Issue 157

6488

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issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 1

Floods to force design change

TRUE GRIT IN FLOODS

Massive Queensland rebuilding program has the power to transform housing styles

By JIM BOWDEN

BUILDING designers are calling for “a complete re-think” on the future design of houses in lowlying flood-prone regions as a new reconstruction authority decides if infrastructure, and even entire suburbs, should be rebuilt – and re-designed – after the catastrophic Queensland floods.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority, which replaces the rebuilding taskforce headed by Major General Mick Slater, will

Flood-beaters .. timber ‘Queenslanders’ up on stilts.

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issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 1

FLOOD CRISIS

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries, representing the interests of the Victorian timber Industry

Going under .. the Parkside sawmill at Theodore. The burner and chipper shed are on the left of the picture. The treatment shed was also under water and the long shed in the foreground is the green chain. The logs yard in the centre of the photo has disappeared.

Floods heavy toll if you on state’s timber, want .. forest operations Placement of apprentices

Industry’s spirit shines through

By JIM BOWDEN

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 157 | 24.01.11

TRUST TABMA

THE Queensland floods have devastated thousands of homes and businesses throughout the state and caused millions of dollars of infrastructure damage – and the forest and timber industries have had their fair share of the heartache.

Hardened NSW fire and rescue personnel returning from Queensland have compared the devastation to the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

Standing ankle-deep in mud in Gill and Co’s Rocklea timber yard which has stood beside the Oxley Creek since the early 1950s, foreman Ron Simmons said: “We’ll rebuild, bit by bit, until we are on top of this, just like we did in ’74.

“We went under in the 1974 flood; it didn’t stop us then and it won’t stop us now.”

We joined staff members and some military personnel for coffee at the ‘Café de Mud’, a

small tarpaulin-covered eatery around the corner.

A young girl in uniform said: “You know, those timber workers are a great breed.

They’re putting in the hard slog to salvage anything they can.”

And that’s not much for Gill and Co at Rocklea. Buildings collapsed as timber packs floated and broke through the rooves, the office is a mud sauna and machinery and equipment are an uninsured write-off.

“Well, we really went under this time, but I reckon now the flood waters are down we’ll be operating again by mid-February,” said Robert Tapiolis of the Parkside Group after he surveyed his sawmill at Theodore, in central Queensland.

Parkside operates hardwood sawmills throughout Cont Page 9

Staff recruitment Membership services OH&S audits Debtors control and collection

Contact us on Sydney – (02) 9277 3100 Adelaide – 0407 102 244 Perth – 0414 908 465 Brisbane – (07) 3254 3166 Hobart – 0407 102 244

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THE BIG RE-BUILD

Low-level brick veneer on slabs ‘irresponsible’ From Page 1

coordinate a new rebuilding program in 60 flood-affected communities.

The statutory authority will have powers to cut through red tape and make tough calls, including where and how rebuilding should take place.

Construction engineers and architects interviewed by T&F enews agreed that to meet increasing demand for housing development, the urbanisation of flood plains with low-set houses was irresponsible.

When the floods arrive, it creates social and economic problems that dwarf the shortterm profits made from building across these vulnerable properties.

Ian Agnew .. building above the flood problem.

Flooded homes that survived destruction could take up to 12 months to dry out.

“Let’s take a serious look at returning to the ‘old Queenslander’ design, houses raised on stilts, and investigate

the engineered high-rise modular, pre-fabricated buildings,” says Ian Agnew, state manager (Queensland, NSW, Victoria) of Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects.

“Our architects are already putting their heads together on this. We will have input into the new authority and want to be involved in any proposed new housing design concepts.”

The state’s flood crisis is likely to cost the nation $30 billion – at today’s values, more than double what was spent building the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric power scheme in the 1950s.

The shock has not been the flood levels, but the larger areas flooded all at once and all together.

A breakdown of losses and rebuilding costs Queensland will incur from the catastrophic floods shows that $16.87 billion must be raised to fund the recovery.

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

‘I think you can go in two directions – either design to be flooded or you get above it – Ian Agnew

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These figures, along with an expected 1% – or $13 billion – impact on the nation’s economic growth, and could cause the bill to top out at $29.87 billion.

Speaking from his home at Wooloowin [the Archicentre offices at South Brisbane were under flood waters], Ian Agnew said obviously the brick veneer slab-on-ground designs that came up from Melbourne were not suitable.

“I think you can go in two directions – either design to be flooded or you get above it,” he said.

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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 7

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issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 3

industry news

Aussie dollar and rebuilding after floods flag busy year for importers TIMBER importers are anticipating another busy year following increasing activity in 2010.

The Australian Timber Importers Federation’s technical manager John Halkett says the prospect of a continuing strong Australian dollar together with increasing manufacturing and importing sophistication is likely to see imported timber products grow in significance and be central to the performance of the building industry, including keeping housing affordability under check.

