Sorting Fact from Fiction in the Debate on Blue Gum Plantations

In the early to mid 1990s, a number of local and global factors came together to provide a very attractive basis for the development of a new industry in the Green Triangle region of south-west Victoria and south-eastern South Australia—the industry based on the short rotation of hardwood timber. Since then, the rapid growth of this industry has resulted in much debate as to its pros and cons, and a considerable amount of misinformation has been promoted on both sides. Fortunes have already been made and the first stage of development of the industry has almost been completed. The region has a sufficient critical mass of product for it to add to the future wealth creation of the region, although with some likely future rationalization.