Issue 178

6527

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

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issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 1

Export log deal comes at a cost

This Issue • Engineered wood helps quake-proof a city • Japan plywood mills back in production

Plantation timbers flattened by Yasi find markets are ‘tightening’ in Asia

By JIM BOWDEN

China-bound .. salvage logs for export.

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• ‘Woodies’ on show at Coolangatta • Fighting crime in Queensland’s forests • Bridge hardwoods find new saltwater life • VicForests top of the tree in state audit

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LOGS salvaged from exotic pine plantations flattened in North Queensland by Cyclone Yasi in February will be exported to Asia – but it will be a high-cost operation for the grower.

Chief executive of Forest Plantations Queensland Brian Farmer said returns from the log exports would be constrained by a tightening export market and costs associated with contracting log harvesters, building port facilities and shipping.

It is expected more than one million tonnes of salvaged

plantation pine crushed by the cyclone will be exported as logs to Asian ports in the next 12 months as part of a $35 million contract.

The first shipment of logs retrieved from FPQ sites in the Hinchinbrook Shire and Cassowary Coast in North Queensland is due to leave for China within a month.

A 4.5-ha parcel of land has been provided to store the timber at a cost of $350,000 as part of Operation Queenslander, a state reconstruction effort that will see a $20 million rural

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issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

A date for your diaries!

2011

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

TABMA Log scaler Iris Zatloutak surrounded by salvaged plantation pine logs destined for China.

Townsville Bulletin photo.

Export deal major step forward for north Queensland From Page 1

resilience package rolled out across North Queensland after the Yasi onslaught.

Craig Wallace, the minister responsible for ports and maritime services, said the export deal was a major step forward for the region in the wake of one of the state’s worst disasters.

Ongoing work to harvest and transport the timber will provide jobs and income for communities from Cardwell to Townsville

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

“Through hard work and innovation we have achieved a result where trees valued at $35 million will be exported instead of rotting on the forest floor.

“Ongoing work to harvest and transport the timber will provide jobs and income for communities from Cardwell to Townsville.”

Mr Wallace said FPQ had a limited opportunity to salvage trees so it was critical all parties

The 2011 Timber Industry Dinner, incorporating the TABMA Awards, will be held in Sydney on Friday, October 28, at Doltone House – Darling Island Wharf.

The dinner will be supported by TDA NSW, the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia, the NSW Forest Products Association, the Timber Trade Industrial Association, WADIC, the Australian Timber Importers Federation, TABMA Australia, and WoodSolutions Invitations will be sent out early in September.

Brian Farmer .. salvage operations a priority.

involved worked together to ensure a smooth and safe transition from forest floor to market.

“That included the fast-tracking of a parcel of port land to ensure a stockpile site for the salvaged timber,” he said.

“This work involved upgrading of the site with stormwater pits, retention basins, and other trade-required services.”

Brian Farmer said publicity about the $35 million log export Cont Page 3

Page 2 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

GalaDinner & Awards Night

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

‘Cooperation, but at the end of the day it’s still a tight proposition’: FPQ chief From Page 2

contract should be tempered with the fact that most of this would be absorbed in costs.

“A major difficulty was the creation of a market in Asia, building port facilities and gathering logging contractors from southern states and other parts of Australia, none of which existed in the region,” he said.

‘There are a number of key risks to our operations in North Queensland’ – Brian Farmer.

Mr Farmer added: “The concern I have is that we had a very nice forest that was destroyed

by Cyclone Yasi. Now we have to concentrate on salvaging as

Stripped .. Cyclone Yasi carved a swathe through plantations in the Cardwell-Ingham region.

much timber as we possibly can in an effort to help us with our re-investment.

“There are established markets in Asia, but at this time, with the high Australian dollar, pricing is

tight and there are a number of key risks to our operations in North Queensland.

“We have appreciated the cooperation we have been receiving, but at the end of the day it is still very much a tight financial proposition.”

FPQ’s 145,000-ha exotic pine estate represents 73% of the company’s total plantation area.

Species include Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis), slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) and an advanced hybrid of both.

Queensland’s largest plantation timber company, FPQ manages about 204,000 ha of softwood and hardwood plantations, acquired from the state under a 99-year licence to manage, harvest and re-grow plantation timber.

The 2011 conference has been specifically scheduled to coincide with Parliamentary sitting week to maximise engagement opportunities with MPs. It is highly recommended that interested conference attendees to make travel arrangements early, as flights and accommodation are difficult to secure during Parliamentary sitting weeks.

Associated workshops and meetings will be held on September 13 and 15.

Registrations open soon.

ForestWorks performs a range of industry wide functions acting as the channel between industry, government and the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.