Mr Halkett says the limited prospects, at least in the medium term, for expanding the domestic production of timber products in categories such as structural pine and hardwood boards has sharpened the

Focus sharpens on the role of the timber importing sector in enabling Australia to work its way out of a substantial housing shortage.

focus on the importance of an efficient and strong timber importing sector.

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Page 4 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

John Halkett .. timber importers anticipating another busy year.

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“This is a critical element of the timber industry if the country is going to work its way out of what is shaping up to be a substantial housing shortage – not helped by the devastating floods in Queensland and elsewhere.”

Mr Halkett says the Australian forest and wood products statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Bureau of Rural Sciences late last year indicated that the value of timber imports increased by 6% to almost $430 million and volumes increased by 19% to

748,000 cub m in 2009-10.

“This coupled with data indicating that total dwelling commencements are likely to increase by about 25% this year after declining by 17% in 200809, but rebounding in 2009-10, has major implications for the timber industry.”

Mr Halkett says that it is becoming more apparent that the timber importing sector will have an increasingly important role to play in meeting the country’s future solid wood product needs.

“If Australia is going to deal not only with its housing construction backlog, but with new housing starts that are predicted to exceed 180,000 dwellings a year, timber importers will be key players.”

Looking to the year ahead, Mr Halkett says that, in addition to continuing to contribute to the federal government’s illegal logging policy development, ATIF will be looking at further possible improvements in efficiencies and cost reductions in the timber importing and wholesaling sector.

“This for example will include arguing that tariff reductions of up to 2% would help make some categories of timber products more in line with tariffs paid by competing imported building products in other materials The timber importing sector will have an increasingly important role to play in meeting Australia’s future solid wood product needs such as steel,” he says.

“Importers will also be keen to continue to work with key industry entities, such as Forest and Wood Products Australia to improve the availability, usefulness, coverage and Cont Page 6

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events

WHAT’S ON? FEBRUARY 2-4: ATFA Flooring and Finishes Show. Sydney Exhibition Centre.

Book now for the ATFA convention, seminars and ATFA awards dinner.

Contact: Australian Timber Flooring Association. Tel: (07) 5492 8696.

Email: admin@atfa.com.au Web: www.atfa.com.au 4: ATFA convention and awards dinner. Venue: Doltone House, South Pier, Piers 19-21, Level 3, 26-32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Point NSW 2009. Time: 7 pm.

Cost: $145 pp includes threecourse dinner and drinks. Tables of 10 $1375. Contact: Contact: Australian Timber Flooring Association. Tel: (07) 5492 8696.

Email: admin@atfa.com.au Web: www.atfa.com.au 14-18: Wood Science Course.

University of Melbourne and CSIRO, Melbourne. Contact Silvia Pongracic on 0418 764 954 or visit www.gottsteintrust.org

MARCH 4-5: Forest Industry Engineering Association Residues to Revenues Conference (incorporating Green Energy Expo), Bayview Eden Hotel, 6 Queens RoadMelbourne.

Call 1800 126 398 to register or www.woodresiduesevents.com

APRIL 8: South Eastern Australia 2011 Farm Forestry and Firewood Expo, Bendigo, Vic. City of Greater Bendigo’s Huntly plantation, north of Bendigo.

NORTHERN United Forestry Group (NUFG) - a not-for-profit community group with a focus

on growing trees for sawlogs and firewood - will host the expo at the Huntly plantation, north of Bendigo.

Some trees (all hardwoods) within the Huntly plantation that need to be thinned will be available for demonstration purposes. Contact: Mal Brown, Northern United Forestry Group. Tel: (03) 54352588.

Mob:: 0419 108 817.

MAY May 21-June 5: Forest biomass four-nation industry study tour.

New Zealand, Austria, Germany and Finland. Includes LIGNA Hannover Wood Fair, Germany.

Email: francip@optusnet.com.au 25: Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) and New Zealand Institute of Forestry Conference (ANZIF 2011). Auckland NZ. Theme: ‘Pacific Forestry’. Visit www.anzifconference.co.nz 30-June 3: LIGNA Hannover Wood Fair.

25-June 4: LIGNA industry tour (Germany, Italy, Austria).

SEPTEMBER 5-7: NZ Forest Industries Expo 2011. Venue: Rotorua Energy Events Centre, Rotorua. Forest industry leaders and companies from across the world are booking their tickets to participate in the expo (FI2011) and make the most of the 2011 Rugby World Cup while they’re there. Exhibition sites have already been booked by a number of NZ and Australian companies, and inquiries being received from Canada, China, Vietnam and Austria. The expo will showcase the best that Rotorua, the wider Bay of Plenty region and the rest

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of New Zealand has to offer when it comes to forestry and wood products. Contact: Dell Bawden.

