Issue 171

6517

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issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 1

Industry alliance with Greenpeace

This Issue

Carpenter of the year loves wood - Page 2

Groups in Australia, New Zealand unite to support tough laws on illegal logging

Greenpeace up close with forest industry on illegal logging stance.

zero deforestation, globally, by 2020.

The joint position in Australia follows the release of the Draft

Just Go t ood W

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A Better Earth Idea from Osmose

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Cont Page 3

ne ree

®

Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill that has been referred to

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MicroPro

Treated

A GROUP of New Zealand timber importers has pledged to stop buying any wood from Indonesia unless it is legally sourced.

And in Australia, leading names in the timber industry and civil society groups have presented a ‘common platform’ to the federal government, calling for effective measures to be included in proposed laws to stop illegal logging imports.

In an historic campaign, the industry in both countries has embraced Greenpeace, now the most visible environmental organisation in the world.

Greenpeace is pushing for

MicroPro

®

Copper Quat

A p N A pro o lu v w Co m e nt ini d F ac um or t*

MicroPro is GREENGUARD® Children and Schools Certified Greenguard® Children and Schools Certification indicates that a product has undergone rigorous testing and has met stringent standards for VOC emissions. In the USA, products certified to this criteria are suitable for use in schools, offices, and other sensitive environments.

Visit: www.osmose.com.au or phone: 1800 088 809 Osmose® and MicroPro® are registered trademarks of Osmose, Inc. or its subsidiaries. A Better Earth Idea from Osmose sm and Treated Wood Just Got Greener sm are slogan marks of Osmose Inc and its subsidiaries. MicroPro timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. GREENGUARD® is a registered trademark of GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. * See MicroPro fastener and hardware information sheet. © 2011 Osmose, Inc.

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issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 1

WOOD PROMOTION

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

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 171 | 02.05.11

National Carpenter of the Year Cheryl Unwin (third from left) with Jarrod Flanigan, Master Builders Association Victoria, Mark Devitt, AEG, Laurice Temple, National Association of Women in Construction, Jason Kemp, Paslode, and Ric Sinclair, managing director, FWPA.

TRUST TABMA

Carpenter of year if you asserts timber is want .. amazing material

Apprentices, trainees or cadets

By JIM BOWDEN

“WOOD – I love working with it.

It’s the most amazing building material and you can trust it.”

The worthy praise was bestowed on the timber industry by Cheryl Unwin, 25, the first woman to be selected national carpenter of the year.

Cheryl, who works with Hickory Developments, Melbourne, was nominated by workmates and friends in the contest which is part of National Carpentry Day, organised by the Wood Naturally Better campaign.

“I’ve always wanted to work constructively with wood and after my godmother completed an apprenticeship course, I thought, well, why not me?”

Cheryl went on to complete a Certificate 3 course in building construction at TAFE College, Frankston, and two months ago joined Hickory Developments working on building projects around Melbourne.

“I’m the only girl among 20 carpenters, but we all work as a team and respect each other’s

knowledge and individuality in working with wood,” Cheryl said.

Always thinking about the versatility of wood, Cheryl has used her experience to build two pergolas for friends using treated radiata and complete a sub-floor construction project at her own home using 90x45 treated pine.

Her favourite timber? “Cypress – I love its aroma and appearance.”

Hickory Developments is a Melbourne construction and development company focusing mainly on residential buildings in Victoria.

The company was founded in 1991 by brothers Michael and George Argyrou, now joint managing directors, who are the fourth generation of the family to be involved in the construction industry. Michael has a business background and George has worked his way up from carpentry to become one of the industry’s leading Cont Page 6

Short or long-term staff recruitment OH&S training and independent audits WHS training and information Debtors control and collection Membership services

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

www.tabma.com.au

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industry news

NZ supporting industry on voluntary initiatives From Page 1

the Senate Committee for Rural Affairs and Transport for review.

