Issue 261 Timber and Forestry E News

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issuE 261 | 18.03.13 | PAgE 1

What should be the vision for forestry in Australia?

THis issuE • Waste timber comes home to roost • Industry benefits from LNP round table

Facing the challenge .. changes are needed to improve multiple purpose management of forests.

Forum charts new path for our forests Pooling ideas for the future at Canberra talks sessions in the final day of the Institute of Foresters ofAustralia’s biennial conference in Canberra next month.

A forum on April 11 at the Canberra Rex Hotel will

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In a call to action, IFA president

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Cont Page 3 Just Go t ood W

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challenge delegates to look for and realise a vision for the sector.

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THE future of forestry and forests in Australia – and the action needed to address the management problems of natural and private forests and plantations – will dominate

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50th birthday party for sydney Hoo-Hoo Club Market for EWPs gathers steam in Japan FWPA’s new statistics and economics manager Objections to World Heritage nomination Have your say on AFS certification

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issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

Objections to World Heritage nomination sent off to UNESCO ABOUT a dozen objections to Tasmania’s World Heritage Area nomination have been sent to the UNESCO committee in Paris.

The Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has asked the International World Heritage Committee to protect 170,000 ha of land on the eastern border of the existing World Heritage area.

The president of the Huon Resource Development Group George Harris said in an ABC News report that special timber groups, farmers and private landowners were among those who had filed objections.

Mr Harris said there were several concerns about the nomination.

“Principally, the fact is that the nominated extension is far greater than a simple boundary extension and far greater in its consequences so it’s a misdescription,” he said.

The Greens Leader Christine Milne described the objections as embarrassing and says they undermine Tasmania’s forestry peace deal.

“Its failure to proceed and to blow this process up in the World Heritage committee they know full well will destroy the whole of the peace deal,” she said.

Meanwhile, MLCs have buckled down for discussions on a draft report on the forestry inquiry before its released.

The 169-page draft report details the findings of the select committee on the Tasmanian Forest Agreement Bill from 12 days of hearings and more than 130 public submissions.

It is unlikely to make any recommendations, but Huon independent Paul Harriss says that doesn’t mean the Bill will pass the upper house without

Improving our industry’s capacity to develop and maintain a skilled workforce ............................

Paul Harriss .. unsure if Bill will pass the upper house without amendment.

amendment.

Mr Harriss said the final report might be debated when the Legislative Council resumed for the year later this week.

Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor said she was still not sure whether she would support the legislation.

Ms Taylor said it was unlikely that the Bill would be approved without increasing the sawlog quota from 137,000 cub m to about 155,000 cub m, which would have an impact on forest reserves.

Signatories have said any change to the reserves would be a dealbreaker.

“My priority is a sustainable industry and putting into reserves higher conservation value forests,” Ms Taylor said. “I’m not convinced that all 500,000 ha needs to be put into reserves.”

Ms Taylor said she was concerned that the proposed reserves had not been scientifically selected, and was concerned that non-signatory groups, such as Markets for Change, would neither support the deal in its current form nor say what needed to change.

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‘Unlikely that the Bill will be approved without increasing the sawlog quota from 137,000 cub m to about 155,000 cub m Page 2 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Should Australia be so heavily dependant on timber imports?

From Page 1

Rob de Fegely says “the conduct of this forum is not optional for the IFA, it is a necessity. We note that it is 21 years since the National Forest Policy Statement was signed by governments, and with only two years to the IFA’s 80th anniversary we want to have something to celebrate in 2015.”

Mr de Fegely said the forum provided an opportunity for forest professionals to come together and create a new future that was not predicated on tenure, political whim or short-term economics.

“One thing is sure – whether we engage or not, the future of forestry will be very different to what is currently happening across our national forest estate,” Mr de Fegely said.

“Whether you manage a forest primarily for timber, conservation, or other values, come along and be an integral part of our preferred future.”

The forum will be moderated

by Mike Williams, a highly experienced independent facilitator in the natural resource management arena who, since 1988, has worked with the agriculture, forestry and conservation industries helping

Rob de Fegely .. a call for action in forestry sector.

Mike Williams .. independent facilitator.

groups to plan and progress.

His clients include ABARES, National Water Commission, federal and state Departments of Agriculture and Environment and he was very active through the RFA processes.

The forum event is distinct from the conference in that it is not about informing the audience but in actively listening to, and collecting the views of, participants.

Mr Williams will provide a final agenda that will ensure this remains the focus of the day.

There will also be opportunities

provided during the conference to have preliminary input into the forum discussion.

To help participants prepare for the forum, the IFA has developed a discussion paper that airs some of the current issues faced by the sector. This is available on the conference website – www.forestryconference.org.au Forum discussion points include: • What should be the vision for forestry in Australia and how can it be promoted for the 21st Century?

• What is a government’s duty of

What is needed to get timber plantations and natural forest management included within the Carbon Farming Initiative?

care for public forests, the role of the managed forests and the funding of this management?

• Changes are needed to improve multiple purpose management of forests.

• The contribution of private natural forests in enhancing wood supply and conservation.

• Should a country with Australia’s land, climate and financial resources be so heavily dependant on log imports?