Tel: +64 73627865. Mob: +64 274745485. Email: office@bawden.co.nz Website site: fi2010.co.nz

October 21-November 2: 5th International Woodfibre Resources and Trade Conference: Woodchips and Biomass for Global Markets.

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore. Presented by DANA Ltd, Pike & Co and Wood Resources International, followed by field trip to Cambodia on November 3, 4 and 5.The field trip is an optional extra to the conference registration fee and will be limited to 80 participants.

Field trip participants will fly from Singapore to Sihanoukville with an overnight stay. Transfer next day to Siem Reap which will include a visit to world famous UNESCO heritage site Angkor Wat. Return Saturday morning. Who should attend? Plantation and other forest owners, plantation investment fund managers, existing-future biomass producers and users, existingfuture wood pellet producers and users, bankers and investment analysts, woodchip producers, wood fibre trading companies, woodchip end users.

july 2012 11-14: AWISA 2012. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Contact: Contact Exhibitions Pty Ltd, PO Box 925, Avalon NSW 2107. Tel: 612 9918 3661 Email: info@awisa.com Web: www.awisa.com

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.

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 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 5

INDUSTRY NEWS

Steering UN Year of Forests in Australia A NATIONAL steering committee has been formed to coordinate and promote celebrations for the UN International Year of the Forests.

The committee will work with individuals, community groups, businesses and government representatives across Australia to coordinate and conduct activities that promote the international event and its aims, including raising awareness to strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

Committee chair is Professor Jerry Vanclay who heads Southern Cross University’s School of Environmental Science and Management.

Prof. Vanclay was recently awarded the prestigious Scientific Achievement Award, from the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), for his distinguished scientific achievements in the field of forestry research.

The committee also includes members and representatives of other national organisations, including Australian Forest Growers, the National

Prof. Jerry Vanclay

Association of Forest Industries, the Subtropical Farm Forestry Association and Cassandra Spencer, CEO of the Institute of Foresters Australia.

Ms Spencer says it is imperative that Australia uses this opportunity to promote its natural resources in a positive way. yForests has launched anational website, which will provide information about planned activities, functions and tree plantings across the country throughout the year: www. internationalyearofforests.com. au Contact: yForests, PO Box 5237, East Lismore, NSW 2480.

Email: yforests@forestry.org.au

Busy year for importers From Page 4

comprehensiveness of current technical data on timber products with a view to improving the confidence of prospective wood products users and growing the overall size of the market for timber products.”

He adds that ATIF acknowledges that it had not done enough in the past to service the needs of major stand-alone timber importing companies in Western Australia.

“We will be seeking to rectify that situation this year,” Mr Halkett said.

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Page 6 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

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THE BIG RE-BUILD

Rebuilding Queensland could cost as much as $20 billion, says ANZ Group From Page 3

“Coming from the motor vehicle assembly sector, one of my personal interests is the whole pre-fab concept – building modular houses in factories using the latest engineered wood concepts of I-beams, wall linings and wood panels that can be put in, taken out and shifted about.

“There is a lot of merit in that type of construction.”

Archicentre has a network of 900 architects and has been in operation for 32 years.

The Queensland premier Anna Bligh said the reconstruction authority needed to make smart decisions as a result of the flood event.

Architects designing a new ‘old Queenslander’ concept in extension and renovation have given a modern twist to the ‘house on stumps’. A new box housing the master bedroom sits above and provides shelter to the living spaces under. A double height terrace utilising a high level screen wall runs down the east side replacing the traditional verandah. The available space is maximised through the integration of a roof terrace which is intended to become a ‘green roof’.

Cont Page 8

Timber industry is on the cusp of a massive rebuilding program “Some of them are going to be very tough decisions, but we owe it to future generations to bite the bullet and make the right ones.”

She said communities would be consulted and the process would be given the sensitivity it required.

“For some of them, it may be that instead of rebuilding their houses as they were before, they might need to build their home on a higher level and put it on stilts to protect them in future,” Ms Bligh said.

Major-General Mick Slater has outlined his battle plan to tackle the flood crisis, assuring residents their shattered regions would be rebuilt. But he conceded it could take at least two years to get the state back on its feet.

The top soldier recruited to piece the state back together aims to leave it better prepared for future events. ‘’We will rebuild Queensland

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issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 7

THE BIG RE-BUILD

ForestrySA seeks ForestrySA new Harvestseeks and ForestrySA seeks new Harvest and Transport services ForestrySA seeks new Harvest and Transport services in Green Triangle. new Harvest and ForestrySA seeks Transport services in Green Triangle.

ForestrySA seeks Transport services new Harvest and in Green Triangle. new Harvest and in Green Triangle.

Transport services Transport services in Green Triangle. in Green Triangle.

