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issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 1
PNG hastens audits on legal compliance
This Issue • Industry stakeholders welcome CIE report • Illegal logging issues ‘floated’at the Gabba
‘Erroneous’ claims on logging hit exports
By JIM BOWDEN VOLUNTARY implementation of credible verification schemes is progressing well in Papua New Guinea with significant participation by exporters to Australia and New Zealand. Executive officer of the PNG Forest Industry Association Bob Tate told T&F enews the global financial crisis had resulted in a dramatic collapse in PNG markets in Asia, particularly China. ”This naturally has tested everyone’s resolve,” he said. “However, we anticipate a continuing improvement in demand and export orders – perhaps not back to premeltdown levels just yet, but certainly sustained growth.”
of wood promotion join ‘webinar’ • ‘Silver’ wood podium for Olympic gold medalist • Tassie zones 100,000 ha for special timbers • Packed program for industry trainers • Events – what’s on in 2010?
Brains
He said pressure from markets was compelling logging and wood processing companies to be independently audited for legal compliance before logs and wood products left the
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country for overseas markets. “Often erroneous and exaggerated claims that the forest industry in PNG operates illegally have the potential to Cont Page 2
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 1
industry news
Timber legality plays useful role in governance reforms From Page 1
Representing the interests of the forest industries nationally at the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
Victorian Association of Forest Industries Level 2, 2 Market Street Melbourne 3000 Tel: +61 3 9611 9000 Fax: +61 3 9611 9011 Email: info@vafi.org.au Web: www.vafi.org.au Page 2 | issue 113 | 22.02.10
severely restrict our exports of processed wood products to our traditional markets, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.” Mr Tate said. “This comes at a time when the PNG Government, with broad industry support, is initiating policies to encourage the expansion of the wood processing sector, already a significant exporter of PNG manufactured products. The association is encouraging its members to seriously consider participation to enable the sustainability of their shares in export markets for processed products. The scheme is voluntary and the decision to participate was the prerogative of the individual companies The world renowned quality assurance, product testing and systems auditing firm, SGS, has been carrying out thorough audits of the companies using the Timber Legality and Traceability Verification standards, using auditors from South Africa. Under timber legality and traceability verification (TLTV), Saban Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Rimbunan Hijau Group (RH), was audited and a certificate was issued in December 2008. The company is now subject to annual surveillance for the next five years after it started in August last year. PNG Forest Products and Stettin Bay Lumber Company were audited late last year and are awaiting peer review prior to being granted certification for full TLTV and verification of legal origin (VLO) respectively. Vanimo Forest Products and Amanab Forest Products, subsidiaries of the WTK Group
Bob Tate .. independent audits for legal compliance.
of Companies, operating in West Sepik Province, have been preparing since October for audit (internal) under VLO and are now in the process of applying to SGS this month. The RH group of companies had started its own internal audit for RH Timber Processing Ltd at Panakawa and Wawaoi
Timber Co at Kamusie, Western Province. PNG Forest Industries Association assistant executive officer Gabriel Samol says the executive committee decided in 2007 to pursue and to adopt an appropriate timber legality verification standard. “The scheme is voluntary and the decision to participate was the prerogative of the individual companies,” he said. “The TLTV program is and remains a legal verification scheme and does not make any claims in regard to either ‘sustainability’ and or ‘forest management verification/certification’. ”The timber legality verification could play a useful role in the wider forest governance reforms.” Mr Samoi said he believed that Cont Page 4
Skilled trade shortage widespread, says HIA THE availability of skilled tradespeople across trades and regions in the residential sector is deteriorating, says a new report from the Housing Industry Association. Chief economist Dr Harley Dale said that there was a shortage of labour in 10 out of 13 skilled trades at the end of 2009, compared to eight trades being in shortage in the September quarter. “Trade rates, meanwhile, are on the rise again, but remain lower when compared to late 2008,” Dr Dale said. “Price pressure is still modest and trade availability, while deteriorating, is still considerably better than it was up until late 2008. So it is a favourable time to build a new home or renovate an existing property.
“The clock is ticking, however, given the competition across different sectors in 2010 for a limited pool of skilled labour. There is a clear risk that labour shortages will re-emerge as a significant constraint on the rate of recovery in both new home building and renovations by the middle of this year.” New figures released last week show that almost 90% of temporary skilled migrants who were granted Subclass 457 visas in 2009-10 to date are managers and professional workers. The figures also show that the average total salary package for all new temporary skilled migrant workers is almost $100,000 – an increase of $10,000 on the same time last year.
