Issue 102

6342

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

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issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 1

Big guns firing on forest certification

This Issue • Political spotlight on Forest Futures conference • New industry initiatives announced at VAFI dinner

Ministerial Council pressures GBCA to recognise and review AFS certification

By JIM BOWDEN

THE Green Building Council of Australia is under enormous pressure from state, territory and federal governments to recognise sustainable forestry practices in the domestic industry.

The Primary Industries Ministerial Council, chaired by Federal Minister for Forestry Tony Burke, has literally ‘put a gun to the head’ of the GBCA advocating that it re-examine a green building rating system that discriminates against the Australian forestry certification scheme.

The meeting in Perth on November 6 pointed out that

Ministerial Council tightens screw on GBCA certification choices.

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although the GBCA recognised well-managed plantations .. “it does not recognise wellmanaged native regrowth forests”.

This was a hot headline issue at both the recent Forest and Wood Products Council meeting and the Forest Industry Leaders Ministerial Roundtable.

The GBCA oversees the credit rating, a voluntary system, which rates the environmental design and construction of buildings. It has accredited an international forestry certification scheme [FSC], but to-date the Australian Forestry Cont Page 3

of China on Australia’s quality wood products • Markets improving after a tough year • Bio-fuel impost ‘last straw’ for NZ forest owners • $5m recycled structure wins top award • On the bus again: industry tour of Northern NSW

 Eyes

issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 1

industry news

Forest industries show resilience to global financial crisis: ABARE GOVERMENT statistics released last week confirm that Australia’s forest industries have remained resilient to the effects of the global economic crisis.

“These results show that the fundamentals of the industry are sound and we should be in a good position to rebuild our domestic and international markets now the effects of the crisis are waning,” chief executive of the National Association of Forest Industries Allan Hansard said.

He was commenting on the November 2009 ABARE report on forest and wood products statistics.

Of interest is the housing sector, a major market for structural timber products. Housing starts fell 17% to 131,000 in 200809 and demand for structural wood products fell accordingly.

“However, forecasts are that the underlying housing demand is around 190,000 housing starts a year, indicating that we should have growing demand for structural wood products in coming years as housing starts increase to meet this demand,” Mr Hansard said.

“The other interesting result is for our woodchip export sector.”

Trade partners hold the quality of Australia’s woodchips in high regard.

Mr Hansard said the export woodchip sector generated valuable export revenue to help offset the industry’s $2 billion trade deficit in forest products.

Markets improving, but it’s been a tough year.

See Page 4 Soft demand in key woodchip markets resulted in the volume of exports falling by 15%.

However, the value of woodchip exports only fell by 7%. This was due to the price for woodchips actually remaining relatively stable over 2008-09, with some contract prices actually increasing, and reflected the high regard Australia’s trade

Allan Hansard .. continued investment is imperative.

partners have for the quality of the product.

In contrast to the recession market trend, imports of Australian woodchips to China increased by 74%.

FOREST INDUSTRIES NATIONAL CONFERENCE & LIAISON DINNER Canberra -24-25 November 2009

“We are seeing this trend for a number of export forest products,” Mr Hansard said.

“With China becoming a major pulp and paper producer, their demand for woodchips is expected to remain strong and as we have seen for other Australian exports such as iron ore, minerals and agricultural products, China has an insatiable appetite.

“Australia is in an excellent position to meet China’s strong demand for wood products.

To meet this demand though, continuing investment in Australia’s sustainable native forest and plantation industries is imperative.”

Forest Futures

INNOVATION | JOBS | INVESTMENT 2009 Forest Industries Conference

Conference registration form and draft program is available from www.forestworks.com.au Page 2 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

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INDUSTRY NEWS

State ministers given deadline for reports on procurement guidelines From Page 1

Certification Scheme [AFS] has not been accredited.

Ministers in Perth agreed the AFS scheme recognised good sustainable forestry practices and that AFS should therefore be recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia.

They supported a Victorian Government proposal to require government-endorsed procurement and sustainability guidelines to give equal recognition to credible forestry certification schemes.

It is believed a back-flip on a big Victorian government housing project that had stipulated FSC wood only, contributed to the Ministerial Council’s rejection of a single accreditation scheme.

Ministers have been asked to report back in six months’ time on their respective governments’ procurement guidelines and whether they recognise Australian sustainable forestry practices.

Many environmental rating schemes adopted from overseas often do not recognise Australian standards The National Association of Forest Industries has welcomed the stance taken by the Ministerial Council on anomalies in forest certification.

“The Australian Forestry Standard assures timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations and meets internationally recognised environmental management standards,” chief executive Allan Hansard said.

“We are pleased governments are now moving to review their own procurement guidelines to fully recognise AFS and ensure these environmental rating schemes recognise

Green building projects: greater access for Australian wood products?

important Australian standards, standards that are developed to protect consumers and ensure products and services meet important levels of quality and safety.”

He said many of these environmental rating schemes adopted from overseas often did not recognise Australian standards.

“Up until now, because these schemes are voluntary, there has been no one policing these schemes in terms of what they do or what they deliver to consumers – a real market failure,” Mr Hansard said.

“Unfortunately, many consumers using these environmental rating tools thought they were doing the right thing in relation to timber but in reality they were sourcing imported timber or high emission products made from aluminium, steel or concrete in preference to Australia’s carbon -positive, sustainably managed, locally-grown timber.