ForestrySA is calling for proposals for the supply of harvest and transport services infor the Green ForestrySA is calling for proposals the supply Triangle region. of harvest and transport services in the Green ForestrySA is calling for proposals for the supply Triangle region.

ForestrySA is calling for proposals supply of harvest and transport services infor thethe Green A briefing and field tour day will be held in Mount of harvest and transport services in the Green Triangle region.

Gambier on Thursday 10 February 2011.

ForestrySA is calling for proposals for the supply A briefingregion. and field tour day will be held in Mount Triangle ForestrySA is calling for proposals for of harveston and transport services thethe Green Gambier Thursday 10 February 2011.

A briefing and field tour day will beinheld in supply Mount Up to 900,000 tonnes per annum is available for of harvest and transport services in the Green Triangle region.

A briefing and field tour day will be held in Gambier on Thursday 10 February 2011. Mount harvest or for transport: Triangle region.

Up to 900,000 tonnes per annum is2011. available for Gambier on Thursday 10 February A briefing and field tour day will be held in Mount harvest or for transport: Up to 900,000 tonnes per annum is available for A briefing and field tour day will be held in Mount Gambier on Thursday 10 February 2011.

Up to 900,000 tonnes per annum is available for Chiplog (T1) 70,000 tonnes/pa harvest or for transport: Gambier on Thursday 10 February 2011. harvest or(T1) for transport: Chiplog 70,000 First thinning (T1) 60,000 tonnes/pa Up to 900,000 tonnes per annum is available for Chiplog 70,000 First (T1)(T2)per annum 60,000 Second thinning 100,000 Up to thinning 900,000 tonnes is tonnes/pa available for harvest or(T1) for transport: Chiplog (T1) 70,000 tonnes/pa First (T1) 60,000 harvest orthinning for transport: Second (T2) 100,000 Thirdthinning thinning (T3) 100,000 First thinning (T1) 60,000 Second thinning (T2) 100,000 Third thinning Chiplog (T1) 70,000 Clearfall (CF >(T3) 2.3m3) 360,000tonnes/pa Second thinning (T2) 100,000 Chiplog (T1) 70,000 Third thinning (T3) 100,000 First thinning (T1) 60,000 Clearfall (CF 2.3m3) Clearfall (CF >< 2.3m3) 360,000 210,000tonnes/pa Third thinning (T3) 100,000 First thinning 60,000 Clearfall (CF > 2.3m3) 360,000 Second thinning (T2) 100,000 <(T1) 210,000 (CF > 2.3m3) 360,000 ItClearfall is intended that separate harvest and transport Second thinning (T2) 100,000 Clearfall (CF < 2.3m3) 210,000 Third thinning (T3) 100,000 contracts will be awarded.

This is planned to take ItClearfall is intended separate harvest (CFthat <(T3) 2.3m3) 210,000and transport Third thinning Clearfall (CFmid-2011, > 2.3m3)with 100,000 360,000 place during new contracts taking contracts will that be awarded. is planned to take ItClearfall is intended separateThis harvest and transport (CF > 2.3m3) 360,000 effect on 1(CF January 2012.

Clearfall < 2.3m3) 210,000 place during mid-2011, with new contracts taking It is intended that separate harvest and transport contracts will be awarded. This is planned to take Clearfall (CF 2.3m3) 210,000 effect on 1will January 2012. contracts be< awarded. planned to take place during mid-2011, withThis newiscontracts taking To register for the briefing & fieldcontracts tour ontransport It is intended that separate harvest and place mid-2011, with new taking effect during on 1 January 2012.

February and for & the issue ofontransport It10isregister intended that separate harvest and contracts be This istour planned to take To for2011 theawarded. briefing field effect on 1will January 2012. documentation, please contact Emma Bigham contracts will be awarded.

This is planned take place during mid-2011, with new contracts taking 10 Februaryfor2011 and for the issue of on to To register the briefing & field tour at ForestrySA on +61 (8) 8724 2812. place during mid-2011, with contracts taking effect on 1 for January 2012. documentation, please contact Emma Bigham To register the briefing & new field tour 10 February 2011 and for the issue of on effect on 1 January 2012. at ForestrySA on +61 (8) 8724 2812.

10 February 2011 and for the issue of documentation, please contact Emma Bigham Forregister all otherforenquiries please call: To the briefing & field tour on documentation, please contact Emma Bigham at ForestrySA on +61 (8) 8724 2812.

Mr Adrian Hatch, ForestrySA To register for the briefing & field tour 10 February 2011 and for the issue of on ForForestrySA all other enquiries please at on +61 (8) 8724call: 2812.

General Manager -ForestrySA Sales, on issue 10 February 2011 and for the of Bigham documentation, please contact Emma Mr Adrian For all otherHatch, enquiries please call: +61 (8) 8724 2818 or email documentation, please contact Emma Bigham at ForestrySA on +61 (8) 8724 2812.

