Socio-economic aspects of the export woodchip industry in Tasmania

摘要

A contribution is made toward assessing some socio-economicudeffects of the export woodchip industry in Tasmania. This isudconsidered important since the industry was initially promoted asudbeing desirable from the point of view of rural development andudother social and economic benefits. This thesis examines woodchipudindustry effects at both the State and regional level and is introducedudby reference to studies of the social and economic role ofudforest industries in Australia and New Zealand.udObservation of the nature of the Tasmanian economy and trendsudin major forest industries shows that the export woodchip industryudepitomizes the peripheral economic position of Tasmania and representsuda continuation of the major thrust of change in Tasmanianudforestry, involving concentration of control over Crown forests,udincreasing capital intensity of industry, and declining employmentudwith rising volumes of wood used. udReview of the operation of the two export woodchip companiesudin Tasmania shows that the industry has furthered control over Crownudforests by one company, Associated Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd, andudthat the stated intentions of legislation covering concessions toudCrown forests from which woodchips are produced are unlikely to beudfulfilled.udEmployment associated with the woodchip industry is discussedudand it is shown that approximately 1300 people are employed in cutting,udhandling, and processing of pulpwood for export. Applicationudof an employment multiplier suggests that the industry supportsudapproximately 3750 jobs throughout Tasmania.udThe state-wide appraisal of woodchipping also involves anudassessment of public expenditure on. transport infrastructure for theudindustry and on Forestry Commission management of concession areas.udIt is estimated that the industry receives a minimum public subsidy of $10 million annually.udRegional effects of the industry are investigated in a comparativeudcase study of two municipalities, Spring Bay and Esperance.udGreater impact in terms of population growth and increasing employmentudis apparent in the smaller Spring Bay municipality where preexistingudindustry was less developed and which lacked an appreciableudbackground in forestry.udThe results of a questionnaire survey of community attitudesudin both Municipalities are reported.. Opinions and attitudes areudexamined by two approaches; general opinions are described whileudattitudes to particular aspects of municipal life and the woodchipudor woodpulp industry are measured using Likert-type attitude scales.udBoth communities regarded the respective industries favourably,udbut in Spring Bay, the woodchip industry was found to be more widelyudsupported than was the woodpulp industry in Esperance. Significantudproblems associated with each industry ,mainly involved environmentaludand forest management concerns. Factors which most influenced attitudesudin both municipalities are also identified and discussed inudterms of differing historical development and industry effects.udWhile the regional significance of the export woodchip industryudis acknowledged, on a state-wide level the benefits are not as conspicuous.udThis thesis highlights the need for continuing assessmentudof the industry on both levels.