Issue 168

6507

AFS/01-10-01 www.forestrystandard.org.au

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issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 1

Timber housing: the energy factor

This Issue • $5000 scholarship supports passion for forests • EWPAA’s lead role as testing body

Industry calls for ratings overhaul to recognise wood’s green credentials

Timber houses .. environmental benefits

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development is needed to increase the availability of timber products.

VAFI public affairs manager Shaun Ratcliff said significantly more locally grown and produced timber products would need to be used to build the two million new homes needed within the next decade.

“If the next generation of young Australians are to be able to afford to buy a home, Australian builders will need access to a sustainable supply of timber,” Cont Page 3

Treated

THE Master Builders Association of Victoria and the Victorian Association of Forest Industries have called for an overhaul of housing energy rating software to recognise the environmental benefits and energy-saving attributes of timber.

Both organisations have requested a review of the energy rating system, which needs to more accurately assess the energy efficiency of timber in construction.

VAFI has also announced a more active policy for plantation

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issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 1

TIMBER PRESERVATION

CHH contracts timber treatment service provider The Victorian Association of Forest Industries, representing the interests of the Victorian timber Industry

NEW Zealand based Independent Verification Services and Hill Laboratories have made a successful collaborative bid to undertake nation-wide timber testing services for Carter Holt Harvey Building Supplies.

The collaboration delivers a unique set of benefits to the timber industry; it brings together IVS’s extensive knowledge of wood processing and quality assurance, with world class analytical testing services provided by Hill Laboratories.

CHH is a leading manufacturer and supplier of wood and related products to the Australasian market, including timber, plywood, LVL, particleboard flooring and wood panels.

IVS and HL are providing timber preservation testing services to CHH for CCA, boron, LOSP and bifenthrin treatments, ensuring their products are compliant prior to market release.

The agreement was reached following a lengthy and robust request for proposal process in which applicants were required to demonstrate competence

TRUST TABMA Peter Webb .. exceptional turnaround times.

and capacity. The process was hotly contested with turnaround time, from sample submission to reporting, a key area of focus.

“It’s great to see the Hill Laboratories and IVS collaboration winning through,” IVS chief executive Peter Webb said.

“We demonstrated our ability to deliver exceptional turnaround times, accurate timber test results and displayed an appetite for innovation and continuous improvement.”

Gunns not fazed by review 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 168 | 11.04.11

GUNNS chief executive Greg L’Estrange has brushed off concerns that a proposed review of the Bell Bay pulp mill could delay his plans to find a development partner and start building by August 31.

The key federal government adviser on talks to end native forest logging in Tasmania has recommended more community consultation and a review of the pulp mill assessment process to clear up lingering “cynicism

and bitterness’’, the Australian Financial Review reports.

Initial recommendations and an interim report by Bill Kelty, the government-appointed facilitator, were tabled in the Senate last week.

He said Gunns had changed its approach to the pulp mill but there was still “considerable concern” from some parts of the community about the process.

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industry news

Evaluating contribution to CO2 emissions reduction From Page 1

Mr Ratcliff said.

“Yet despite being the seventh most forested country in the world, we already have a $2 billion trade deficit in wood and paper products.”

He said the federal government must develop a new national timber strategy to replace the current one – now 19 years old – and more must be done to develop a policy framework encouraging new plantation development.

Mr Ratcliff pointed to the 10 storey cross-laminated timber (CLT) apartment building announced by Grocon as an example of how timber could be used to ease Australia’s housing shortage and achieve a positive environmental outcome.

Shaun Ratcliff .. need for new national timber strategy.

Brian Welch ..timber more cost effective building material.

The apartments will be built out of solid softwood CLT panels imported from Europe providing a significant store of CO2 over the life of the building. They will be fitted together in a matter of weeks to make 50 dwellings –

a major saving in construction time due to the lightweight nature of the material.

Master Builders Association of Victoria executive director Brian Welch said while his industry supported the use of locally grown timber, the Star Energy Rating system did not.

