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issuE 267 | 29.04.13 | PAgE 1
Wood pushed at world congress
THIS ISSUE • Heads down in the trenches for industry • NZ Super Fund sells forest blocks
500 delegates gather in Brisbane to talk on sustainable built environment
Sustainable house .. Richard Cole’s house of hardwoods that was recognised in the Australian Timber Design Awards. Story Page 11.
of more than 5000 experts from about 500 member organisations with a research, university, industry or government background, all collectively active in all aspects
Quake-proofing Christchurch • Bill Brett snr one of industry’s true gentlemen • Performance of TCA under review • Entries open for Australian Timber Design Awards • IFA forum defines ‘social contract’
Cont Page 3 Just Go t ood W
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of research and innovation for building and construction. The triennial CIB World Building Congress at the Brisbane
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A SYDNEY architect recognised internationally for her work in sustainable built environments will help promote timber’s sustainability credentials at a world building congress in Brisbane next month. Caroline Pidcock, a great granddaughter of the founder of one of Australia’s largest private timber manufacturers, the Big River Group at Grafton, NSW, will join a panel of international speakers at the congess, organised by the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), based in The Netherlands. CIB is a world-wide network
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issuE 267 | 29.04.13 | PAgE 1
INDUSTRY NEWS
Performance and structure of TCA reviewed by AFPA THE Australian Forest Products Association is to fund a comprehensive review of the current structure and performance of Timber Communities Australia. The aim is to develop an effective and reformed structure for timber community representation and advocacy. Tim Woods of Fitzpatrick Woods Consulting will lead the review and undertake broad consultation. “Timber is vital to Australia’s future and regional communities are the lifeblood for a vibrant industry that supplies the nation’s sustainable wood products,” Mr Woods said. “Australia’s timber communities need the most effective possible voice and our brief is to focus on that outcome.” Mr Woods said governments at all levels and industry across all its sectors needed to understand the perspectives, issues and needs of people living in Australia’s timber communities and regions. “Getting future structures right means consulting the people and communities who live in regional Australia,” he said. “We are setting up consultation processes so all stakeholders can have a say during the review period.” Mr Woods urged people living in regional timber communities to participate in the review. This comprehensive review will look at the shape, structure and resourcing of TCA and will include broad consultation with industry, state associations, TCA branches, local community groups, local government, unions and industry contractors. TCA CEO Jim Adams and AFPA chairman Greg McCormack have both welcomed the independent review. They said
Page 2 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
Jim Adams
Greg McCormack
it was absolutely important that industry and timber communities continued to work together .. “because one cannot exist without the other”. Timber Communities Australia Ltd, established about 13 years ago, was formerly the Forest Protection Society which originated in 1987 when the need for a cohesive community voice in the so-called forest debate became increasingly apparent. FPS changed its name in an effort to affiliate the organisation more closely with its community roots. To register interest in the review, email contact@ fitzpatrickwoods.com.au and supply contact details.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Built environment impacts on quality of life, economic growth From Page 3
Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 5 to 9, jointly hosted by the Queensland University of Technology and the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, is expected to attract more than 500 delegates from 70 countries. Ms Pidcock, a former president of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, who founded Pidcock Architecture and Sustainability in Sydney in 1992, said she was excited about the opportunity to connect her strong sustainable build environment interests and family background in the timber industry. She will be joined on the panel by Pieter Burghout, CEO, Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), former chief of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation and the Master Builders Federation. “If we acknowledge that innovation is essential to economic growth and the built environment is central to society, then how we structure and manage our research and development system in construction, especially for built asset resilience, is of critical import to all economies,” CIB president John McCarthy said in a congress introduction. “For researchers, this compels us to focus on how people interact with the built environment through construction because it fundamentally impacts on
Sydney architect Caroline Pidcock presents the Geoffrey Sanderson Trophy for excellence in LVL, plywood and wood panels design to Melbourne architect Paul Haar at the Australian Timber Design Awards last year. The award is sponsored by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.