In New Zealand, the Forestry Minister David Carter welcomed the commitment from the NZ Imported Tropical Timber Group to bar import and sales of timber from Indonesia unless credible third party verification was provided.

The group represents major importers and retailers of imported timber and includes Greenpeace NZ. Mr Carter said the move sent a message to overseas companies that illegal logging was unacceptable.

“Illegal logging is a serious problem in the countries where

David Carter .. backing voluntary industry initiatives to address illegal logging.

it is carried out, resulting in economic, environmental and social losses,” Mr Carter said.

“About 13% of sawn timber imports, or about one-quarter of a percent of domestic sawn

timber consumption, come from suspected illegal sources, with kwila from southeast Asia and the Pacific the main species of concern in the New Zealand market.”

Green Party forestry spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said the voluntary measure still left room for the sale of illegally harvested timber in New Zealand, and that was unacceptable. She said 1015% of the NZ market was not covered by the group.

David Carter said the government’s position was to back voluntary industry initiatives to address illegal logging, rather than regulation.

The unusual alliance of Australia’s leading timber merchants, importers and retailers, church groups and environmental groups has sent its ‘common platform’ to Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Minister for Forestry Senator Joe Ludwig.

The alliance consists of IKEA, Bunnings, Simmonds Lumber, Kimberly Clark, the Uniting Church (Victoria and Tasmania), WWF, The Wilderness Society, the Australian Conservation Foundation and Greenpeace.

The ‘common platform’ calls for 11 key elements, including: • A requirement for importers to disclose information at the point of importation.

• Federal government enforcement and monitoring and appropriate penalties.

• Assistance to industry for compliance and assessing the risk of illegal timber imports.

• Harmonisation with other international laws against illegal timber imports.

• Open standing to allow individual citizens and NGOs to take action against illegal

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 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

Government urged to include all elements of a ‘common platform’ From Page 3

timber importers. * A government procurement policy that preferences timber from sustainable source.

Bunnings has supported a ban on illegal logging for many years after first committing to a zero tolerance approach to illegal timber in its supply chain in 2001, in consultation with Greenpeace.

“Our support of the common platform matches our ongoing commitment to providing products that originate from legal and well managed forests,” Bunnings general manager, marketing and merchandising, Clive Duncan said.

Global forestry manager at IKEA Anders Hildema added: “We have worked for almost 10 years to curb illegal logging, increasing the share of wood coming from responsibly managed forests. Efficiently enforced legislation against illegal logging will help us get a step closer to our objectives.”

General manager of corporate services for Kimberly-Clark Ross Hearne says it is in the interest of Australian businesses that effective measures to stop illegal forest products are brought in.

“We urge the federal government to include all elements of the ‘common platform’,” he said.

Chief executive of Simmonds Lumber John Simon said requiring proper documentation of legal origin of timber really was a ‘must’ if these laws were to be effective.

“Simmonds has been investing in systems to ensure legal verification but currently we are being undercut by less scrupulous traders,” Mr Simon said.

Greenpeace estimates Australia imports $840 million of illegal timber and wood products

Page 4 | issue 171 | 02.05.11

every year. This means that Australians are unwittingly purchasing illegal timber products that include imported furniture, flat pack paneling and toilet paper every day.

Greenpeace promotes forests as regulators of the Earth’s climate “because they store nearly 300 billion tonnes of carbon in their living parts – roughly 40 times the annual greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels”.

Banning illegal timber imports was a Labor election promise in 2007 and again in 2010 and the broad policy is supported by the Coalition.

Meanwhile, a highly anticipated two-year moratorium on new forest conversion permits could bring fundamental improvements to forest and land management in Indonesia.

In mid-2011, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to sign a presidential decree for

John Simon .. proper documentation of legal origin of timber a ‘must’.

the implementation of a twoyear moratorium on issuing new permits for conversion of natural forest and peatland.

This planned moratorium was announced in May last year as part of a $1 billion IndonesiaNorway partnership agreement on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (known as REDD+).