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

A more ‘whole-of-home, whole-of life’ focus should be the approach to future regulations

• Networks • Strategic Skills Planning • Project Management

“There needs to be an overhaul of the software used to calculate the energy rating of new housing so that it more adequately evaluates timber’s contribution to CO2 emission reduction,” he said.

“The current regulations only assess the energy used in part of the operational phase of the home, but do not include any measure of the embodied impact of the materials the home is constructed from.

“A more ‘whole-of-home, whole-of life’ focus should be the approach to future regulations.”

Mr Welch also pointed out that besides being environmentally beneficial, in many instances timber could also be a much

• 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 6

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issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 3

TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Best designs in timber – it’s up to you!

THE run to the Australian Timber Design Awards has begun .. and all sections of industry should be on the look out for starters.

The national competition promotes and encourages outstanding timber design in the built environment professions. Now in its 12th year, the event aims to develop a timber design ethos through the encouragement and showcasing of timber design in a variety of applications.

Merchants, producers, wholesalers, manufacturers or their representatives know about the timber that goes into each project; their customers are the best source for entries, so get them involved.

“We want all members of the industry to be on the look out

for that eye-catching job, set by the mountain or the sea, where their products have been supplied and the finished result just has to been seen to be believed,” said Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association (NSW), which is organising the event.

How can you help? Tell your job contact about the competition; get them to download an entry form from www.timberawards. com.au; send an email to the awards committee (info@ timberawards.com.au); pay the $275 entry fee; assist in gathering the certification and photos.

Apart from the architectural rewards for the entrant, industry stands to benefit greatly from the level of exposure generated

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Page 4 | issue 168 | 11.04.11

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through magazines and industry promotions.

Categories are open for marketing opportunities in flooring, engineered wood, treated and recycled timber and Australian certified timber.

A broad range of entry categories demonstrates the diversity of timber and permits recognition of achievement in a variety of areas. Superb new houses, stunning renovations and fabulous commercial projects have always been a feature of the awards.

A highlight again this year is the presentation of the magnificent EWPAA Sanderson Trophy for best use of plywood, LVL or wood panels.

Final submissions should be presented by Friday, June 17.

The Tru-Core® Process This will set the benchmark for timber treatment in the future.

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events

WHAT’S ON? APRIL 12: Landholder perceptions of tree planting for carbon sequestration. Melbourne University, Parkville, Vic. Lower Theatre in building 142 (Land and Food Resources). www.crc forestry. com.au 13-15: DesignEx. Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Australia’s leading design and architecture trade-only event.

Contact: DesignEx + 61 2 9275 9200.

14: Generating renewable energy from forest residues. University House, ANU (Cnr Balmain Cr and Liversidge St, Canberra, ACT).

Email: mwbrown@unimelb.edu.au

18: Cut the Cost + Lift the Load workshop. Aimed at CEOs, managing directors, business owners, managers, workplace health and safety staff. Stay abreast of current obligations and get ahead of imminent changes to workplace health and safety and workers compensation in the timber industry with an informationpacked breakfast and workshop.

Venue: Broncos Leagues Club, Red Hill, Brisbane. 7:15 am registration; 7:30 am- 9.15 am breakfast; 9:45 am-2.30 pm workshop. Contact: Shannon Axman-Friend, Events Marketing, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland. Tel: +61 409 348 011. Web: www.cciq.com. au

20: Sydney Hoo-Hoo Club 215 dinner meeting. Northern beaches area. National Hardwood Lumber Association. Understanding North American hardwoods – Mark Barford, executive director, National Hardwood Lumber Association. Contact: Chris White 0411 293 646 or email chrisw@ moxontimbers.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

MAY

15-17: SawTECH 2011. Sawing technologies to improve mill performance. Brisbane. Visit www. fiea.com.nz

2: Melbourne Hoo-Hoo Club 217 VIP night. Contact: Garrie James (03) 8706 1252 or garrie@hoohoo. com.au 9-12: 42nd annual meeting International Research Group on Wood Protection. Queenstown, New Zealand. Venue: Moonlight Country, 15 minutes from Queenstown and 8 minutes from both Arrowtown and Queenstown Airport. Contacts: New Zealand – Jeanette Drysdale +64 9 299 9435.

