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issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 1
Rolling RFA policy to secure resource VAFI calls for state commitment in 10-point pre-election forest strategy
A COMMITMENT to 20-year regional forest agreements, renewed every five years, is part of a 10-point strategy released by the Victorian Association of Forest Industries to secure a sustainable forest industry. VAFI chief executive Philip Dalidakis said the local timber industry, particularly in the regions, supported 24,000 jobs and generating a sales and services income of $6.5 billion each year. The plan was launched this week well ahead of the state election, called for November 27. “Sovereign risk has become one
RFAs .. assuring certainty of wood supply in Victoria.
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Get ready for the Sydney timber design awards night
of the greatest threats to the future of our forest industries,” Mr Dalidakis said. “Successive state governments have continued to reduce the volume of timber available for harvest, making once thriving businesses unviable and outsourcing Victorian jobs to overseas suppliers of timber, who often do not operate in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.” VAFI believes that RFAs – 20year plans for the sustainable management of native forests – act as the cornerstone of Cont Page 7
issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 1
news
Brian Farmer new Making chief executive of an plantations group impact .. FPQ management changes By JIM BOWDEN
Please join us! 2010 VAFI
Annual Dinner Friday October 15 Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne
Watch this space! More details to follow soon
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 147 | 18.10.10
RESPECTED forester Brian Farmer has been appointed new chief executive of Forestry Plantations Queensland Pty Ltd, which manages about 204,000 ha of softwood and hardwood plantations in the state. Mr Farmer takes up his position on November 22 after five years as chief executive of ForestrySA. FPQ is managed on behalf of institutional investors by Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG) which paid $603 million to the Queensland Government in a winning tender on May 18 for a 99-year licence to manage, harvest and re-grow the plantation estate. Gary Hannigan, who was interim CEO of the new company and who was previously chief executive of DPI Forestry for six years, has been appointed a director of FPQ. Brian Farmer has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and has worked in both Tasmania and New South Wales in various forestbased organisations with major responsibilities in forest operations, sales and marketing, business development and environmental protection. As CEO of ForestrySA, based at Mount Gambier, he supervised the state-owned plantation resource, which consists primarily of 84,000 ha of radiata pine in the Green Triangle and Ranges regions. “We look forward to taking advantage of Brian’s wide experience. He joins a good team of people doing a great job with the resource,” FPQ managing director Karl Kny told
across Australia’s forest and forest products industry .. since 1940
How do you employ
apprentices? Brian Farmer .. leaving ForestrySA to work in Queensland plantations.
T&F enews. “Gary Hannigan will be a valuable addition to the board.” Mr Kny and directors of the FPQ board, effectively HTRG representatives working for a variety of global investors, visited FPQ plantations sites this month and met with resource customers Carter Holt Harvey and Hyne. “The group praised the high quality of the resource and was delighted with the staff and operations,” Mr Kny said. As part of the FPQ acquisition, Hancock Timber Resource Group has committed to handing back to the state more than 3000 ha identified as suitable for rehabilitation as natural habitat after harvesting. To ensure the state’s hardwood commitments are met, FPQ will continue the government initiative of establishing 20,000 ha of western eucalypt hardwood plantations, at the rate of about 1000 ha a year, Cont Page 6
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issues
Foresters angry over native forest closures
‘Sustainable forest management principles treated with contempt’ PROFESSIONAL foresters have condemned the decision by Australia’s largest integrated hardwood and softwood forest products company Gunns Ltd to exit its native forest operations, describing the proposals as “treating the principles of sustainable forest management with contempt”. In an unprecedented criticism of some sections of the timber industry by the Institute of Foresters of Australia, which represents more than 1350 professional foresters and forest managers, indecision by industry, unions and
High value jarrah .. demand will have to be met by imports.