An effective moratorium will allow time for the government – with participation from industry and civil society – to develop improved processes for land use planning and permitting, create information systems and build institutions that can achieve Indonesia’s ambitious low carbon and agricultural development goals. These goals include both reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% percent and doubling palm oil production by 2020.

A delay of several months has allowed time for the government to address concerns raised by industry and to reconcile several draft decrees submitted by multiple national government agencies. The drafts contain different interpretations of how the moratorium should be implemented, with different implications for forests and people.

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events

WHAT’S ON?

MAY

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: Rydges Lakeland Hotel, Queenstown.Dinner at Moonlight Country, Thursday evening, May 12.For more information visit www. irg42.com Contacts: New Zealand – Jeanette Drysdale +64 9 299 9435.

Australia – Jack Norton +61 7 3255 4420.

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 20-22: Timber & Working with Wood Show. RNA showgrounds, Brisbane. Contact: (02) 9974 1393.

Fax: (02) 9974 3426, Email: info@ eee.net.au 24: TABMA credit seminar breakfast, 7.30 am sharp.

Rydges Parramatta. Trade credit insurance, debtors factoring and

personal property securities reform.

Trade credit insurance protects receivables against loss due to the insolvency of, or protracted default by, trade debtors. TABMA together with IMC Newbury has developed a unique industry program underwritten by QBE exclusively for TABMA members. Cost $35 pp (+gst). Contact John Theoharris on (02) 9277 3144. Numbers strictly limited.

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.

JUNE 15-17: SawTECH 2011. Sawing technologies to improve mill performance. Brisbane. Visit www. fiea.com.nz 17-19: Timber & Working with Wood Show. The Entertainment Quarter, Sydney. Contact: (02) 9974 1393. Fax: (02) 9974 3426, Email: info@eee.net.au 26-28: Build NZ. ASB Show grounds, Auckland.

JULY 7: HIA Industry Outlook Luncheon, HIA Home Ideas Centre, 28 Collie Street, Fyshwick ACT. Contact (02) 6285 7300.

13-14: Carbon Forestry 2011.

Key investment drivers and future business opportunities. Auckland, NZ. Visit www.fiea.com.nz 19-20: FTMA Australia National Conference, Newcastle. Join FTMA Australia members on Tuesday, July 29, and network over

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golf at the iNewcastle Golf Club and other activities. Wednesday, July 20,FTMA Australia AGM prior to conference commencing at 10am.

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 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 21-23: Timber & Working with Wood Show. Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale. Contact: (02) 9974 1393. Fax: (02) 9974 3426, Email: info@eee. net.au 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.

Australia’s forest, wood, pulp and paper products industry now has a stronger voice in dealings with government, the community and in key negotiations on the industry’s future, as two peak associations have merged to form a single national association.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has been formed through the merger of the Australian Plantations Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) and the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI).

AFPA was established to cover all aspects of Australia’s forest industry: - Forest growing; - Harvest and haulage; - Sawmilling and other wood processing; - Pulp and paper processing; and - Forest product exporting.

For more information on the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) or to enquire about membership , please call (02) 6285 3833.

issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 5

WOOD PROMOTION

$60,000 in prizes for carpentry day From Page 2

construction managers.

“Each member of our management and staff brings a range of training, skills, qualifications, character and experience to contribute to our enterprise but, above all, it is the synergy among our people that creates the true skill within our organisation,” Michael said.

“Our culture is one which encourages our people to work as a team by recognising the value of individuals combining their strengths to produce exceptional collective results.

According to Michael Argyrou, the key to Hickory’s success has been side-stepping direct competition with the big builders by avoiding the tender market.

“We’ve never been a hardmoney tender builder,” he says.

“We prefer design to dollars; getting intimately involved in design and documentation gives us more input with some clients.”

Despite falling property sentiment, the brothers remain optimistic about the success of Hickory projects.

“It’s a difficult market, but we’re coping,” they say.

“The Hickory difference is its

design savvy and quality clients who, like it, want to leave a positive footprint,” Michael said.

