The Murray Region is a major hub for softwood plantations in Australia, accounting for around 16% of the national softwood estate. It supports six large-scale softwood processing facilities and a network of smaller processors, contributing significantly to the regional economy.
Key forestry towns in New South Wales include Tumut, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Gundagai and Adelong. On the Victorian side, major centres are Corryong, Tallangatta, Myrtleford and Wangaratta.
The Murray Region Forestry Hub is one of 11 Hubs initially funded in 2019 by the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Hub ObjectivesThe Hub supports the National Forest Industries Plan by:
Strategic GoalBy 2050, the Hub aims to restore softwood plantations to pre-fire levels and expand the estate by 45,000 hectares—reaching a total of 215,000 ha. The sector will support 8,400 jobs, generate $3.2 billion in output and contribute $1.5 billion in regional value-added (based on 2020 prices).
Achieving this goal involves collaboration between industry, local communities, and all levels of government, with efforts guided by four strategic pillars:
Build greater public awareness of the industry’s economic and environmental value through factsheets, events, workshops, and forest tours—highlighting job creation and carbon sequestration.
Build greater public awareness of the industry’s economic and environmental value through factsheets, events, workshops, and forest tours—highlighting job creation and carbon sequestration.
Support global competitiveness by improving roads, energy efficiency and supply chain productivity to reduce costs and increase reliability.
Restore plantations lost in the 2019/20 fires, support replanting and long-term forecasting, and promote carbon sequestration as a climate and economic solution.
Industry SnapshotThe region contains around 188,000 ha of mostly radiata pine plantations. The 2019/20 alpine bushfires disrupted the estate’s age profile, but salvage harvesting is complete and replanting is progressing. Impacts on wood supply will continue into the mid-2030s.
Harvested timber supports a well-established market, including sawmilling, MDF, particle board, packaging, plywood and cross-laminated timber.
The region spans southern NSW and north-east Victoria—from east of the Hume Freeway to west of the Great Dividing Range, south of Gundagai to east of Seymour.
In 2020/2021 the industry’s Gross Value of output was $3.8 billion, and employing more than 11,000 people across the value chain, directly and indirectly. Wood processing contributes to the majority of well paying jobs across the sector accounting for 54% of regional industry employment.
The region is a strong domestic processor, utilising more than 90% of local fibre within the boundary of the hub to produce quality timber, paper and landscape products.
The plantations are primarily owned by Forestry Corporation of NSW and Hancock Victorian Plantations, with contributions from smaller private growers.
Major processors in the region include:
Australia’s 11 Regional Forestry Hubs were established under the National Forestry Industry Plan 2018 to strengthen and support the nation’s forestry sector. Strategically located in key timber-producing regions, the hubs bring together industry, government, and local communities to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Each hub works closely with stakeholders to deliver strategic planning, technical assessments, and extension services that improve forestry practices and enhance productivity. By connecting research with on-ground implementation, the hubs help landholders and businesses adopt best practices while identifying new opportunities for industry development.
Supported by ongoing Australian Government investment, the Regional Forestry Hubs play a vital role in promoting sustainable forest management, supporting regional economies, and ensuring the long-term success of Australia’s forest industries.
