Round 4 grant applications are now open.
- Applications for Batch 1 will close on 16 December 2026.
- Applications for Batch 2 will close on 30 June 2027.
You can submit an application and access grant materials for the program on GrantConnect. The grant materials include the program's Grant Opportunity Guidelines, Question and Answer documents, and other important guidance information.
The Australian Government is extending the Support Plantation Establishment Program through the $300 million Forestry Growth Fund. The extension will help grow Australia’s forestry industry and strengthen future domestic timber supply.
More than $14 million in grant funding is now available through Round 4 for projects to be delivered from 2027 to 2029.
To date, previous funding rounds have awarded $72.29 million (GST exclusive) in grant funding to 82 projects.
Program objectives
Program funding supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests in Australia and assists the sector in responding to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources.
The objectives of the program are to:
- increase future plantation forest resources available for processing, as well as for plantation forest management, harvesting and haulage employment
- support private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory government forestry bodies to expand the Australian plantation forest estate
- contribute to meeting Australia’s carbon emission reduction targets, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Change Convention.
Grant process
Grantees are required to provide a co-contribution at least equal to the grant amount and grants are open to private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory government forestry bodies.
Funding of $2,000 (GST exclusive) per hectare of new long-rotation plantation forest established will be provided to successful grantees.
- The minimum grant amount is $40,000 (GST exclusive).
- There is no maximum grant amount, provided grant funding is available.
The grants require applicants to provide a co-contribution at least equal to the grant amount and are open to private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory government forestry bodies.
Further details about the Support Plantation Establishment program are outlined in the Round 4 Grant Opportunity Guidelines, available on GrantConnect.
Watch
See how the program is supporting grantees to establish new plantations across Australia.
Support Plantation Establishment Program video - Stephen Creese
(Duration 3 mins 0 seconds)
Introduction
This is the transcript of a video case study produced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of the Support Plantation Establishment Program. It was filmed at Ben Nevis Farm in north-east Tasmania.
Transcript
Video begins [0:00]
Music plays
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The Support Plantation Establishment Program has provided $72.29 million to assist 82 grantees to establish new plantations across Australia.
Funding for the program has been extended, with a further $14.73 million available in additional grant funding.
The funding supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests across Australia.
[0:06]
Adrian Calder: We're in north-east Tasmania at a property called Ben Nevis Farm. We've been engaged by the owner, Stephen Creese, to establish 57 hectares of radiata plantation under the grants program.
[0:18]
Stephen Creese: The total farm's about 900 hectares, of which 200 hectares is native forest, 200 hectares production pine forestry, and the balance is being developed into pasture. Some of it is quite steep and it originally was a forestry block and the cost of converting that back into permanent pasture, as opposed, was quite lineball with forestry and I was quite keen to get some forestry onto this farm as well.
[0:46]
Adrian Calder: The project is part of a wider planting that's under a carbon project.
[0:50]
Stephen Creese: The reason I decided to plant trees on parts of the farm was I wanted to participate in the ACCU scheme for carbon, and also was looking for something that was more of a long-term investment rather than just annual production like sheep and cattle are, but to look at forestry as a harvestable crop in years to come. It's like all farming these days. No matter what you do, it's quite costly and quite labour-intense. Obviously, you have everything having to be planted by hand, so it is an expensive program.
[1:23] The grant schemes, I came across them about 18 months ago and I looked into that to see whether we would be applicable and some of the area on this farm was not applicable for the scheme, but the 53 hectares we planted was. I decided to plant the radiata pine in consultation with Adrian. I've seen them growing in these regions before. They are high sequesters of carbon, so it works well for that scheme, and there is a market for the product.
[1:53] I think other parts, certainly other parts of Australia, can have forest. I guess it depends a bit. You need to be planting a species that will thrive in the native environment. That's probably one of the important things, and we are lucky here. We've got good soil, high rainfall. It's perfect conditions here for growing trees. The advice I'd give to other landowners thinking about forestry on farm and applying for grants is that it's something you should give good consideration to. I've always been a strong believer that all farms should have some forestry component on them, whether that is for the ACCU scheme, for shelter for stock, or for timber harvesting. Forestry does fit in well on most farms, and I think the grant scheme is worth looking into because it's not a cheap exercise to plant trees. You are waiting a long time to get a return, so any assistance that you can get helps make it a successful project.