“We won’t put our name to buildings that damage our city.”

National Carpentry Day on April 8 was marked by free barbecues across the country at participating suppliers’ premises and TAFE colleges and prize giveaways with the aim of raising awareness of the role of carpenters and helping foster relationships.

The third such event, this year introduced new activities, national events, sponsors, partners and participants.

“We’re proud that Wood Naturally Better was the major sponsor of National Carpenters Day,” Ric Sinclair, managing director of Forest and Wood Products Australia said.

“Our research shows that an increasing number of Australians are keen to do something about climate change and they can do it by supporting carpenters and the use of sustainably sourced wood.”

The total prize pool for Carpentry Day this year was $60,000 which included a $20,000 jet ski package from Lockwood/ Assa Abloy and power tools.

Water plan worries forest sector THE South Australian government’s plans to include forestry in water licensing agreements is creating further angst in the south-east’s timber sector says regional MP Mitch Williams.

The revised water allocation plan is expected to cap or licence forestry water use for the first time in South Australia.

Consultation on the main scientific report that will help form the plan has closed.

Mr Williams says the state

Page 6 | issue 171 | 02.05.11

government needs to announce its decision so the forestry sector can prepare for the allocation plan’s impact.

“A private investor currently can clear-fell the timber, sell the log and then either replant it or sell the land,” he said.

“If we licensed the forest for water use, the owner could then have further options of selling the land and selling the water licence and that, I believe, will mitigate against replanting.”

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EVENTS

Green thinkers contemplate wood’s low emission rating at Green Cities THE Laminex Group welcomed more than 1000 ‘green thinkers’ from leading building and property companies at Green Cities, Australia’s largest sustainable building conference.

A corporate member of the Green Building Council of Australia for almost five years, Laminex hosted a welcome cocktail reception, launching the four-day conference which was jointly organised by the GBCA and the Property Council of Australia.

The conference is a forum for the building industry to focus on the future of sustainable building, infrastructure and communities, discussing ideas and innovations and showcasing projects of the future.

With a new and improved format and a liberal sprinkling of controversy, the event, which ran from February 27 to March 1 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, felt revitalised and more willing to tackle the big questions.

The sort of questions that loomed large this year were: what does a liveable city look like, how are our buildings and urban spaces impacting on our physical and mental wellbeing and what is being done to get the residential sector up to speed?

Laminex group marketing manager George Bej said the conference was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the group’s support for a greener building industry.

The Laminex exhibition stand at Green Cities demonstrated the possibilities of green design. It was built on the premise of: ‘for greener solutions, look beyond the surface’.

The stand incorporated examples of low emission products, certified timber

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and eco-specifier GreenTag products – all of which can contribute to valuable green star points for commercial, multi-unit residential, education, healthcare, industrial and other public sector projects.

Mr Bej said without having to Cont Page 11 The possibilities for green design .. the Laminex stand at Green Cities, Melbourne.

issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 7

FOREST MANaGEMENT

Natural disturbance guides forest management: Canada conference USE of fire in forest management will be examined

by Forestry Tasmania chief scientist Dr Steve Read at the 7th International Conference on Disturbance Dynamics in Boreal Forests at Saguenay in Quebec this month.

The conference is sponsored by the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations and a number of Canadian universities. It will look at the use of natural disturbance regimes as guides to forest management with reference to the great boreal forests of the northern hemisphere.

Changes in the ecosystem – tree growth and tree death, especially catastrophic death by fire – have to be factored into forest management Dr Read said it was increasingly obvious there were advantages to using natural disturbances, including fire, to manage forests, and as a template for human management of forests.

He referred to Alfred Dengler’s

famous 1933 quote: “Silviculture is applied ecology”. “And forest management requires us to know the ecosystem,” Dr Read said.

“Embedded in that is that changes in the ecosystem – tree growth and tree death, especially catastrophic death by fire – have to be factored into forest management. Just as we ignore bushfires at our peril, if we don’t use fire appropriately then we manage forests at our peril.”