• How to stimulate the plantation sector and the role of plantations in agricultural landscapes.

• What is needed to get timber plantations and natural forest management included within the Carbon Farming Initiative?

• Enhancing community interest in forest education, research, monitoring, forest inventory and health surveillance.

The forum is open to everyone and participants are welcome to attend just for the day if they choose.

Registration details are available from the IFA Future Forests Forum, PO Box 7002 Yarralumla ACT 2600. Tel: (02) 6281 3992.

Fax: (02) 6281 4693. Email: ifa@forestry.org.au. Web: www. forestry.org.au

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issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 3

EVENTs

Expo feature of conference activity for frame and truss manufacturers A MACHINERY expo, hosted

by Multinail, will be a fitting finale to the FTMA Australia national conference on the Gold Coast in July.

So far more than 35 fabricators have indicated their intention to attend the conference and Kersten Gentle, executive officer of Frame and Truss Manufacturers of Australia, said the program would be built on suggestions from a national survey of fabricators.

The conference on July 23 at QT Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise, one of Australia’s newest and most exciting venues, will be addressed by a top-line panel of speakers including HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale and respected industry professional Peter Juniper who will focus on the development of the nail plate

Gold Coast conference .. focus on frame and truss manufacture.

jointed timber roof truss design standard.

Mr Juniper devoted 35 years of service to both the hardwood

and softwood industry before retiring as processing chamber manager with the Australian Forest Products Association.

He was part of the inaugural staff of AFPA following the merger of A3P and NAFI in April 2011. Prior to his role at A3P as manager, solid wood, Mr Juniper was CEO of the Plantation Timber Association of Australia.

Funding careers in the industry will be an important conference segment built around the National Workforce Development Fund. What’s new in European markets and what are sustainable levels for the frame and truss industry will fill out the program.

Prior to the conference on July 22, Pryda and Hyne will sponsor a ‘red activities’ day providing delegates with a choice of golf or Holden racing activities.

The conference ice-breaker Cont Page 16

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WHAT’S ON? MARCH 2013 21: World Forestry Day Celebrations Queensland.

Institute of Foresters of Australia rises to the challenge to educate about the importance of forests to the communities we live and work in. The events planned this year for Brisbane and Gympie will cost nothing other than a bit of your time and a desire to get involved.

Event 1: Collaborative IFA-SOWN revegetation/restoration planting along Ithaca Creek - Dawn Street, Bardon (near where Coopers Camp Road crosses Ithaca Creek), March 21. Time: 8-8.30 am start with an expected finish around 11-11.30 am. Catering: Morning tea provided (billy tea, coffee, home made pikelets and freshly baked sausage rolls). Event 2: Free open day Saturday, March 23, at Woodworks Museum, Gympie, corner of Fraser Road and the Bruce highway, just north of Gympie. Time: 10am-4pm (normal opening hours). Catering: Free sausage sizzle (gold coin donation). Supporter/sponsor: PFSQ - Private Forestry Service Queensland. Contact Gary Bacon (gary-bacon@bigpond.com) or Stephen Walker (stwalker@bigpond. net.au).

22: Queensland Industry Unity luncheon.

(Recognising World Forestry Day, March 21). Fratelli Restaurant, 103 Crosby Road, Albion (located at entrance to Brothers Football Club). Invitation only. Sponsored by Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Timber Industry Club 218. Contact: Alan Jones 0419 754 681, Don Towerton 0428 745 455, Jim Bowden 0401 312 087, Tim Evans 0417 726 741

APRIL 2013

7-10: 6th international Woodfibre Resources and Trade Conference, Istanbul, Turkey. ‘Woodchips and Biomass for Global and Regional Markets’.

Hilton Istanbul Hotel. Included in the program is a pre- and postconference field trip, two days of conference and the opportunity to visit Gallipoli.

Visit www.woodfibreconference. com to register.

Residues-to-Revenues 2013 Conference and CleanTECH Expo Wood energy and ‘cleantech’ industry developments.

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland, April 10-11, 2013; Bayview Eden Hotel, Melbourne, April 15-16, 2013. Event website: www. woodresiduesevents.com 7-11: Institute of Foresters of Australia conference – Canberra Rex Hotel, Canberra.

Managing Our Forests into the 21st Century. Australian and international speakers will address delegates on both international and local issues that will face foresters and forest managers in the century, such as politics, policy and perceptions. Contact IFA, PO Box 7002 Yarralumla ACT 2600.

Tel: (02) 6281 3992. Web: www. forestryconference.org.au 11-14: 43rd Annual JIV Hoo-Hoo Convention. Main Corner, Mount

Gambier. Accommodation at the Commodore Motel. Registration details on www.hoo-hoo-jiv. org.au or contact Maurie Drewer, 0418 394 296. Email: or mkdrewerdubai@gmail.com .

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EVENTS 18-19: Inaugural Local Government Forest and Timber Industry Conference – Bayview on Eden, Melbourne Aimed at both local government and timber industry professionals from across Australia. The program will have a focus on socio-economic issues and the relationship between local government and the timber industry, and will feature presentations, discussions, workshops and opportunities to learn from and share experiences.