“This situation has cost Australia’s sustainably managed timber industry hundreds of thousands of dollars and the conduct and costs and benefits of these environmental rating

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schemes remain unassessed.

“We are concerned that this issue might just be the tip

of the iceberg in relation to environmental rating tools.

We certainly would support a government investigation into the conduct of environmental rating schemes by the appropriate government authorities such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or the Productivity Commission,” Mr Hansard said.

The rebuke of the GBCA’s method of credit rating by the Ministerial Council is seen as a major advantage for manufacturers of timber building materials and opens the way to accessing government construction projects worth millions of dollars to the industry.

Cont Page 9

issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 3

industry news

Markets improving – but it’s been a tough trading year for forest industry ALTHOUGH the latest ABARE forest and wood products statistics show trading conditions in 2008-09 were tough, some sections of the industry are reporting improved markets for their products in the first half of 2009-10.

This was a result of continued strengthening of the housing and construction sectors in response to the new home owners grant, improving consumer sentiment, and other Government stimulus measures,” chief executive of A3P Richard Stanton said.

“However, new house construction is still well below the level required to meet the long-term underlying demand for new dwellings in Australia and the federal and state governments should not be complacent about the need to continue to address the housing

shortage,” Mr Stanton said.

“The relatively stable domestic market for wood and paper products has underpinned the fundamentals for the Australian industry during the financial downturn but export markets have been tough and there have been real consequences for companies, employees, contractors and the rural and regional communities where the industry operates.”

Mr Stanton said while conditions were now improving, wood products and paper manufacturers were again facing the challenges of a very strong Australian dollar impacting competitiveness in both the domestic and export markets.

Key statistics for 2008-09 shown in the data released last week include: • A 17% fall in housing starts to

Richard Stanton .. challenges for wood products and paper manufacturers

131,000 units.

• Major declines in export volumes of some products including sawnwood (20%), wood-based panels (15%) and paper and paperboard by (10%).

• 5.2% fall in the value of Australia’s forest product

exports to $2.3 billion, mainly driven by a significant drop in the value of both woodchips and packaging and industrial paper exports.

• 1.1% increase in the overall value of imported forest products to $4.5 billion. The increase was due to rises in the value of imports of paper manufactures, miscellaneous forest products and paper and paperboard. The value of sawnwood and pulp imports fell in 2008-09.

Mr Stanton says publicly available forest and wood product statistics such as these were a very important resource and he called on the Government to continue to underpin and financially support the collection and dissemination of this information.

    •  •  •  •  •  •  

 •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 

 

Page 4 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

     

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events

WHAT’S ON?

15-17: Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia annual conference and dinner.

Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise.

Contact: Vicki Roberts, EWPAA, PO Box 2108, Fortitude Valley BC Qld 4006.

Tel: +61 7 3250 3700.

Email: vicki.roberts@paa.asn.au web: www.ewp.asn.au 16: Australian Timber Design Awards. National winners announced at EWPAA conference, Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise.

Contact Laurel Clarke.

Tel: (02) 9279 2366.

16-18: ForestTECH 2009, tools and technologies to improve forest planning and operations, Albury, NSW. www.foresttechevents.com 18-20: Managing Native Trees: Towards a National Strategy.

Tane’s Tree Trust’s 10- year conference, University of Waikato, Hamilton,NZ. Workshops on the utilisation of totara and beech regeneration, the economical establishment of planted indigenous forest, eco-sourcing and the indigenous research program.

Tel: +61 9 239 2049.

Email ibtrees@wc.net.nz for a brochure.

20: NSW Forest Products Association annual conference and dinner. AGM 2pm; conference 2.30pm; dinner 7pm.

Walsh Bay Room, Waters Edge, 1 Hickson Road, Sydney.

Tel: (02) 9279 2344.

Email: fpa.nswfpa.asn.au Note: From November 5, FPA’s new address will be: Level 6, 486 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065.

21: Northeast Australian Forest Growers branch field day and meeting, Victorian Tree Farmer of the Year, Rutherglen.

Tel: 0409 964 283. philippa.noble@dpi.vic.gov.au

5-17: Industry bus tour of Northern New South Wales.

Contact: Karen Johnston at TABMA Queensland.

Tel: (07) 3254 3155.

Email: karen@tabma.com.au

24-25: Forest Futures: Innovation.

Jobs. Investment. 2009 Forest Industries National Conference and Liaison Dinner – Canberra.

Conference registration and program available from: www.forestworks.com.au

21: World Forestry Day

27: Construction Skills Queensland training excellence awards and dinner. Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Tickets $130 (including gst) or $1200 for a table of 10.

Contact Leanne Baker or Luke Burrows at PPR. Tel: (07) 3309 4748 or 0416 764 424 or (07) 3309 4714 or 0410 620 202.

Email: lbaker@ppr.com.au or lburrows@ppr.com.au Tickets available until November 6.

Visit: www.csq.org.au/awards

22: World Water Day

APRIL 2010

MAY 2010 19-20: Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010, Bayview Eden,Melbourne, 6 Queens Road, Melbourne. www.vafi.org.au 21-23: Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Brisbane Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley.

24-25: Wood Supply Chain Optimisation 2010, Rotorua, NZ. www.vafi.org.au

JUNE 2010

8-10: Bioenergy Australia 2009.

