The End of Native Timber Harvesting in Victoria

An announcement from Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH)

As many of you are aware, all Victorian native hardwood harvesting will no longer be available from 1 January 2024 due to changes in government policy, which brought forward the end date from 2030. However, the reality is that many sawmills have not received logs from Victoria since late 2022.

Unless there is another change of policy in the future, 100% of the Victorian-grown Victorian Ash/Tasmanian Oak, Messmate, Silvertop Ash, Stringybark and Wormy Chestnut will no longer be available for harvesting. This will also impact those buying ‘Tasmanian Oak’ or ‘hardwood’ as a significant volume of the supply chain sells Victorian hardwoods under those trading names.

This will require necessary changes for a large portion of the manufacturing supply chain, including ASH. Manufacturers will start to see a reduction from November 2023, which will then accelerate month on month.

What is the solution?

Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) has researched and heavily invested in the best and most viable alternatives. As a result of a global study of 6 years, ASH is confident to launch what they believe to be the best solution for most in our supply chain — ‘Glacial Oak’.

What is ‘Glacial Oak’?

Glacial Oak is a stunning yet sustainable hardwood which is widely available. It is processed in Victoria and hand-picked by region and colour to meet manufacturer’s requirements and Australian Standards.

Why do we think ‘Glacial Oak’ is the best solution?

Quality, reliability, affordability, set dimension, well graded, stability in price, compliance to Australian requirements and attractive – Glacial Oak has the lot. It has all the same features that have made Victorian species so highly desired. It is important to note that unlike most plantation hardwoods investigated, ‘Glacial Oak’ exceeds the 650 kg/m3 requirement for BAL-12.5 and BAL-19 compliance.

ASH understands the importance of pricing stability for businesses. To help manufacturers continue to deliver outstanding products without compromising the bottom line, ASH is committed to supplying manufacturers with ‘Glacial Oak’ at a consistent rate, in line with Australian timbers.

‘Glacial Oak’ offers an exceptional alternative that could meet timber needs seamlessly. Its similarity to Victorian hardwood in terms of supply, performance and colour is truly remarkable and surpasses Victorian Ash in aesthetics and workability. So, you can expect the same versatility, durability and timeless appeal that you’ve come to love, with added benefits.

Our commitment to providing a seamless transition extends to our delivery method too. Just like Victorian Ash, ‘Glacial Oak’ packs are dimensionally straight and gauged to thickness. We understand the importance of consistency and reliability in manufacturing, which is why we ensure that ‘Glacial Oak’ meets these expectations every time.

To ensure availability, ASH has invested heavily in stock, with thousands of packs ready for inspection. The team will be happy to provide you with all the information you need and even arrange a tour of our Heyfield (Victoria only) facility, where you can witness the quality and consistency of thousands of cubic metres of ‘Glacial Oak’ firsthand.

Please contact sales at sales@ash.com.au or call (03) 5139 7001 to enquire about this transition to an arguably superior product.