Contact: Municipal Association of Victoria. Tel: (03) 9667 5529. Visit www.ntct.org.au

MAY 16-21: 3rd International Congress on Planted Forests – Lisbon,

Portugal. The congress aims to investigate the contribution of planted forests to sustainable development in the context of global changes. Topics will include the sustainability of planted forests, changing climates and the future role of planted forests in environmental protection and REDD+. Five of the major European Atlantic countries (Spain, France, Ireland, UK and Portugal) with large areas of planted forests have joined forces to organise this congress under the coordination of the Atlantic regional office of the European Forest Institute and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Deadline for abstracts is February 28.

Visit www.efiatlantic.efi.int

JUNE 15: Melbourne Hoo-Hoo Club 217 50th anniversary dinner (venue to be advised). Contact: Trish Waters on 0418 358 501. Email: waters58@bigpond.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 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 5

RECYCLING

Waste timber comes home to roost

Fresh advice with your eggs at breakfast seminars WITH many generators of waste timber wanting to become more sustainable, there is an increasing demand for alternative waste disposal options other than landfill.

Often this is as challenging as alternative waste management options are limited.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), working in partnership with the Timber Development Association of NSW, is addressing this issue by developing new markets for waste wood.

One such market is the use of end of life wood pallets and packaging as poultry bedding.

As traditional sources of poultry bedding, such as saw dust, are becoming limited, there is high market demand for new bedding sources.

Further, producing poultry bedding from wood pallets and offcuts will reduce some of the 140,000 tonnes of waste wood disposed of in Sydney each year.

“This market allows not only clean pallets and offcuts that are not suitable for re-use to be made into valuable bedding for use in poultry farms across New South Wales, but also reduces the amount of wood waste disposed in landfill,” says EPA chairman Barry Buffier.

Page 6 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

support timber recyclers with manufacturing the bedding and ensuring that high quality bedding is produced,” TDA sustainability programs manager Steve Mitchell said.

The specification and quality control guideline will be the subject for discussion at three free breakfast seminars in Sydney and Wollongong in late March.

Cracking new markets .. wood waste for poultry bedding.

The seminars – Maximising Wood and Wood Pallet Recycling – will feature presentations from the NSW EPA, TDA, and major recyclers Australian Native Landscapes, Direct Pallets and Recycling and SoilCo. Copies of the documents and more information about the seminars are available at www. timberstewardship.org.au

pallets and offcuts as poultry bedding in NSW.

The seminars will be held at Penrith on March 20 at Penrith RSL, RSVP March 18; Wollongong on March 20 at Quality Suites Pioneer Sands, RSVP March 18; and Parramatta on March 26 at Northcott Conference Centre, RSVP March 22.

“The specification and quality control guideline will

Reply to Jane.L@tdansw.asn.au or call (02) 8424 3702.

Increasing demand for alternative waste disposal options, other than landfill.

EPA and TDA have developed a specification and quality control guidelines to support the production and use of shredded

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INDUSTRY news

FWPA builds a better data collection process, appoints program manager

FOREST and Wood Products Australia is etablishing a new program to provide improved coordination and build better systems for industry data collection and analysis.

The program will be internally funded and newly-appointed statistics and economics manager Jim Houghton will develop and deliver the program on industry’s behalf.

Mr Houghton has a background in economics and statistical analysis and 15 years’ experience as a senior manager

in the industry. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Grad Dip in Business Admin and has worked in various roles within the forest and wood products industry including as CEO of Alpine MDF and as a director of Vicforests.

“We look forward to Jim joining FWPA in March and taking a lead role in the development of stronger industry sector statistics,” FWPA managing director Ric Sinclair said.

FWPA will continue to work cooperatively with ABARES

Jim Houghton .. background in economics

and other statistical providers to ensure that forest and wood product statistics are a valuable tool for industry and government decision makers.

A new industry reference group will provide a mechanism for coordination and validation of all existing data series and the development of improved systems.

A key initiative of the new program will be the development of a secure, online portal for the consolidation of all key statistical data series.

Wood Protection

Have your say on AFS certification AUSTRALIAN Forestry Standards Ltd wants feedback on forest management and/ or chain of custody certification.

AFS would like to know more about individual businesses’ experiences with certification and has developed a short survey to assist with this process.

There are a diverse range of businesses that have achieved forest management and/ or chain of custody certification under the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (AFS/ PEFC) since 2003.

These businesses have different drivers and expectations for their investment in certification.

Certification is a voluntary, market based mechanism that businesses can use to demonstrate to customers that wood and paper products were obtained from well managed forests and consumers can use to reward certified businesses by giving preference to certified products.

Contact the natonal secretary: richard.stanton@ forestrystandard.org.au

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issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 7

OPINION

Timber industry will benefit from LNP round table policy dialogue Government shows signs of serious support for sector Industry.

By ROD McINNES

As most of you would know, politicians are notoriously fickle when it comes to their security and re-election. If the Green groups put too much pressure on the LNP government we might find ourselves being sacrificed for the greater good of the government of the day.