conservationists in round table talks on the future of Tasmania’s native forests has also come under fire. “How such an important issue can be thrashed out behind closed doors is just absurd,” IFA chairman in Western Australia David Wettenhall said. “Outcomes from the talks in Tasmania will have national repercussions,” he said. Gunns Ltd has announced it will exit native forests in Tasmania and is proposing to close sawmilling operations in Victoria and Western Australia. Reports this week also point to mounting speculation in northwest Tasmania that 90 jobs at Gunns Ltd’s Smithton mill are in jeopardy as the company turns its attention to a 100% plantation resource. As the forestry round-table talks draw to a close, the Smithton sawmill, which sources all its resource from the Circular Head district, seemingly has an uncertain future. Mr Wettenhall said foresters in Western Australia had expressed disgust at a sudden announcement by Gunns to close down its native forest operations in the state. “Gunns and the NGOs pushing for cessation of native forest harvesting are treating the communities and the principles of sustainable forest management with contempt,” he said. Gunns is to close its Deanmill jarrah sawmill if a buyer is not found within two weeks. The company had an agreement to cut 70,000 cub m of jarrah a year from a licensed 131,000
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
Cont Page 4
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issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 3
issues
‘Expanded bauxite mining is a much greater threat to the jarrah forests than the sustainable harvesting of timber’ From Page 3
cub m under the state’s forest management plan. Mr Wettenhall said to give people less than six weeks’ notice that the Deanmill sawmill was to close was outrageous “Gunns and various NGOs have been engaged in closed-door negotiations to resolve conflicts in Tasmania which have flowed through to other states without any involvement of the other communities. ‘It is ludicrous that the Australian NGOs are trying to close down sustainable native forest industries to be replaced by non-renewable materials and imported rainforest timbers’ Gunns has confirmed it will move out of logging operations in state-owned forests in Victoria with the Alexandra mill expected to close after the state elections on November 27 “It is unacceptable that NGOs and companies with particular interests in Tasmania should close down an industry that
Page 4 | issue 147 | 18.10.10
is sustainably producing renewable forest products,” Mr Wettenhall said. “Foresters are simply amazed at how the Greens have won over the Tasmanian industry. The Greens win and everyone else loses. “And while these discussions in Tasmania continue, Gunns is out there shutting down sawmills.” Returning to the WA scenario, Mr Wettenhall said the Gunns’ decision might allow some retirement of the low quality logs being harvested under the forest management plan and provide struggling sawmillers with higher grade logs, but possibly at a reduced cut. “But you’ve got to worry about ‘critical mass’ and an allocation of 131,000 cub m is not a lot of critical mass to run a sawmill, marketing initiatives, wood science and all the rest. So you wonder how viable the whole game is.” Mr Wettenhall said management of native forests under the WA forest management plan had been certified sustainable timber production under the Australian Forestry Standard.
David Wettenhall .. close of an industry unacceptable.
Sustainable forest management required maintenance of socioeconomic benefits as well as conservation of biodiversity, forest health and soil and water resources. “Demand for jarrah building materials and high value timbers will have to be met by imports of Indonesian merbau, kwila from Papua New Guinea, steel, concrete and imported CCA treated pine,” Mr Wettenhall said. “It is ludicrous that the Australian NGOs are trying to close down sustainable native forest industries to be replaced by non-renewable materials and
imported rainforest timbers. “The presence of experienced men and equipment in the timber industry are essential fire fighting resources to protect communities and forests. “The native forest industry is a valuable tool forest managers can use to thin drought stressed forests and maintain forest health. Much of the forest is under stress due to declining rainfall and requires thinning to reduce the water requirements of the forest. “In a perverse twist, the government is expected to increase bauxite mining requiring further clearing of forests, to provide employment for displaced sawmill and logging personnel. Expanded bauxite mining is a much greater threat to the jarrah forests than the sustainable harvesting of timber.” More than 50% of the state’s southwest forests are now in national parks and in formal conservation reserves where harvesting is prohibited. There has been no old growth logging in Western Australia since 2002. Cont Page 11
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events
WHAT’S ON? OCTOBER 2010 18-19: DERM Koala conservation forestry training sessions DERM depot, Woongool Road and Groth Street, Maryborough. Light lunch provided at all sessions between 12 noon and 1 pm. Email: forestproducts@derm.qld.gov.au 19-20: MTC Global Woodmart: Gateway to International Wood Markets. The first ‘one-stop’ selling and buying platform for all suppliers and buyers of wood and wood products. Early bird discount 5%. Organised by the Malaysian Timber Council at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. Contact: Malaysian Timber Council. Tel: +60 3 9281 1999. Fax: +60 3 9289 8999. Email: council@mtc.com.my Web: www.globalwoodmart.my 22: Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association annual dinner. Country Club, Launceston. Opportunity to meet with key industry stakeholders, peers and colleagues attending the forum and cocktail party culminating in the annual dinner. Contact: Chris Rudland. Tel: (03) 6343 3399. Email: admin@tfca.com.au 29: TABMA annual dinner. LunaPark, Sydney. Incorporating theAustralian Timber Design Awardspresented by TDA NSW. Dinnersupported by TDA, NSW ForestProducts Association and FWPA. Contact: TABMA on (02) 9277 3172
NOVEMBER 2010 3-6: The Status and Trends of the Gobal-Pacific Rim Forest Indutry. The Role of Australia and New Zealand. Bayview Eden Hotel, melbourne. Speakers: Dennis
Neilson, director DANA Ltd, New Zealnd and Jim Stevens, manager, global business development, The Campbell Group, US. Field trip to Midway’s hardwood woodchip export operation owned by SPE management: and Pentarch’s Ilog export fumigation and loading operation. Contact conference organiser pamela Richards. Tel: 61 3 5781 0069. Email: enquiry@prcc. com.au 10: Women’s Leadership in the Timber Industry Seminar. The Alto Room, The Langham, One Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Melbourne. 10.30 am-3 pm. $132 p.p. (gst inclusive). The forum is a way of providing a different perspective to issues facing the whole timber industry – a way of providing development and ensuring that good women not only are attracted to the industry but choose the industry as a preferred place to work and build a career. Speakers include Karen Hayes, industry visionary, Judith Tilling, Tilling Timber, and Lisa Marty, Victorian Association of Forest Industries, who has been appointed to ther Department of Primary Industries Women’s Network, representing women in the timber industry. Karen Hayes has vast general management and strategic consulting experience in Australasia, Canada, the US and Europe, primarily in the financial services and information technology industries. She is director, corporate engagement and human capital with UXC Ltd and past finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards. Contact: Kersten Gentle 0418 226 242 or email: kersten@ ftmaaustralia.com.au
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15: Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia annual general meeting and conference. Gold Coast International Hotel. Tel: (07) 3250 3700. 17-19: ForestTECH 2010 Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest Planning & Operations, Rotorua,NZ. 17-19: Japan Home and Building Show 2010. Contact: John Gore at jlg@eurofair.co.nz 22-24: ForestTECH 2010 Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest Planning & Operations, Albury, NSW. 22-26: PMA market group outward mission to India.