[2:46]
Text appears on screen:
Applications are open for grant round four of the Support Plantation Establishment program.
Find out more and apply at GrantConnect.
[2:55]
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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry logo appears on screen
[3:00]
Video ends
Case studies
The stories of the grantees and their projects that will deliver Australia’s future forest products.
Applications
Grant applications for Round 4 opened on 5 November 2026 and will close on 30 June 2027. Round 4 is made up of 2 batches.
- Batch 1 will open from 5 November 2026 to 16 December 2026.
- Batch 2 will be open from 16 December 2026 and closes on 30 June 2027.
Rounds 1 to 3 of the program ran from 21 June 2023 to 5 November 2025.
Successful applicants to date
Grant applications for Round 1 opened on 21 June 2023 and closed on 24 January 2024.
| Round Funded | Funding Recipient | Project details | Funding (GST Exclusive) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 308 hectares | $616,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | Tamplin Family Trust | Hardwood 86 hectares | $172,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Hardwood 60 hectares | $120,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 1 | Napier Family Trust | Softwood 84 hectares | $168,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 1 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 935 hectares | $1,870,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | A.C Fisher & S.J Fisher | Softwood 66 hectares | $132,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 1 | A Biskaps & S.J Biskaps | Hardwood 46 hectares | $92,000.00 | QLD |
| Round 1 | F Hildebrand & L.M Holt | Hardwood 22.5 hectares | $44,820.00 | VIC |
| Round 1 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 606 hectares | $1,212,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | J & S Thompson | Softwood 402 hectares | $804,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | H.H Mackinnon & H.H Mackinnon & R.A Mackinnon | Softwood 73 hectares | $145,600.00 | VIC |
| Round 1 | Sapphire Forests Pty Ltd | Hardwood 27.5 hectares | $55,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | Salmon Marketing Trust | Softwood 401 hectares | $802,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 1 | Creese Farming (QLD) Pty Ltd | Softwood 50 hectares | $94,850.00 | TAS |
| Round 1 | Morgan Sawmill Jamestown Pty Ltd | Softwood 455.87 hectares | $911,740.00 | SA |
| Round 1 | Forestry Corporation of New South Wales | Softwood 465 hectares | $930,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | Forestry Corporation of New South Wales | Softwood 660 hectares | $1,320,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 1 | Miles, Robert William | Softwood 204 hectares | $408,000.00 | NSW |
Grant applications for Round 2 opened on 9 February 2024 and closed on 27 June 2024.
| Round Funded | Funding Recipient | Project details | Funding (GST Exclusive) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | Forestry Investment Trust | Softwood 214.1 hectares | $66,371.00 | WA |
| Round 2 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 154 hectares | $211,765.00 | TAS |
| Round 2 | G 5 Forestry Pty Ltd | Softwood 650 hectares | $1,300,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 2 | Mitsui & Co. Wood Resources Oceania Pty. Ltd. | Softwood 260.5 hectares | $258,698.58 | WA |
| Round 2 | SFA Nature Based Solutions Unit Trust | Softwood 89 hectares | $178,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 2 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 1671 hectares | $3,342,000.00 | NSW, VIC |
| Round 2 | Forestry Corporation of New South Wales | Softwood 116 hectares | $208,800.00 | NSW |
| Round 2 | Forestry Corporation of New South Wales | Softwood 30 hectares | $60,000.00 | NSW |
Grant applications for Round 3 opened on 11 October 2024 and closed on 5 November 2025.