Radisson Resort Gold Coast.

Technical tour on December 8.

Contact: Steve Schuck, Bioenergy Australia manager on (02) 9416 9246.

Email: sschuck@bigpond.net.au

3-4: AFCA Conference and Trade Expo, Novotel Resort, Coffs Harbor, NSW. www.afca.asn.au

february 2010

JULY 2010

3-5: Australian International Furniture Fair Sydney Exhibition Centre, Sydney, NSW www.aiff. net.au

26-27: Wood Energy 2010 (World Reducing Energy Costs & Improving Energy Efficiencies) Melbourne.

MARCH 2010

OCTOBER 2010

1

18-20: Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney.

2009

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The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) is striving for an ecologically sustainable Australian society achieved through dynamic, internationally competitive forest industries.

18-21: APPITA Annual Conference and Exhibition/Pan Pacific Conference Melbourne. www.appita.com.au

DECEMBER 09

2-3: National Outlook Conference (ABARE) Canberra, ACT. www.abare.gov.au

SUSTAINABLE. RESPONSIBLE.

2010

NOVEMBER 09

10-13: Australian Forest Growers national conference, Mount Gambier, SA. Chief executive Warwick Ragg. Contact national office: (02) 6162 9000.

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 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 5

forest education

Learing all about trees at Hobart’s new forest centre THE new National Forest Learning Centre in Hobart hosted its first public open day last Friday and anyone wishing to discover the story behind trees is welcome to visit the centre.

Centre manager Darcy Vickers said the open day featured a range of exhibits and activities lead by Forest Education Foundation teachers and Forestry Tasmania staff.

“Visitors inspected displays on threatened species, fire management, giant trees, forest insects, forest planning, and more,” Mr Vickers said.

Visitors at the open day had an opportunity to win an adventure-filled family weekend in Launceston, which included accommodation at Quest

Launceston and a family pass for a canopy tour at Hollybank Treetop Adventures.

The National Forest Learning Centre was officially opened in October by the Federal Minister for Forestry Tony Burke.

The centre is the Forest Education Foundation’s flagship facility, from which it delivers its programs on sustainable forest management. Programs are offered on a stand-alone basis, or as precursors to more intensive field-based study.

Members of the public and school groups wishing to visit the centre, which is inside Forestry Tasmania headquarters at 79 Melville Street, Hobart, should contact the Forest Education Foundation on (03) 6235 8240.

Darcy Vickers gives students get an insight into the Tasmanian forestry industry on their visit to the National Forest Learning Centre in Hobart.

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science

DNA barcodes new weapon in tracking illegal timber trade

Barcoding and DNA-testing of trees a national campaign

WORLD experts have gathered in Mexico to discuss DNA barcodes and their uses, covering a wide range of areas from medicine to agriculture, health to fraud, from smuggling to exploring prehistoric life – and the tracking down of illegal timber trading.

The third International Barcode of Life conference last week drew more than 350 experts from 50 countries.

DNA barcoding is a new technique that uses a short DNA sequence from the genome of an organism, living or dead, as a molecular way of identifying the species it belongs to. DNA barcode sequences are very short compared to the entire genome and can be obtained quite quickly and cheaply.

The Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) is an international initiative devoted to developing DNA barcoding as a global standard for the identification of

biological species. Through this initiative, experts are setting a standard for DNA barcoding.

As the standard is being thrashed out and discussed, all manner of professionals are starting to get interested in its application, from medical and agricultural researchers, to police and customs officers.

CBOL executive secretary David Schindel says biodiversity scientists are using DNA technology to unravel mysteries, much like detectives use it to solve crimes.

“It’s having a profound impact on our understanding of organisms in nature and how they interact with the environment,” he said.

“The hope is that the Mexico meeting will bring about a global agreement on how to do the same with plants, which would for instance help to track down illegal timber trading and regulate herbal medicines.”

CBOL chairman Scott Miller

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said DNA barcoding was opening a new window into the relations between hunter and prey in the wild and how diets might be changing due to climate change.

“Knowing what eats what is important to many studies, including investigations into how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are being released from soils into the atmosphere,” he said.

“Another area of application would be producing evidence to prosecute smugglers of wild bush meat and other products made from endangered species, a trade that last year netted $US15 billion worldwide.”

The conference discussed subjects as diverse as a medical application of DNA barcoding to help to identify diseasecarrying black flies in Brazil, and the identification of malaria mosquitoes in India, parasite bearing freshwater snails in the Cameroons, and nematode parasites in Mexico that attack crops, humans and livestock.

Mexico’s National Council on Science and Technology

has established a barcode network (MexBOL) involving 60 researchers from 15 institutions.

MexBOL will produce barcodes for all important taxonomic groups including national campaigns, such as barcoding all trees (ArBOL), fungi, bees, aquatic insects, crayfishes, fishes, birds, mammals and more.

David Schindel .. DNA barcodes to track down illegal timber trading.

issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 7

INDUSTRY NEWS

Bio-fuel levy ‘last straw’ for forest owners in NZ Industry penalised for using wood pellets A NEW Zealand Government decision to make big companies pay for some of their greenhouse gas emissions when using wood pellets and other biofuels is seen as the last straw by many in the forest industry.

“The rest of the developed world is desperately trying to reduce its use of fossil fuels like coal and oil. Sustainable biofuels like wood pellets are being strongly encouraged,” says Forest Owners Association chief executive David Rhodes.