2011 FEBRUARY
2-4: ATFA Flooring and Finishes Expo. Sydney Exhibition Centre. Contact: Australilan Timber Flooring Association (07) 5492 8696. Visit: www. flooringandfinishes.com.au
MAY 30-June 3: LIGNA Hannover Wood Fair. 25-June 4: LIGNA industry tour (Germany, Italy, Austria).
SUSTAINABLE. RESPONSIBLE. The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) is striving for an ecologically sustainable Australian society achieved through dynamic, internationally competitive forest industries. NAFI’s mission is to represent the interests of members by promoting the environmental sustainability and the prosperity of Australian forest industries.
SEPTEMBER 5-7: NZ Forest Industries Expo 2011. Venue: Rotorua Energy Events Centre, Rotorua. Contact: Dell Bawden. Tel: +64 73627865. Mob: +64 274745485. Email: office@bawden.co.nz Website site: fi2010.co.nz
National Association of Forest Industries Ltd (Est. 1987) PO Box 239, Deakin ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6285 3833. Fax: (02) 6285 3855 Web: www.nafi.com.au
issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 5
news
NQ hoop pine for export as FPQ develops markets From Page 2
between now and 2025 in preparation for the expected cessation of native forest logging in Queensland. All Hancock Timber managed forests in Australasia are FSC certified and FPQ is seeking third party certification for management of the plantations under the FSC standard. The lands are already certified under the Australian Forestry Standard and that certification is to be maintained. Mr Kny said FPQ would continue to develop markets for its hoop pine resource in southeast Queensland. “We are still looking for the best
markets but as far as exporting hoop pine logs is concerned, the resource is too far away from the coast,” he said. “However, we have started exporting windthrow hoop pine from the remote Cathu forest near Mackay which was damaged by Cyclone Ului.” Severe tropical cyclone Ului was the fastest intensifying tropical cyclones on record, strengthening from a tropical storm to a Category 5 equivalent cyclone within a 24-hour span. Infrastructural damage in Queensland from the storm amounted to $20 million and agricultural and forestry losses reached $60 million.
Wood key to greener products A CANADIAN economist and bio-energy expert says new advances in technology and demand for greener products could transform New Zealand’s forestry industry. The head of resource economics and bioenergy at the Canadian Forestry Service Rory Gilsenan who is in New Zealand says carbon fibre panels for cars, high tech fabrics and even biopharmacueticals could all be derived from wood. Mr Gilsenan is involved in a
study in Canada assessing the economic feasibility and market for high tech wood products that could one day replace petrochemicals. He says for a country to be successful, it needs the right infrastructure in place, as well as government policy support, such as a price on carbon and renewable fuel standards. New Zealand’s research Institute Scion believes the country could one day produce enough biofuels to power all our transport needs.