General Manager -ForestrySA Sales, on call: For all other enquiries please Mr Adrian Hatch, hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au. at ForestrySA on +61 (8) 8724 2812. +61 (8) 8724 2818-ForestrySA or emailon Mr Adrian Hatch, General Manager Sales, www.forestrysa.com.au For all other enquiries please hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au.

General Manager Sales, on call: +61 (8) 8724 2818 or email For all other enquiries please call: Mr Adrian Hatch, ForestrySA www.forestrysa.com.au +61 (8) 8724 2818 or email hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au.

Mr Adrian Hatch, ForestrySA General Manager Sales, on hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au. www.forestrysa.com.au General Manager Sales, +61 (8) 8724 2818- or emailon www.forestrysa.com.au +61 (8) 8724 2818 or email hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au. hatch.adrian@forestrysa.com.au. www.forestrysa.com.au www.forestrysa.com.au

Page 8 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

Depths of despair .. Gill and Co’s offices at Rocklea received the full brunt of the flooding Bremer River that feeds Oxley Creek beside the timber yards.

Rush to re-build puts pressure on interest rates From Page 7

and we need to make sure the rebuilding prepares us better for the next flood than we were for this one,” he said.

Many older-style timber houses up on stilts took the current floods in their stride – a practical and sensible design approach taken by our parents and grandparents who knew there would be no one coming to save them in a ‘big wet’.

Meanwhile, the timber industry is on the cusp of a massive rebuilding program that may be hampered in the early stages by a shortage of building timbers and tradesmen.

Although imported timbers are expected to take up the slack, domestic supplies will contribute strongly when timber yards dry out, roads are opened and forest operations resume.

But the rush to build is expected to further raise inflationary pressures and exert upwards pressure on interest rates. Also, the floods are driving up the cost of insurance for owners and occupiers.

Rebuilding Queensland after the floods over the past two months could cost as much as $20 billion, say economists

from the ANZ Banking Group said.

As flooding in Australia spreads to Victoria, coal-mining and agriculture-rich Queensland is just beginning a massive cleanup effort. The government has only conceded rebuilding will cost more than $5 billion, though economists over the past week have increasingly raised that estimate.

When adding together the needed rebuilding of roads, walkways, ports and other various infrastructure with the damage caused to homes and businesses, ANZ expects a damage bill at about 1.5% of Australia’s $1.3 trillion annual gross domestic product.

“With more than 1000 houses and businesses impacted, the damage bill will be noteworthy,” says the ANZ. “The Queensland premier’s statement that 28,000 homes will need to be rebuilt will alone come at a cost of around $8 billion on our estimates, suggesting the total rebuild effort could be in the order of $20 billion.”

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flood crisis

‘Next big problem is getting the logs out of the bush’ From Page 2

Queensland and is the largest supplier of spotted gum in Australia. The Theodore sawmill, which disappeared as the nearby Dawson River tipped at around 13m, was the hardest-hit native hardwood mill in Queensland.

“We’ve pulled out motors, conveyor belts, bearings, junction boxes and wiring and we’re breaking down and washing packs of timber. Thanks to a brave and wonderful staff who are working through three inches of mud we should get going again within a month or two,” Mr Tapiolis said.

“The next big problem is getting the logs out of the bush.”

Geoff Kent, forest products director at the Department of Environment and Resource Management, says if the weather is kind he hopes for start of a log flow out of native forests soon.

“We’re concentrating efforts on the more accessible, better drained areas, doing our best to work with sawmillers within set environmental codes and constraints,” he said.

“Staff are out marking trees for felling in some areas, although access is limited.

We understand some cutters and working in cypress and hardwood stands but the ground is not dry enough yet for skidding a hauling.

“If dry weather continues we are hopeful we will see some logs early next week. But if it rains again, it’s back to clay again.”

He said infrastructure damage had been reported in the cypress areas around Barakula, Injune and Roma. “When staff are able to get in to these forests we expect to find more

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Sticking together with more than mud .. Jane Wilson and Angela Michel, administration staff at Gill and Co, Rocklea, work tirelessly in clean-up operations.

damage.”

Forestry Plantations Queensland’s Beerburrum forest manager Leigh Kleinschmidt agreed log supplies to clients would be tight over coming weeks.

“Flood rains saturated most forest operations and this is probably the first time ever that operations have stopped totally over such a wide area,” he said.

“As the weather clears, we are trying to get a couple of areas up and running. But in terms of damaged infrastructure – machinery, roads, bridges – this is still being coordinated as we are able to get people out to look at the situation.”

Mr Kleinschmidt said he realised clients were anxious to get rolling again after the Christmas-New Year shutdown Cont Page 11

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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 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 9

INDUSTRY NEWS

US and Canadian log and lumber exports to China up by over 150pc CHINA has come to the rescue for many sawmills and timberland owners in the US and Canada the past year.