Dr Read said there had been a significant increase in ecological knowledge of bushfire behaviour and consequences of bushfires for forests both in Tasmania and in North America.

“It means we are now much more aware of what a bushfire does and doesn’t do,” he said.

“Legacies of the bushfire can include dead standing trees and downed timber. But fires can skip wet gullies and there are a lot of things still living in the forest a day after a bushfire.

In fact, it has been said that there is more ecological value in a forest the day after a bushfire

Dr Steve Read .. changing the thinking and the approach on forest harvesting.

or a clearfell than there is on a dairy farm.

“People have a sensible fear of fire, yet it is both efficient and effective in forest management.”

At the conference Dr Read will discuss the use of fire in relation to variable retention techniques, both at the Warra research site and in operational experience throughout Tasmania.

“I’ll talk about how it is possible to design and plan particular coupes for variable retention,

which require both the planners and the on-ground staff to take into account ecological outcomes as well as timber outcomes,” Dr Read said.

“Forestry Tasmania is the best in the world at operationalising these large-scale experiments, and we’ve learnt you don’t just set new guidelines for forest harvesting and walk away. You have to change the thinking and the approach. Harvesters have to plan specifically for ecological outcomes of the human disturbance regime, and monitor these outcomes afterwards.

“We have developed very thorough post-harvest monitoring systems that look at the site after harvesting, in the context of the surrounding landscape, and link that to how the forests will develop later ecological outcomes.

“These systems are relevant to boreal forest managers because the principles are the same, even though the practices are different.”

US producers to vote on new softwood research THE US Department of Agriculture will conduct a referendum to determine if domestic softwood lumber manufacturers and importers approve the implementation of a proposed new national softwood lumber research, promotion, consumer education and industry information order.

Voting will be from May 23 to June 10 and to be eligible, domestic softwood lumber manufacturers and importers must have manufactured and/or imported 15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber during the representative period from January 1 - December 2010.

Page 8 | issue 171 | 02.05.11

The program will be implemented if it is favoured by a majority of those voting in the referendum who also represent a majority of the volume of softwood lumber represented in the referendum.

An 18 or 19 member board would administer the order and would be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of softwood lumber in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for softwood lumber and develop new uses for softwood lumber within the US. Domestic manufacturers and importers of softwood lumber would pay an assessment of up

to 50c per thousand board feet, with the initial assessment rate being 35c per thousand board feet.

US referendum on softwood promotion.

Smaller manufacturers and importers handling less than 15 million board feet annually would be exempt from paying assessments.

Exports of domestic softwood lumber would also be exempt.

Additionally, domestic manufacturers and importers would not pay assessments on the first 15 million board feet of lumber shipped during a fiscal year.

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Celebrate innovation and advances in forestry, wood products and design just before the international rugby starts on 9 September. Be part of the forestry and wood processing revolution. If you have anything to do with wood you and your company must be there.

Book your place and get more information, www.fi2011.co.nz The PF Olsen Forest Industries Expo 2011 will showcase the latest equipment, technology and systems from New Zealand and around the world, to an international audience. You can book to attend or register for a display site indoors or outdoors through www.fi2011.co.nz The BNZ Forest Industries Tech Clinics will feature 14 practical and independent clinics that will cover every facet of the forestry sector, from new tools for improving efficiencies in forest management through to the very latest in timber design, construction and building practices. For more information go to www.fi2011.co.nz.

The BNZ Forest Industries Conference on 7 September will focus on innovation and design in timber construction following the tragic earthquakes in Japan and Christchurch (2011), Haiti (2010), Chile (2010) and Italy (2009).

International speakers will cover recent major advances in design, technology and construction. For more information go to www.fi2011.co.nz

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www.fi2011.co.nz

issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 9

INDUSTRY NEWS

The world wants wood: prices jump US, Japan, China and Europe the major drivers GLOBAL demand for softwood has pushed lumber prices in North America, Asia and Europe to their highest level in 10 months.

