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Overview

The Forestry Transition Fund supports job creation and business development in towns or communities affected by the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria.

Transition Fund - Round 2 grants are available to create new jobs, including jobs for displaced timber workers, in towns and communities significantly impacted by the forestry transition.

The fund supports:

  • The creation or maintenance of jobs and economic growth with a focus on permanent jobs for displaced native timber workers through:
    • expanding existing operations
    • establishing new operations
    • diversifying operations.
  • Business, industry, or community groups, local government authorities, or other organisations to provide enabling infrastructure to activate job-creating projects in the affected towns or communities.

The Transition Fund – Round 2 is being delivered as a contestable funding round in two stages:

  • Stage 1 – Expression of Interest.
  • Stage 2 – Eligible applicants will be invited to submit an application.

Round 2 expressions of interest are now closed.

Previous Forestry Transition Fund recipients

Dahlsens Steel Trust and Frame - Newmerella

  • Manufacturing equipment to support portable house construction - $500,000

Nationwide Trees Pty Ltd - Piedmont

  • Undercover facility for packing and distribution of landscaping and orchard plants - $775,000

Riverview Installation - Bairnsdale

  • Trailer and equipment to support installation of residential kitchens - $16,240

LCT Auto – Nowa Nowa

  • Trailer and equipment to support on site machinery maintenance - $6,000

Upper Murray Providore – Corryong

  • Kitchen and bathroom renovations to enable operation of new hospitality service - $50,000

Inferno Marine – Eildon

  • Portable office and CNC machine to increase inhouse boat production - $50,000

Helico Australia – Alexandra

  • Purpose built facility to increase helicopter service capability - $789,770

Four Peaks Pastoral Care – Omeo

  • Equipment to support agricultural service business - $50,000

Dindi Day Care Pty Ltd - Alexandra

  • Fences to allow company to open day care centre in Alexandra - $50,000

Baw Baw Shire Council

  • Study into Longwarry Logistic and Employment Hub - $50,000

AvaGrow Farms - Wairwa

  • Construction of high-care post-harvest facility - $165,666

Nowa Nowa General Store and Post Office - Nowa Nowa

  • Renovation and expansion of premises - $150,000

Bruthen Outdoor Gear - Bruthen

  • Build and fit out of equipment storage and group tour space - $50,000

Fenning Investments - Bairnsdale

  • Stage 1 of intermodal Freight Terminal - $700,00

DL Jackson Contracting – Maffra

  • Macalister Pump and Poly - $130,000

Midland Freight – Benalla

  • Multipurpose Freight facility - $1,000,000

A J Chambers & E Wood – Gunbower

  • Purchase specialised equipment to deliver agricultural services – $20,000

Four Peaks Pastoral Pty Ltd – Swifts Creek

  • Purchase agricultural spray drones and vehicles to expand precision spraying services – $50,000

P.R Henderson Farms Pty Ltd – Newmerella

  • Purchase road‑ready tractor to deliver slurry spreading services – $150,000

Five Tales Pty Ltd – Piedmont

  • Construct multi-span greenhouse to expand production capacity and support jobs – $45,164

Stock Dog Kennels Australia Pty Ltd – Swifts Creek

  • Purchase of plant and equipment for new commercial manufacturing facility – $50,000

Snowy River Cycling Pty Ltd – Orbost

  • Enclosed bike trailer purchase for operation expansion – $31,045.50

East Gippsland Drone Ag Pty Ltd – Newmerella

  • Purchase of drone kit enabling the delivery of farm and forestry related services – $49,806

Breen Printing Pty. Ltd. – Healesville

  • Purchase and install digital printing equipment to expand production capacity – $130,000

Mekken Marine Electrical – Orbost

  • Construct storage shed and install workbenches to improve production efficiency – $30,000

Indigenous Creations – McMahons Creek

  • Purchase excavator to enhance cultural landscapes supporting Indigenous art displays – $50,000

David Perry – Orbost

  • Purchase horse riding equipment to expand trail operations – $5,515.15

Gordon Fehst – Stratford

  • Purchase and fit out refrigerated truck to expand meat distribution operations – $49,167

Tommy Finn's Trout Farm Pty Ltd – Warburton

  • Upgrade smoker and cool room facilities to expand smoked trout production – $50,000

Rohan Flower Trading Pty Ltd – Buchan

  • Commercial kitchen renovation and fit‑out to expand café operations – $50,000

C.L Findley & D.J Findley – Jarrahmond

  • Construct farm storage shed to support machinery maintenance and improve property operations. – $50,000