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Page 6 | issue 147 | 18.10.10
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industry news
Biomass energy a profitable new market for state’s timber industry From Page 1
responsible and adaptive management and conservation of Victoria’s forests by providing certainty to the forest industries through the provision of a predictable level of resources for future harvests. “VAFI strongly believe that the state must recommit to using RFAs and provide a legislative base for the certainty of wood supply,” Mr Dalidakis said. “Furthermore, there should always be a secure and reliable supply of timber for the full 20year RFA period, with a review of the agreements at the end of each five year period, followed by the adding of a further five years of supply.” Mr Dalidakis said a ‘rolling RFA policy’ would provide the industry with resource security, removing one of the greatest barriers to industry sustainability, providing businesses and individuals with a greater incentive to invest in plant and employment opportunities, and ensuring the future of forestry in Victoria. The VAFI plan supports biomass power generation and believes biomass energy produced from timber waste is an effective way for Victoria to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in an affordable way. This form of power generation can assist in providing security of supply to meet the baseload power needs of the economy, and minimise the price impacts on households and businesses. “Industry is not suggesting that timber be harvested purely for energy production, or that any additional harvesting over and above existing amounts needs to occur,” Mr Dalidakis emphasised. “This is an important distinction,
as not one additional tree is required, nor is the industry requesting further forests be harvested in pursuit of this policy. Instead, it is founded on the more efficient use of existing timber waste created by forestry and processing operations.” The VAVI plan says future state governments must also recognise that the biomass policy in the 2009 Victorian Government Timber Industry Strategy is a positive step for the local timber industry. No energy solution can be purely local, however, and the next state government should call on the federal government to adopt this policy and establish a national consensus. Government should also advocate the inclusion of native wood residues in the GreenPower accreditation program. The use of biomass as an energy source would create a profitable new market for the state’s timber industry, creating new employment opportunities in regional areas, and develop a use for waste timber that can reduce Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels. Other points in the plan are: • Chain of custody environmental certification requirement for all VicForest customers. • A mandated environmental procurement policy focusing on internationally recognised certification for all State Government timber and paper products. • The expanded use of environmental thinning for the management of all Victorian public forests, including in state and national parks. • The use of plantation mapping to help make more informed decisions on the establishment of new plantations. • The development of a long-
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reforms to the Department of Sustainability and Environment, and VicForests. • Increased support for education and training relevant to the forestry industry. • Research and development with a bio-security focus.
Philip Dalidakis .. support for biomass power generation
Mr Dalidakis said wood could be used for a variety of purposes, such as building houses for Victoria’s growing population in a more environmentally friendly way.
term hardwood plantation growth strategy. • Improved governance of the forestry industry through
“The average steel-framed home emits 2.9 tonnes of carbon, compared to a woodframed house which stores about 7.5 tonnes,” he said.
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issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 7
certification
Chain of custody smooth operation for cypress sawmiller and stockist
A WESTERN Queensland cypress sawmiller and one of the state’s largest stockists of the timber has shown how chain of custody certification can be achieved quickly and without any disruption to business operations. “Although it was a fast process – we buy and process our timber from one AFS certified forest resource – the achievement was a credit to our office administrator and the on-site certification undertaken by the EWPAA,” the manager of Cypress Supplies at Caboolture John Jeffrey said. “It all comes back to keeping records, good auditing and invoicing systems, reference to site maps and tracking timber from the forest floor to the finished product,” Mr Jeffrey said in praise of office administrator Lorraine James. Working with Matt Bird, quality control engineer with the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, chain of custody was a smooth and low-cost exercise for the company which operates a cypress sawmill at Roma in western Queensland. [Chain of Custody (CoC) tracks a wood or forest product from origin in a certified forest
John Jeffrey .. chain of custody but cypress industry’s future uncertain.
through to the end use as a wood or forest product by the consumer. CoC covers all intermediate steps such as harvesting, transportation, primary and secondary processing, manufacturing, re-manufacturing, distribution and sales. As such, CoC is an inventory control system that provides a quality assurance standard, AS 4707]. Cypress Supplies has an allocation of 12,800 cub m drawn from state forests around Injune, Yuleba, Mitchell and Roma. The Roma mill, managed by Ray Collins, employs a staff of 30. The Caboolture plant with a staff of 25 is manufacturing trusses and frames, posts and building gazebos for markets as far apart as Melbourne and Cairns in north Queensland with sales to the Gold Coast and country regions, including western gas pipeline infrastructure projects.. Equipment includes a 16 m truss jib, 12 x 3 m table press, automated saws, and a pre-nail Mango auto trencher. “We are looking to upgrade at Roma, but few sawmillers are willing to invest in new
Roma cypress sawmill .. future resource a concern. Cont Page 10
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Page 8 | issue 147 | 18.10.10
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wood science
Understanding the behaviour of wood
Gottstein course in Melbourne SESSIONS on production forestry and marketing timber and wood products will be introduced to the next Gottstein wood science course to be held in Melbourne in February next year. The course – Understanding Wood – has been a feature of the forestry and wood products training space for more than 20 years. “The week-long course is normally held every second year and is aimed at providing new employees in the forest and wood products sector a better understanding of the fantastic medium that is wood,” the course director Sylvia Pongracic said. “Wood, being a natural, biological material, has inherent variability, adaptability and beauty. ‘Understanding Wood’ with all of its vagaries, and making the most of this medium, is the aim of most forest and wood product companies. “The Gottstein course will help employees to understand why wood behaves the way it does.” The course, hosted by the University of Melbourne and CSIRO, covers the spectrum from wood anatomy, sawing, drying, preservation, wood fibre composites, timber service life, pulp, paper and bio-refineries, wood residues, carbon trading and wood use world wide. It involves four days of lectures, laboratory work and round table discussions and includes a field trip to Gippsland to view hardwood and softwood sawmills, a preservation and pallet making operation and some forest operations. “Guest lecturers are drawn from the industry to ensure the latest information is available, and to include current operations and practices in Australia,” Ms
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 6,400 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! Sylvia Pongracic .. course helps to understand how wood behaves.