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INDUSTRY news
Standards compliance could save $800m in building costs A NATIONAL survey by the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association shows an $800 million reduction in housing costs could be achieved if compliance with national standards was adhered to by the building sector. The survey was conducted following a review of standards by the Productivity Commission, the federal government’s independent adviser on economic, social and environmental issues. “The most alarming issue identified in the review was that nearly all by-laws or local government codes are produced without a Regulatory Impact Statement being completed,” Forest and Wood Products Australia standards
Neil Evans .. consultation with industry on standards.
manger Neil Evans said. “FWPA has recognised the importance standards play in the forest and wood products industry and has started developing a strategy to deal with this important issue,” he said.
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“However, it is not limited to timber standards; construction standards called up by the Building Code of Australia can and will have impacts on the markets of certain timber products.” As an example, Mr Evans said areas that needed industry representation on standards committees were the construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas and residential footings, while the termite standard could exclude the use of timber products if the industry’s interests were not present. The strategy was divided into parts, the first of which was the analysis and rating of the many standards to put them in categories of importance. “This will allow FWPA to focus on the most pressing and important standards,” Mr Evans said. “Secondly, there will be consultation with relevant sectors of industry, and then the actual development of the standard in a format that will be give the best cost effective and timely solution for industry before the final adoption and promotion of the standard.” Mr Evans said standards provided a level playing field for industry to supply or manufacture products, ensuring materials and products met minimum requirements whether they were imported or exported. Standards Australia has been at the forefront in the production of standards for many years. However, governments are developing codes, standards and local laws that vary or overrule standards developed by SA. Industry also produces standards or codes outside of the SA arena. Mr Evans said another big player was the International Standards Organisation (ISO).
ForestWorks performs a range of industry wide functions acting as the channel between industry, Government and the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. Core services: • Skill Standards • Material Development • Networks • Strategic Skills Planning • Project Management • Data Collection • Research • Industry Advice • Career Advice • Adult Learning Expertise
VICTORIA PO Box 612, North Melbourne 3051 Tel: (03)9321 3500 Email: forestworks@forestworks.com.au NEW SOUTH WALES PO Box 486, Parramatta 2124 Tel: (02)8898 6990 Email: smukherjee@forestworks.com.au TASMANIA PO Box 2146, Launceston 7250 Tel: (03)6331 6077 Email: wfoss@forestworks.com.au BRISBANE PO Box 2014 Fortitude Valley 4006 Tel: (07)3358 5169 Email: bharle@forestworks.com.au
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 3
industry news
Industry stakeholders welcome government’s response to final CIE report on illegal logging TIMBER traders have welcomed a Canberra announcement that recognises the input of industry stakeholders into federal policy on illegally-logged timber. The Centre for International Economics (the CIE) has released its final report to the federal Regulation Impact Statement, which is seen as another step towards implementing the Rudd Government’s election promise to combat illegal logging. Commenting on the report, the Minister for Forestry Tony Burke said the key task for government was to determine the most efficient and effective means of identifying illegal timber products. “We will take into account the CIE report together with the issues raised by industry stakeholders and the work of other governments, particularly
Mr Burke said the Government accepted the critical importance of working with countries to tackle these problems and had established formal agreements with China, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Although the CIE report estimates the global cost of illegal logging to be more than $106.5 billion dollars a year, it believes more than 90% of timber imported into Australia is legally logged. Tony Burke .. working with industry stakeholders on illegal timber.
Verification way forward for companies From Page 2
the US and the European Union to identify and restrict trade in illegally logged timber products,” Mr Burke said. “The government will now move to finalise its illegal logging Regulation Impact Statement and identify its preferred approach.”
Technical manager of the Australian Timber Importers Federation John Halkett said in Brisbane industry welcomed the CIE report. “We will continue to work with the Minister to reach an outcome that meets government policy objectives and satisfies industry requirements,” he said. • Queensland industry meeting, Page 7
after internal assessment, many companies would make formal applications for audit soon. “Members of the industry, based upon market demand and more general market concerns about claims of illegal logging, are encouraged to participate in
appropriate legal verification and or certification schemes. TLTV is a way forward for most of our companies involved in wood processing for exports.” Mr Samoi said all such schemes were voluntary, market- driven mechanisms which provided independent third-party assurance.