The value of softwood logs and lumber shipped from North America to China was estimated to reach more than $US 1.6 billion in 2010, which is up dramatically from just a few years ago.

In 2008, total exports were valued at $US350 million, while they were only $US125 million five years ago.

The increased demand for both wood raw material and processed forest products in China has, to a large degree, benefited the forest industry in British Columbia and the states of Washington and Oregon in the US. The value of softwood logs and lumber exported from North America to China reached over $US1.6 billion dollars in 2010 – 150% higher than the previous year and more than 10 times as much as in 2006 “It is interesting to note that the two countries have chosen different paths over the past few years,” reports the Wood

increased their production levels lately, ending up almost 20% higher in the third quarter last year compared to the same quarter in 2009.

Much of the additional volume has been low-grade lumber targeted for the construction market in China. An estimated 16% of the BC lumber production in 2010 was exported to China.

Total British Columbia lumber exports to China and Japan hit a new high last year, eclipsing the US, as the province’s top customer for wood.

Resources Quarterly.

“In Canada, sawmills historically shipped more than 90% of their exports to US markets, but this changed as demand for lumber fell when the housing bubble burst in 2008.

“In the third quarter 2010, less than 70% of exported lumber was destined for the US market.

On the other hand, lumber shipments to China have gone up seven-fold the past three years and are expected to

reach almost 4 million cub m in 2010.”

The WRQ says this makes Canada the largest softwood lumber supplier to China, surpassing Russia in the fourth quarter 2010.

Another factor that has had an impact on the higher Canadian lumber exports to China is the abundant supply of low-cost beetle-killed timber in British Columbia. Sawmills in the interior of the province have

While Canada has drastically raised lumber shipments to China in recent years, the US has instead expanded exportation of logs to Chinese sawmills and plywood manufacturers.

In 2007, the US exported less than 100,000 cub m; in 2010 an estimated 2.4 million cub m was exported. The US is now the third largest softwood log supplier to China, after Russia and New Zealand.

The strong export market has caused sawlog prices in the US Northwest to go up more than in any other region of North America the past year, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

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Page 10 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

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flood crisis

Saturated forests await dry weather to start log flows

Helping hands .. Shane Thrupp, Nigel Shaw and Steve Smith of Wilson Timbers join in the clean-up at Gill and Co’s Rocklea yard. Wilson Timbers at Raceview near Ipswich had its own flood problems. “We’ve been luckier than most,” said Nigel Shaw, after 1.8 m of water seeped through the timber yard.

From Page 9

period but this was hard to facilitate with thunderstorms and rains over recent days.

Hyne managing director John McNamara said from Maryborough that operations were not affected directly by flood waters but they were cut off from the week January 1014.

“Production commenced at all operations in Queensland on January 17,” Mr McNamara said.

“Unfortunately, the flood and rains are causing damage and delays for our customers and we hope for everyone’s sake business can resume in the near future.”

Fourth generation timber trader Finlaysons was one of the hardest hit in the Brisbane floods. The company’s stateof-the-art joinery factory on 1.2 ha at Sumner Park was covered by up to 3m of water flowing through sheds and covering all moulders, joinery plant and equipment.

This home of the renowned

Envirowood windows and joinery lost all of its hoop pine stocks drawn from the Yarraman mill along with all plant and equipment.

“But we are insured and there are others worse off than we are,” said sales and marketing manager Michael Finlayson.

He said there was a big crew working to clean up the factory and yard and his father Malcolm Finlayson, company chairman, was in the thick of it.

“Dad’s been turning up early every morning to work on the forklifts. He can’t stay away,” Mr Finlayson said.

“One of the positives from all this is the spirit among all the staff. They brought their families to help with the clean-up which has drawn the community and our workers closer together.”

He said one of the family’s biggest worries was the interruption of service to customers.

“But we’re promoting a real ‘business as usual’ approach Cont Page 12

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issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 11

flood crisis

Fears Qld and Victorian flooding could sink Tasmania’s peace deal From Page 11

and we’ve moved staff to our East Brisbane operation making all deliveries from there as we used to a few years ago.”

Nick Youngman, sales and marketing manger, Boral Plywood, said staff were sifting through the Ipswich plant and equipment after the factory and yards were inundated by flood waters from the Bremer River which winds through the city.

“The water was half way into the driers, boilers and workshop and there was a lot of damage but we are heavily insured. Thankfully, most of our wood products escaped serious damage.”

Meanwhile, business leaders have urged the Gillard government to spend what it takes to fix the economic damage from the floods – and worry later about returning the federal budget to surplus.

Business Council of Australia president Graham Bradley has urged the government to consider delaying the national broadband network roll-out and other infrastructure projects to divert scarce construction capacity to the recovery effort.

The comments came after prime minister Julia Gillard restated her intention to meet the needs of recovery and rebuilding – and still manage the budget back into surplus in 2012-13.