“In New Zealand, our government is going to make some users of sustainable biofuels measure and pay for the tiny traces of methane and nitrous oxide they emit from their boilers. Yet these make up only 0.3% of the country’s energy emissions and 0.13% of its total emissions.”

Mr Rhodes acknowledges that the proposed 5000-tonne threshold means only a handful of very large emitters – such as the big pulp and paper mills – will have to buy carbon credits to cover these emissions, but he says the message sent by the policy comes across loud and clear.

“Forest owners see the government on behalf of taxpayers picking up the tab for the 1.2 million tonnes of methane generated by livestock each year,” Mr Rhodes said.

“Then they hear the same government demanding payment from users of biofuels for generating relatively trivial amounts of the gas.

“The message that comes across to forest owners is that the government cannot be relied upon to develop an emissions trading scheme that is fair and rational; one that

Page 8 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

David Rhodes .. forestry is clearly one of the good guys of climate change.

rewards good behaviour and makes polluters pay.

“Forestry is clearly one of the good guys of climate change.

But it is little wonder that many in our sector have lost confidence in the ETS.” Mr Rhodes says the decision to set an emission charge for biofuels follows hard on the heels of a signal from government that NZ carbon credits may not be tradable outside Australasia if the government aligns its emission trading scheme with Australia’s.

“If forest owners are limited to selling their credits on the Australasian market, emitting industries in Australia and New Zealand will be the only buyers.

Given that our major emitters are being featherbedded for the foreseeable future, there will be little demand for the credits and their value will be well below the world carbon price.

“Since forest owners at harvest will have to repay at the full world price for the credits they earned while their trees were growing, why would they accept anything less than the full market price if they sell?

Unless this changes, new

forests won’t get planted and forest credits won’t be offered for sale.”

Mr Rhodes also points to unjust liabilities imposed on those who own forests planted before 1990 and notes the particular concerns of Maori forest owners. No pre-1990 forest owners can convert their land to another use without incurring huge deforestation emission penalties. Nor can they earn credits for the carbon their forests have stored since 1990.

“The government has been planning to pay forest owners token compensation for this, in two instalments – with the majority being paid after December 31, 2012. But it has now signalled that it might not pay this second instalment if the international agreement that replaces Kyoto allows for harvested pre-Kyoto forests to be ‘offset’ -- replanted on a new site.”

He says this compounds the injustice, as even with off-setting, the forest owner would still have to finance

the re-establishment of forest infrastructure on a new site, In a world is trying to reduce the use of fossil fuels, sustainable biofuels like wood pellets should be encouraged.

and that site would still have a permanent deforestation liability attached to it.

“Clearly a property that has such a liability will have a lower market value, regardless of whether forestry is the highest and best use for it today.”

Given policies such as this, Mr Rhodes says is not surprising that the decision to levy large users of biofuels for the traces of nitrous oxide and methane in their emissions is seen as the final straw for the credibility of the ETS in the minds of many in the industry.

“Only with fair, economically rational, treatment of all industries – emitters and sequesters will the government get the forests it so badly needs to meet its Kyoto obligations and for New Zealand to become a low carbon economy.”

Slow climb to recovery for US West Coast timber WEST Coast USA lumber mills should see brighter days next year, according to the latest forecast from Western Wood Products Association.

The glimmers of recovery will come after five straight gloomy years of losses, the forecast said.

The US financial crisis and collapse in residential construction pushed lumber demand to its lowest level in modern history..

WWPA projects that only 31 billion board feet of lumber is expected to be used in 2009 – less than half of the amount consumed in 2005, which was the peak of lumber demand.

WWPA predicts lumber demand will rise 11% to 34.5 billion board feet next year; housing starts will increase 21% to 668,000; and Western mills will produce 11 billion board feet of lumber, up 8%.

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industry news

OHS scheme tracking $30bn in government construction projects From Page 3

At a recent international construction safety conference in Melbourne during the roll out of a federal OHS accreditation scheme, it was shown that the value of projects covered by the scheme was around $10 billion.

This was expected to grow considerably in the coming months with the scheme tracking about $30 billion in projects that are either at tender or at the concept stage.

The general manager of the Engineered Woods Products Association of Australasia Simon Dorries said outcomes from the Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting were “good news” for the industry and showed the Government was addressing what was seen as some form of discrimination against AFS certification.

“Recognition by governments

of all reputable and credible forest certification programs, not just FSC, is welcomed,” Mr Dorries said.

“To put some numbers on it, only 2.5% of sawn timber products in Australia have FSC certification while more than 90% of these products are certified under the Australian Forestry Standard.

“That simply means more than 90% of the Australian wood products industry could now have access to green building projects and qualify for green star points.”

Mr Dorries said the GBCA still had not indicated it would recognise AFS .. “but they’re certainly talking about it.”

Mr Dorries added: “Yes, this is all good, positive news. But it will be even better news if the GBCA puts out a release that it will accept AFS certification.”

Shanghai building code big ‘win’ for BC wood products BRITISH Columbia has taken a giant step forward to open up the Chinese market to the Canadian province’s wood products with a memorandum of understanding signed by Forests Minister Pat Bell.

The MOU with the Shanghai Housing Bureau is aimed at hitching BC and Canada to a $141 billion urban housing initiative that is part of China’s $586 billion stimulus package.