| Round Funded | Funding Recipient | Project details | Funding (GST Exclusive) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 3 | DL Colless Plantation Trust No. 3 | Softwood 40 hectares | $80,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Chelimi Pty Ltd | Hardwood 21 hectares | $42,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | H.A Bebb & E.G Hewitt & J Hewitt & A.J Stevens & V.R Stevens & The Trustee For Gr Gibson Discretionary Trust & The Trustee For The Liffey Trust & The Trustee For West Elk Trust | Softwood 188.49 hectares | $375,275.68 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Associated Kiln Driers Pty Ltd | Softwood 54.3 hectares | $108,600.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Forestry Investment Trust | Softwood 424.6 hectares | $382,729.17 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Forestry Investment Trust | Softwood 147.2 hectares | $192,596.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 62 hectares | $123,752.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Mitsui & Co. Wood Resources Oceania Pty. Ltd. | Softwood 958 hectares | $1,915,760.50 | WA |
| Round 3 | Morgan Sawmill Jamestown Pty Ltd | Softwood 165.97 hectares | $331,940.00 | SA |
| Round 3 | Carbon Neutral Pty Ltd | Hardwood 259.9 hectares | $519,749.91 | WA |
| Round 3 | Carbon Neutral Pty Ltd | Softwood 679 hectares | $1,358,000.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Milne Farming Pty Ltd | Hardwood 123 hectares | $246,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Carbon Neutral Pty Ltd | Hardwood 1928 hectares | $3,856,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Mitsui & Co. Wood Resources Oceania Pty. Ltd. | Softwood 216.1 hectares | $432,200.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Fairthorne Timber Trading Pty Ltd | Softwood 56.1 hectares | $112,200.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Maxwell Family Trust & J.D Thompson & S.J Thompson | Softwood 670 hectares | $1,340,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 196 hectares | $300,860.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Hardwood 91.4 hectares | $131,035.20 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tiwi Plantations Pty Ltd | Hardwood 2709 hectares | $5,418,000.00 | NT |
| Round 3 | Tiwi Plantations Pty Ltd | Hardwood 2259 hectares | $4,518,000.00 | NT |
| Round 3 | D.J Creese and P.G Creese | Softwood 191 hectares | $382,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Cultura Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 1319 hectares | $1,097,305.53 | WA |
| Round 3 | Mareeba Tas Pty Ltd | Softwood and hardwood 43.7 hectares | $87,400.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 85 hectares | $136,025.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 67 hectares | $100,165.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 131 hectares | $195,845.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 770 hectares | $1,540,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Salmon, Timothy | Softwood 88 hectares | $176,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Seven Generations Forestry Pty Ltd | Hardwood 24.9 hectares | $49,800.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Rantson Discretionary Trust | Softwood 337 hectares | $674,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Forestry Investment Trust | Softwood 287.8 hectares | $442,046.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | ANZLAFF Sub 1 | Softwood 960 hectares | $1,920,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Forest Products Commission | Softwood 442.4 hectares | $784,110.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Forestry Investment Trust | Softwood 700 hectares | $1,127,500.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | ANZLAFF Sub 1 | Softwood 1300 hectares | $2,600,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Plantation Pine Products Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 1278 hectares | $2,556,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 65 hectares | $125,005.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Australian Carbon Products Pty Ltd | Softwood 122.6 hectares | $245,200.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Tiwi Plantations Pty Ltd | Hardwood 599 hectares | $1,198,000.00 | NT |
| Round 3 | Midway Limited | Softwood 1541.5 hectares | $3,083,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Mt Vernon Pastoral Pty. Ltd. | Softwood 57 hectares | $114,000.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Britton Brothers Proprietary Limited | Hardwood 57.3 hectares | $114,600.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | SFA Nature Based Solutions Pty Ltd | Softwood 466 hectares | $932,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Forest Products Commission | Softwood 115.8 hectares | $231,600.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Forest Products Commission | Softwood 60.5 hectares | $121,000.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Forest Products Commission | Softwood 64.6 hectares | $129,200.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Forest Products Commission | Softwood 57.1 hectares | $114,195.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Cultura Australia Pty Ltd | Softwood 1565.8 hectares | $3,127,983.00 | WA |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 132 hectares | $263,964.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Redgum Forestry Pty Ltd | Softwood 500 hectares | $1,000,000.00 | NSW |
| Round 3 | Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust | Softwood 46 hectares | $91,642.00 | TAS |
| Round 3 | Milne Farming Pty Ltd | Hardwood 60 hectares | $120,000.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | HQPlantations Pty Ltd | Softwood 467.8 hectares | $935,600.00 | QLD |
| Round 3 | HQPlantations Pty Ltd | Softwood 42.39 hectares | $84,780.00 | QLD |
| Round 3 | Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Limited | Softwood 139.2 hectares | $278,400.00 | VIC |
| Round 3 | Tasmania Natural Asset Trust | Softwood 5194.7 hectares | $8,806,511.43 | TAS |