Forestry plans limited

Press, 8 September 1982, Page 16

Forestry plans limited

A large expansion of forestry processing in the central North Island is unlikely until the 1990 s because of wood supply limitations, according to an interim planning report. This is one conclusion in the progress report of the Central North Island Forestry and Transport Planning Study recently released by the Minister of National Development, Mr Birch. The

study aims to assess the implications of development options within the region during the next 25 years. Large investments in transport and other services might not be needed until closer to the time of this forestry processing expansion, said Mr Birch. “Specific decisions on road or rail improvements in the central North Island will, be

deferred until the final study report is released at the end of the year,” he said. Investigation of forestry development options, including regional afforestation and small woodlet forestry, would continue for several months. A report on the entire study would then be debated publicly, and the resulting views considered by the Government.