Connecting the pieces Industry supply chain seminar Radisson Hotel, Melbourne, Tuesday, May 18 REGISTER NOW: Free entry to members of TMA (Vic), ATIF and WADIC This special one-day seminar will cover key aspects of the timber industry supply chain, together with wider aspects of the timber industry’s business environment, wood-based product marketing and matters related to company-level business success. Top field of speakers representing federal government, FWPA, HIA, transporters, the Canadian and New Zealand forest products industries and many other sectors associated with the timber supply chain. Seminar speakers will include leading timber supply chain experts, marketing specialists, technology providers and regulatory authorities. ‘The seminar will appeal to the broad cross-section of companies and organisations in the timber supply chain, their suppliers,supporters and related businesses and interests. Leading experts and specialists will cover a range of topics, including the changing nature of housing construction and the
timber industry; product innovation and marketing activity; the ‘drivers’ for change; and the emerging factors that will impact on future timber supply chain business performance’ Peter Roberts, CEO, Timber Merchants Association. Registration and sponsorship inquiries: Ingrida Matulis on (03) 9875 5000 Email: ingridam@timber.asn.au
Page 4 | issue 113 | 22.02.10
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events
WHAT’S ON? www.abare.gov.au
21-24: Green Cities Building Conference. Venue: Melbourne Conference Centre. A joint initiative of the Green Building Council of Australia and the Property Council of Australia. Contact: HI Event Management (07) 3210 1646 or greencities@hievents.com. au Program available at www. greencities.com.au
9: Sydney Timber Industry Institute and TABMA golf day. Arthur Clegg Timber Trade Cup. Muirfield Golf Club, Perry St, North Rocks (off Barclay Road). Golfers $90 p.p., includes sausage sizzle, light lunch, buffet dinner and presentation. Diners $45 p.p., includes buffet dinner and presentation. RSVP February 26. Contact: Maurie Parsons. Tel: (02) 9871 1219
21-27: Truck Week. Contact Australian Trucking Association, 25 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603. Tel: (02) 6253 6900. www.atatruck.net.au 23: American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) free half-day seminar. The International of Brighton, Melbourne. Keynote speaker: Luke Hughes, international furniture and interior designer. AHEC will also launch its sustainability Green Card at the seminar. Seminar registrations: Email events@neilsonpromotions. com 25: American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) free half-day seminar. Fale Pasifika, Auckland University, NZ. Keynote speaker: Luke Hughes, international furniture and interior designer. AHEC will also launch its sustainability Green Card at the seminar. Seminar registrations: Email events@ neilsonpromotions.com
MARCH 2010 1-2: Future Forestry Finance Conference. Novotel Brighton Beach, Sydney. Contact: 1800 125 388 (free call in Australia) or web sties www.fiea.org.nz or www. forestryfinanceevents.com 2-3: National Outlook Conference (ABARE) Canberra, ACT.
15-17: Industry bus tour of Northern New South Wales. Contact: Karen Johnston at TABMA Queensland. Tel: (07) 3254 3166. Email: karen@tabma.com.au 16-17: 4th Global Wood Fibre Trade Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Visit www. pulpwoodconference.com 21: World Forestry Day 22: World Water Day 24-26: International Wood Products Association annual convention Miami Beach, Florida, USA www.iwpawood.org 25: Annual Timber Merchants Association charity dinner supporting the Burns Unit of the Royal Childrens Hospital. Keynote speaker: Joe Helper, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry. Venue: River Room at the Crown Casino, Southbank, Melbourne. Cost (GST inc) including predinner drink, 3-course meal and beverages: $165 pp (members); $175 (non-members). Payment no later than February 25. Non-members who book a table of 10 will be eligible for member pricing of $1650. Bookings to Ingrida Matulis on (03) 9875 5000 or email ingridam@timber.asn.au
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31: International wood composites symposium and technical workshop 2010 Seattle, Washington, USA. www. woodsymposium.wsu.edu
SUSTAINABLE. sustainable. responsible. . RESPONSIBLE
APRIL 2010 7-10: Australian Trucking Convention. Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tel: (02) 6253 6900. Email: ata@ atatruck.net.au Download full program from www.ataevents.net.au
The National The National Association of of Forest Association Industries (NAFI) Forest Industries (NAFI) represents is striving for an Australian companies, ecologically sustainable individualssociety and Australian organisations involved achieved through in thedynamic, forestry and forest products internationally industries. competitive forest industries. NAFI works with state and
15: Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show Dubai. www.dubaiwoodshow.com 18-21: APPITA Annual Conference and Exhibition/Pan Pacific Conference Melbourne. www.appita.com.au
MAY 2010 18: Victorian Timber Industry Supply Chain Seminar: Connecting the Pieces for Business Success. Radisson Hotel, 380 William Street, Melbourne. Contact: Peter Roberts, Timber Merchants Association on (03) 9875 5000 or John Halkett, Australian Timber Importers Federation on (02) 9356 3826.