As towns and businesses clean up and dry out, Queensland long-range weather forecaster Haydon Walker fears there will be more major flooding across the state in February and March.

Mr Walker predicted the devastating Queensland floods and the first of five cyclones that has already formed off north Queensland.

He says there is more heavy

Page 12 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

Gill and Co. office at Rocklea .. you get an idea of the impact of flood waters when you compare this picture with the one on Page 8.

Café de Mud .. refreshments for an army of helpers taking a break from the big clean-up.

rain to come, with a second cyclone expected to form in late January, and three more in late February and early March.

“I’d be concerned about the months of February and March for the southeast district,” he said.

“It’s going to be right along the Queensland coastline for February and also into the border areas of New South Wales.

“Also there’s a lot of heavy rain for the inland districts and then once again in March, it’s heavy rains again along the Queensland coastline.

The controversial Wivenhoe dam will continue with managed and controlled releases. Water is being released at 3500 cub m per second and will continue at this rate, depending on any other big rainfall events.

VAFI public affairs manager Shaun Ratcliff believes most forestry operations in Victoria have escaped any serious flooding.

Floods in Tasmania are set to worsen, with heavy rain and flash flooding to lash central and northern regions. The grim prediction follows falls of well over 200mm in parts of the state’s east.

There are also fears the Queensland and Victoria flooding disasters could sink Tasmania’s forests peace deal. It is estimated $1 billion is needed to restructure the industry but there are worries the money might be swallowed up.

The Liberals’ forestry spokesman Peter Gutwein says the funding is now uncertain with the federal government stretching to help flood victims.

“Without money the statement of principles is dead in the water,” he said.

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THE BIG REBUILD

Help from volunteers was just amazing FOR those who are wondering about the scope of the Brisbane floods and how we fared, we did alright.

But as you would have seen by the TV coverage, a lot of residents did not.

Firstly, the restaurant. The houses of Tiff and Simon and Julian were all okay on the high-side of Graceville and Oxley. Our house at Chelmer had been built above the ’74 flood level, about 1200mm above ground level.

We had water inundation to about 300mm below the floor joists so no real damage except a mess to clean up and a putrid stink.

With the help of a wonderful friend, Paul Barnett, we were able to clean it all up on Saturday. Our neighbours in the street were not so lucky and all have serious inundation and the clean up was well and truly under way when we finally got to Chelmer after being traffic gridlocked in Taringa / Indooroopilly for almost two

Ready and willing .. volunteers in their thousands helped clean up Brisbane.

hours.

Cyndee has abandoned her house to allow a family with a big dog (no one will give them shelter unless they get rid of the dog) and who have lost everything in this disaster.

Simon (complete with a broken arm, a victim of the flood) has been helping Paul who is going from site to site with two gurnies and a 4.5 KVa generator, shovels, brooms and an Esky full of beers.

Cyndee and staff made sandwich wraps and distributed drinks to volunteers on

Saturday and the outpouring of help from volunteers was just amazing. The organisation by mayor Campbell Newman and the Brisbane City Council was also amazing. He has made several concessions to help – a $100 rebate or refund to help residents pay for our expensive water to clean up; an amnesty on payment of rates for three months; free dumping charges; free kerb-side collection of all the waste from the clean up. I have to say he had a plan and did at times struggle to get media coverage to tell people about it.

Our house in Chelmer is across the road from the Graceville school which was one of the mustering places for the volunteers and the numbers were incredible. At about 6.30 am on Sunday the street was lined with council trucks to start the task of clearing the kerbside. It was like a military operation.

The one thing that will stand out in our memories will be the response by all the volunteers – all shapes and sizes, all sexes (I think), all ages (including Gen Y) and from all over. Shovelling, sweeping, water blasting, cooking and distributing food and drinks.

It is reported that 50,000 volunteers turned out over the weekend to help. Just amazing!

Brisbane will recover; there will be recriminations and I hope an inquiry to discover what can be done to better flood-proof our state.

– JOHN AND LORRAINE. MULLER (formerly Tasbeam).

Unwelcome visitors slither in “JIM! Get off the bloody grass!”

“What’s wrong?” I shouted back to the mud-caked labourer on the Gill and Co roof.

“Snakes. They’re everywhere,” he warned just in time.

Long grass around the timber yard had been flattened by the flood water. Glued by the mud and muck it felt like a soft carpet under foot. But beneath .. a fine collection of slithering squamates – browns, redbellies and, as you’d expect, grass snakes.

Snakes in their thousands, along with lizards and spiders, have been joining humans in the search for higher ground in flooded areas of Queensland.

And what better refuge than a

Snake in the grass .. seeking refuge from flood waters.

timber yard?

Nick Youngman of Boral Plywood at Ipswich told us a similar story. Rummaging around flood-damaged equipment, snakes were jumping out in all directions.