MELBOURNE: (03) 9321 3500 LAUNCESTON: (03) 6331 6077 SYDNEY: (02) 8898 6990 BRISBANE: (07) 3358 5169 EMAIL: forestworks@forestworks.com.au

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issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 3

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

Page 4 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

www.fi2011.co.nz

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events

WHAT’S ON? JUNE 21-13: SawTECH 2011: Sawing technologies to improve mill performance. Rotorua, NZ. www. sawtechevents.com 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. carbonforestryevents.com 19-20: FTMA Australia National Conference, Newcastle. Join FTMA Australia members on Tuesday, July 29, and network over golf at the Newcastle Golf Club and other activities. Wednesday, July 20,FTMA Australia AGM prior to conference commencing at 10am.

21-22: Reinventing Wood. Pine Manufacturers Association and Wood Processors Association joint annual conference.

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, NZ. Participate and learn how industry intends to position itself, post-Canterbury earthquakes.

Reinventing Wood aims to lift the focus of participants from commodity production to highvalued manufactured and branded timber solutions in domestic and export markets. Strong emphasis on the potential for re-creating Christchurch with innovative wooden building. Registration form: www.pine.net.nz/annualconference/registration-2001 Program www.pine.net.nz/annualconferenceprogramme-2001.

Contact: NZPMA. Tel: +64 3 544 1086. Email: info@pine.net.nz Visit: www.pine.net.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 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 6-7: BNZ Forest Industries Tech Clinics 2011. Rotorua, NZ www. forestevents.co.nz 7: BNZ Forest Industries 2011 Conference: Innovative products, designs and new developments for timber building. Rotorua, NZ. www.forestevents.co.nz

October 16-19: SilviLaser 2011. University of Tasmania, Hobart. Visit www. silvilaser2011.com 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 31-2 (Nov): 5th International Woodfibre Resources & Trade Conference. Grand Copthorne

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Waterfront Hotel, Singapore.

Contact Pamela Richards on 61 3 5781 0069. Visit www. woodfibreconference.com

SEPTEMBER 5, 6, 8: WoodSolutions 2011.

Bringing together leading international and Australasian exponents of timber design.

Adelaide (Monday September 5), Intercontinental Adelaide, North Terrace. Sydney (Tuesday, September 6), Sydney Marriott Hotel, College Street. Melbourne (Thursday, September 8), The Windsor Hotel, Spring Street. Visit www.woodsolutions.com.au

NOVEMBER 8-11: IUFRO Forest Health Joint Meetings. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Organised by the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) in Uruguay, the University of Uruguay (UDELAR) and the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO). Motivated by the massive development of the forestry sector in several countries in South America, including Uruguay, during the last decades, the increasing significance of the forest ecosystems worldwide and the preponderant role of the Forest Protection tasks in these ecosystems. Visit www. iufrouruguay2011.org

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

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 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 5

industry news

Awards honour excellence in timber design.

Entry date now July 15 for timber design awards THE submission deadline of the Australian Timber Design Awards has been extended to July 15.

This gives architects and design professionals still working on their submissions a little extra time to get everything finalised.

If entries have been submitted and further changes are required, entrants can email at info@timberawards.com.au “The extension accommodates the many requests we’ve received from architects for extra time in which to track down missing images and confirm timber certification,” said Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association (NSW) which is organising the awards.

“Veterans of architectural awards know that the final week before a cut-off date can be frantic. We hope this change has made things a little easier on our participants,” Mr Dunn said.

The Australian Timber Design Awards has been honouring excellence in timber design for 12 years. Entry is open to architects, builders, designers, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects.

Categories cover all major

Page 6 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

Coveted EWPAA Sanderson Trophy for best use of plywood, LVL and panel products.

applications, small budget projects, sustainability, a People’s Choice Award Rising Star Award and the coveted Sanderson Trophy sponsored by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

The EWPAA award recognises excellence and innovation in design using LVL, plywood and wood panel products.

Entries will automatically be considered for the 2012 International Timber Design Awards.

Got a project that you think could be a winner? Have a look at www.timberawards.com.au

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TIMBER INNOVATION

Engineered wood technology lays a foundation for quake-proof buildings

Special LVL beams provide strength and flexibility A TRANS-Tasman research venture has developed a building technology using engineered wood which it says can help quake-proof Christchurch.

The Structural Timber Innovation Co (STIC) says its prototype building – using the EXPAN system – survived the February quake in New Zealand’s largest South Island City.

“We have a frame which could be used for a two-storey building or a 10-storey building.

