The New Forest Industry Plan aims to double to $4 billion the annual contribution the industry makes to the state's economy each year and increase jobs in the sector by up to 1000.

The blueprint to guide the industry through a major change in resource _ from native forest to more plantations _ included a $365 million investment in new harvesting and transport machinery, a $225 million engineered strand lumber mill and a $25 million wood pellet plant.

Those at the plan's launch were told that there should be no environmental forest debate any longer because a fair balance had been struck.

``The forest resource is well managed and it is now time to look at the economical and social sustainability,'' Forest Industries Association of Tasmania chief executive Terry Edwards said.

Full story and reaction in tomorrow's The Examiner.