“Thankfully, they’ve moved on now, but you’re never sure,” he said.

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Robert Tapiolis of Theodore sawmill knows what we are talking about. “We opened a fuse box after the flood and inside was an angry brown.

He was not very pleased about being disturbed!”

More than 40 snakes were hunted out at the Rockhampton airport last

week; most were browns, the world’s second-deadliest land snake, but one appeared to be a taipan, the deadliest.

Ken Winkel, head of the Australian Venom Research Unit, says brown snakes have less fear of people and are more aggressive. Taipan bites, on the other hand, are more likely to be fatal because of the snake’s long fangs.

Noel Preece, an environmental scientist who has studied the effects of previous Queensland floods, said it could take months for equilibrium to return. What next?

“There could be a plague of rats when the waters recede.”

Thanks for that, Noel. – JIM BOWDEN

issue 157 | 24.01.11 | Page 13

FOREST CERTIFICATION

Challenges and opportunities for forest stewardship in the UN Year of Forests THIS year – the UN International Year of Forests – presents both major challenges and opportunities for forest stewardship.

A highlight of the year will be the international FSC general assembly being held for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region.

For FSC Australia, the challenges will be to continue to raise awareness of the opportunity FSC provides for people to favour wood and wood products from responsibly managed forests and to enhance the credibility and integrity of the FSC system.

Our major task will be to progress the development of an Australian FSC forest management standard.

In the absence of government support, this will place great pressure on ensuring FSC in

Australia delivers on community expectations for responsible forest management.

At the same time, FSC Australia needs to continue to develop through recruiting appropriate staff, developing sound financial models and good governance processes.

During the year, we hope to participate in a number of marketing programs that will continue to build awareness as well as education and training programs to expand the depth of understanding about social and environmental standards and labelling.

A revised trademark standard for certificate holders has been released after a comprehensive review.

FSC received significant feedback from stakeholders on the first version of the FSC Trademark Standard

EWPAA joins forces with Soil Association Woodmark program

THE Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia has joined forces with the Soil Association Woodmark program.

Woodmark offers Australian businesses FSC certification and has subcontracted the EWPAA’s Ewan Brown as an external auditor.

National plantations products body A3P has employed EWPAA’s certification services that will produce positive synergies for both organisations.

A3P – the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council – will moves its quality certification scheme across to EWPAA this month, ending its association with NCS

Page 14 | issue 157 | 24.01.11

International, one of Australia’s largest third-party certification bodies.

This move will expand EWPAA’s product certification skills to sawn timber alongside its responsibilities for wood panels and engineered wood.

A challenging year for EWPAA will see the takeover of the A3P certification program, discussions on the establishment of a certification program for treated wood, ongoing growth of AFS chain of custody certification, and expansion of its Brisbane laboratory facilities after purchasing all the structural testing equipment from NSW State Forests’ defunct timber engineering laboratory.

By

MICHAEL SPENCER Chief Executive FSC Australia for Certificate Holders (FSCSTD-50-001) launched in March last year. An immediate need for revision was identified in order to make the use of the FSC trademarks easier and cohesive with market demands.

FSC-STD-50-001 (V1-2) is effective from December 1, 2010, with compliance required

by July 1, 2011. FSC certified organisations may continue using previous standards until July 1.

Linda Fienberg has been appointed to the FSC Australia board to fill the casual vacancy after the resignation of Neva Collings.

Linda, who is based in Sydney, has been a member of the social chamber of FSC Australia for five years and has supported FSC certification in many ways for 15 years, buying, working with and testing FSC timber, promoting it to industry and especially to the architecture and design professions.

As technical officer and parttime tutor at the University of Sydney, Linda has conducted research, lectured and developed teaching tools and projects around FSC timbers.

ForestrySA seeks new contracts for harvesting in Green Triangle ForestrySA will call for proposals during January for the supply of harvesting and / or transport services.

ForestrySA manages South Australia’s state-owned plantation resource, which consists of more than 80,000 ha of radiata in the Green Triangle region.

The total log harvesting and transport task under consideration amounts up to 900,000 tonnes of log product annually. This figure comprises log available from expiring contracts and some new log, following a decision to increase harvest levels in the Green Triangle.

The process to select new contractors will be finalised

by July 2011, with harvest and transport contracts being awarded separately.

New contracts will take effect on January 1, 2012.

ForestrySA chief executive Islay Robertson said the competitive proposal process for harvest and transport services enabled ForestrySA to ensure high quality production and haulage of logs at the best price.

“The procurement will be open to the marketplace and ForestrySA expects strong proposals from experienced contractors,” he said.

“The increased volumes of log being harvested should also provide new opportunities for business and more jobs.

“We are looking for innovative contractors who will help us strengthen ForestrySA’s reputation as a market leader in plantation forestry in Australia.”

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