quality of life and economic growth. In a global context of challenged financial environments we need to carefully consider the ways in which we invest in construction research.” He said the CIB World Building Congress provided a unique opportunity for attendees across all built environments to witness and participate in the globally-leading activities and outcomes that will impact on the building industry and society in the future. “It is the central gathering of global research in building and construction; this is the only event which collectively brings together all CIB working
commissions and task groups,” Mr McCarthy said. Caroline Pidcock, who was recently appointed to the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board – a new group giving strategic advice on the future needs of the forest industry in South Australia – and is current chair of the Living Future Institute Australia, will also carry timber’s sustainability message to the Living Future 2013 Conference in Seattle, Washington, USA, from May 15 to 17. The International Living Future Institute, which administers the Living Building Challenge, the built environment’s most rigorous and ambitious
Forest inspections aim at gathering first-hand experience of responsible forest management, habitat restoration and ecosystem resilience
performance standard, is the parent organisation for Cascadia Green Building Council, a chapter of both the US and Canada Green Building Councils that serves Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. While at the conference, Ms Pidcock will take part in forest inspections aimed at gathering first-hand experience of responsible forest management, habitat restoration, ecosystem resilience, and watershed connectivity ‘from forest to faucet’. The tour will include a timber supply chain workshop which will provide a distinct perspective on production, distribution, and sourcing challenges in the emerging market of the Forest Stewardship Council. The workshop aims to improve the market availability of FSC certified timber and advocate for the next steps necessary to complete chain-of-custody presence. It will be led by Amy LaBarge, senior forest ecologist at the Seattle Public Utilities’ watershed services division, who manages the forest certification program and collaborates with Indian tribes on natural resource issues. Ms LaBarge has prior experience conducting forest research on coastal redwood tree growth responses to different thinning densities and providing non-industrial private forest landowner education and forest stewardship coordination.
Carbon tax hits NSW hardwood flooring manufacturer THE carbon tax has forced NSW hardwood manufacturer Australian Solar Timbers to reduce its workforce by a further 30%, after downsizing 11 months ago.
Managing director Douglas Head said AST at west Kempsey was shedding 15 jobs – around 30% of the remaining workforce – because of falling sales in 2013 and an increase
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in its electricity bill of $10,000 a month. Dr Head said that decision came after the company failed to gain a change in the law that would have allowed it to
reduce its electricity costs by using wood waste to generate its own electricity. • Heads down in the trenches, Page 4.
issue 267 | 29.04.13 | Page 3
REFLECTIONS
Heads down in the trenches but industry, as before, will survive Home markets are battling the ‘perfect storm’ By JIM BOWDEN
THE roots of innovative hardwood sawmiller and processor Australian Solar Timbers started as an idea in the trenches of Gallipoli where two ANZAC soldiers Stan Ball and Douglas Oakley dreamt about opening a sawmill on their return to Australia. That dream did in fact come true. In 1919, after their eventual safe return, the two men established a sawmill on the NSW north coast where over the next 20 years they established a succession of small sawmills which concentrated on cutting brushwood timbers. A significant shift in production came in 1940 when, in response to a government request for large amounts of plywood veneer for the war effort, production relocated from Comboyne to Wauchope. Despite burning down during its construction, the mill was still operational in 1940. Rapidly and successfully the focus of the mill changed from sawing timber to veneer production, a skill that endured over two generations until 1991. This commitment gained a renewed focus with the relocation to Kempsey in 1991 and the return to sawing and processing eucalypt hardwoods through environmentally sound production techniques, pioneering natural solar kiln drying and developing products that achieve maximum utilisation of the harvested renewable resource. These techniques would quickly establish AST as pioneers of environmentally sound production not only in Australia, but also around the world. On the eve of ANZAC Day (April 25), and before attending
Page 4 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
In the trenches .. industry will win the battle.
a dawn service, Australian Solar Timbers CEO Dr Douglas Head reflected on the Gallipoli campaign and his grandfather’s participation in that failed invasion of a peninsula in north-western Turkey on April 25, 1915. With it came an Aussie determination born out of adversity, a determination that could well be applied to the timber industry and the parlous state it now finds itself in. “There are similarities, for sure, that conjure images of the landings and troops jumping over the side and trying to wade towards shore, a situation something like the industry finds itself in right now,” Dr Head said. “We’re in a battlefield where we can’t really effect change and there’s a government that could effect change but chooses not to do so,” he said. “But we must reflect and remind ourselves of the tough times the industry has been through in the past – through the Great
Douglas Head .. seven-month election campaign destructive move.