Australia – Jack Norton +61 7 3255 4420.

30-June 3: LIGNA Hannover Wood Fair.

JUNE

JULY 13-14: Carbon Forestry 2011.

Key investment drivers and future business opportunities. Auckland, NZ. Visit www.fiea.com.nz

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

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

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.

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 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 5

events

Wood innovation showcase offers trade opportunity A NATIONAL wood innovation showcase announced this week offers opportunities for New Zealand businesses to get their products and innovations in front of up to 85,000 visitors attending Rugby World Cup 2011.

The showcase, to promote innovative wood design and wood products, is part of Winning with Wood, a six-week festival of forest and wood processing events to be held nationwide during September and October.

During these two months 85,000 overseas visitors will be travelling around New Zealand attending Rugby World Cup matches; most will stay in the country for at least three weeks, and many will travel widely, combining pleasure and business.

The showcase is a network of display sites around New Zealand targeting these visitors and is part of a wider Winning with Wood Festival of multiple events. These include the PF Olsen Forest Industries 2011 Expo in Rotorua and the NZ Wood Timber Design Awards in Auckland.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry regional team leader in Rotorua Stuart Anderson said

the festival would lift the profile of the sector and “presented a truly unique opportunity to show what we can do with wood”.

The chairman of the steering group Lionel Crawley said the idea of the showcase was to make use of existing venues wherever possible.

“These could be high profile wooden buildings, retail stores, show homes, tourist sites or office lobbies,” he said.

‘Presenting a truly unique opportunity to show what we can do with wood’ – Stuart Anderson “The important ingredient is that each site features high quality branded wooden products, innovative wood design and construction or new applications of technology to create high value products or solutions.”

NZ Trade and Enterprise is managing the showcase. A map brochure of all the showcase sites will be published on line and will also be distributed to interested visitors via a number of channels including the PF Olsen FI2011 Expo in Rotorua from September 5 to 7.

Timber stores, steel emits From Page 3

more cost effective material for building.

“The cost of work increases dramatically when building on sloping terrain,” he said.

“In these circumstances pad footings with stumps are the cheapest and most efficient construction solution

Page 6 | issue 168 | 11.04.11

and a more environmentally friendly option than alternative approaches.

The environmental benefits of timber are outlined in Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2008, which found that an average-sized timber house stored over 7.5 tonnes of carbon while a steel framed house emitted 2.9 tonnes.

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ENGINEERED WOOD

EWPAA takes lead industry role as an international testing body New equipment, services at Brisbane laboratory

By JIM BOWDEN

THE Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia is taking a more powerful role as a lead industry organisation for certification and product analysis following a start-up of new timber testing and laboratory facilities in Queensland.

EWPAA has commissioned a Japanese Shimadzu 100 kN testing instrument in Brisbane which will used primarily to assemble ‘fitness for use’ criteria, including modulus of elasticity (MoE) and bending, compression and bearing strengths of timber.

The association now speaks for a notable proportion of the timber industry, representing plywood, LVL, particleboard, MDF and wood panel manufacturers and services in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Valued at well over $1 billion, the industry in Australia and New Zealand supports more than 5000 jobs.

The association now has one of only two industry laboratories in Australia accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). Facilities in Brisbane and the Gold Coast test for a full range of structural and physical properties and for formaldehyde emissions and bond quality.

Samples from member plywood and LVL mills are tested daily with other properties tested on a monthly basis. The schemes are accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australian and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

An audit in a few weeks will extend EWPAA’s JAS-ANZ accreditation.

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EWPAA general manger Simon Dorries said the new Shimadzu testing and measuring unit, Cont Page 14 Susanne Steiger, technical officer at the Engineered Wood Products Association in Brisbane looks over the Shimadzu testing instrument in Brisbane operated by laboratory technician Andrew McLaughlin.

issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 7

ENGINEERED WOOD

Australian, NZ customers first, says new president of EWPAA certified plantation forests in the Northland, East Coast and Wairarapa regions of the North Island and employs nearly 900 people.