Demand increased 18% last year after hitting a 50-year low in 2009.

This upward trend in consumption has continued through 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly; total volume consumed was more than 20% higher than the same period in early 2010.

Not surprisingly, China has been the major driver in the higher demand for lumber. The country’s sawmills are far from being able to meet the increased demand, and as a result there has been a substantial increase in import volumes over the past five year, from just over 2 million

InSurAnce..

It’S All In the SelectIon

The improved market conditions have resulted in higher lumber prices worldwide. Although the price movements have been rocky, fluctuating substantially in some markets the past 12 months, trends have been up.

In the US, southern yellow pine prices were 24% higher in March this year as compared to last summer. Similar upward trends have been seen with Douglas-fir lumber in Western US and for spruce pine fir lumber in western Canada.

World wood demand drives up softwood prices.

cub m in 2006 to 9.4 million cub m in 2010. This unprecedented rise in shipments continued the first two months of 2011 when

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You can expect superior outcomes from Austbrokers Premier in the following key areas: • Focus on premium value and insurer security • Expert advice for Business Interruption • Premiums + claims + deductibles – self insurance option analysis • Committed claims management & settlement negotiations.

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Insuring it all stacks up.

Page 10 | issue 171 | 02.05.11

imports were as much as 32% higher than in 2010.

Practically all major lumber markets in Asia, Europe and North America experienced stronger demand last year, resulting in higher production worldwide and also increased global trade.

The world’s largest importer, the US, imported 7% more lumber in 2010 than the previous year, while imports to the third largest market, Japan, were up almost 15%.

In Europe, shipments were up between 10 and 35% to the largest lumber-consuming countries on the continent.

In both Japan and China, import prices for most species of lumber have trended upward since early 2009, particularly for higher-grade Russian pine to Japan and lower-grade Canadian hemlock to China.

WRQ says lumber prices can be anticipated to go up in many markets during 2011 for a number of reasons, including expected increased demand in China, somewhat higher lumber imports to Japan for the rebuilding after the earthquake, and continued measured improvements in the US housing market mainly in repair and remodelling and multifamily residential housing.

White House Easter souvenirs egg on role of sustainable wood EARTH and Easter hit the calendar within days of each other this year, so America’s annual White House Easter Egg Roll Day went a little greener.

Souvenir eggs were made from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Available in four pastel colours, the eggs featured stamped signatures of the President and First Lady.

Made from paperboard from sustainable forests, the packaging featured eco-friendly vegetable oil-based inks and a water-based coating.

All children under 12 years received souvenir eggs when they attended the Easter Egg Roll on the White House’s South Lawn on April 25.

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TIMBER PRESERVATION

Treatment control system increases plant efficiency INCREASED efficiency, consistency of charges and user friendliness are among key features highlighted by treatment plant operators using the Osmose process control system (PCS).

The system, developed by Osmose engineers to provide a high level of automated process control and information management, can be linked to existing inventory and accounting packages.

In the last few months, Osmose has continued to install the PCS into customer sites at Hayters Sawmill in Sydney, Dale and Meyers at Tiaro in Queensland and Carter Holt Harvey at Yarram, Vic. Osmose reports that the treatment industry is

experiencing very tough trading conditions with a clear softening in demand for treated timber.

“Demand has been impacted by the floods and cyclones but there is also no doubt that the dampened demand is due to a slowdown in new house construction across Australia,” Osmose Australia general manger Elias Akle said.

“Through all this, we still believe that timber will continue to be a preferred building material, and the use of timber will grow as the environmental and sustainability attributes of timber become better understood by the wider community. Treated timber is a crucial part in this process,” Mr Akle said.

High green star rating From Page 7

compromise on design vision, architects and specifiers could achieve desired looks and accrue valuable green star points with products from the group, including the new ecospecifer certified products.

Laminex is the first organisation in the industry to receive an ecospecifier Green Tag GreenRate Level A certification for a range of raw and decorated products.