And the secret is that we’ve got this very high-strength wood product which is tied together with high strength steel,” said Dr Andy Buchanan, professor of timber design at Canterbury University and research director at STIC Dr Buchanan and his team have successfully put their prototype through more than 20 simulated magnitude-seven quakes. They then rebuilt the structure outside just in time for the real event – the February quake which left much of the CBD in ruins.

“It went through the 6.3 earthquake 5 km away in town, and it shook and there was no damage at all,” Dr Buchanan said.

Other buildings on the university campus did not fare as well.

According to Dr Buchanan, the STIC building owes its strength and flexibility to the special construction of its LVL beams.

“After testing it was totally undamaged and then it was dismantled and re-erected on the campus, with a new exterior cladding,” he said.

The building now serves three purposes: it’s a demonstration building to show-off the posttensioned technology of

prefabricated timber walls and frames; it is a test building to monitor earthquake motion and long-term deflections; and it’s the head office of the Structural Timber Innovation Co. STIC’s chief executive Robert Finch said relocating the building from the university campus laboratory to a new site on the campus demonstrated the high degree of flexibility of the EXPAN system.

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He said the Mainzeal Group [one of the leading NZ property and construction companies] managed to construct the building the first time in the lab in half the time they expected it would take.

Cont Page 8

Robert Finch .. high degree of flexibility.

issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 7

TIMBER INNOVATION

System a real option for reconstructing many buildings in central Christchurch From Page 7

It was then deconstructed after the experimental program was completed and reconstructed again.

The architectural design by Thom Craig Architects specified cladding cantilevered out of the City would have looked a lot different today had its commercial heart employed this building technology main structure so that the entire post-tensioned moment frames and shear walls could be easily shown off and demonstrated to

building designers.

When Mainzeal constructed the frame and walls the second time they halved the construction time again and managed to assemble the structural components in a single day.

Since the February 22 earthquake, STIC has welcomed many architects, engineers and commercial building owners seeking a first-hand understanding of the new technology and the benefits on offer for the rebuild of Christchurch.

“With no exceptions all have gone away indicating that they can see that the new

Ground floor of the building showing the glulam spiral staircase to the first floor. All Gib and villaboard linings were installed and painted prior to the February 22 earthquake and suffered no damage of any description.

Page 8 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

Raised LVL corner column in the quake-proof building with LVL beams connected via post-tensioning. Columns are on raised concrete plinths as the original building was just two-thirds to scale in the laboratory. The extra height provided by the raised plinths give the two floors of the building full head height. Cantilevered mullions are LVL and the translucent building skin panels are double skin polycarbonate panels.

EXPAN system is genuine and a real option for reconstructing many buildings in central Christchurch,” Mr Finch said.

He said Christchurch would have looked a lot different today had its commercial heart employed this building technology.

“We had a situation in Christchurch where many of the older, beautiful buildings were in fact constructed from unreinforced masonry and as beautiful as it looks because of its architecture it doesn’t

survive those sorts of natural hazards very well,” Mr Finch said.

“The technology has applications well beyond the quake zone in Christchurch; Australia’s cyclone-prone Top End could also benefit.”

Commercialisation of these new technologies will enable timber to effectively compete with structural concrete and steel, the two present materials of choice in these market segments.

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FWpA

2011 seMinArs TechnicAl ToolS FoR you FWPA’s R&D Works seminars are part of an ongoing initiative designed to deliver technical research and solutions. Seminars will be held throughout 2011 in all major forestry regions.

HoBArt, tHursDAy 23 June 2011 topic

presenter

FastTRUCK

Mauricio Acuna

Onboard computer guide

Mark Brown

Forest to mill RFID tracking

Marco Lausberg

Machine evaluation toolbox

Mark Brown

Impact of sapwood and the properties and market utilisation of plantation and young hardwoods

Greg nolan

The effect of thinning on wood quality and solid wood product recovery of regrowth forests

russell Washusen

Economic Impact for sawmills of processing plantation grown timber

russell Washusen

Head rig operator performance and cabin design

Marco Lausberg

Field based application of NIR as a predictor of pulp quality across site and species

Geoff Downes

Review of fertiliser use in Australian forestry

Barrie May

Schedule development predictive modelling and economic viability assessment of vacuum drying Australian commercial hardwoods for potential industry investment

Adam redman

Kiln drying softwood

Marco Lausberg

Best practise guidelines for drying, gluing, painting, sawdoctoring etc.

