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Abstract

A contribution is made toward assessing some socio-economic
effects of the export woodchip industry in Tasmania. This is
considered important since the industry was initially promoted as
being desirable from the point of view of rural development and
other social and economic benefits. This thesis examines woodchip
industry effects at both the State and regional level and is introduced
by reference to studies of the social and economic role of
forest industries in Australia and New Zealand.
Observation of the nature of the Tasmanian economy and trends
in major forest industries shows that the export woodchip industry
epitomizes the peripheral economic position of Tasmania and represents
a continuation of the major thrust of change in Tasmanian
forestry, involving concentration of control over Crown forests,
increasing capital intensity of industry, and declining employment
with rising volumes of wood used.
Review of the operation of the two export woodchip companies
in Tasmania shows that the industry has furthered control over Crown
forests by one company, Associated Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd, and
that the stated intentions of legislation covering concessions to
Crown forests from which woodchips are produced are unlikely to be
fulfilled.
Employment associated with the woodchip industry is discussed
and it is shown that approximately 1300 people are employed in cutting,
handling, and processing of pulpwood for export. Application
of an employment multiplier suggests that the industry supports
approximately 3750 jobs throughout Tasmania.
The state-wide appraisal of woodchipping also involves an
assessment of public expenditure on. transport infrastructure for the
industry and on Forestry Commission management of concession areas.
It is estimated that the industry receives a minimum public subsidy of $10 million annually.
Regional effects of the industry are investigated in a comparative
case study of two municipalities, Spring Bay and Esperance.
Greater impact in terms of population growth and increasing employment
is apparent in the smaller Spring Bay municipality where preexisting
industry was less developed and which lacked an appreciable
background in forestry.
The results of a questionnaire survey of community attitudes
in both Municipalities are reported.. Opinions and attitudes are
examined by two approaches; general opinions are described while
attitudes to particular aspects of municipal life and the woodchip
or woodpulp industry are measured using Likert-type attitude scales.
Both communities regarded the respective industries favourably,
but in Spring Bay, the woodchip industry was found to be more widely
supported than was the woodpulp industry in Esperance. Significant
problems associated with each industry ,mainly involved environmental
and forest management concerns. Factors which most influenced attitudes
in both municipalities are also identified and discussed in
terms of differing historical development and industry effects.
While the regional significance of the export woodchip industry
is acknowledged, on a state-wide level the benefits are not as conspicuous.
This thesis highlights the need for continuing assessment
of the industry on both levels.

Item Type:	Thesis - Unspecified
Authors/Creators:	McCuaig, MA and Hoysted, PA
Keywords:	Logging
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 1983 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Thesis (M. Env. St) - University of Tasmania, 1984. Bibliography: l. 280-288
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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