2010
february 2010
19-20: Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010. Bayview Eden Melbourne. Technical seminar details successful strategies that have been adopted to improve planning, logistics and operations through the wood supply chain. Contact FIEA +64 3 470 1902. www.woodsupplychain.com 21-23: Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Brisbane Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley.
federal governments to support interestsis of to its NAFI’sthemission members while the same represent theatinterests time improving industry of members by standards and practices, promoting the promoting sustainable environmental forestry management and educating the broader sustainability and community on theof the prosperity economic, environment Australian forest and social benefits of industries. a strong sustainable forest industry. National Association of The National Association Forest Industries Ltd of Forest Industries (Est. 1987) Ltd (EST.1987) PO Box 239, PO Box 239, Deakin ACT 2600 Deakin, ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6285 3833. Tel: (02) 6285 3833 Fax: (02) 6285 3855 Fax: (02) 6285 3855 Web: www.nafi.com.au www.nafi.com.au Web:
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 5
industry news
100,000 ha zoned for Tasmania’s speciality timbers A SPECIAL 100,000-ha timber zone will deliver resource security and benefit to the more than 10,000 Tasmanians who are involved in the special timbers sector. The zone, established as part of Forestry Tasmania’s Special Timbers Strategy, was launched last week by the Minister for Energy and Resources David Llewellyn. The strategy will underpin management and sale of special timbers for the next decade. It sets three key objectives: sustaining the resource; maximising value recovery; and promoting Tasmania’s special timbers to the world “The highlight of the strategy is the 100,000-ha Special Timbers Zone,” Forestry Tasmania managing director Bob Gordon. “The strategy recognises the significant contribution the special timbers sector makes to the state. The Special Timbers Zone will ensure the long-term supply of this resource to the Tasmanians who depend on it for their livelihoods.” The special timbers sector is characterised by a significant degree of downstream processing, such as fine furniture making, joinery, boat building, giftware and musical instrument making. The manufacture and sale of high value products from special timbers provides employment for more than 2000 Tasmanians and generates about $70 million for the state each year. A further 8500 people use special timbers in woodcraft activities as a hobby or on a limited commercial basis. “Tasmania’s special timbers are among the last premium timbers
Page 6 | issue 113 | 22.02.10
Tasmania’s Minister for Energy and Resources David Llewellyn (right) is introduced by Forestry Tasmania managing director Bob Gordon.
being produced from public forests in Australia,” Mr Gordon said. “As they are sourced from forests with many conservation values, predominantly old growth forests, it is essential that this resource is managed to maintain a balance between biodiversity and production values. “The strategy will ensure biodiversity and habitat are maintained through conservation reserves on state forest, which include 25% of Tasmania’s 1 million ha of reserved old growth forest. “The zone will ensure maximum resource recovery and continued presence of special timbers within regenerated stands, which will be re-grown for at least 200 years.” Mr Gordon said non-clearfell harvesting methods would be used within the zone as much as possible, although healthy forest regeneration and the health and safety of forest workers would remain the primary objectives.
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events
That sinking feeling .. cars go under at the Norman Hotel car park.