The company benefits from the technology and resources of its Japan-based parent company WoodOne Ltd, an international housing materials and componentry group that has invested more than $700 million in the NZ operation.

Mr Smith said although Japan would need increased wood imports for the massive postearthquake and tsunami rebuilding program, the parent company had acknowledged and encouraged Juken’s ongoing supply arrangements with regional markets in Australia and New Zealand.

SITE manger for Juken New Zealand Ltd’s plywood and sawmill operations at Gisborne, Brendan Smith, is the new president of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

He replaces Rene deVries, formerly of Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts at Tokoroa, who has left the plywood industry to work in the truss and frame sector.

Mr Smith has worked in the plywood industry in Australia and New Zealand for more than 25 years, starting with Brown and Dureau Building Materials in Canberra. He moved to the Juken Gisborne operation in 1994.

Juken has 54,000 ha of sustainably managed and

Brendan Smith .. important regional markets in New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Smith said the NZ market for plywood was “good and busy” without the expected demand for building materials required for the rebuilding program in

quake-hit Christchurch.

“Down line, the rebuilding program is certainly going to require additional production at our facilities in the north island.”

EWPAA general manger Simon Dorries is in New Zealand this week for discussions with territorial authorities [the second tier of local government].

He will also address the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ) annual conference in Auckland on April 13.

Mr Dorries will present a paper “Product Compliance in a de-regulated Age” to an audience of building control professionals.

Cont Page 11

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FORESTRY AWARDS

$5000 scholarship supports Emily’s passion for forests THE Forestry Scholarship Fund has awarded its second round of scholarships in 2011 – the International Year of Forests.

Launched last year, the fund recognises and supports students participating at the undergraduate and post graduate levels.

Emily Holland of Batemans Bay, NSW, receives a $5000 A3P scholarship. She is enrolled in her first year with the Australian National University and is embarking on a Bachelor of Science (Forest Sciences) degree.

‘Australian’s are now seeing how lucky this country is to have the land mass, intelligence and resources available to ensure that we are self-supporting when it comes to wood’ Institute of Foresters of Australia chief executive and fund secretary Cassandra Spencer said the scholarship was awarded to a young woman who promised to be an inspiring ambassador for forest education.

“I was energised by her enthusiastic and passionate yet realistic approach to life,” Ms Spencer said.

“A forestry degree will see Emily reach her goals in the ever changing Australian forest landscape and will open up many opportunities here and overseas in implementing ecologically sustainable forest management ideas.”

Accepting the award, Emily Holland said: “My passion for science and the conservation of Australia’s environment has been inspired by fantastic teachers in the study of both biology and geography.

“The reality of the industry’s role in shaping the sustainability of

IFA chief executive Cassandra Spencer (right) chats with Emily Holland at the recent UN International Year of the Forests event in Canberra.

our ecosystems became an interesting concept and has continued to become more and more appealing to me.”

The Forestry Scholarship Fund has also announced five recipients of the National Forestry Masters Program 2011 scholarships to a total value of $10,000. The scholarships have been made available by CRC for Forestry. The recipients are Tim Broster, Brett Cirulis, Patrick St John, Wayne de Flores-Butler and Sarah Dickson-Hoyle.

The fund aims to issue further NFMP scholarships mid-year.

“A shift is happening and we are beginning to see a proud industry working collectively, developing incentives and marketing campaigns so that the true value and benefits not to mention the job satisfaction gained from a career in forestry will be realised,” Ms Spencer said.

“Australians are now also seeing how lucky this country is to have the land mass, intelligence and resources available to ensure that we are a self-supporting country when it comes to wood.”

The Forestry Scholarship Fund, which has tax-deductible status, receives, manages and disburses scholarship funds on behalf of donors.

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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 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 9

INDUSTRY REPORT

Plywood manufacture to peak at over 200,000 cub m in five years

CHH plant to drive Australian production PLYWOOD production in Australia is projected to increase by 11% over the next 4-5 years to well over 200,000 cub m, BIS Shrapnel reports.