Chief Executive Timber Queensland

TIMBER Queensland was recently invited by the Liberal National Party to join with a small group of other rural industries to participate in a round table policy discussion on issues affecting rural industry in the state.

In this day and age, this sort of policy access usually comes at a cost as governments and oppositions use this to raise funds, in this instance $10,000 for six round table meetings over 12 months.

With the LNP showing signs of serious support for our industry – new 25-year cypress agreements, opening up state forests, the 30-year industry plan, and the risk of the Green groups campaigning against both the government and the industry – we decided we should stay close to the LNP. We also decided to raise the $10,000 separate to TQ usual membership fees. We have asked our corporate members to each contribute $500 to this cause.

Timber Queensland has played a very straight bat politically over the years. We have ensured we support both sides of the political divide and have enjoyed good access to both sides of parliament. That is still our modus operandi. TQ has provided copies of our Industry Plan proposal to both the Leader of the Opposition (Annastacia Palaszczuk) and Shadow DAFF Minister (Tim Mulherin) with an offer to brief the Opposition. So far, there has been no response.

The LNP government has

Page 8 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

The Queensland government could well decide (and has in the past) that no forests will be logged even if that logging is world’s best practice and internationally certified. Hence our need to stay very close to Campbell Newman and his cabinet at this time.

How refreshing to have a government that sees our $2 billion industry has a future and not just a past.

Well received .. CEO of Timber Queensland Rod McInnes (left) presents the Industry Plan to Forestry Minister John McVeigh at a Brisbane function in December.

determined to consider the use of state land under state forest tenure for a range of uses which may include timber harvesting along with mineral exploration, CSG exploration, bee-keeping, grazing and various recreational pursuits – a most reasonable policy.

The previous government had abrogated its forest policy responsibilities to the conservation movement (Aila Keto was the de-facto Forestry Minister for 15 years) and our industry was considered ‘yesterday’s industry’. The Bligh government’s sale of plantation

assets and a continuation of the exit strategy for native forests was clear evidence of this.

With this welcome change in forest management policy and the failure of the hardwood plantation program to be able to provide 66,000 cub m annually of hardwood sawlog from January 1, 2025, our industry will be continuing to operate in Crown native forests for some time yet.

The conservation movement will be marshalling its resources and a campaign will doubtlessly be waged against the Newman government as well as our

How refreshing to have a government that sees our $2 billion industry has a future and not just a past

How disappointing that so few (10 only so far) industry members would invest $500 in securing their future.

Our thanks to Parkside, Finlaysons, Moxon, DTM Timber (Dale & Meyers), Ravenshoe Timbers, Lonza, Kennedy’s Classic Aged Timbers, Hyne, Mary Valley Timbers and Hornick Cypress for their support. We urge other members to further consider making a contribution.

The inaugural LNP policy round table was held in Brisbane.

Seven rural industry leaders met with LNP Leaders and Minister John McVeigh, whose portfolio of agriculture, fisheries and forestry impacted on the groups represented. Chatham House Rules prevailed but the discussion was both relevant and useful.

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RESEARCH

Forest fuel .. planes may soon fly on wood waste.

Planes with fly on wood waste in five years: new finding AUSTRALIA could be fuelling aeroplanes with waste from plantation timber and crops within three to five years according to a key research institute.

The Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is part of an international researcher team aiming to make 5% of the world’s aviation fuel out of biomass by 2020.

Executive director of the CRC John McGrath says this will require a new level of biomass production in Australia.

“The growth potential is quite large,” he said.

“If we think back to the aviation targets, where talking 5% requiring four to five million tonnes of dry biomass and that will require new resources.

“I think it’s fair to say the existing resources will be very stretched by that type of demand.”

The CRC is working with Virgin Australia, Airbus and General Electric as well as biofuel

industry processors around the world on the biomass-to-jet-fuel project.

While the project was initially focused on mallee trees grown in Western Australia, Mr McGrath says the project hopes to broaden its scope to include plantation timber and straw from across Australia.

“We might end up with four to five nodes of biofuel activity across Australia,” he said.

“Places like south west WA, central Queensland coast, northern NSW, the green triangle area of western Victoria and South Australia are areas that produce significant amounts of biofuel.”

John McGrath says the industry will also produce large amounts of non-aviation fuel.

“Around about a third of the production material would be aviation biofuel, the other two thirds would be things like petrol or diesel,” he said.

dennis@industrye-news.com

A mallee harvester collects biomass for biofuel production.

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issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 9

ENGINEERED WOOD

Markets for EWPs gather steam again in Japan post-tsunami building boom ONE of the most stable and lucrative export markets for engineered wood is gathering steam again. Housing starts in Japan this year edged closer to 2008 levels, thanks in part to a post-tsunami building boom.

“It’s always been a strong market,” says Shawn Lawlor, Japan director for the Council of Forest Industries in Vancouver from his Tokyo office.

“China and other markets have come on stream in recent times, and Japan’s sort of been under the radar.”

It’s a far cry from what

On the move .. housing starts in Japan have edged closer to 2008 levels, thanks in part to a post-tsunami building boom

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Page 10 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

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happened after another major natural disaster: the Kobe earthquake in 1995.