Illegal logging issues ‘floated’ at Gabba talks BY JIM BOWDEN
A MEETING of the Queensland Timber Importers Exporters and Wholesalers Association at the Norman Hotel in Brisbane last Tuesday ended abruptly when members rushed to rescue their cars from swirling waters that flooded a yard at the back of the pub after a freak rain deluge in the city. The storm hit at about 12.15 pm and within 10 minutes 1.5 m of muddy water had covered the yard at Woolloongabba and many of the cars parked there. Along with hotel patrons, the timber merchants waded through chest-high waters to prevent sedans and fourwheel drives that were bobbing around like corks from bumping into each other. Most damaged were two vehicles parked in the lower section of the yard – QTIEWA president Chris Woodhouse’s new 4x4 Volkswagen Touareg and the writer’s test car Honda Civic which almost disappeared beneath the waters. About 84,000 homes and businesses lost power and trains were knocked out as storms rolled through the southeast. More than 2000 lightning strikes hit Brisbane in 3½ hours. The city received nearly half its average February rainfall of 158 mm in less than
What next? The historic Norman Hotel at Woolloongabba.
two hours. I have now experienced both fire and flood at the heritage-listed Norman Hotel. On June 5 last year, the day before the writer and other members of Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 were to meet for the annual pioneer members’ lunch, a blaze in a new section of the 120-yearold pub left one person badly burned and created a huge smoke pall visible across the city. The QTIEWA meeting managed to finish some business before the flood. Guest speaker John Halkett, technical manager of the Australian Timber Importers Federation, gave an update on the Federal Government’s illegal logging policy process. Mr Halkett reminded the meeting that this was an election year and the Forestry Minister Tony Burke was likely
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Calm before the storm .. meeting at the Norman Hotel in Brisbane are (seated front) Chris Woodhouse, Woodhouse Timber Co, John Halkett, technical manager, ATIF, Sydney, and Doug Bartlett, secretary, QTIEWA, and (back row) Joe Chapman, TLB Timbers, Rob Cairns, Tasman KB, Melbourne, Bill Walls, Asian Pacific Timber Marketing, Keith Maitland, Tasman KB, Brisbane, and Nathan Roiko, Humes Doors and Timber.
to make a major announcement on government policy soon. The meeting agreed that QTIEWA would work more closely with ATIF on national policy issues. “It makes sense to have a common ground approach to illegal logging issues,” Chris Woodhouse said. In drawing up and implementing a national code of practice
on illegal timber, submissions should represent importers nation-wide.” Editor’s note: John Halkett was one of the lucky ones at the Norman Hotel. He managed to drive his rented car, which was on higher ground, out of the flooded yard, manoeuvring the accelerator and brake beneath ankle-deep water.
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 7
events
Packed program for industry trainers ATTA Hobart workshop includes forest field trip THE Australian Timber Trainers Association has promised an exciting three-day program of seminars and field visits for its workshop in Hobart from July 26 to 29. Workshop host Greg Howard has assured the mid-winter event at the Mercure Hotel will be warm and that a field trip to one of Australia’s most spectacular forests will be well worth rugging up for. Like last year, the workshop program has been combined with the ForestWorks and Forest Industry Assessment Plan System (FIAPS) annual conference. The program will be packed with presentations, miniworkshops, assessment validation sessions and other items designed to keep trainers and assessors informed about the latest developments in the industry. This year there will be an
optional Day 4 event for people who wish to stay on for a ‘hands-on’ validation session of training and assessing techniques. The two options are a tree felling workshop at a nearby harvesting coupe or a hardwood grading workshop at a nearby sawmill. “Everyone is welcome to come along to one or the other of these sessions, either as an active participant or observer,” Mr Howard said. “All equipment will be provided, but you will need to bring your own personal protective equipment.” Participants need to pay an additional $50 to cover transport costs to and from the site. The main conference venue is the Mercure Hotel on Bathurst Street, Hobart. The hotel’s Angela Cooper has organised special room rates for workshop delegates. The Australian Timber Trainers
ATTA workshop host Greg Howard .. exciting three-day program. The Tahune air walk, one of the highlights of the ATTA workshop field trip.