Pongracic said. “After-dinner speakers at the two course dinners will also provide commentary into the state of play of the wood products industry and interaction between course participants has always been nominated as a highlight of the course.” Participant numbers are limited, and the course generally fills up fast. Contact gottsteintrust.org or Silvia Pongracic on 0418 764 954.
Wood pellets for BC bio-coal plant THE wood pellet industry in British Columbia, Canada, has the potential to rapidly expand in the next few years with the construction of several new plants that will use a revolutionary new technology. The most significant example of this trend is a deal between Vancouver-based Global BioCoal and Coast Tsimshian Resources to make a $30 million investment in the construction of the world’s first commercialsize bio-coal manufacturing plant in Terrace, BC.
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HEAD OFFICE Custom Publishing Group Unit 2- 3986 Pacific Highway Loganholme 4129 Qld, Australia 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 3841 8075 production@industryenews.com.au
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issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 9
certification
Resource security, reduced allocations and log pricing has cypress industry on knife edge From Page 8
machinery while the cypress industry’s future is uncertain,” Mr Jeffrey said. “The ongoing battle over forest reservation – and the science behind this is very clouded – combined with the likelihood of royalty increases pushing up log prices, has us on a knife edge. “We can live with a reduced allocation and perhaps access to an auction system, but the market won’t allow for an increase in log costs. It’s going to make it very difficult.” Mr Jeffrey said the industry was gearing for changing regimes in state government forest
Cypress Supplies feeds the Roma sawmill with timber from state forests around Injune, Yuleba, Mitchell and Roma.
allocation such as a shift from a random tree marking system to an open 23-plus dbh and 16
cm end diameter selection. “This should give us a better quality log over the old system
but we need to be careful and not get into a situation were we are clearing areas of forest.” The Roma mill began operations in 1975 and was purchased in 1987 by Fleming Cypress Pty Ltd and then by Cypress Supplies in 2008. The cypress Industry is committed to the long-term viability of cypress timber. The white cypress (Callitris glaucophylla) is milled from widely spread natural forest areas in south western Queensland. Forests are professionally managed to sustain long-term availability; in fact, there is more cypress now than there was 100 years ago.JIM BOWDEN
Role of plantations exaggerated in Murray-Darling Basin plan A3P is concerned by the extent to which the proposed MurrayDarling Basin plan refers to the role of plantations in water interception. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority released the guide on October 8. Plantations are the only form of dryland (non-irrigated) land use whose water interception is estimated. There is no justification for this given that, even by the MDBA’s qualified
estimates, plantation water use amounts to less than 2.5% of total water use in the basin, says A3P. Farm dams (the other form of interception identified) account for eight times more water interception than plantations. There is no justification for taking on the enormous scientific, socio-economic and legal and regulatory challenges associated with regulating water use by dryland land uses,
A3P asserts. A3P calls on the MDBA and the minister to ensure that: * Any policy contemplated in relation to interception of water by plantations should be considered only as part of a full debate on water interception by all dryland agricultural land uses. * All policy on water interception is underpinned by sound, repeatable and reliable
science. * All policy on water interception takes into account issues of water quality as well as water quantity. * Clauses 55-57 of the National Water Initiative are only implemented as intended, that is, constrained to consideration of land use change (for example new plantations) not existing land uses.
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Page 10 | issue 147 | 18.10.10
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industry news
NZ pledge on free trade THE NZ Prime Minister John Key pledged to continue working to reduce trade barriers for forestry in his opening speech at the inaugural pan-industry ForestWood conference in Wellington. As New Zealand’s third largest export industry, forestry has brought in an estimated $NZ3.7 billion of export earnings export in the year to June and is forecast to grow to an annual $NZ6.2 billion by 2014. “Free trade negotiations and a
continued commitment to the emissions trading scheme are important to support further forestry sector growth,” Mr Key said. Mr Key attributed a significant part of this growth to the country’s free trade agreement with China and pledged to reduce trade barriers for forestry through free trade agreements with Korea, India and other potential trade partners. ForestWood reports in future issues of T&F enews.
