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Plantation forestry in Queensland
The majority of Queensland's plantation estate comprises softwood plantations, with only small areas of hardwood plantations.
Plantations are mostly located in the coastal, higher rainfall zones of South East Queensland. These areas produce the majority of the plantation logs used by the domestic processing sector.
Other timber plantations have been established in central and northern regions of Queensland.
Plantation trees found in Queensland include hoop pine, Southern pine, Gympie messmate, spotted gum and African Mahogany.
Softwood plantation estate
Queensland's softwood plantation estate includes large areas of State plantation forest that are administered under the Forestry Act 1959.
HQPlantations Pty Ltd manages Queensland's State plantation forests under a 99-year plantation licence. HQPlantations owns the plantation forests but the State still owns the underlying land and the associated native forest.
State plantation forests are public land. The public is generally allowed to access State plantation forests but a permit may be required depending on the activity and where it is performed.
Working with HQPlantations
The State plantation forest estate is identified on the HQPlantations website.
A total of around 300,000 hectares of State plantation forest is used to produce commercial plantation timber, which is made up of approximately:
- 200,000 hectares of timber plantations
- 100,000 hectares of surrounding native forests known as buffer areas.
HQPlantations is responsible for fire management and the control of pest plants and animals in these buffer areas.
The Queensland Government ensures that high standards of environmental care are applied to State plantation forest through agreements with HQPlantations.
This includes important management responsibilities such as:
- Sustainable forestry – HQPlantations must maintain accreditation under an internationally recognised sustainable forest management system. Current certification systems are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-C107541) forest management standard and Responsible Wood.
- Fire management – HQPlantations works with government agencies, including the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Rural Fire Service, to manage fires in plantation forests on state land. This includes
- planning for wildfire responses
- fuel reduction burning to minimise the risk of wildfire
- monitoring developments in fire management.
- Road maintenance – We work with HQPlantations to determine responsibility for roads and tracks depending on whether they're used for recreation, commercial or fire-management purposes.
- Conservation – Around 3,400ha of plantation forests on State land will be selectively harvested, rehabilitated and transferred to State forests for conservation after the plantations in each area are harvested.
We also work with HQPlantations to ensure public access to State plantation forest for recreational and other commercial purposes continues.
Activities permitted in State plantation forests
In addition to commercial timber production, plantation forests on state land have other commercial and recreational uses.
The community is generally free to access State plantation forests, but a permit may be required depending on the activity and location. Permits allow HQPlantations to keep track of visitors and ensure harvesting activities are carried out safely.
Contact HQPlantations to find out if you need a permit for activities in plantation forests on state land. Common activities requiring a permit include:
- 4WD activities
- organised group activities (e.g. public meetings, sporting events)
- stock grazing
- beekeeping
- establishing infrastructure (e.g. telecommunications, pipelines, roads).
The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) also issues permits for particular activities in plantation forests on state land. This includes the activities listed above as well as:
- camping
- scientific, research or educational activities
- other commercial activities
- any activity located in both plantation forests or on other state land (e.g. state native forests, national parks).
It's important for users of plantation forests to stay safe for the benefit of all visitors and commercial users.
Keeping safe in State plantation forests
We work with HQPlantations Pty Ltd to make State plantation forests as safe as possible for all visitors and users, and to maintain their environmental values. Safety risks can be created by illegal activities such as:
- driving unregistered vehicles
- using 4WDs and trail bikes off-road in a way that damages the land and interferes with safety practices, including fire management
- dumping rubbish
- camping without a permit
- participating in group activities without a permit
- lighting fires.
When you visit State plantation forests, make sure you follow all signs and directions from state officers (e.g. forest rangers) or HQPlantations officers.
You can help us keep plantation forests on state land safe by:
- reporting illegal dumping and littering
- contacting Crime Stoppers or the Queensland Police if you see any activity that you think is suspicious or unsafe.
Plantation area
Queensland has about 206,700ha of plantations, comprised of around 89% softwood plantations, 10% hardwood plantations and less than 1% mixed species.
HQPlantations is the state's major grower, owning around 96% of Queensland's plantation estate. The remaining plantations are owned by mostly small-scale private growers.
A 2021 plantation update found that around 35,150ha of plantations had been lost since the previous update in 2016. The main losses were due to the continuing conversion of failed hardwood plantations that were established under managed investment scheme arrangements in the early 2000s.
Also consider…
- Use QSpatial to map spatial coverage.
- Read Queensland's plantation forestry estate—2016 update.
- Read Queensland's plantation forestry estate—2021 update.
Plantation legislation and regulation
New plantation developments require planning approval in Queensland.
These activities are considered a material change of land use which are subject to the Planning Act 2009 and the relevant local government development assessment requirements. To determine which requirements apply, check with the appropriate local government authority.
Plantations that include Corymbia and Eucalyptus tree species are regulated by the koala conservation plan and management program in some areas of Queensland (koala districts A and B). This regulation complies with the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Additional advice on regulatory obligations associated with plantations is provided in the Timber plantation operations code of practice for Queensland.
Read more information on legislation and regulation relevant to forestry in Queensland and the responsibilities of government or contact our Customer Service Centre.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021