Earlier this month, the Shanghai civic government officially adopted a wood-frame housing building code. BC and Canadian agencies have been aiding Chinese officials in developing a building code

that provides assurances that wood products meet specified building standards.

The Shanghai Code is the most comprehensive and detailed code for wood-frame structures in China, addressing all technical issues related to wood-frame construction, including structural, fire, durability, energy conservation, noise transmission and construction inspection.

The code is expected to provide a framework for cities across China. Before this, complex and dated building and fire codes prevented the largescale uptake of timber-frame construction.

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issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 9

industry news

On the bus again: industry tour set for Northern NSW THE super successful industry bus load that toured southeast Queensland last year is off on another journey – this time to forestry and processing operations in northern New South Wales.

The tour, organised by Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218, and supported again by TABMA Queensland and Timber Queensland, will be over three days next year – from March 15 to 17.

Tour coordinator Don Towerton of Thora Wholesale Timbers said the visit would foster good communication between the Northern NSW industry and the diversified interests of those on the tour.

The tour by 48 participants last year inspected hardwood, hoop pine and softwood sawmilling operations, forestry plantations and seed nurseries, wood preservation, glulam and MDF plants, and a recycled timber venture.

The tour at this stage is booked to start at Gunnersens, Rocklea, with visits to Ford Timbers, Urbenville (hardwood sawmilling), Boral Timber, Kyogle (kiln drying and floor production), Tarmac

Pine, Rappville (plantation pine sawmilling), Big River Timbers, Grafton (plywood floor manufacturing), Koppers, Grafton (pole production and testing), Henson’s sawmill, Grafton (hardwood sawmilling), Boral Timber, Murwillumbah (overlay flooring) and the hardwood eucalypt plantations of Forest Enterprises Australia in the Northern Rivers region.

Tour participants will be issued with safety equipment such as hard hats, vests, and ear plugs.

Enclosed footwear is also a requirement.

Tour cost is $625 (+gst) pp (share) and $725 pp (single) and includes all accommodation, meals, bus hire, protective equipment and technical presentations.

There is a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 42 seats available – and these are expected to fill quickly over the next few months.

Any surplus generated by the tour will be donated to a children’s charity.

Tour registrations should be directed to Karen Johnston at TABMA Queensland on (07) 3254 3155 or email: karen@ tabma.com.au

Hardwood sawmillers Evan and Allan Ford of Ford Timbers, Urbenville, NSW, inspect Toolara pine nursery operations on the 2009 bus tour. Ford Timbers is on the itinerary for the industry tour in March next year.

Don’t miss the bus!

On the 2009 tour: Harry Bannerman, shift supervisor at Laminex Industries, Gympie (left), explains the computer program at the MDF plant to Danielle Towerton of Thora Wholesale Timbers, Graeme Hallyburton, forest products training officer, South West TAFE, Warrnambool, Vic, John McLachlan, Skookum Forestry Technology, NZ, and Justin Aaron of Thora Wholesale.

Be SURE about INSURANCE Trusted brokers to the timber industry since 1985

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Page 10 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

Contact Alan Jones Email: alan.jones@premier.austbrokers.com (Licence No. 238123)

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industry news

Political spotlight falls on industry conference and dinner in Canberra Sessions focus on resource access and investment

ONE of the biggest political spotlights on the Australian forestry sector will light up the industry leader’s liaison dinner in Canberra on November 24.

Forestry Minister Tony Burke will address a packed house at the dinner in the Great Hall at Parliament House, joining no fewer than 25 federal ministers, MPs and senators.

The dinner guest list includes Senator Richard Colbeck, shadow parliamentary secretary for forestry, Wilson Tuckey, a former forestry minister, Senator Barnaby Joyce, Senate Leader of the Nationals, Senator Kerry O’Brien, Chief Government Whip, and Senator Ron Boswell, a strong advocate for building the forest resource.

Tony Burke

Host speakers include new NAFI president Greg McCormack and CFMEU national secretary (forestry and furnishing division) Michael O’Connor.

The event will be a highlight of the Forest Futures Conference in Canberra on November 24 and 25, headed by a key session on resource access and industry investment.

This robust and interactive session will explore native forest and plantation resources and downstream investment opportunities.

Topics will include regional forest

agreements, plantation on November 23 is attracting joined by representatives of investment security, softwood wide industry interest. the Department of Climate plantations, water rights and This will be conducted from Change. security and energy futures.

5.30 pm to 7.30 pm at the Hyatt Registration for the special Session speakers include Canberra. briefing should be placed Linda Sewell, chief executive The briefing will determine with Michelle Robinson Hancock Victoria Plantations, Australia’s position on land use at ForestWorks.

Email: Allan Hansard, NAFI, Vince and forestry issues, and the mrobinson@forestworks.com.

Erasmus, CEO, ITC Ltd, and likely outcomes for forest and au Scott Whicker, mill manager, forest products operations.

Millicent Mill, Kimberly-Clark Industry specialists will be Australia ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ is a session addressing industry issues with the Green Building Council and certification.

With debate across the industry raging STACKING TIMBER WITH ROBOTS about the role of forest certification Are you interested in a revolutionary new robotic schemes and system for sorting and stacking timber? the impact on the industry of Developed by Machinery Automation and Robotics organisations such (MAR) with FWPA funding, the robotic system sorts as the GBCA, this and stacks various lengths (0.9 – 6.0m) and weights (up to 100kg) of timber. session, chaired by ForestWorks’ deputy chair Jane Calvert will put the issues and the schemes under the spotlight.