Depression, when fair dinkum working people couldn’t find jobs, and the world war that followed. “What the industry is now facing is nowhere as tough as that. It survived then and it will survive now.” Dr Head was born into the AST organisation as a third generation family concern. He became exclusively involved in
‘In this conflict, there’s talk of green shoots appearing, but for the timber industry those green shoots haven’t appeared yet’ – Douglas Head
1985 and remains passionately committed to this day. He has a degree in Medicine and a Masters in Health Planning and continues as a practising medical practitioner. He is a past president of the National Association of Forest Industries. Dr Head said the deterioration of the industry really set in as it turned the calendar into 2013 – “not just for markets like hardwood flooring, and for softwoods and other wood commodities, but for tiles, bricks and cement as well. “In this conflict, there’s talk of green shoots appearing, but for the timber industry those green shoots haven’t appeared yet.” And Dr Head believes we can’t put all our hopes in a change of government – not just yet. “The reality is that the political decision to declare a sevenmonth election campaign was a destructive move against the big-ticket items like new housing and renovations,” he said. “The decision certainly wasn’t made with a view of industry in mind, as it was portrayed, but rather it has put a brake on the big ticket items as industries await the election outcome.” Dr Head said while the expectation was for a more business-friendly government, whoever emerged victorious would be faced with a very difficult period and the inheritance of a treasury that might in fact be worse than what’s known in the public domain. “A new government will have to make its tough decisions early when it hits the decks on September 15 – and Christmas will be only 10 weeks off, and we can’t expect much to Cont Page 17
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EVENTS
WHAT’S ON?
MAY 2013
Living Future 2013 – Westin Seattle Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave, Seattle, Washington, USA. The green building movement’s leadership summit. Guest speakers include David Suzuki, geneticist and environmentalist. Includes an exciting array of educational workshops and offsite tours. Contact the International Living Future Institute, Seattle. Tel: 503.228.5533. Website: if13. eventbrite.com 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
t-evans@bigpond.net.au
august
6-9: AWISA 2014 Exhibition. Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association Ltd has decided that the exhibition will move from Sydney to Brisbane next year. Inquiries about booking space: email info@awisa.com or call Geoff Holland on 0412 361 580
15: Melbourne Hoo-Hoo Club 217 50th anniversary dinner (venue to be advised). Contact: Trish Waters on 0418 358 501. Email: waters58@bigpond.com
23: The Cat Goes Gold. Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 50th anniversary celebration. Brisbane Riverview Hotel, Cnr Kingsford Smith Drive and Hunt Street, Hamilton, Brisbane. Tel: 0401 312 087 or 0428 745 455 for bookings..
24: The Cat Goes Gold. Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 50th anniversary celebration. Victoria Park Golf Complex. Contact: Don Towerton on 0428 745 455. Email: don@ thoratimbers.com.au or Tim Evans on 0417 726 741. Email:
4-5. Focus on improving transport and logistics in the forestry sector. It will build on the excellent program designed by the Forest Industry Engineering Association. Visit www.foresttechevents.com
JUNE
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.
December
New forestry body to form strategic blueprint A NEW state forestry board will provide advice and recommendations to the South Australian government about future strategic needs. The Minister for Forests Gail Gago has appointed a sevenmember South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board, which includes southeast representative Ian McDonnell. It replaces the Roundtable and the Development Industry Board. Ms Gago says the board will
Gail Gago .. new responsibility.
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look at developing a strategic blueprint for the future of the south-east industry. She says it is crucial to have long-term sustainability. “We recognise not only did we need to manage aspects around the sale but the community identified concerns about the long-term viability of the industry and this is part of our commitment to longterm sustainability of the forest industry, particularly in the southeast,” she said.
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 267 | 29.04.13 | Page 5
FORESTRY
IFA forum defined ‘social contract’ between forest managers, governments and the public THE future of forestry and forests in Australia – and the action needed to address the management problems of natural and private forests and plantations – dominated sessions in the final day of the Institute of Foresters of Australia’s biennial conference in Canberra this month. A forum on April 11 challenged delegates to look for and realise a vision for the sector. Discussions centred on concerns about the decline in Australian forestry and what might be done to reverse the trend. The conversation was less about production issues and focused instead on defining the ‘social contract’ between the forest managers, governments and the public.
Bindu Johnson, ANU, addresses the IFA conference forum.
