Forest to Fibre: FCRC Hardwood Plantations

'Forest to Fibre' presents cutting edge research into sustainable timber processing and design alongside local stories, artworks and histories.

In 1991 the then Hervey Bay City Council became a world-leader in sustainable wastewater treatment by establishing their first effluent irrigated native hardwood timber plantation. Fast forward to 2024 and these innovative plantations are diverting 2.5 billion litres of effluent wastewater from our oceans and into Fraser Coast Regional Council managed agroforestry every year. A key asset for the Fraser Coast community, Council’s effluent irrigated plantations combine carbon sequestration and a reduction of ocean pollution with the long-term value of sustainable agroforestry. 

Featuring research from some of Australia’s leading universities and architectural academics along with loans from the State Library of Queensland’s exhibition Purpose Built, Architecture for a better tomorrow; the Forest to Fibre project will present cutting edge research into sustainable timber processing and design alongside local stories, artworks and histories at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery.

Supported by FCRC’s Water Reuse team. 

Image: Purpose Built, State Library of Queensland, 2023. Photo: Katie Bennett.