Case studies of direct and real industry experiences will be discussed.

Session speakers include Brian Tisher, executive general manager, Boral Timber, Kayt Watts, executive officer, AFS Ltd, Michael Spencer, chief executive officer, for more information FSC Australia (invited), and Trevor Smith, AFS Ltd board member.

Ahead of the conference, the Email: info@fwpa.com.au Copenhagen Climate Negotiations briefing

Knowledge for a sustainable Australia

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www.fwpa.com.au

issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 11

AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Knowledge about sustainability

$5m recycled structure wins top award

By JIM BOWDEN

A MAGNIFICENT timber structure built at Barcaldine in western Queensland as a memorial to a dead tree – the legendary ‘Tree of Knowledge – is winning accolades from industry and environmentalists alike as a truly ‘sustainable’ project.

The $5 million timber boxshaped showpiece, commissioned by the Barcaldine Shire Council, won its architects the best overall northern regional prize sponsored by Boral Timber in the Australian Timber Design Awards. It is a prime contender for the coveted national award to be announced tonight (Monday).

The architects Brian Hooper of Yeppoon and Michael Lavery of m3architecture said the research and the concern the design team had for issues such as wood dentification, quality, source, independent inspections and chain of custody was at the core of the project.

Their concept features the reinstatement of the tree’s remaining fabric, which will spend six months in an insecticide bath to preserve it.

“From a bad event comes a good outcome,” says Brian

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett at the unveiling of the Tree of Knowledge memorial in Barcaldine in May this year.

Hooper.

“The poisoning has been the catalyst for its long-term preservation and remembrance.”

The tree will be housed back in its original position under a structure 18 sq m x 15 m high hung with about 7000 sticks of recycled timber.

Boral Timber specification manger Peter Rioiko (third from left) presents the award for Best Northern Region entry to architect Brian Hooper of Yeppoon and Michael Lavery of m3architecture, Albion, at the Australian Timber Design awards in Brisbane. Helping with the presentations is Clarissa Brandt of Timber Queensland.

Page 12 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

“We suspended sticks of timber down at different heights forming a negative void to create a cathedral-type experience,” Mr Hooper said.

“The project is a dramatic essay in available strategies for spatially evoking memory.”

The exterior of the box creates a ‘veil’, blank and monumental and the charcoal evokes ash and cinders, symbols of death and loss. The glass floor is quasi-archaeological, while the interior form is the inverted ghostly ‘cast’ of a lost physical presence. The perforated repetition of similar elements calls to mind fields of tombstones, while the vaulted space is reminiscent of chapels.

The use of timber, however, symbolises continuity and renewal.

The memorial also attrempts to replicate the feeling of the original canopy that the tree provided for the shearers who met there in 1891.

The memorial’s glass roof allows light to filter through the suspended timber structures creating a dappled effect much the same as a living tree does.

The glass floor enables viewing of the root ball beneath the remains of the trunk.

For display purposes, the trunk will stand just under 5 m high with a root ball of almost 8 sq m.

Mr Hooper added: “The reason it’s the tree of knowledge is because it was probably the only place in the town where shearers could have a private meeting in the shade.”

Specifications for the timber were written by architect Ben Vielle with assistance from Timber Queensland.

“Sequencing was an interesting issue and a major component in understanding both the structural design and the construction program,” Michael Lavery told T&F enews.

‘Sequencing was an interesting issue and a major component in understanding both the structural design and the construction program’ – Michael Lavery Specifications stated that the contractor must take all reasonable steps to ensure that at least 90% of the timber (by volume) is from sustainable sources. The term ’sustainable source‘ in the context of this contract specification refers to either recycled timber or timber from certified forests.

In order of preference, these sources should be recycled timber with chain of Cont Page 13

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AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

At least 90pc of the timber volume was drawn from sustainable sources From Page 12

custody certification under an internationally recognised standard, or with acceptable evidence of origin that has been verified by an authorised third party; and timber from certified forests, and with attendant chain of custody certification or with acceptable evidence of origin that has been verified by an authorised third party.

Mr Lavery said ‘recycled timber’ in the context of this contract referred to recovered wood that prior to being supplied had an end use as a stand-alone object or as part of a structure.

The terms ’recycled’, ‘reclaimed’ and ’re-used’ are used interchangeably and cover categories such as preconsumer recycled wood and wood fibre or industrial

by-products but excluding sawmill co-products [deemed to fall within the category of virgin timber], post-consumer recycled wood and wood fibre and drift wood.

‘Timber from certified forests’ in the context of the contract means timber that has been sourced from forests that are certified under an internationally recognised forest certification schemes: Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).

Proof of origin was required for all timber in the form of chain of custody certification under an internationally recognised chain of custody certification scheme, or with acceptable evidence of origin that has been verified by

Recycled timbers for the Tree of Knowledge structure are graded at Kennedy’s Classic Aged Timbers, Narangba, north of Brisbane.

an authorised third party.

‘Product tracking’ was another stipulation – production controls that tracked the timber from the

source, through all processing activities and any other parts of the supply chain prior to delivery to site.

“Product tracking provided a high level of confidence about the origin of the timber,” Mr Lavery said.

