8 August 2014
$1.17 billion likely investment from ‘wood-use’ policy
In New Zealand, the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) this week released the result of its member survey on the likely investment in wood processing should the government adopt a wood-use policy.
WPMA chairman Brian Stanley says the industry is inviting the government, as the country’s largest building procurer, to work with it to shift more public sector construction to wood, based on strong environmental, economic and employment grounds.
“Our survey demonstrates that there is over NZ$1 billion of investment in regional manufacturing likely from government adopting this type of green building policy”, says Mr Stanley. “The government’s lead will be a catalyst for scale investment, with much of the benefits coming from the flow on effect of sales to the private sector and exporting.”
“Our forecasting demonstrates that this investment will lead to strong economic gains, including increasing domestic log processing by over 1 million cubic meters annually, increased exports of high value wood products of NZ$520m annually, and lower housing costs due to building materials being manufactured in world-scale facilities.”
Imports are also expected to drop, as much of the heavy steel and cement that would be replaced is imported. Two thousand additional high-paying regional jobs are also forecast from the investment. Stanley adds: “Countries such as Canada, Japan, France and regional areas of Scandinavia, USA, Australia and New Zealand (Rotorua District Council) have adopted wood first type policies, largely on environmental grounds. WPMA estimates the policy will reduce New Zealand’s CO2 emissions from building projects by 670,000 tonnes annually.”
“The large scale timber buildings built in Christchurch recently have demonstrated that these buildings are now viable and comparable on cost”, he says. “So we are not asking government for subsidies here, adds Mr Stanley, “we are asking the government to think strategically about what it builds in and put New Zealand supply chains and the environment first by pursuing a wood-use policy.”
straatje komt steeds voller te staan....