Marco Lausberg

Venue: csiro Meeting room, crc for Forestry, crc Forestry college road, sandy Bay Please Note: The CRC for Forestry is located in the CSIRO Forestry Building, which is marked as Building 45 (grid: G5) on the University of Tasmania map <http://www.utas.edu.au/campus/maps/shared/hobart%20map%20v1-3.pdf> reGistrAtion: 8.30 am (coffee on arrival) start 9.00 am Finish 12.30 pm (followed by a light lunch) rsVp DetAiLs

Please contact christine stomps at email christine.stomps@fwpa.com.au or phone 03 9927 3213 by 5.00 pm Tuesday, 21 June

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issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 9

ENGINEERED WOOD

UQ architecture students SpICE up city living with compact house design UNIVERSITY of Queensland Master of Architecture students have designs on improving the state’s housing crisis – using engineered wood products.

They have put together some compact house concepts designed to accommodate intergenerational families on suburban sites.

UQ architecture lecturer Michael Dickson said the space intensive contemporary environment (SpICE) houses had been designed to combat the housing crisis by allowing multiple generations of one family to live together.

“The SpICE houses are designed to be ecologically friendly and self contained to prevent any increased pressure on the local service infrastructure,” Mr

InSurAnce..

It’S All In the SelectIon

Architecture students Tess Martin and Greg Clarke (front) and Ami Nakayama, Leah Gallagher and Jessica Spresser with their Carpian SpICE compact house concept.

Dickson said.

As part of the Master of Architecture program, students develop their projects from the initial design stages through

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to material completion of their prototypes on a 1:5 scale.

The students created the scaled prototypes of their designs on a new computer numeric controlled (CNC) router located in the School of Architecture, providing an authentic insight into the design and manufacture process limitations and opportunities.

“The aim now is to further develop the overall design concept as a research project through the assistance of industry, before introducing the project into a future master’s course,” Mr Dickson said.

Master of Architecture student

Leah Gallagher said that the SpICE project allowed the students to gain knowledge about opportunities to increase population without drastic change to the character of Brisbane suburbs.

“The SpICE project was an invigorating start to our Master’s program, with groups developing their studio designs into ‘hands-on’ 1:5 models,” Leah said.

“Working with a new peer group, each with different professional experience to create one happy, small plywood folly was the highlight of SpICE.” Mr Dickson said the student project utilised engineered wood products that were flatpack prefabricated.

“The intention of student input is to flesh out the scope of the idea. We are keen to engage with industry to help refine the project and seek critical feedback,” he said.

“Perhaps a project waits in the pipeline. The large scale models and presentation panels are in storage for future exhibition and presentation if any occasions come about.”

The project was supported by the Engineered Woods Products Association of Australasia.

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‘Camera obscura’ SpICE .. another micro-house design by architecture students Kali Marnane, Laura McConaghy and Katie Hawgood.

Page 10 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

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events

Workshops study how climate change will affect forests CLIMATE change presents opportunities and challenges for the Australian forest industry.

A series of climate change workshops will be held in forestry regions in June and July to promote awareness of future projected climatic trends and issues and opportunities on how the plantation forest industry can best respond.

The seminars will be of direct interest to forest growers, landholders, farmers, planners, researchers and natural resource management professionals.

Topics at the free three-hour seminars include climatic trends and effects on productivity in plantation regions; options for industry adaptation to a changing climate; case studies applying new tools to assess adaptation options; and factors affecting adoption of adaptation options.

“Given forecast changes in future climate, adaptation to these possible changes is an important issue and consideration in long-term planning in the forest industry,” says seminar speaker Mick Stephens, strategic policy manager, Australian Forest Products Association.

AFPA, with support from the federal government, is leading a three-year project to promote current knowledge about future climatic impacts and adaptation options available to the forest industry, particularly for forest growers.

‘These workshops represent an important first step in building national awareness and understanding of their implications at a regional level,” Mr Stephens said.

“Further work will be undertaken as part of the project to promote our current understanding of likely impacts and management responses, such as dealing with

future risks such as drought, fire and changes in forest productivity.”

Seminar speakers will include Dr Libby Pinkard, senior research scientist, CSIRO; Dr Don White, group leader, Forest Systems, CSIRO; and Dr Melissa Green, social and behavioural Scientist, CSIRO The seminars will examine how commercial forests are established and managed.

Changes in temperature, rainfall and the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will have both positive and negative implications for plantation forests, depending on their geographic location.

It is important that forest managers are prepared so that any adverse risks or positive opportunities can be carefully managed as part of an adaptation response.

Projected climatic changes of particular importance to the forest based industries include changes in temperature, rainfall and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

Plantation productivity may be increased by rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, but may be reduced by increased temperature and increased water loss, that will be compounded if rainfall is reduced. There are also potential problems from increased pest and disease risks, as well as more frequent and severe bushfires.

