the island
  • Much of KIPT’s stock was burnt during Black Summer fires
  • The State Government is considering an application to build a port on Kangaroo Island to export the timber

Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers (KIPT) has awarded a contract to Mount Gambier company Harvestco to harvest 200,000 tonnes of pine on the island.

The bushfires tore through much of KIPT’s plantation, something director Shauna Black said meant time was of the essence.

“The harvest timeframe is now contracted because of the bushfires, so it’s more of a salvage operation, and Harvestco is quite experienced in salvage operations in other parts of Australia,” she said.

However, Ms Black said the wood could still be used but would be stored in water to preserve it.

Ms Black said harvesting burnt timber on the island was a massive undertaking for all involved.

This was all that was left at Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber’s facility in January 2020.(ABC Landline: Prue Adams)

“This hasn’t been done on Kangaroo Island before so there are a lot of lessons to learn and things to iron out,” she said.

Biosecurity concerns

However, even with the wood harvested, the company doesn’t yet have a way to get the wood off the island.

The State Government is considering an application from Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers to build a port on Kangaroo Island to export the timber.

Kangaroo Island’s mayor Michael Pengilly says the council supports the harvest, but not the building of a port.(ABC Landline: Prue Adams)

That proposal has been criticised by a neighbouring abalone farm which has raised biosecurity concerns and Kangaroo Island’s mayor Michael Pengilly.

However, Mr Pengilly said he had no issue with the harvest going ahead despite his opposition to the proposed port.

“We’re supportive of the harvest, we always have been,” he said.

“The issue, the council and the community has is about the port site.”

KIPT denies there is any danger from the proposed port to the neighbouring abalone farm.

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