“For the North American coastal forest industry, the Kobe earthquake and the fallout was fairly disastrous,” said Rick Jeffery, president and CEO of the Coast Forest Products Association.

Prior to the Kobe quake, Japan was the biggest market for British Columbia coastal hemlock. Mr Jeffery said BC companies lost “an incredible amount” of market share to European engineered wood products, favoured because structures made from them hold up better in an earthquake.

The industry spent the next five years playing catch-up; it worked to develop new products to try to compete with the Europeans, lobbied the Japanese government and conducted tests to show hemlock structures could withstand an earthquake.

British Columbia wood exports were also hit hard by the recession Japan experienced through the late 1990s and the collapse of its high-flying real estate bubble.

Home prices finally began to stabilise in 2005. In 2008, the country saw 1.1 million housing starts (compared with the mid1990s building peak of 1.5 million starts). But in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, that number plunged to 788,000. Housing starts have since increased by about 6% year over year.

Despite its ups and downs, the market is worth fighting for because Japanese buyers purchase only the best quality wood.

Shawn Lawlor expects the current construction activity to last for the next three to five years. Given Japan’s aging population, he doesn’t expect to see another boom in singleCont Page 11

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Water trigger Bill puts agriculture at risk as farmers call for decisions by science Forest sector assesses introduction of new legislation FARMERS have warned of a potential side effect of the legislation introduced in parliament on March 13 by the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.

The legislation, still to be debated, aims at ensuring valuable natural water resources remain protected from mining and coal seam gas developments.

“While we certainly agree with the intent of the Bill, which is to see greater scrutiny and scientific rigour around coal seam gas and mining developments where they may impact on our water resources, we have significant concerns about the potential for this Bill to be extended to agriculture in the future,” National Farmers Federation president Jock Laurie said.

“There is a huge risk in opening the door to a socalled ‘water trigger’ under the national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, as while it may be introduced with the aim of safeguarding water from the mining and coal seam gas industries, it could very easily be extended to other industries, including agriculture.”

The forest industry is also assessing the legislation on the basis that debate is ongoing into forest water use.

In plantations, it is generally

New legislation on water resources could have perverse negative outcomes for the agricultural sector.

recognised forests consume less water per unit produced (e.g. kg) and that they shelter the soil from heavy rain and thus reduce erosion; slow runoff and reduce the incidence of flash floods; release water slowly after rain events; and that forests – and indeed all crops – use more water than bare ground.

“Water is a critical factor for farmers, and our strong concern, is that this Bill could actually have perverse negative outcomes for the agricultural sector,” Mr Laurie said.

“What may, on first glance, look like a ‘win’ for farmers in the short-term could actually have long-term unintended

Jock Laurie .. significant concerns about the potential for the Bill to be extended to agriculture in the future.

consequences for our current and future farmers.

“While we can – and do – call on this government to ensure

The forest industry is also assessing the legislation on the basis that debate is ongoing into forest water use

that agriculture is not included under this Bill, this will not prevent a future parliament from potentially widening its application.

“We call on the architects of the Bill to clearly explain how agriculture has been, and will continue to be, excluded.”

Mr Laurie said farmers had consistently called for rigorous, scientific-decision making, which was why they supported the role of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee.

NFF members considered a similar Bill last year and, collectively, strongly opposed the introduction of any water trigger provisions into the EPBC Act because of this magnitude of this risk.

Coal seam gas has emerged as a massive public issue.

Farmers and local communities standing up to multi-national corporations, community blockades in Queensland, and growing problems in New South Wales have captured the public’s imagination.

Coal seam gas (or CSG) exists in waterlogged coal seams.

A bore is drilled, and the salty and often toxic water and gas are pumped to the surface. This can be preceded by a process called ‘fracking’, where a cocktail of chemicals and fuels are pumped into the seam to fracture the rock, thus allowing the water to escape.

Wood structures have outperformed steel in Japan From Page 10

family housing after that.

To ensure wood products stay competitive in the long term, organisations like COFI and CFPA are lobbying for wood construction in multi-family buildings and non-residential buildings like shopping malls,

hospitals and schools. The initiative has been bolstered by Japanese laws, which oblige businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

“In terms of insulation performance, the wood structures have outperformed the steel,” Mr Lawlor said.

“We’ve had a couple of major

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retail chains that have adopted the use of wood construction” The two largest shake tables in the world are in Japan, a country that has more than 100 earthquakes a year. Full-size buildings can be tested on the tables.

In 2008, a three-storey wooden post-and-beam house was

tested on the shake table in Tsukuba, Japan. The house was shaken at twice the intensity of the Kobe quake and performed exceptionally well.

In 2009, a six-storey wood condo building was tested at Mika, Japan. That building, made of engineered wood products, also performed well.

issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 11

events

Grand 50th celebration party for Sydney Hoo-Hoo Club 215 Gathering of 70 takes the cake at Parramatta event

A CAKE baked by the club president, tables adorned with plywood black cats, recognition of past club officers, presentations and an auction for charity contributed to a great atmosphere of celebration at the 50th birthday party for Sydney Hoo-Hoo Club 215 at Parramatta last Tuesday, March 12 – the date in 1963 that the club was formed.