Association was formed in 1992, and grew out of a need for trainers in the forest and forest products industry to meet and discuss important issues and developments in the industry. ATTA provides a voice for the trainers and assessors who
work in registered training organisations, TAFE colleges, partnerships and as sole trader contractors, and has members in all states and territories. Workshop inquiries should be directed to ATTA secretary David McElvenny, PO Box 1954 Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012. Tel: 0403 570 673. Email: secretary@atta.org.au
Riverina red gum report: damning verdict WITH almost two months now gone since the NSW Natural Resources Commissioner published his final report and recommendations on the Riverina Red Gum industry, we have had some time to reflect on the report and assess for ourselves the impact it will have on the Riverina region. The verdict is damning. The NRC’s report is littered with contradictions and, ultimately, it is our vital regional timber industries that will suffer. The great hypocrisy of the commissioner’s recommendations is threefold: Hypocrisy 1: He has identified the need for active management of the forests but recommended that 71 percent goes into reserve tenure. By regulation and definition, such a tenure
Page 8 | issue 113 | 22.02.10
By
RUSS AINLEY Chief executive NSW Forest Products Association
prevents any such activity. Hypocrisy 2: The NRC recommended joint management of the forests with
Victoria, which has recently ruled that no such management activity may ever occur. Hypocrisy 3: The NRC also recommends that reserves meet conservation criteria, which also dictates that no active management of the resource may ever occur. Active management across ALL tenures is a fundamental platform of the Natural Resources Commission. That means national parks are the wrong way to go. We all know that this tenure will only result in benign neglect, not management at all – neglect on a massive scale of one of Australia’s most precious and sustainable resources. But more than anything, clarity is critical. For Red Gum timber, the volumes of quota
sawlogs will decrease from 23,450 cub m a year. The NRC report camouflages this impact by including low quality sawlogs and areas that are also recommended for reservation. But the NRC yield of 2500 cub m a year is not sufficient to maintain any milling or any value adding, manufacturing or furniture business. All jobs will be lost, not just the 40% suggested by the NRC. Red gum timber industry workers and supporters are urged to attend the NSW Farmers rally in Sydney on Wednesday, February 24, to ensure the city hears and understands what is happening in the Riverina. [See notice and contact details, Page 12].
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industry news
Specifiers guided on sourcing legal, sustainable timber A GUIDELINE to help architects, builders and designers correctly specify timber that has been obtained from legal and sustainable sources has been released by Timber Queensland. Chief executive Rod McInnes says the guideline provides clauses that can be inserted into standard tendering and specification documents. “Our industry believes that timber used for building construction and fit-out should only be sourced from legal and sustainable sources,” Mr McInnes said. “In fact, it is a pre-requisite if you are doing business with QBuild, the leading provider of construction and strategic building maintenance services for the Queensland Government,” he said. “With ever-increasing demand for `green’ timber by climatesavvy consumers, this guideline will make it easier for specifiers to meet their demands.” The sample contract clauses in the ‘Specifications for Sustainable Timber’ guideline state that timbers are considered acceptable where there is a high degree of certainty they are from forests – either native or plantation – that are legally harvested and sustainably managed, or where they are recycled timbers. A copy of the guideline is available at www.
Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Weekly distribution is over 6,000 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region. Timber&Forestry e-news hits your target market – every week, every Monday!
Recycled timber louvres shade the west facade of Council House 2 in Little Collins Street, Melbourne.
timberqueensland.com.au In the guideline’s specifications, ‘timber’ is deemed to include any timber from tree logs, poles, round timber or recycled timber with a sawn, dressed or machine finish including gluedlaminated timber, finger-jointed timber, laminated veneer lumber, engineered wood products (EWPs) and woodbased panels. Timbers that have been salvaged or re-used are referred to as ‘recycled’ timber. This means recovered timber that prior to being supplied had an end use as a stand alone object or as part of a structure. The terms ’recycled’, ’re-used’ and ‘reclaimed’ are used interchangeably and cover materials defined in AS/NZS ISO 14021: 2000.
HEAD OFFICE Custom Publishing Group Unit 2- 3986 Pacific Highway Loganholme 4129 Qld, Australia Tel: +61 7 3392 9810 PUBLISHER Dennis Macready admin@industryenews.com.au CONSULTING EDITOR Jim Bowden Tel: +61 7 3256 1779 Mob: 0401 312 087 cancon@bigpond.net.au ADVERTISING Tel: +61 7 3256 1779 cancon@bigpond.net.au PRODUCTION MANAGER Leigh Macready Tel: +61 7 3392 9810 production@industryenews.com.au
Woodchips export plan to save jobs THE Tasmanian Government had developed a plan to export an extra 800,000 tonnes of woodchips to Asia. Gunns’ Triabunna and Longreach mills were due to close for eight weeks from late March, due
to a downturn in woodchip exports, putting about 150 forest contractors out of work. The in-principle agreement with Asian companies means Gunns mills won’t have to shut down as planned.
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Opinions expressed on Timber & Forestry e news are not necessarily the opinions of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damage resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising. The Publisher is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims or damages resulting from content on this e news. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the Publisher- Custom Publishing Group.
