State timber-drying kiln capacity
The State sawmills have 2,000 cubic feet of kiln capacity; replacement and automation are under review, including capacity, while private sawmills are expected to handle most drying of homegrown timber.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the capacity of the timber-drying kilns in State control and if large scale improvements in this area will be considered to dispose of large amounts of lodgepole pine now available for felling for use by the joinery industry, in order to reduce imports of high-priced panelling wood etc.
Comment on this
The total capacity of the timber-drying kilns at the Forest and Wildlife Service's sawmills is 2,000 cubic feet. The replacement and automation of the kilns is at present under review and such review will include consideration of capacity.
Most of the kiln drying of homegrown timber, in order to improve acceptability for various purposes, will, of course, fall to be undertaken by private sawmills where kiln-drying facilities are becoming increasingly available.