More than 70 Hoo-Hoo identities and industry representatives filled the ballroom at Rydges Hotel, with members from clubs as far as Melbourne and Mount Gambier

and Ballarat and Brisbane.

Guests were welcomed by Sydney Club president Don Martin and listened to the HooHoo golden rules and ideals recited by world president of Hoo-Hoo International Ron Gattone, who with his wife Heather, left the next day to attend a HHI mid-year board meeting in Gurdon, Arkansas, USA, the birthplace of HooHoo. Special mention was made of past presidents and life members, some no longer with us, including Steve Stevenson, Conrad Lembke, Dick

Campbell, Charlie Herbert, Keith Johnstone, Peter Smith, Bob Frost and Neil Olliver Mr Gattone said Jurisdiction IV was the largest jurisdiction geographically in HHI, a service organisation formed in 1892 and symbolised by a black cat, with clubs in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Jurisdiction IV president Val Fennell from Mount Gambier Club 214 and JIV secretary Trish Waters of Melbourne Club 217 reminded the gathering that the 43rd annual JIV convention will be held in Mount Gambier

Frank and Dale Milazzo, and Karen and Jack Forbes, all representing Simmonds Lumber Pty Ltd, Rosehill.

Brenton and Beverley Christopher of John Cook & Sons, St Marys, join in the celebrations in Sydney.

Kevin Swadling, Acacia Timber Products, Ingleburn, Gabe Bombaci, Swadlings Timber and Hardware, Julie Bombaci, and Michael Brown Simmonds Lumber, Rosehill.

Page 12 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

Enjoying the night at the Rydges Hotel are Narelle and Daryl Schmidt of Canterbury Timber and Building Supplies, Peter Higgins, guest, and Lily Bosilko of Canterbury Timber.

from April 11 to 14 and they confirmed the 2014 convention will be in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Melbourne Club 217, chartered on June 12, 1963, is planning a a 50th anniversary event on June 15 and Brisbane Club 218’s ‘The Cat Goes Gold’ dinner at the Victoria Park Golf Complex on August 24 celebrates the club’s beginning on August 28, half a century ago.

Adelaide 212 and Mount Gambier 214 celebrated their golden anniversaries last year.

They were chartered in 1962, on April 16 and December 1 respectively. - Jim Bowden

Getting together at Sydney Hoo-Hoo Club 215’s 50th birthday party are Stuart Stansell, ITI (NSW) Pty Ltd, Oyster Bay, and Chris and David Taylor of Blacktown Timber, St Marys.

Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 directors Tim Evans (Ieft) and Alan Jones, club president (right) share Sydney Club 215’s 50th celebrations with Trish Waters (JIV secretary) of Melbourne Club 217, and Ron Gattone, world president of Hoo-Hoo and his wife Heather of Sydney Club.

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events Hoo-Hoo J1V president Val Fennell of Mount Gambier Club 214 and G&R Logging Pty Ltd (right) catches up with Dawn and Ron Harrington, OAM, of Ballarat Club 256. Mr Harrington is secretary and a life member of the club.

Juel Briggs of Briggs Veneers, Wetherill Park, serves coffee to Peter Duncan who operates Peter Duncan’s Timber Pty Ltd at Pymble.

Out on the town .. Peter Duncan of Peter Duncan’s Timbers, Pymble, Chris Taylor, Blacktown Timbers, St Marys, and Kevin Swadling of Acacia Timber Products.

Hoo-Hoo JIV president Val Fennell presents a Sydney Club 215 life membership badge to Ron Gattone of Crescent Timber and Hardware. Ron, who is world president of HooHoo International, left the next day with his wife Heather to attend a HHI mid-year board meeting in Gurdon, Arkansas, the birthplace of Hoo-Hoo, and address the US Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation’s annual convention in Anaheim, Orange Country, California.

Matt Frost enjoys the Sydney celebration with his grandfather Bob Frost of Tasman KB Pty Ltd, Newport, and Neil Olliver of Woy Woy, former Hoo-Hoo JIV president and life member of Sydney Club 215.

Questions asked on $2.5bn carbon ‘windfall’ THE federal Opposition has questioned the modelling used to predict a $2.5 billion windfall in carbon credits for Tasmania.

The windfall is predicted if the forest peace deal passes the Upper House.

The commonwealth has confirmed forests protected under the peace deal can be credited under the Carbon Farming Initiative.

The Tasmanian government says that means the state could earn up to $2.5 billion in carbon credits.

Federal Opposition Environment spokesman Greg Hunt is dubious and wants the detail.

“We just expect the government to release the full details and to table them within parliament,” he said.

Huon MLC Paul Harriss questions the timing of the news.

“It’s just madness that this is being run out at this stage,” he said.

The Upper House will return to debating the peace deal legislation probably this week.

Meanwhile, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association says the Legislative Council cannot approve legislation implementing the Tasmanian Forests Agreement until MPs know precisely the terms and conditions for any proposed carbon credits that may arise.