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 9
WOOD PROCESSING
Canadian gold medalist steps up on ‘silver’ wood podium at winter games WHILE everyone else was watching 22-year-old mogul skier gold medalist Alexandre Bilodeau on the Olympic podium last week, wood processors Jim and Karen Burgess were looking at the podium. The Burgess family owns Spiketop Cedar at Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and provided the Amabilis fir podium used at Cypress Mountain for the Olympic events. “We couldn’t really tell if it was ours,” said Jim Burgess, noting there are two podiums being used at Cypress for the flower ceremonies. “But I just kind of knew. It’s fantastic.” The BC Ministry of Forest and Range has confirmed it was the Burgess wood podium that Bilodeau stood on. When Jim Burgess was approached by Andrew Ashford from the Ministry of Forest office in Port McNeill to supply wood for the podium, he jumped at the opportunity. “I knew which tree I would use the moment I was asked,” he said. Amabilis is Latin for lovely, which also describes the light weight and clean appearance of the wood. These tall, straight trees reach up to 50 m.
Canadian moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau celebrates gold atop a podium made from Vancouver Island wood.
The silver-like Amabilis fir (Abies amabilis) is commonly sold and shipped together with western hemlock under the name HemFir (also often referred to as Hem-Bal). The timber is used in structural products, due to its strength properties. Product applications range in residential and commercial construction such as framing, sheathing, sub-flooring, concrete forms,
decking, planking, beams, posts, and prefabricated buildings. The rough lumber milled by Jim and Karen Burgess was sent to Vancouver’s Bayview Millworks and cut into complex shapes using sophisticated computercontrolled machinery at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. The podiums were assembled at the Rona youth fabrication workshop in Vancouver, a communitybased training centre that teaches carpentry skills to new Canadians and at-risk youth. The podium at Cypress Mountain is 478 cm long, 171 cm deep, 50 cm at its tallest point and assembled from 241 pieces. Carpentry trainees at the workshop undertake a 30-week carpentry skills experience program that began in November 2007. For people who have had difficultly attaching to the workforce, the workshop equips them with tools for life and it was an essential woodworking facility for the Winter Olympics. Port Hardy is a community of 5000 people at the northern tip of Vancouver Island in a wilderness shared by kayakers,
hikers, eagles, cougars and whales. Lumber and roofing materials are manufactured at local mills while wood-working artisans produce crafts such as turned bowls and sculptures. The Burgess family’s wood products reach customers as far away as Australia, Japan and The Netherlands.
Canada’s Amabilis fir which produces light weight clean appearance wood for construction, home interiors and furniture.
Be SURE about INSURANCE Trusted brokers to the timber industry since 1985
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Page 10 | issue 113 | 22.02.10
Contact Alan Jones Email: alan.jones@premier.austbrokers.com (Licence No. 238123)
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WOOD PROMOTION
Brains of wood promotion join ‘webinar’ Experiences shared in international hook-up post-Copenhagen THE International Wood Promotion Network has successfully hosted its first ‘webinar’ on climate change and wood promotion – post Copenhagen. The webinar’s purpose was to update wood promotion professionals on the climate change deliberations in Copenhagen, particularly any agreements or directional discussions that might impact on wood promotion in the future (positively or negatively).
Andrew Dunn .. tackle climate change – use wood.
Timber industry should be vigilant against ‘carbon cowboys’ that could wreck the promotion of harvested wood products
The network is a group of wood promoters from around the world who share their knowledge in the marketing of timber and wood products [see www.iwpn.net]. The group meets regularly over the internet and met in Vancouver last year to share information. The network’s Australian representative and one of its founding members, Andrew Dunn of the Timber Development Association, says that since its creation in 2007 the IWPN representatives quickly learnt that wood promotion organisations around the world were undertaking similar work. “They realised that sharing experiences could be invaluable in understanding what worked, and at times, what didn’t,” Mr Dunn said. “Examples of this sharing can be seen in the growing call from wood promotion organisations to use the statement, Tackle Climate Change – Use Wood.” This statement originated in Europe by CEI - BOIS and is now used in North America and even New Zealand. Webinars are a live meeting over the internet where participants
David Rhodes .. beware of ‘carbon cowboys’.
can view a PowerPoint presentation and listen via Voice Over the Internet Protocol (VOIP), like a Skype call but with a presentation attached. There were more than 25 participants from all over the world including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
W2O10D
recognition,” Mr Dunn said. David Rhodes commented that the timber industry should be stating that in comparison to other material manufactures, the timber industry has its “house is in order” and that there needs to be an internationally recognised tool for measuring carbon over the whole of life. Mr Rhodes also said the timber
industry should be vigilant against “carbon cowboys” that could wreck the promotion of harvested wood products. The dialogue ended with the agreement that more frequent webinars should be held to discuss common interests. The next webinar, to occur shortly, will have Environmental Rating Tools as its topic. The international wood community has a keen interest to learn from Australia’s experiences in dealing with the Green Building Council and also its development of Life Cycle Analysis protocols for buildings.