Plywood production peaked at 156,000 cub m in 2005, and declined to a low of 118,000 cub m in 2009 as a result of plant closures and the global economic crisis, according to the report, Plywood and Oriented Strand Board in the Pacific Rim and Europe, 20112015.

Production increased marginally in 2010.

The strong level of plywood production in Australia will be driven by a new plant owned

by Carter Holt Harvey which is expected to be in full production by the end of this year.

While there are no other known plants planned over the forecast period, housing construction and other end-use sectors will be relatively buoyant, as will export markets in Asia, and there may be potential for further expansion.

Plants appeared to be operating

Australia, and the availability of cost effective imports from a variety of countries including Chile, China, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and possibly new sources such as Uruguay, will also drive consumption. There is some concern, however, that structural plywood imported from China does not always meet the high Australian standards.

Structural plywood imported from China does not always meet the high Australian standards Australian plywood manufacture .. potential for expansion.

at high levels (83%) of capacity in 2010, and this suggests there is scope for expansion.

Consumption of OSB is estimated to be only 10,000 to 12,000 cub m annually.

However, plywood consumption peaked at more than 360,000 cub m in 2007 and, following a decline to less than 270,000 cub m during the global economic crisis, bounced back to 324,000 cub m in 2010.

Annual growth in consumption is forecast to average 6% over the forecast period, which equates to more than 400,000 cub m in the three years to 2015.

The key drivers of consumption include strong projected growth in housing and non-residential construction, infrastructure development and growth in the mining sector.

An increased level of high quality plywood from new facilities in

The report’s author, Bernie Neufeld, who is BIS Shrapnel’s forestry director and senior manger, notes Australia has had 15 years of strong and sustained economic growth without a recession.

“It has been one of the best performing economies in the industrialised world, which has been driven by a combination of economic reforms, well timed policy responses to the global Cont Page 11

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ENGINEERED WOOD

‘Compliance in a de-regulated age’ From Page 8

Conference keynote speakers include Maurice Williamson, the Minister of Building and Construction, Rob Davies, chief executive of Cater Holt Harvey Woodproducts NZ, and Katrina Bach, chief executive, Department of Building and Housing.

Mr Dorries will outline EWPAA’s quality control and product certification programs, standards and codes and research and development initiatives in his discussions with territorial authorities.

There are 67 territorial authorities in New Zealand – 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Island Council. The responsibilities of regional councils include

Simon Dorries .. addressing building industry in New Zealand.

building consents and the land use and subdivision aspects of resource management.

Mr Dorries will visit EWPAA member companies during his NZ visit.

Cut the cost + lift the load CUT the Cost + Lift the Load is the title of a workplace health and safety breakfast and workshop to be held in Brisbane on May 18.

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, together with Timber Queensland and TABMA Queensland, the workshop is aimed at CEOs, managing directors, business owners, managers, workplace health and safety staff and rehabilitation and return-to-

work coordinators.

Keynote speakers include Simon Blackwood, executive director, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, who will cover changing legislation and approaches to management.

Contact: Shannon AxmanFriend, events marketing, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland. Tel: +61 409 348 011. (See notice, Page 8).

Benefits in exports to Asia From Page 10

economic crisis, and strong growth in Asia,” Mr Neufeld said.

“Australia has benefitted from exports to Asia and from direct foreign investment, especially from Asian-based companies in the resource and forest products sectors.

“While OSB is not produced in Australia, small amounts are imported, and there were plans to produce OSB from eucalypt, which were delayed by the global economic crisis.”

Inquiries about the report can be directed to BIS Shrapnel.

Tel: (02) 8458 4200 or email: bneufeld@bis.com.au

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EWPAA

guArAntEEd*

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Plywood House, 3 Dunlop Street, Newstead 4006, Queensland, Australia Tel: 61 7 3250 3700 Fax: 61 7 3252 4769 Email: inbox@ewp.asn.au Web: www.ewp.asn.au

* Independently tested to the highest standard; guaranteed to comply with Australian standards; certified under JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme; guaranteed to be safe and to carry the designated design load; complies with the Building Code of Australia; meets safety and quality requirements accepted by unions; meets all Workplace Health & Safety requirements.

issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 11

timber design

Restaurant’s business blossoms under canopy of marine plywood Timber curvatures tested with computer modelling MARINE plywood shaped in patterns of a tree canopy features at a new Sydney restaurant designed by Japanese architect Koichi Takada.