“Despite what Greens Minister Cassy O’Connor claimed last week, state government officials have already told the

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Greg Hunt .. where’s the detail on carbon credits?

Legislative Council that such matters as the methodology of assessing credits in the proposed reserves are nowhere near being resolved,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said.

“There

has

been

no

new

information from the commonwealth since December on how this is supposed to work, who gets the money or whether it would stand up to international legal scrutiny, given that many of these areas were never to be logged. The Minister had no new information.

“You can’t claim the credit if you haven’t taken that additional step to stop logging,” Ms Davis said.

She said that what Mr O’Connor told the Legislative Council still stood: “The question marks over the methodology and its feasibility should have been resolved before MPs were asked to commit to the terms of the Bill.”

issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 13

Meet the shy guy who became distinguished forester of the year

New skill advances career: the art of diplomacy WITH firm but gentle hands, Rick Monchak holds the future of forestry.

It’s just a foot-long Douglas fir seedling, one of millions planted annually in the coastal forests.

Nonetheless, it’s Mr Monchak’s baby, a toddler in the tree world that requires one last fatherly inspection before heading out to its new home – a cut-block on Discovery Island, off the eastern side of Canada’s Vancouver Island.

“It’s such an art to grow these,” Rick Monchak says, slowly spinning it between two fingers, checking top to bottom for good traits and imperfections.

Working outside on a cool winter afternoon, doing quality control on a selection of 850,000 seedlings, doesn’t seem like the right job for a man recently named British Columbia’s Distinguished Forest Professional of the Year.

This is no job though.

“It’s a passion. I use that word a lot,” says the professional forester.

It’s a career – a passion – he’s indulged himself in for the last 35 years. What started as a summer job for an 18-yearold Chilliwack resident at the Cultus Lake Forest Ranger station led to degrees in forestry and biology at the University of British Columbia, which opened the road to Campbell River where Mr Monchak now oversees the management of a tree farm licence for Timberwest Forest Corp.

And all along that career path, others noticed Mr Monchak’s passion and professionalism.

“The distinguished forester title is not something awarded every

PAgE 14 | issuE 260 | 11.03.13

WITH World Forestry Day March 21 approaching, this story of one man’s passion about the future of forestry makes interesting reading. The special day was initiated in 1971 by the European Confederation of Agriculture, and then adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and is celebrated world wide every year on March 21, the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. year,” notes Steve Lorimer, president of the Association of British Columbia Forest Professionals.

“When I saw he was nominated, I was delighted. He is a very keen and enthusiastic forester.”

Mr Monchak worked summers for the BC Forest Service through his university years and thought he would never work for industry. But student loans and bills can change a young man’s mind.

Upon graduating, the forest service offered him a four-month job. Then BC Forest Products offered him six months’ work.

“The company had a good reputation among many of the professors – 35 years later, here I am,” Mr Monchak said.

He rose through the ranks, survived ownership changes including the Fletcher Challenge tenure – “the dark years,” he says – and then the company became Timberwest.

Along the way, he learned how to handle controversial issues, such as in 1993 during the angry protests over clear-cut logging in Clayquot Sound.

“I’ve had the Raging Grannies sing me ‘Take Me Out to the Clear Cut’,” he says with admiration.

In addition to his abilities as a forester, Mr Monchak learned a new skill that would advance his

Passion for forests .. Rick Monchak holds a Douglas fir seedling, while standing in front of “teenaged” and mature firs.

career: the art of diplomacy.

He always had the ability to listen and learn, but to speak on behalf of a large company was something else.

“I went into forestry in part because trees don’t talk back,” he says, half-joking.

Shy as a teenager, public speaking wasn’t Monchak’s strength. But it’s a skill he’s mastered and has become as important to his credentials as his two BA degrees.

These days he is a coveted guest speaker at industry and stakeholder conventions, happily gives lectures to forestry students, and once a year instructs the local Elder College class on how to grow better dahlias.

His diplomatic touch is also a necessity for his current role at TimberWest.

The forest farm licence stretches from Discovery Island north through Johnstone Strait and touches on parts of the mainland.

It’s public land, managed by Timberwest, and controversy is brewing there, too. Frustration is mounting among the recreational stakeholders who become angry when picturesque views are marred by clear cuts to the waterline.

Mr Monchak is well-aware of the issues and calmly goes about meeting with stakeholders, the public and the complex government bureaucracy that goes hand-in-hand with TFL management.

“It never gets boring,” he says simply, but later adds, “visual quality is very challenging and very subjective.

“This is a multi-stakeholder public resource and we [Timberwest] are very proud of what we do.”

The key, Mr Monchak believes, is to be as open as possible with stakeholders, follow through on plans, and to compromise when there’s flexibility to do so.

The glow of the award didn’t last long. It’s tree planting time or, as Mr Monchak says, “the circus is here.”

With an expert hand and eye, he pulls and prods at the roots, looking for a healthy orange colour on the exterior along with white root tips, not yellow. Mr Monchak and his colleagues are sampling the 850,000 seedlings because they don’t want the planters doing quality control.

Cont Page 15

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international focus

US Forest Service may let more fires burn: ‘evolution of science’ AFTER coming in $400 million over budget following last year’s busy fire season, the US Forest Service is altering its approach and may let more fires burn instead of attacking every one.