The tracking generally conformed to AS 4707-2006 Chain of Custody for Certified Wood, Appendix B – Physical Separation. ’An ‘authorised third party’ means a conformity assessment body accredited by JAS-ANZ to undertake product certification under AS 4707; or An FSCaccredited certification body such as Timber Queensland or the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

Preserving a legend THE Tree of Knowledge for many years was regarded as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party, until

this was disputed just recently by historians Peter and Sheila Forrest, who spent nine months of intensive research on the subject.

It was believed the 200-yearold ghost gum (Corymbia aparrerinja) provided shade for a group of protesting sheep shearers who gathered around the tree in 1891 and formed the Australian Labor Party.

Meeting records of shearers striking for better conditions show they were held at the main strike camp near Barcaldine but none said they met at or near the tree.

In an act of vandalism, the tree was poisoned with glyphosate, the main ingredient in the herbicide RoundUp, in 2006.

An arborist declared the tree dead on October 3, 2006.

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The ALP offered a reward of $10,000 for any information that would help identify those responsible.

The remains of the tree were removed on July 29, 2007.

The tree has undergone a process of wood preservation

and the remains of the tree, 7 m tall and 2 m across, has been transferred to a special preservation facility.

Several cuttings propagated from the tree before its death are now growing in Barcaldine.

The Tree of Knowledge memorial used 7000 sticks of recycled timber.

issue 102 | 16.11.09 | Page 13

industry news

New industry initiatives announced at VAFI year-of-achievement dinner Graeme Gooding scholarship; Living Trees partnership

VAFI chief executive Philip Dalidakas (right) welcomes Peter Ryan, Leader of the Nationals, to the VAFI awards.

VICTORIA’S peak independent forestry body the Victorian Association of Forest Industries celebrated another year of achievement for the Victorian timber community with its 2009 annual dinner at Melbourne’s Crown Casino on November 6.

The evening provided an opportunity to reflect on the many issues the industry has faced in recent times, and also make a number of exciting announcements about the coming year.

VAFI chief executive Philip Dalidakis said the night was a great chance to pay tribute to all members of the Victorian timber industry.

“The evening was an opportunity to acknowledge the men and women of our great industry and the important role they play as the backbone of many rural and regional communities,” Mr Dalidakis said.

VAFI was also pleased to announce a number of initiatives including a collaborative partnership with the not-forprofit organisation Living Trees, commencing January 2010 for a period of two years.

Living Trees is an Australian not-for-profit organisation,

Page 14 | issue 102 | 16.11.09

Norm Huon, a former VAFI chief executive delivers a tribute for the late Graeme Gooding, also a former VAFI CEO.

which undertakes significant environmental repair projects throughout the wider Australian community. Currently there are a number of significant projects under way throughout Victoria, with more to be commenced over the coming year.

“We are proud to partner with Living Trees in projects that will benefit the wider Victorian community, and we look forward to announcing a number of specific environmental repair projects throughout Victoria next year,” Mr Dalidakis said.

The evening also provided an opportunity to reflect on past and present icons of the Victorian timber industry with VAFI announcing the inaugural ‘Graeme Gooding Scholarship for Indigenous Australians’.

Graeme Gooding was a former CEO of the VAFI, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

“Graeme was a much loved member of our broader timber industry family, who was passionate about education, our industry and issues affecting indigenous people. To combine these three passions is a wonderful way to pay tribute to a much respected industry leader,” Mr Dalidakis said.

Getting together at the VAFI industry awards presentation are Bill Shorten, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction, Bob Humphreys, VAFI president, and John Lenders, Victorian Treasurer.

VAFI was also pleased to recognise Bob Humphreys for his continued service to the Victorian timber industry by presenting him with the ‘2009 Lifetime Service Award’.

“Bob Humphreys has been a passionate member of the timber industry for many years, and it was a pleasure to recognise his tireless efforts on behalf of the industry,” Mr Dalidakis said.

Mr Dalidakis also announced that VAFI plans to revisit the 2025 Strategic Paper during 2010 in light of the expected upcoming announcement of the 20-year Timber Industry Strategy.

“With the timber industry strategy focusing on the next 20 years, it will be an appropriate time to revisit our long-term strategy paper, and we look forward to undertaking the process,” Mr Dalidakis said.

VAFI awards for 2009 presented at the dinner: Innovation: McCormackDemby Timbers Ltd. Occupational Health & Safety: ITC Ltd. Environmental Sustainability: ITC Ltd. Local Community

Peter Rutherford of South East Fibre Exports accepts the Local Community Engagement Award.

Gary Demby and Greg McCormack of McCormack Demby Timbers accept the Innovation Award.

Engagement: South East Fibre Exports.

VAFI Training Award: Reid Brothers Timber Lifetime Service Award: Bob Humphreys.

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tabma annual dinner

TABMA Halloween night a howling success MORE than 200 ‘friends in industry’ kicked up their heels at a ‘monster’ dinner and dance at Brisbane’s Royal on the Park on Halloween Friday, October 31.

More than anything – including an amazing magician and a hot dance band – the evening celebrated a unity among key stakeholders and executives from all sectors of the industry.

“It was an incredible night recognising not only the achievements of individual TABMA Queensland members, but the solidarity and resilience of our industry in a time when our unified voice is more critical than ever,” chief executive Karen Johnston said.