Innovation Agreement strengthens Forest industry representatives in Copenhagen from Sweden (Gunilla Beyer, Swedish Forest Industries Federation), Canada (Paul Lansbergen, Forest Products Association of Canada), and New Zealand (David Rhodes (NZ Forest Owners Association) provided a brief on what was discussed behind the scenes. “It was pleasing to see that the presenters agreed with each other, but they gave no solid conclusion of outcomes from Copenhagen except for signs of promise on forest and harvested wood products
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FSC presence in China
FSC and Accreditation Services International (ASI) have signed an MOU with China’s certification administration. “This will foster stronger relations between FSC and CNCA to promote the development of forest certification in China,” FSC Australia chief executive Michael Spencer said. “The MOU highlights information exchange, training, technical collaboration and coordination in the development of certification standards as some of the areas in which FSC
and CNCA will cooperate.” The MOU strengthens FSC’s presence in China, which has more than 1.3 million ha of forest certified to FSC standards and 1250 companies with FSC chain of custody certification. Long-term director and former board chair Kevin O’Grady has resigned from FSC Australia. He believes his consultancy business, working with FSC certification, could be seen as a conflict of interests.
issue 113 | 22.02.10 | Page 11
Chain of Custody Property Rights Support Group I N F O R M AT I O N S E M I N A R
Brisbane • Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fighting Landowners Property Rights Chain of for Custody
e e e o o C
433 On Logan Conference Centre 433 Logan Road, Stone’s Corner LIMITED INFORM A T I OTO N60SSEATS EMINAR
This affects you too Meeting held in your town soon Sydney Rally 24th February at 11am at NSW Parliament House
This Brisbane important and timely seminar, organised by TABMA Queensland, • Thursday, August 20, 2009 will help reduce433 some the confusion relatingCentre to chain of custody. It OnofLogan Conference 433 Logan timber Road,industry Stone’shas Corner will ensure the Queensland the information required LIMITED TO 60 SEATS for compliance with legislation,Key speakers will present information This seminar, organised by TABMA Queensland, andimportant there willand be timely a question and answer forum. will help reduce some of the confusion relating to chain of custody. It Speakers include:
will ensure the Queensland timber industry has the information required • Colin MacKenzie, manager, timber application and use, Timber Queensland for compliance with legislation,Key speakers will present information • Simon Dorries, General Manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of and there will be a question and answer forum. Australasia Speakers include: • Kayt Watts, chief executive, Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) • Colin MacKenzie, manager, timber application and use, Timber Queensland • Michael Spencer, chief Manager, executive, Engineered Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) • Simon Dorries, General Wood Products Association of
y l l a R
Calling all Australians to unite “Enough is Enough” Farmers deserve their land
Australasia • Kayt Watts, fee: chief executive, Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) hot breakfast Registration $65 pp (TABMAAustralian member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes • Michael Spencer, chief executive, Forest Stewardship (FSC) begin at 8 am. and morning tea. Note: Arrival 7:30am. Breakfast 7:45 am.Council Presentations RSVP by Friday, August 14, to: Registration fee: $65 ppPO (TABMA member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes hot breakfast Tabma Queensland, Box 532, and500 morning tea. Note: 7:30am. 7:45 am. Presentations begin at 8 am. Brunswick Street,Arrival Fortitude ValleyBreakfast 4006 RSVP Friday, Tel:by (07) 3254August 3166. 14, Fax:to: (07) 3254 4599. Tabma Queensland, PO Box 532, Mob: 0438 295 136 500 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley 4006
Contact: Lyn 0412170569 Jeanette: 0411628310 Email contacts: lki7@bigpond.net.au or jeanette47 @bigpond.com www.tabma.com.au www.tabma.com.au
Tel: (07) 3254 3166. Fax: (07) 3254 4599. Mob: 0438 295 136
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