The seminars will be held in Bunbury, WA, June 24; Mount Gambier, SA, June 27; Brisbane June 28, Tumut, NSW, July 1; Traralgon, Vic (to be advised); and Hobart (to be advised).

Inquiries can be directed to AFPA on (02) 6285 3833. * See notice, Page 9.

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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 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Japan cranks up production at six plywood mills SIX Japanese plywood mills which sustained considerable damage from the recent earthquake and tsunami will restart partial production, probably in July.

The Japanese Federation of Plywood Manufacturers says production in April was almost the same as in April last year.

Mills that were not damaged increased production to meet the emergency demand for temporary housing in the quake and tsunami-stricken areas.

The International Tropical Timber Organisation says many mills in Japan had been running below capacity due to weak demand so it was relatively easy for them to increase output.

Demand for plywood for emergency housing will soon begin to slow, according to the Japan Lumber Report. The concern in the trade is now focused on prices rather than on supply.

Despite rising production costs, domestic plywood mills are trying not to increase panel prices any further in order to stabilise the market.

Government statistics show that Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s log consumption in 2010 was 23,724,000 cub m, 4% up from 2009. Of this, domestic log consumption was 17,193,000 cub m, up 3.5% and

consumption of imported logs was 6,531,000 cub m, 5.6%, higher than a year earlier.

The increase in log consumption is due to the modest recovery in housing starts in 2010. Notably, the consumption of domestic logs for plywood was 2,490,000 cub m, the highest on record.

The use of imported logs for plywood production increased in 2010 by 17% while the utilisation of domestic logs for plywood manufacture grew by almost 26%.

Cedar logs from Japanese forests shipped to Malaysia for processing The Noda Corporation is considering manufacturing plywood in Malaysia after its subsidiary Ishinomaki Plywood suffered heavy damage during the earthquake and tsunami.

The idea is to send cedar logs from Japanese forests to Malaysia for processing and to then ship the plywood back to Japan.

Noda has a subsidiary plywood plant in Sarawak, Sanyan Wood Industries (SWI), with a monthly production capacity of around 15,000 cub m of concrete form boards from tropical logs.

Noda has been shipping all the production from this mill to Japan.

Wood stars in $1m TV campaign A TELEVISION commercial under the Environmental Edge and Wood Naturally Better brands went to air on June 5, featuring prominently in leading free-to-air and cable TV shows.

The initiative stems from a partnership between Forest

Page 12 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

and Wood Products Australia and Planet Ark. The campaign, which will run for over four months with a planned investment of more than $1 million, explains that wood stores carbon and that carbon is better locked away in wood.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Fighting crime in Queensland’s forests Safety campaign raises public awareness CRIME Stoppers Queensland has travelled thousands of kilometres patrolling the Beerburrum plantation forest since the April launch of the plantation forest safety campaign, a three-month operation to raise public awareness and help stomp out forest crime.

Chief executive Trevor O’Hara said the campaign was helping to discourage criminal behaviour and remind onlookers to report suspicious or illegal activity.

“In partnership with the Queensland Police Service, Crime Stoppers has had a strong presence in the forest and we have spoken to a number of groups in relation to unlicensed and unregistered road use to deter possible crime,” Mr O’Hara said.

The campaign, which is due to conclude in five weeks, is focused on reducing the growing incidence of arson offences, vehicle dumping, hazardous waste dumping and unlicensed and unregistered road users in plantations.

“We have noticed a reduction in illegal and destructive activity in the Beerburrum plantation and have been helping to educate

plantations.

Brisbane residents can continue to SMS the word ‘forest’ to 1 800 333 000, and a return SMS will then alert the user on how to share information about offenders anonymously with Crime Stoppers.

Trevor O’Hara of Crime Stoppers .. strong presence in the forest.

Arsonists cause of many forest fires.

people who simply aren’t aware they weren’t supposed to be in the forest,” Mr O’Hara said.

Crime Stoppers has received

alerts from members of the community using the new SMS service to report suspicious or illegal activity in forest

“All information providers can remain anonymous and we urge people not to place themselves in a compromising or dangerous position to report a crime witnessed in the plantation,” Mr O’Hara said.

“It costs tens of thousands of dollars each year to clean up forestry related offences including the removal of burnt out vehicles and hazardous waste.”

The 5th International Woodfibre Resources and Trade Conference

31 October-2 November 2011 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore followed by a two-day field trip to Cambodia

Early bird Registration closes 1 July 2011 www.woodfibreconference.com

Full conference details, including program/speakers and field trip are available from the conference website.