The design of the Tree sushi restaurant is drawn from the traditional Japanese Hanami festival celebrating the cherry blossom season.

“Dining under the cherry blossom trees is a social event that celebrates the arrival of spring, providing a symbolic place for people to gather and dine as a community,” says Sydney-based Koichi Takada who studied and graduated from the School of Architecture at the City University of New York and the Architectural Association, London.

“The canopy of the tree is recreated inside the restaurant, emulating the comfort and tranquillity of gathering under the branches and transforming the restaurant into a place of nature. Light filters through the timber structure, mimicking the dappled patterns of natural sunlight,” Koichi says.

“It was pretty amazing to see the ‘tree’ grow day by day as construction progressed. We lover timber; it’s our primary material in all our designs.”

The timber profiles were CNC cut, minimising waste and ensuring accuracy in the details of the design. Made from FSCaccredited gaboon (Aucoumea klaineana) marine plywood, the timber structure radiates from the centre of the restaurant and extends across the entire space – encompassing dining and kitchen areas alike. The complex form of the tree canopy is complemented by the texture of the rendered walls, giving the

Page 12 | issue 168 | 11.04.11

fit-out a tactile finish.

[The gaboon in the family Burseraceae, native to equatorial west Africa, is a medium-sized hardwood tree growing to 30-40 m].

Another exciting Takada timber design project is The Cave restaurant at the beachside suburb of Maroubra in southeastern Sydney.

The notion of creating an intimate and controlled dining space was a key objective in the design of restaurant, exploring multiple timber curves to create a continuous yet open canopy above the dining areas that changes as the use below varies.

The profiles where tested in 3D models and the curves cut using CNC technology.

The innovative design and construction contributes to contemporary interior design, by experimenting and forwarding design technologies.

The Cave integrates aspects of nature into the design.

In exploring the acoustics of a natural cave, the same ambience and containment could be achieved in the interior restaurant design. The exposed

Koichi Takada .. “we love timber.”

timber profiles not only help to create an acoustically intimate dining experience but also

Constructing the ‘tree’ canopy at The Cave restaurant in Sydney.

Restaurant’s canopy designed using marine plywood.

an innovative and unique environment.

The meranti timber curves create visual excitement but also aim to add another dimension.

The timber profiles generate a sound studio atmosphere, and a pleasant ‘noise’ of dining conversation, offering a more intimate experience as well as a visually interesting and complex surrounding.

The high use of exposed timber creates natural warmth and offsets the full height glazing that opens to the street. The spacing between the timber curves was tested in order to achieve the optimal effect.

From the entrance, the timber looks like a continuous surface and once beneath the canopy, the timber reveals a refined lightness.

The series of acoustic curvatures were tested and developed with computer modelling and each ‘timber grain’ profile has been translated and cut from computer-generated 3-D data, using CNC technology.

Australian plywood was used for timber curves, and a level of recycling is possible at the end of the restaurant lifecycle.

While practicing in Tokyo, Koichi worked on an invited competition of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney in 1997 and stayed in the city. He has been an associate director at PTW Architecture which has offices in Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City and Abu Dhabi.

Koichi’s work has included luxury apartments in Sydney and a range of diverse projects in Japan, China, and the Middle-East.

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ENGINEERED WOOD

Commercial testing an option for high-technology services at EWPAA From Page 7

purchased from the now defunct NSW State Forests timber engineering division, dovetailed well with equipment at the Gold Coast wood panels laboratory and the recent take-over of A3P’s quality certification scheme for sawn timber.

Samples from member plywood and LVL mills are tested daily with other properties tested on a monthly basis.

He said EWPAA was positioned to test plywood, LVL, particleboard, MDF, sawn timber, and glue-laminated wood.