Green Building Council of Australia’s green star executive director Andrew Aitken said ecospecifier Green Tag was one of only four certification schemes

recognised under the GBCA’s Assessment Framework for Product Certification Schemes.

In addition, Laminex recently announced its decision to transition from E1 to E0 MDF as standard, offering this alongside their existing range of Super E0, No-Added Formaldehyde (NAF) and low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) products, for improved Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) – another criteria in the green star rating tool.

Laminex has also achieved FSC and AFS/PEFC chain of custody for five of its Australian manufacturing sites.

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issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 11

FOREST MANAGEMENT

On-line tool estimates productivity, carbon in spotted gum forest sites PRIVATE landholders can now calculate carbon, timber and grazing productivity on their properties thanks to a new online tool.

The resource works as a calculator using specific data related to spotted gum native forest sites in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The spotted gum productivity tool and a comprehensive user guide are available as a free download from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation forestry section under plant industry tools at www.agbiz. business.qld.gov.au DEEDI research scientist Dr Tom Lewis said the tool estimated timber productivity, grazing productivity and carbon levels to help land owners

Spotted gum .. productivity calculation now only a click away.

determine the economic and environmental benefit of their land.

“For timber production it provides an estimate of the annual growth rate and the potential dollar value of that timber,” Dr Lewis said.

“It can also calculate an

estimate of the expected annual grass production, the livestock carrying capacity and the expected dollar value for livestock grazing.

“The carbon component provides a figure on how much carbon is currently stored in the trees at the site and how much

potentially will be stored over a 30-year period.”

Dr Lewis said the tool would also be important in determining the potential economic and environmental benefits of combined timber and grazing production.

“For many landholders with spotted gum forest on their land, grazing production is their primary source of income,” Dr Lewis said.

“This decision-making tool allows the user to assess the potential combined benefits of maintaining forest and grazing land on their property.

“It also shows the advantage of managing the forest to increase the proportion of the forest that is of merchantable value, such Cont Page 13

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Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

TIMBER FLOORING

Polished performance at flooring show as architects mingle with trade visitors MORE than 6600 trade visitors converged on the Sydney Exhibition Centre for the recent Flooring and Finishes Exhibition and Convention.

Organised by the Australian Timber Flooring Association, the event was co-located with Decoration + Design and the Australian Furniture Fair – a good move that attracted huge numbers of designers, architects and decorators.

“Never before have we seen so many architects and designers attending a timber flooring exhibition in Australia,” remarked Tony Kellman of floor finishing company Synteko.

“We’re used to seeing contractors coming in to see new product innovations, but this year’s show also had ‘creatives’ looking for product inspiration and samples.”

USA-based Daniel Boone spoke on preparation, planning and job management skills, as well as the vital decisions that lead to a perfect installation.

Christine Coates, also from the US, presented on international flooring trends.

Phil Holgate spoke on the chemical nature of surface coatings, their life expectancy, toxicity, VOC and carbon footprint while David Hayward, ATFA’s technical manager, examined the factors that influence floor performance.

Timber flooring demonstrations were a big drawcard the ATFA event in Sydney.

The free demonstrations program as part of the exhibition was well attended by flooring contractors, many of whom had travelled interstate for the event. Demonstrations

included board bending techniques, board placement and medallion inserts.

The presentations were extremely popular with standing room only at some sessions.

The annual ATFA awards dinner, sponsored by Embelton Flooring, was staged at the end of the three-day exhibition.

Awards were presented by ATFA president Paul Kiely.

Flooring and finishing demonstrations get under way at Sydney Exhibition Centre.

Spotted gum productivity From Page 12

as thinning areas of the forest to concentrate growth in the most productive trees.

“The tool will be most useful when applied at different stages of tree growth to see

the full benefits management.”

of

forest

The tool was developed as part of a three-year project cofunded by DEEDI, Forest and Wood Products Australia and other collaborators.

Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

issue 171 | 02.05.11 | Page 13

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