Key stakeholders have come out in support of the University of Tasmania and the Australian Forest Products Association's proposed $200 million forestry centre of excellence.
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The two organisations unveiled their plan on Monday for the centre which would be jointly funded by the federal government and industry under the proposal.
Forico, which has previously collaborated with UTAS, is excited about the potential for the forest industry if the centre goes ahead.
"Forico sees enormous potential for the development of a new National Institute for Forest Products Innovation Centre in Northern Tasmania," Forico chief executive Brian Hayes said.
UTAS and the AFPA are bullish on what the centre could do for the timber industry, with research to potentially create new jobs in the industry. The Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network echoed that sentiment saying the centre could make Tasmania a leader in the industry.
"A project such as a National Centre of Excellence for Forestry Innovation would position Tasmania as a leader in innovation, workforce development and return benefit to the state economy," TFFPN national convener Therese Taylor said.
"We congratulate UTAS and the Australian Forest Products Association for developing this initiative and we hope that they are successful in gaining funding support from the Federal government."
Under the proposal, the centre would be housed at the UTAS Newnham campus in a move welcomed by the City of Launceston council.
Mayor Albert van Zetten said the potential centre would further solidify Launceston as an important education hub in the state.
"Launceston has some exciting opportunities in the years ahead to reposition itself as a contemporary university city - with all the educational, cultural, societal and economic benefits that brings," he said.
"This proposal is certainly driving in that direction."
Stakeholders were in Canberra on Monday lobbying the federal government for a financial commitment.
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