This conference will be of interest to – Plantation and other forest owners; plantation investment fund managers; existing-future biomass producers and users; existing-future wood pellet producers and users; bankers and investment analysts; woodchip producers; wood fibre trading companies; woodchip end users; federal, state and shire officials dealing with forestry, plantation and wood fibre production, utilisation and exporting sectors; pulp and paper company executives; harvesting contractors; transport contractors; port companies; shipping companies; CO2-e emitters; existing timber+ and carbon forestry players; equipment suppliers.

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

issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 13

TIMBER RECYCLING

Hardwoods from Australia’s longest bridge returned to new saltwater life HARDWOOD timbers salvaged from the demolished Hornibrook Bridge that connected Sandgate to Clontarf in the Moreton Bay region, 28km from Brisbane, are to be re-used in a recreation project at the same salt water site 80 years after the first pylon was driven into the bed of Bramble Bay. The bridge was closed on July 14 last year and demolition is almost complete.

The bridge timbers, treated for termites over several decades, have stood the test of time and will be recycled. Some of the timbers will be used to build the new Hays Inlet fishing platform taking shape off Clontarf Point and other project-related urban design features such as seats and bollards.

The first sod of the project was turned on June 8, 1932, by then Premier Arthur Moore after Hornibrook Highway Ltd had raised 30,000 pounds from investors who had confidence in the enterprise.

Hundreds of timber getters were employed to harvest iron bark logs from forests at Maleny, Conondale and Mount Mee. A timber mill was bought and another was built in the Conondale district to help supply the 2½ million super feet of timber needed for the job.

super feet of ironbark.”

The toll for cars was one shilling with toll collectors issuing tickets for 40 years.

A boom followed the opening of the bridge in 1935, causing a surge in the population on the Redcliffe peninsula. Residents never believed the small seaside resort would turn into a city.

Gone but not forgotten .. remnants of the old Hornibrook Bidge.

The bridge consisted of 294 spans, mostly 9.14m long; two were 8.69m and two were 7.47m.

The foundation piers of the bridge consisted of 45.7 cm and 38.1 cm square reinforced concrete piles.

Each pier consisted of three concrete piles surmounted by a reinforced concrete headstock to support the ironbark superstructure.

This was constructed of six rows of 45.7 cm and 40.6 cm diameter dressed ironbark girders supported on similar corbels. More than 1750 girders were used, all 9.14 m long.

Bridge decking consisted of ironbark and tallowwood planks 11.4 cm thick, 22.86 cm

wide and 7.92m long, totalling 11,696 pieces.

Some of the recycled bridge timber will be provided to the state government and Moreton Bay Regional Council for use in other building projects. The remainder of the timber and all other salvaged material will become the property of the demolition subcontractor for disposal or recycling and resale at its discretion.

The official souvenir book of the bridge stated: “The bridge or viaduct from Sandgate to Clontarf spans by far a wider stretch of water than any other bridge in Australia and the quantity of first class hardwood timbers used in its construction is greater than that of any other bridge of its kind in the world, consisting in all of 2½ million

Redcliffe holds the distinction of being the first European settlement in Queensland, first visited by Matthew Flinders in 1799. Redcliffe became Queensland’s first colony in 1824, but was soon abandoned for Brisbane.

Since its closure to traffic in 1979, the bridge had become a popular site for recreation and fishing. Its ranking as the longest footbridge in the world will now be replaced by the Poughkeepsie Bridge in Poughkeepsie, New York, which crosses the Hudson River and was built in 1889.

The Poughkeepsie Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York on the east bank and Highland, New York on the west bank...

The old Hornibrook bridge has been replaced by the $315 million Houghton Highway duplication project.

Forest talks key to Triabunna mill sale

A bridge very far .. the Hornibrook was the longest all-timber viaduct in the world.

Page 14 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

GUNNS Ltd is to sell its Triabunna woodchip mill to a family-owned timber company on the condition that “satisfactory” progress is made in forest peace talks by the end of the month.

The successful bidder for the mill is Fibre Plus, a newly formed subsidiary of Bridgewaterbased timber business Aprin Pty Ltd.

Gunns told the ASX the sale, scheduled for June 29, was “conditional on satisfactory progress in the implementation of the forest Statement of Principles”.

Father-and-son business partners Ron and Brendon O’Connor of Aprin said they wanted to confirm their intention to buy to end speculation about the mill’s future.

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ON THE ROAD

Cruiser cool car at the Cooly caper

New FJ takes design cue from iconic FJ 40 Landcruiser THERE it was .. sitting primly and pretty between a 1958 Chevy Impala and a 1960 Pontiac Catalina – the Toyota Tiara model that I road tested from Melbourne to the old gold town of Beechworth in Victoria’s High Country 47 years ago.