The move, quietly made in a letter late last month by Forest Service chief Tom Tidwell brings the agency more in line with the National Parks Service and back to what it had done until last year. It also answers critics who said the agency wasted money and endangered firefighters by battling fires in remote areas that posed little or no danger to property or critical habitat.

Mr Tidwell has played down the change, saying it’s simply an “evolution of the science and the expertise” that has led to more emphasis on pre-fire planning and managed burns, which involve purposely setting fires to eliminate dead trees and other fuels that could help a wildfire quickly spread.

“We have to be able to structure (fire management) this way to help all of us,” Mr Tidwell told the Associated Press. “So we’re thinking about the right things when we make these decisions.”

The more aggressive approach instituted last year was prompted by fears that fires left unchecked would quickly devour large swaths of the drought-stricken West, Mr Tidwell said. New Mexico and Colorado reported record fire seasons in 2012, and with dry conditions remaining in much of the region, 2013 could be another bad year in the West.

Firefighters and forest service employees watch a wildfire burn in the Painted Cave area of Santa Barbara, California.

In all, the agency oversees about 78 million ha in 43 states.

But the ‘kill all fires’ approach angered watchdog groups and environmentalists, who said it was expensive and ignored fire’s natural ability to rid the landscape of dangerous fuels and bolster forest ecology.

“This new policy gives a lot more flexibility; it takes the blanket policy where every fire was treated the same and gives fire managers more options,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology.

“Chief Tidwell’s move should restore the confidence of the fire management community that all the training and technology that’s been invested to give fire crews the ability to work with fire to restore ecosystems will not be wasted by a return to yesteryear’s all-out war on

Tom Tidwell .. more emphasis on pre-fire planning and managed burns.

wildfires.”

While all federal agencies operate from the same federal wildfire management policy, each has its own goals and ways of interpreting it. The National Parks Service, for example, allows more fires to burn on its lands.

This also answers critics who say the agency wastes money and endangeres firefighters by battling fires in remote areas that pose little or no danger to property or critical habitat

But letting fires burn also has its dangers, even in remote areas.

Last year, the Parks Service allowed a fire to burn that started as a half-acre blaze in remote Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. What became the Reading Fire eventually required firefighters as it spread outside the park’s boundaries to lands managed by the Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire damaged the region’s timber industry and cost an estimated $15 million to suppress. No structures were harmed.

While each agency involved had a different approach to managing fires, the confusion during the Reading fire hammered home the need for agencies with different approaches to talk more often about their expectations, a review of the incident found.

“Knowing that the US Forest Service is stepping back from 2012’s more aggressive approach helps different agencies plan how they will respond to fires that have the potential to spread,” says Eric Hensel, a National Parks Service fire management officer at the Lassen park.

“What we learned with the Reading fire is that, even with USFS going a little bit further toward (allowing fires to burn), we can’t assume anything,” Mr Hensel said. “Now we’ve got some common ground here in terms of our approach, but let’s be up front about where we are and work together.”

– The Canadian Press

‘A forester who doesn’t have a trial, doesn’t have a silviculture soul’ From Page 14

They plant 35,000 to 40,000 trees a day with 20 planters and Mr Monchak’s job is to make sure the forest grows

and matures for the next generations. As part of the planting routine, he will have a trial site which he can return to in a year to check on the overall health of the trees.

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This is critically important, he points out, because the trial provides the forester with valuable knowledge about the growing conditions and the suitability of the location.

“The forester who doesn’t have a trial, doesn’t have a silviculture soul,” he says, telling a joke that only foresters can truly appreciate.

– Campbell River Mirror.

issue 260 | 11.03.13 | Page 15

events

Conference benefits frame and truss industry From Page 4

barbecue will be held at the Carlton United Brewery.

The machinery expo on July 24, hosed by Multinail Australia at its Stapylton factory north of the Gold Coast, will feature machinery demonstrations

of saws, jigs, presses and material handling equipment.

Mulinail serves a network of residential and commercial fabricators who use the company’s proprietary software to design prefabricated structural timber components including timber

roof trusses, wall frames and floor trusses for building contractors.

Buses have been coordinated to transport delegates to the airport following the expo.

Kersten Gentle said FTMA Australia organised conferences to benefit the

Kersten Gentle .. conference top value.

frame and truss industry and worked hard to keep registrations cost down.

The cost for members, including the ice-breaker barbecue, full day conference and the Multinail-sponsored conference dinner on Tuesday evening, July 22, is $350 (plus gst) and $450 (plus gst) for non-members.

The dinner will take the form of an interactive market bazaar with six chefs cooking a range of foods from dumplings to barbecues.

“You won’t find better prices to attend an industry conference, especially one that is designed specifically for the frame and truss industry,” Ms Gentle said.

Registrations forms will be distributed in a few months and with a large fabricator turn out expected, suppliers interested in sponsoring the conference can contact Kersten Gentle on 0418 226 242.

editorial inquiries telEPHONE:

+61 3266 1429 Page 16 | issue 260 | 11.03.13

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