Fine woods initiative receives funding

18/4/02
The State Government has reinforced its commitment to job creation in the South-West with the announcement of an $83,000 grant to a program designed to propel the State's fine woods and furniture industry into the international spotlight.
The funds were awarded to CraftWest for their Designing Futures initiative, which will showcase Western Australia's rare timber and timber products producers and designers, as well as introduce international expertise into the State.
State Development Minister Clive Brown said the State Government had made a significant contribution by approving $83,000 for the program, adding that Designing Futures and the forum were closely aligned with the Government's focus on developing jobs in the South-West.
"With the cessation of logging in old growth forests, we are seeing industry focus shift to fine woods and high quality furniture production," Mr Brown said.
"We have a fantastic resource that is sought after around the world. However, it has to be managed well.
"Programs such as Designing Futures will help re-brand WA as a producer of premium added-value timber products."
Mr Brown said the Designing Futures forum would clearly focus the world - and WA's fine wood and furniture industry - on looking to how the South-West's remaining timber resource could be best used to ensure a sustainable future.
"Not only do we need to maintain the current industry, we need to nurture it to ensure jobs and viable communities in the South-West," he said.
"The programs proposed under the Designing Futures banner will help the industry refocus itself by bringing together world experts and innovative approaches to utilising our rare timber resource."
Designing Futures will begin with the Designing Futures Forum on August 16 -18 and run through to 2004 with a series of master classes, residences, training programs and the development of critical partnerships.
More information is available at http://www.designingfutures.com.au
Minister's office: 9222 9699