The timber tsunami - coming soon

for the full story see page 29 of todays (10 Jul 06) Courier Mail "Tax breaks spart renewed interest in Aussie agricultural investments - Rural stake grows fast"

....."Due to the tax breaks high income earners gain from agricultural investments $1.26 billion was put into managed agricultural investments last financial year.
Great Southern Plantations new sales grew from $365 million in 04 - 05 to $457 Million in 05 - 06, while Timbercorp's sales grew from $176 million to $321 million. This growth was mainly in non-forest investments, although combined timber investment was 'flat' at $744 million for 05 - 06.
Great Southern and Timbercorm account for 60% of total investments.

In the late 90's timber investments grew dramatically, reaching 126,211 hectares in the year 2000 alone...."

I believe that most of this is for woodpulp production, I wonder how much is for hardwood timber production.
I wonder if Great Southern or Timbercorp would allow you to buy a standing Bluegum woodchip lot, and extend the life of the lot out to another 10 years, minimum.
It'd be interesting to see what is produced when you thin the block out and let grow into a decent size. i.e. thin it by 75% and pulp that and then let the rest grow for another 10 years.

you'd probably find the next 10 years would produce even more pulp than the first 10 years did.

However, you need to factor in (somehow) the effects of climate change and will the trees still have enough rain during their 2nd decade to survive.

I have a Godson (strange for a Buddhist/Aethieist) who lives near Casino. Last visit he took me to see a new development. East of the Grafton/Casino road some investment company had bought out about a dozen properties, thousnads, if not hundreds of thousands, of acres. They completely leveled any original trees left (not many, this is the home of the landslip) and ploughed. They then brought up the amazing planting machine, which was so big it needed to be assembled on site, which then planted hardwood seedlings, in rows about 4 metres apart over the whole property. It took about 20 minutes to drive past the property, and the new seedlings stretched as far as one could see.

Rather see my taxes go here than to some other dubious research grants.