J.D Eaves & S.A Eaves – Orbost

  • Purchase trailer and mower to expand local property maintenance services – $16,855.48

Frith's Plumbing & Civil Construction Pty Ltd – Bairnsdale

  • Construct and commission sewage pumping station supporting industrial estate expansion – $470,000

Basically Local Pty Ltd – Lakes Entrance

  • Upgrade equipment and facilities to scale biltong production – $50,000

Alex Patterson – Marlo

  • Build new gym facility and equipment to establish local fitness business – $35,226.70

The Little Drift Pty Ltd – Marlo

  • Purchase and install tiny home to expand regional tourism accommodation – $50,000

GA & AL Dewhurst – Neerim

  • Construct farm gate retail shed and install truffle processing equipment – $41,858

J.K Forke & J.G Wieland – Gelantipy

  • Purchase mobile food trailer to expand catering and tourism offerings – $50,000

Bendoc Hotel Pty Ltd – Bendoc

  • Upgrade kitchen equipment and renovate hotel rooms to expand accommodation capacity – $45,665

DWEL Imaging Pty Ltd – Bairnsdale

  • Upgrade medical imaging equipment to expand regional diagnostic healthcare services – $800,000

Orbost Homecare Pty Ltd – Orbost

  • Purchase equipment to expand homecare gardening and maintenance services – $22,880.91

Alex Star Engineering Pty Ltd – Corryong

  • Purchase CNC plasma cutter and lathe to expand regional manufacturing capacity – $48,000

Available funding

Grants of $10,000 up to $1 million and a Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment of $20,000 per ex-native timber worker employed are available.

$12 million of funding is available through Round 2.

Grants over $500,000 will need to comply with the Fair Jobs Code and Local Jobs First policy.

Who can apply

  • Private sector businesses
  • Business and industry groups including but not limited to:
    • chambers of commerce and business associations
    • industry peak bodies
    • business and industry clusters and networks (noting that a cluster or network would need to nominate a business or entity to enter into the funding agreement and take on primary responsibility and liability for delivering the project).
  • Incorporated not-for-profit organisations that operate as a business
  • Local Government Authorities.

Funded activities

The types of things that can be funded include:

  • the expansion of existing, or development of new facilities, such as factories, offices, or shops
  • the introduction of new technologies, innovations, plant and equipment, systems, and processes to improve business growth.

How to apply

Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest

Expressions of Interest are now closed.

Step 3: Application

If Expression of Interest is successful, the applicant will be sent a link to complete an application form. The application must be submitted by a person with authority to bind the organisation.

Applications must include financial statements (audited profit and loss statements and balance sheets for government agencies and not-for-profit organisations) covering the last three financial years and may include documentation to support the project such as:

  • material demonstrating alignment with the Local Development Strategy (if applicable)
  • a feasibility study
  • a business plan, including financial forecasts. For projects with a total project cost of more than $500,000 a business plan must be prepared by an external business advisor
  • risk analysis
  • letters of support from local government or community organisations, including Local Development Strategy host agencies.

Key dates

Expression of Interest open: 7 November 2024

Expression of Interest close: 5 pm Friday 29 August 2025 (unless the program is fully subscribed prior). Expressions of interest are now closed.

Applications close: 5 pm Friday 31 October 2025

Application guidelines

Frequently asked questions

Funding will be available for eligible projects in Victorian towns or communities where there has been an impact on local employment due to the end of native timber harvesting.

This includes applications from eligible businesses and organisations operating in or near the following towns or communities with a Local Development Strategy:

  • Benalla
  • Corryong
  • Heyfield
  • Koondrook
  • Murrindindi (Alexandra, Taggerty, Buxton and Marysville)
  • Noojee
  • Nowa Nowa
  • Orbost
  • Swifts Creek
  • Yarra Ranges (Powelltown, Yarra Junction and Warburton)
  • Yarram.

There is support available to help you complete an application.

You can contact the Forestry Transition Program Business Transition Coordinator on 1800 318 182 or forestrytransition@deeca.vic.gov.au

Gippsland communities can also access business support and advice through their local council business concierge services:

Latrobe City Council

Phone: 1300 367 700
Email: Andrea.Stanlake@latrobe.vic.gov.au

Baw Baw Shire Council

Phone: 1300 229 229
Email: yourbusiness@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au

Wellington Shire Council

Phone: 1300 366 244 or 5153 9500
Email: business@wellington.vic.gov.au

East Gippsland Shire Council

Email: economic.development@egipps.vic.gov.au

Further funding rounds may be available in the future.

Page last updated: 29/04/26