I couldn’t find the owner among the thousands – a lot of them in 50-60s garb – who swarmed among more than 1500 vintage hot rods, Yank tanks and custom and classic cars at the Cooly Winter Rock On festival in the centre of Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.

I bought that test Tiara in 1964 when it came up to Queensland.

The Tiara was Toyota’s first locally-built car, assembled in Australia from imported parts and rolled out of the former Port Melbourne production factory in 1963, a forerunner to the popular Crown.

Toyota got its foot in the Australian car market door in 1958 when Thiess Bros. began importing Landcruisers to work in the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Our ‘mean machine’ at the rock festival last week was the chunky Toyota FJ Cruiser, channelled from the famous FJ40, the working-class 4WD, famous for its performance

Toyota’s FJ Cruiser .. classic styling and rugged off-road capabilities.

on the Snowy project. With its classic styling and rugged offroad capabilities, the broadshouldered Cruiser has been a popular choice in the compact SUV market since it went on sale in 2007.

Design cues taken from the FJ40 include the grille, upright windscreen and chunky bumpers, square wheel arches and the rear-mounted and exposed full-size spare tyre.

With legendary off road abilities, the new FJ has a uniquely

Clever glass hatch can be opened independently with your key.

mechanical package of the previous-generation Prado.

Tiara .. Toyota’s first locally-build car.

From four wheels to two wheels .. Orson Whiels tests the Harley Davidson Sportster 48 at the Cooly Rock Festival.

rugged car design – and sports the iconic white roof, round headlamps integrated within the front grille, wrap-around rear windows and over fenders.

The FJ is built up from the

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Toyota has upgraded the design with ‘suicide’ rear doors to allow easy access to the back seats and there is a clever swing-up glass hatch incorporated into the side-hinged rear door. The

glass hatch can be opened independently with your key.

This window, which sits at the top of the back door, allows convenient access to the luggage area without opening the door itself. Luggage can stay securely packed and tied down while you pull out a particular bag or pack.

The 2011 FJ Cruiser gets even better with enhancements to the engine and suspension that improve performance, fuel economy and handling.

It’s designed for serious offroading; the seats are covered with a special water-repellent fabric while the floor and rear luggage area is covered in an easy-to-clean rubber-type material.

The ladder-frame body uses a double-wishbone independent front suspension and four-link coil-spring rear suspension.

Safety features include six airbags and active head rests on the front seats and there’s good visibility to the front and sides The reversing camera is neatly implanted in a corner of the rear-view mirror, and there’s an engine immobiliser to foil car thieves; only the key holder can start the vehicle.

The Cruiser utilises the same 4.0L, six-cylinder engine as the Prado. Dual VVT-i technology provides power and efficiency.

Cont Page 16

issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 15

ON THE ROAD

‘Woodies’ on show at Coolangatta

Polished performers sport timber panels and trim “IN the fifties it was ‘Hey Daddy O’. Then came the surfers and the Hodads ya’ know. We had our woodies and our custom cars ..”

So went the lyrics of the 60s song by the Beach Boys.

And a pack of ‘woodie’ station wagons became the pride of the Cooly Rock On classic car festival at Coolangatta last week Woodies enjoyed a renewed popularity with members of the surfing culture in the US in the 1950s and 1960s and today there are several collectors’ organisations.

In the 1930s and 1940s, few cars had more prestige than the Ford/Mercury ‘woodie’ station wagon, nearly always the highest priced model in the Ford line.

While Ford led the industry in wooden-body wagon sales, production was always low, due as much to limited production capability as to the small demand.

Woodies of all makes were sought after by hotels, resorts, country clubs, stables, and movie studios, and Ford’s woodies were owned almost exclusively by country squires long before its wagons were ever called that.

Though highly impractical, there was something about the Ford woodies that made them slightly magical. They invariably squeaked, rattled, and groaned as glued and screwed seams came loose, and their bodywork required at least as much maintenance as a boat (owner’s manuals recommended annual stripping and revarnishing).

But the country squire seemed to accept the responsibilities that went along with woodie ownership. Hired help did most of the work anyway, and besides, the ritual of annual revarnishing was always a special part of the woody

Page 16 | issue 178 | 20.06.11

The classic ‘woodie’ .. a 1941 Chrysler Town and Country.

mystique.

Woodie wagons required constant maintenance; bodies were finished in varnishes that required recoating, bolts and screws required tightening as wood expanded and contracted through the seasons.

While commercial in its origins, the wood-bodied station wagons began to take on a prestige aura in the mid-1930s.

They were priced higher than regular cars, but were popular in affluent communities. By 1941, the Chrysler Town and Country was the most expensive car in the company’s line-up.

