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Increased Fees to Help Provide Essential Infrastructure for Tasmanian Beekeeping Industry | Forestry Tasmania is increasing fees for beekeepers using state forest. Forestry Tasmania has been in discussions with the beekeepers for several months and has decided to increase the amount it recovers from the beekeeper industry.


Peter Volker, Manager Field Services said the apiary industry is worth approximately $180 million to the state economy and Forestry Tasmania recovers only $32,317 for apiary services on state forest. 

“The proposed new schedule of fees was forwarded to the beekeepers to be phased in over three years which allows time for further negotiations,” he said. 

“The new fees will raise an extra $0.30 per hive and $12.90 per site in the first year. 

“We understand that nobody likes to pay higher charges but the fact is that even with the new fees it won’t cover Forestry Tasmania's costs.” 

Forestry Tasmania charges beekeepers minimal fees for access to a range of infrastructure to allow them to undertake their beekeeping operations. 

“Forestry Tasmania allows beekeepers to access leatherwood stands on roads that were previously used for harvesting operations,” Dr Volker said. 

“Without these roads, the beekeepers would not have access to leatherwood sites, greatly affecting the sustainability of their businesses. 

“Furthermore, if we are able to recover more money it gives us option of keeping some roads open for beekeeper access on roads that are no longer used for forestry operations.” 

“These fees are used to help Forestry Tasmania service the industry adequately and assist with administration costs associated with managing and liaising with the beekeeper industry in relation to apiary management.” 

The majority of Tasmania’s leatherwood-rich forest is located within the World Heritage Area, and is largely inaccessible to beekeepers as no new roads may be constructed into these areas and some existing roads have been closed. 

State forests are therefore a pivotal resource for the production of leatherwood and other types of honey. 

Approximately 360,000 hectares of leatherwood-rich areas are in state forest. 

Where practical, leatherwood is excluded from forest harvesting and since 1993, less than three per cent of leatherwood-rich state forests have been harvested, preserving the resource for the Tasmanian beekeeping industry. 

“Access to commercial stands of leatherwood on state forest is extremely important to the local beekeeping industry to make their businesses sustainable,” Dr Volker said.   

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10th August, 2010   Media inquiries:

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