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Forest talks near end? From Page 4
“Even if harvesting is reduced in the short term, areas that are now state forests and available for timber harvesting should be managed for future forest options and not be converted to formal conservation reserves,” Mr Wettenhall said. “Industry and NGOs must recommit to maintenance of community and socio-economic benefits from forests as well as biodiversity and forest health. “The state government, as a matter or urgency, should ensure a viable and sustainable timber industry continues in Western Australia.” As Timber&Forestry enews went online, there is a report that both sides in the Tasmanian native forest dispute have agreed to a Statement of Principles document that would see an end of logging in native forests in return for a plantation-based pulp mill being built. Forestry Industry Association of Tasmania chief executive Terry Edwards said he would
seek to ensure the industry’s contracts and statutory rights were protected. “These have been extremely difficult discussions for the industry as they go to the very heart of the industry’s resource supply and security,” Mr Edwards said on Friday. “We have been concerned that there was insufficient protection of contractual and statutory obligations.” Meanwhile, conservation groups said the agreement did not mean they would support the proposed Gunns’ pulp mill in the Tamar Valley.
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“The Tamar Valley pulp mill consultation process was flawed from the outset,” the Wilderness Society’s Paul Oosting said. “Environment groups wish to see a sustainable timber industry develop in Tasmania, but it cannot be based on the mistakes of the past.”
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issue 147 | 18.10.10 | Page 11
events
Record gathering for Queensland timber industry dinner and awards QUEENSLAND’S most successful ever timber industry dinner and awards presentation attracted 325 guests to Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel on October 9 to celebrate a night of industry unity and a ‘casino’ theme of winning innovation. The state timber industry awards were a highlight of the event, organised by TABMA Queensland and chief executive Karen Johnston and respected industry identity Bill Kranenburg as judges made the presentations. Ms Johnston said the awards criteria – available as a free download on the TABMA Queensland web
site – would give industry an excellent auditing tool for their businesses. “It gives industry an opportunity to streamline points of the criteria that could be adapted to individual company strategies such as innovation in business, investment in staff to maximise potential and fostering quality business relationships with suppliers and customers,” she said. TABMA Queensland chairman and dinner MC Keith Maitland said board members were nominated nine times for the awards and won three times. “This highlights that members not only discuss and debate
Roger Healy, Simmonds Lumber, and Bob McMaster, Redland Bay Roof Trusses.
Paul Deakin, Howard Sawmill and Alan Jones, AustBrokers Premier, and president, Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218.
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issues such as ethics and industry supporting essentials, but also put them into practice,” he said. Award winners: Best building materials centre (regional): Porters Home & Building Centre, Mackay; (metro): Langs Building Supplies, Yatala. Best specialist service operations: Tarmac Queensland. Best frame and truss operation (regional): Porter’s Truss & Frame; (metro): Forsyth & Romano, Archerfield. Best wholesale representative: Craig Denmead, Dindas Australia.
Chris Hay, Northside Trusses & Frames, and Grahame Henderson, Corbek Timber Preservation.
Erna and Bruce Harle, ForestWorks, Brisbane.
Best specialist timber merchant: Tradeware Building Supplies. Best timber wholesale operation: Simmonds Lumber. Best training culture: Versace Timbers. Best timber manufacturing operation: Lindsay Meyers. Best sawmilling operation: Parkside Timber’s Wondai green mill. Trainee of the year: Christopher Buchanan, KB’s Truss & Pre-Nail Frame. Judges’ award for excellence: Hyn Tuan.
Jason Justice, Pacific Wood Products and Debbie Forsyth and Mary-Anne Argall, Forsyth & Romano Group.
Maryanne Wells and Steve Johnson(TABMA Queensland director) of 5 Star Timbers, Mackay.
Karen Johnston, chief executive, TABMA Queensland, and Michael Gaske, Ozline Timbers and TABMA Queensland director.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
National quality assurance scheme for treated timber back on agenda By JIM BOWDEN
A NATIONAL quality assurance scheme for treated timber is back on the agenda after a meeting of industry players in Brisbane last week. The Queensland Timber Treaters Group re-visited the idea as discussions centred on the October 1 repeal of the state’s Timber Utilisation Marketing Act (TUMA). Of all the states, only New South Wales continues to have a timber marketing act. Representatives of the three mainstream chemical suppliers at the meeting – Arch, Osmose and TimTech – agreed to support the scheme against a background of increased reports of unpoliced timber failures and poorly treated products. These suppliers are constantly at the coal face of the industry and between them visit most treatment plants and can advise on quality assurance programs. “But the problem implementing an industry-wide policing system, as in the past, is getting the smaller treaters to support it financially. It’s fallen on its face before,” admitted one supplier.