The Town and Country estate wagon was first introduced in 1939. It was elegant and luxurious and intended for both city and country driving. The wood body design was intended to have the same basic lines as the steel-bodied sedans. The bodies were created from two types of woods, including the

Fantastic – no plastic .. wooden dashboard on a Facel Vega.

structural wood of American Biltmore (Fraxinus americana) or white ash (famous as the best wood for baseball bats) and contrasting panels in a Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla).

Production continued until the early 1940s when the onset of World War 2 brought civilian production to a close. It is powered by a 250 cub inch Spitfire six-cylinder engine capable of producing 114 hp.

“Fantastic .. not plastic” was

another ‘wood is best’ sign, this time emblazoned on a Chevrolet Corvette at the Cooly festival.

These timber dashboards are glorious pieces of Baroque cabinet-making and you’ll find them on any Rolls-Royce, Morgan, Bristol, and AstonMartin – and those Corvettes.

A classic car owner, resplendent in bowler hat, red braces and pink shirt, told me the oak interior of his 1964 French Facel Vega had deteriorated to the point that the finish has perished.

“The restoration process began by removing the old finish,” he said.

Many dashboards have a cross-banding edge and often over time pieces become loose or damaged.

“I mainly use traditional methods such as French polishing,” said the man with the bowler.

“The woodwork is hand finished using French polish and wax to bring out the colour and characteristic of the wood grain. Depending on your car and your tastes, various finishes can be achieved.

“Alternatively, a lacquered finish can be applied to the dashboard and wood trim.

I use an ecological waterbased lacquer that is natural looking and not too ‘plasticky’ looking.”

Cruise(r) control for effortless driving From Page 15

A ‘part-time’ 4WD system allows a switch to a more fuelefficient mode when you’re not off road. Also, a switch to cruise control gives more effortless driving. When you are off the beaten track, you can rely on active traction control (A-TRC), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), vehicle stability control (VSC), a rear

differential lock, heavy duty suspension and an impressive ground clearance.

This six cylinder engine can pump out an impressive 200kW, making light work of rocky inclines, river crossings, and sand dunes. And there’s towing strength – the V6 produces 380Nm of torque and provides up to 2250 kg braked towing capacity. Consumption is a healthy 11.4 litres/100 km

out of a 72-litre fuel tank.

If ever there was an affordable vehicle to compete against the Jeep Wrangler it would have to be FJ Cruiser. At $44,990 (rrp), the FJ is Toyota Australia’s most affordable 4WD wagon.

It is $500 dearer than the all-road Kluger and $11,000 cheaper than the three-door Prado, probably its closest competition.

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FOREST INDUSTRY CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION WORKSHOPS A series of climate change workshops are being held in a number of forestry regions to promote awareness of future projected climatic trends and issues and opportunities on how the plantation forest industry can best respond. The seminars will be of direct interest to forest growers, landholders, farmers, planners, researchers and natural resource management professionals. Topics to be discussed at the free 3 hour seminars include: • • • •

climatic trends and effects on productivity in plantation regions; options for industry adaptation to a changing climate; case studies applying new tools to assess adaptation options; and factors affecting adoption of adaptation options.

Speakers will include: • • • •

Mr Mick Stephens, Strategic Policy Manager, Australian Forest Products Association Dr Libby Pinkard, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Dr Don White, Group Leader, Forest Systems, CSIRO Dr Melissa Green, Social and Behavioural Scientist, CSIRO

In addition to discussing broad trends, case studies will describe tools for assessing tree mortality risk and site hazard rating for hardwood and softwood plantations.

Workshops will be held from 11.00am – 2.00pm in the following locations: • • • • • •

South-west Western Australia (Bunbury), 24 June Sanctuary Golf Resort - Old Coast Road, Pelican Point, Bunbury South Australia (Mt. Gambier): 27 June Lakes Resort - 17 Lake Terrace West, Mt Gambier South-east Queensland (Brisbane): 29 June Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Auditorium 3, Ground Floor, 80 Ann Street, Brisbane New South Wales (Tumut): 1 July Tumut Bowling Club - 24-30 Richmond St, Tumut Victoria (Traralgon): to be advised.

Tasmania (Hobart): to be advised.

REGISTRATION To register for the workshops please email Alice Logan Edwards at: alice.loganedwards@ausfpa.com.au or call 02 6285 3833. A light lunch will be provided free of charge to registered participants.

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under its Australia’s Farming Future Initiative.

More general information on climate adaptation can be found at: http://www.csiro.au/org/ClimateAdaptationFlagship.html Advertising: Tel +61 7 3266 1429 Email: cancon@bigpond.net.au

issue 178 | 20.06.11 | Page 17

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