“Our investment in high-

Josh Zervos sets up a formaldehyde test on imported board at the Gold Coast laboratory.

technology equipment and services now allows us to put emphasis on commercial testing,” Mr Dorries said.

The EWPAA laboratory in

Brisbane became a registered NATA laboratory in 1969.

In 1994, the quality control program was registered by NATA as a quality managed

system under ISO 9002.

The highest level of independence and credibility, however, was achieved in 1996 when the EWPAA quality control program and product certification scheme were directly accredited by the joint accreditation The Gold Coast test centre laboratory, a NATA-accredited facility, carries out most of the wood panel tests specified in AS/NZS, EN and JIS. Meanwhile, EWPAA has joined forces with the Soil Association Woodmark program. Woodmark offers Australian businesses FSC certification and has subcontracted the EWPAA’s quality control manager Ewan Brown as an external auditor.

CoC commitment to the environment FIFTH generation NSW timber merchant Blacktown Timber has been awarded Forest Stewardship Council chain of custody certification for sustainable procurement and production of forestry products.

Recognised under the Australian Forestry Standard, Blacktown Timber at St Marys met the requirements of certification by way of the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, demonstrating the business’s commitment to source product from only sustainably managed forests.

According to managing director Chris Taylor, certification means “our timber meets the highest standards available in the world.

Certification is recognised globally and CoC certification verifies the entire process from logging to milling and ultimately utilisation is entirely owned by sustainably managed entities.”

Australian Forestry Standard Ltd / PEFC Australia chief executive Kayt Watts said the company was an example of positive commitment to best practices and astute awareness of current and emerging issues and innovations within the

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industry.

“Speaking with Chris, I was more than impressed by his strategies and objectives regarding the commitment to sustainable forest management and being part of the solution,” Ms Watts said.

“Chris explained it was not just about getting a tick for doing the right thing; they are fully educating their staff, suppliers and consumers on the benefits and value of achieving certification and promoting the use of certified products.”

Ms Watts said that in the last 12 months, merchants and wholesalers had re-evaluated their need to become certified and the overall consensus had been to become certified.

“This has been an encouraging outcome as the demand for certified products grows and availability of certified product becomes critical,” she said.

“For consumers and developers / builders to be able to source and procure certified products, every point of transformation of that timber or wood product in the supply chain has to be certified. A break or gap in the supply chain means the certified product cannot get to the end consumer without qualified evidence that it has come from a sustainably managed forest.”

Chris Taylor said the process of certification was lengthy, thorough and exhaustive. “We are required to submit to an annual audit to maintain our accreditation which guarantees our customers our absolute commitment to sustainability.

“This, coupled with our membership of FSC, serves to highlight Blacktown Timber’s commitment to service excellence and an ongoing responsibility for our environment.”

issue 168 | 11.04.11 | Page 13

Annual Timber Industry Charity Golf Day Now in its 25th year the Queensland Timber Industry Charity Golf Day is set for

Friday 27th May, 2011 with proceeds going to the Variety Club of Queensland

THE DETAILS: Competition is a 4 ball Ambrose, 4 players per team. Prizes awarded to teams for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places as well as the Bradman prize for last place. There is a maximum of 36 teams able to play so get in quickly.

COST: $600 per team of 4, includes lunch. $150 per individual, includes lunch.

VENUE: Gainsborough Greens Golf Course Yawalpah Road, Pimpama RSVP: Friday 6 May, 2011

AGENDA FOR THE DAY: 8.00am Arrive & register at Gainsborough Greens Golf Course. A hot BBQ breakfast will be served.

9.00am Shotgun start.

2.00pm Return to clubhouse for a hot lunch.

Well renowned entertainer, Fred Lang followed by prize presentation.

More Info Contact: 0419 754 681

PLEASE COMPLETE BELOW & RETURN BY FAX TO 5483 6179 OR EMAIL MORTY@SPIDERWEB.COM.AU COMPANY NAME

PLAYER 1

EMAIL

PLAYER 2

PHONE

FAX

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Page 14 | issue 168 | 11.04.11

A Joint Industry Association Event

PLAYER 3

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