At the Brisbane timber treaters meeting .. Tim Evans, newlyappointed chairman of the Queensland Timber Treaters Group, Steven Koch, Arch Wood Protection, Grahame Henderson , principal, Corbek Timber Preservation, Arundel, Qld, and Radhika Rao, Australian Hardboards
Concerns have been expressed that many owner-operators have little appreciation of the correct solution strengths for treating timber – and indeed how to measure it. Although TUMA has been repealed, the treatment industry must comply with AS1604 and brands must be in accordance with the standard and there is a need to meet the specifications of the standard when claiming hazard class compliance. The Timber Preservers Association of Australia is to sign off on a committee
recommendation that TPAA and Forest and Woods Products Australia work together on ongoing amendments to AS1604 and work to run AS1605 as an industry standard. This will need Standards Australia agreement and would be an arrangement that TPAA, through FPWA, would put to SA. The strategies necessary to implement a national treatment policing scheme and the need for the Timber Treaters Group to ‘beef up’ membership with more actual treaters, are among many challenges facing Tim
Evans, who was elected new chairman of the group at the Brisbane meeting. Wide industry experience gained by more than 40 years in the timber industry and his no-nonsense style will add impetus to the group’s standing as Queensland’s peak industry body for timber preservation. Mr Evans entered the timber sector as a management trainee in 1968. He has worked in all aspects of the industry from harvesting and milling to downstream processing, timber drying and wood treatment and has held senior management and group production roles for multi-site operations in eastern Australia and the Pacific Islands. He has been responsible for green field projects and site upgrades, and is familiar with native, exotic and tropical species harvesting and processing. Queensland’s Waste Strategy 2010–2020, now in draft form, and its implications for the timber treatment industry, were discussed at the Brisbane meeting after presentations by representatives of the Cont Page 14
Status and Trends of the Global-Pacific Rim Forest Industry
The Role of Australia and New Zealand Visit the conference web site for full details of the program, speakers, field trip, accommodation and registration. Wednesday 3 Friday 5 November, 2010 Bayview Eden Hotel Melbourne Australia
Contact: Conference Organiser: PR Conference Consultants – Ms Pamela Richards Tel: + 61 3 5781 0069. Email: enquiry@prcc.com.au
www.prcc.com.au/dana2010
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Monday 8 Tuesday 9 November, 2010 Energy Events Centre Rotorua New Zealand
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industry news
Implications for timber treaters in state’s waste management strategy From Page 13
Department of Environment and Resource Management policy legislation unit Ariane Milinovich and Cristyn Morns. About 3000 tonnes of solid waste are generated each day in the southeast corner of Queensland alone and most of this waste is sent to landfill. Although timber waste and recycling is rarely at the front of mind for most in the timber industry, the sector has relatively low levels of recycling that can seriously detract from the excellent sustainability credentials of timber. The state waste strategy aims at avoiding waste and improving recycling, which includes a landfill levy as well as a number of other actions that relate directly to the timber industry. The DERM policy unit is working with Timber Queensland to help reduce waste and improve recycling, as well as a competitive grants program to encourage industry investment in infrastructure and market development, with one of the priorities being the recovery and use of particleboard and lowvalue timber recovered from mixed wastes. “In relation to timber, we expect little change from the draft version to the final version,” coordinator of the Brisbane treaters meeting and forest resource manger at Timber Queensland Jim Burgess said. “The important issue in the waste strategy is to recognise that the sustainability credentials of timber are on the line,” he said. “But we need to get a handle on
just how much wood is in the waste stream and identify the methods of recycling and re-use of products – and what we can do about it. “This has been at the core of all our submissions so far – getting a sense of how big an issue this is.” Mr Burgess said if there was to be a commercial opportunity in waste material, industry should realise nobody was going to invest in a bioenergy plant unless they were sure there was sufficient resource. “If there’s 100,000 tonnes of resource out there it might work, but if that figure is, say, 20,000 tonnes, it will fall over.” Some delegates at the meeting were sceptical that the government’s proposed waste management levy would have little affect on the treatment industry. They agreed the industry should be fully aware of the possible implications of the waste strategy .. “or it will come back and bite us on the bum”. “But even if the strategy plan is not completed, you can bet some kind of fee structure will start next July, whether the detail has been completed or not.” Mr Burgess said it was the users of treated timber that industry needed to be careful about. “We must be sure treated timber stays at the minimal classification so that builders don’t have to separate all of their treated timber from other material when they dispose of it.”
TimTech Chemicals’ Ian Clark, sales manager, and Rick White, technical sales and service, with John Jeffrey of Cypress Supplies, Caboolture.
Talking treated timber in Brisbane .. Jeff Gibson and Wendy Boyd of Hyne, and Curly Tatnell, Dale and Meyers
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Ariane Milinovich and Cristyn Morns from the DERM policy legislation unit.