‘Monster’ sponsors were Thora Wholesale Timbers, Timber Queensland, Tasman KB

Catching up at the TABMA Queensland’s Halloween dinner and dance are West Hill, West Hill Consulting, Brisbane, and Charlie and Heather Henry of Charlie Henry Enterprises Pty Ltd, Gold Coast.

Troy and Angie Baker, Peachester Timber, and Lynn and Dave Wuiske, Langs Building Supplies.

and NTP Forklifts. ‘Mummy’ sponsors were Asian Pacific Timber Marketing, Gow Gates Insurance, DPR Hardwood (Ford Timbers), Tilling Timber, and AWX. Lucky door prizes went to Diane Dunshea of Manufacturing Skills (portable DVD player sponsored by Tilling Timber) and John Borg of Lindsay Meyers (Esky, sponsored by AWX).

TABMA Queensland has continued to expand its involvement in all areas affecting its members and has made great strides in the areas of management education and technical training. The organisation was established in 2001 due to an expressed need for a merchant-based member organisation in the Queensland timber industry.

Happy group at the TABMA (Qld) dinner are Wayne Norman, Wayne Norman Timbers, Alan Ford, Ford Timbers, Brisbane, Debbie Payne, Dindas Australia, Mal Gotham, Pacific Wood Products, and Rachel Fisher and John Menagh of Disprax Business Software Solutions.

Jeannie Alamkara, Lifestye Trader, Gold Coast, meets up with Jenny Williams, Alan Jones, and Kyla Wood of Austbrokers Premier, Brisbane.

Alicia Oelkers, TABMA Queensland, welcomes Gary and Diane Dunshea, Manufacturing Skills Australia, and Kersten Gentle, executive officer, Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association, Healesville, Vic.

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* Subject to confirmation

Luke Gaske, Ozline Timbers, and Pat Conduit and Melanie Hilcke, Hyne.

TABMA Queensland glamour Karen Johnston (chief executive) and Kelly Everett out front of the executive team, from left, Myles Forsyth, Forsyth & Romano Group, Mal Goatham, Pacific Wood Products, Keith Maitland, Tasman KB (TABMA Queensland chairman), Roger Healy, Simmonds Lumber. and Michael Gaske, Ozline Timbers.

Bookings: 07 3254 3166

issue | 16.11.09 | Page 15 Together to Benefit all of102 Industry

Chain of Custody I N F O R M AT I O N S E M I N A R

Brisbane • Thursday, August 20, 2009

Chain of Custody 433 On Logan Conference Centre 433 Logan Road, Stone’s Corner LIMITED INFORM A T I OTO N60SSEATS EMINAR

• Thursday, August 20, 2009 This Brisbane important and timely seminar, organised

by TABMA Queensland, OnofLogan Conference will help reduce433 some the confusion relatingCentre to chain of custody. It 433 Logan Road, Stone’s Corner will ensure the Queensland timber industry has the information required LIMITED TO 60 SEATS for compliance with legislation,Key speakers will present information This important and timely seminar, organised by TABMA Queensland, and there will be a question and answer forum. will help reduce some of the confusion relating to chain of custody. It Speakers include: will ensure the Queensland timber industry has the information required

Colin MacKenzie, timber application Timber Queensland for•compliance withmanager, legislation,Key speakers and will use, present information • Two x 20m3 solar only • One x 40m3 solar, gas assisted • Simon Dorries, Engineered of and there will be a General questionManager, and answer forum.Wood Products Association • SOLAR ONLY AND 1X40M3 SOLAR,GAS ASSISTED. Australasia Speakers include: • KaytMacKenzie, Watts, chief executive, Australian Forestry Ltd Queensland (AFS)Pacific Wood Products has been using these kilns to successfully dry their kwila • Colin manager, timber application andStandard use, Timber • Simon Dorries, General Wood Products Association • Michael Spencer, chief Manager, executive, Engineered Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and NGofrosewood for the lastsix years. They are now surplus to requirements.

FOR SALE

SLIP KILNS – GOOD AS NEW

Australasia • Kayt Watts, chief executive, Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) All three kilns have been recently refurbed and reskinned.

Registration fee: $65 pp (TABMA member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes hot breakfast • Michael Spencer, chief executive, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) If you need to dry your timber cost effectively these are a ‘must’ for you to and morning tea. Note: Arrival 7:30am. Breakfast 7:45 am. Presentations begin at 8 am. inspect. They are currently in operation and are available for inspection at our RSVP by Friday, August 14, to: Registration fee: $65 pp (TABMA member) $80 pp (non-member) • Includes hot breakfast Tabma Queensland, PO Box 532, premises and morning tea. Note: Arrival 7:30am. Breakfast 7:45 am. Presentations begin at 8 am. in Brisbane.

500byBrunswick Street, Valley 4006 Asking $60,000 ono.

RSVP Friday, August 14,Fortitude to: These kilns are very quick and easy to load and unload and are transportable.

Tel: (07) 3254 3166.

(07) 3254 4599. contact Mal Goatham Any interest, please Tabma Queensland, PO Fax: Box 532, 0438 295 136 Fortitude Valley 4006 500Mob: Brunswick Street, on (07) 32995477 They will be available for dismantling and collection mid-January 2010.

www.tabma.com.au

Tel: (07) 3254 3166. Fax: (07) 3254 4599.

Mob: 0438 295 136

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