The multi-faceted North East Forestry and Timber Hub will be strongly represented at a major field day at Casino in the NSW Northern Rivers from May 16 to 18.
The three-day event has been supported by several key stakeholders, including Timber NSW, Timber Queensland, the Australian Forest Contractors Association and NSW DPI (Forestry).
The 40th Norco-Primex Field Days is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors from northern NSW and southeast Queensland.
“I think we’ve got, for the first time, a diversity of suppliers and information for all aspects of the industry, from growing forests to harvesting them and processing the timber,” Timber NSW chairman Andrew Hurford said.
“It will be the largest forest industry-related exhibit in Australia this year,” he said. “The field days will cover elements from harvesting machinery to information for landholders about growing or managing forests.”
Primex director Bruce Wright says the field days are ideally situated on the East Coast, an accessible resource that presents trade, industry, and networking events, plantation visits, and working demonstrations to a national and potentially international audience.
“The field days are looking to attract more than 30,000 visitors from across northern NSW and south-east Queensland,” he said.
The Northern NSW hardwood industry contributes $700 million annually to GDP and employs 5700 people across the region.
Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens believes the Hub represents an excellent opportunity for networking and collaboration across the industry, as well as looking at advances in machinery and technology for better utilisation of forest resources.
“This specialised event is tailored to opportunities in northern NSW and south-east Queensland, including private native forestry and farm forestry operations such as better integration of grazing with timber production,” Mr Stephens said.
Alongside farm machinery and equipment, trucks and earthmoving equipment displays from the Richmond Valley Events Centre will be a range of agricultural products and innovations, including all-terrain electric motorbikes and the all-new British-designed dual cab Quartermaster and Mitsubishi Triton.
The field days will also attract cattle breeders, regenerative agriculturists and beekeepers, while visitors will also have access to education and health professionals, affordable housing experts and a ‘Business, Innovation and Agtech Hub’ in partnership with AgTech Finder, AusAgritech and NSW DPI in this wide-ranging expo of products and produce.
“All elements in a farmer’s life are reflected in the field days,” Bruce Wright said.
“The core of the event is the machinery and equipment but it’s also about how farmers live and the quality of life they have. From that comes innovation to be more efficient and connect with the wider community.”
The 2024 field days are a milestone event; Bruce Wright’s father, John, inaugurated them in 1985.
“This is the culmination of four decades in showcasing agricultural machinery and innovative ideas in this corner of the country,” Mr Wright said.
“This year’s field days will be the biggest ever, and even if someone’s been attending every year for the past 20 years, there’ll be something fresh for everyone. Every dynamic from exhibits to entertainment has been enhanced.”
A price range of field day admissions is available online. Student and concession prices are available, and children under 12 have free entry if accompanied by an adult.
Note: There are 11 Regional Forestry Hubs across Australia, which were established under the National Forestry Industry Plan 2018.
The Federal Government’s ‘A Better Plan for Forestry and Forest Products 2022-23’ budget measure has committed to an additional $8.6 million over three years from 2024-25 to extend and expand the role of the 11 Hubs.
The Regional Forestry Hub regions were chosen to represent existing concentrations of wood supply resources, combined with significant existing processing and/or manufacturing operations, established domestic and/or international transport links, and strong potential for growth.
Each Regional Forestry Hub has a steering committee of industry stakeholders. The committees determine the priorities for their region. The Hubs work with industry, state and local governments and other key stakeholders to prepare and provide the government with strategic planning, technical assessments and analyses that aim to support growth in the forest industries in their region.