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events
Gala timber industry event will be biggest in more than 30 years Design awards feature at Luna Park presentations THE prestigious Australian timber design awards presentation in Sydney on November 29 is shaping as the biggest industry event since the 1970s with more than 400 expected at the Luna Park venue. The awards are a highlight of the annual TABMA Australia dinner which will bring allied industry organisations to Sydney for a round of annual general meetings and social gatherings – the Timber Development Association (NSW), the NSW Forest Products Association and Forest and Wood Products Australia. Regional judging of the timber design awards in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney have been completed, ready for the announcement of the national winners at the Luna Park event. The gala event this year has attracted a record number of architects and design engineers who will be at tables hosted by individual companies and event sponsors. The awards last year marked a major restructure of the
awards, including an overhaul of categories and the introduction of regional awards. The winner of the coveted Sanderson Trophy for best use of plywood and LVL will be a feature presentation at the event. The trophy recognises the service given to the industry by the late Geoffrey Sanderson, who was president of the Plywood Association of Australasia (PAA) 1988-89 and 1998-2003. The award is raising the awareness of innovations in the design, use and application of certified engineered wood products among architects, specifiers and builders. “Category winners in this year’s design awards have reached a very high standard,” Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association. “Judges have been impressed by the innovative and structural applications of wood products in most entries.” Special interest will centre on the People’s Choice Award this year. Members of the public have
been invited to view all entries in the 2010 awards and vote online for they entry they like best.
Luna Park, located at Milsons Point on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour, was constructed during 1935. It is
one of two amusement parks in the world that are protected by government legislation, and several of the buildings on the site are listed on the Register of the National Estate and the NSW State Heritage Register.
WOOD SCIENCE COURSE 2011 The 5 day Gottstein Wood Science course aims to provide an understanding of wood and the origin of the properties which affect its processing and end-use. This will give an insight into the potential for development of new products and to provide an appreciation of environmental issues and international strategic trends in the forest products industries.
Date anD Venue The next Wood Science Course will take place 14-18 February, 2011 in Melbourne, at CSIRO, Clayton, and the University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Who ShoulD attenD Senior and potential managers as well as consultants within the forest industry. The course will be of particular relevance to those who may have recently joined the industry.
Why you ShoulD attenD A fuller understanding at a professional level of wood science and its application to forest products technology is essential if our industry is to achieve its full potential. This course will provide you with the understanding to improve your personal and business performance and to view your operations within national and international contexts. The course is limited to about 35 participants.
InVIteD SpeakeRS The 2011 course will once again feature guest speakers with wide experience in the industry, and speakers at two dinners.
RegIStRatIon Fee Full course fee is $2530 (inclusive of GST). For Patrons and Subscribers of the Trust, the course fee is at the reduced rate of $2300. Special award .. the coveted Sanderson Trophy for best use of plywood and LVL will be a feature presentation at the Australian Timber Design Awards. Simon Dorries, general manager, Engineered Woods Products Association of Australasia (second from left) hands the EWPAA Trophy to Tim Rumney and Michael Vos ofVos Constructions and Joinery, Hobart,at the 2009 presentation, while Andrew Dunn, chief executive, Timber Development Association, looks on (left).
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CouRSe pRogRaMMe The full 2011 Wood Science Course programme can be downloaded from www.gottsteintrust.org/media/WSC 2011.pdf.
FuRtheR InFoRMatIon Contact Course Director, Dr. Silvia Pongracic 0418 764 954 or silvia.pongracic@csiro.au
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Sawmill Manager Tarmac Sawmilling located in the serene bush setting of Busbys Flat, NSW – within the Northern Rivers region, is part of the Tarmac Group of companies, with locations throughout Australia. Tarmac Sawmilling is a large sawmill with modern equipment and facilities, producing 60,000 m3 of timber per annum, serviced by approximately 30 staff. Located 48km south of Casino and 80km north of Grafton, this opportunity is ideally suited for someone looking for a work/lifestyle balance. The Sawmill has a debarking log-line; an AriVislanda Circular green saw line with board edger, docking lines and dry mill. The successful applicant must have relevant experience and skills including very strong leadership qualities. Responsibilities include: • Liaise with Forestry and related authorities • Overseeing and monitoring all aspects of operations and staffing at the mill, including OH&S, staff discipline, recruitment and training, compliance with company policies and links with the local community and authorities • Preparing budgets and quarterly forecasts of costs and sales • Ensuring all production processes operate efficiently • Maintain plant, equipment, yard and buildings in a planned and cost-effective manner • Demonstrate effective negotiating and communication skills at a senior level. An attractive remuneration package will be offered, including re-location and accommodation. If you believe your skills and experience match this criteria, please forward your resume through to: Tarmac Sawmilling Pty Ltd C/- PO Box 289, Carole Park QLD 4300 Or Email to: andrew@tarmac.com.au
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