The facilitator was 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 groups to plan and progress. He ensured the forum was highly participatory, and the group particularly enjoyed the input from young forestry
professionals, researchers and students. The outcomes suggest that while foresters might continue to address current and future wood needs they may in future do so within a framework which is broader, socially relevant, more closely aligned to related land management disciplines, and better connected to people. It was also recognised that the structure and the operations of the Institute of Foresters of Australia itself will need to change to be better able to support members into the future. A fuller report on the forum will appear in a future edition of Timber&Forestry enews.
Faces at the forum
Jillian Roscoe, VAFI.
Page 6 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
Ellen Cheney, ANU.
Edwina Loxton, ANU.
Lauren Retief, economist, Centre For International Economics.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
NZ Super Fund sells forestry blocks in North Island to Chinese log trader THE New Zealand Superannuation Fund, with a portfolio valued at a reported $22 billion, has sold the bulk of 11 forestry blocks in the North Island to China National Forest Products Trading Corp for an undisclosed sum, with the remaining going to local investors. The sale to the Chinese company, a subsidiary of stateowned China Forestry Group Corp, is subject to Chinese regulatory approval. The fund’s general manager of investments Matt Whineray said the blocks comprising 14,000 ha were sold to free up funds so the fund could invest in domestic and international opportunities. “In line with our objective to maximise the fund’s returns over the long term, and factoring in the growth opportunities in other parts of our portfolio, we see more attractive investment opportunities for our purposes elsewhere,” Mr Whineray said. The 11 forestry blocks, comprising about 14,000 ha, have been predominantly sold to the China National Forest Products Trading Corporation, a subsidiary of a Chinese stateowned firm. The sale excludes the 178,000 ha Kaingaroa Forest in the central North Island, which is 41% owned by the fund and 30% by Canadian pension fund manger PSP Investments, with the remainder by the Harvard Asset Management Company. The Super Fund’s timber assets, which accounted for 6% of the fund at March 31, will still exceed $1 billion after the sale. China Forestry Group Corporation is a big integrated forestry corporation consisting of silviculture, afforestation, forest product processing and trading. It administrates six domestic
wholly owned subsidiaries including China National State Forest Farm Development Corporation, China National Forest Products Industry Corporation, China National Forestry Materials Corporation, China National Forest Products Trading Corporation, China National Tree Seed Corporation and China International Forest Travel Service, and two overseas holdings in Brazil and Gabon on the west coast of central Africa. The group corporation mainly
Matt Whineray .. forest sales frees up funds.
engages in fast-growing forest breeding, overseas forest resource development, product marketing, import and export of timber, bamboo and their products, wood-based panel, furniture, woodchips, forest chemical products and tree seeds and seedlings. It has production bases or marketing networks in more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China and foreign countries such as Brazil, Gabon and Russia.
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issue 267 | 29.04.13 | Page 7
INDUSTRY NEWS
Indonesia to reopen log export market to boost internal prices THE Indonesian Forestry Ministry is deliberating the reopening of the export market for logs after a request from the Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires, which complained about the current low price of logs and the limited markets available. Logs from industrial forests are currently priced at $US30/ cub m – compared to the regional price of $80/ cub m – as local production only circulates in the domestic market, making the price uncompetitive. Forestry Ministry secretarygeneral Hadi Daryanto said the ministry would set up an international market for logs from industrial forests to boost
InSurAnce.. It’S All In the SelectIon
suggestion.” The export ban on logs was lifted in 1998 under the letter of intent signed with the IMF to give the government space to change forestry policies. The policy led to looser monitoring and in turn illegal logging and trade, which resulted in the deforestation of up to 3.5 million ha of forest a year. The government introduced a number of regulations in 2001 to restrict log exports and further curb deforestation. The European Union is now unconditionally accepting Indonesian timber products that come with a wood certification document based on the Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK).
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PAgE 8 | issuE 267 | 29.04.13
the price, but added that “everything would have to be discussed first with related stakeholders”. “The development of industrial forests is sluggish due to the low price; therefore, we need to open the markets to elevate it,” Hadi said. As stipulated in the 2011-2030 National Forestry Master Plan, the ministry’s aim was to alter 14.5 million ha of the country’s degraded forests into industrial forests by 2020. As of February, 5.7 million ha has been planted. The government’s target to develop 500,000 ha of industrial forests since 2011 fell short, as it could only realise 68% (374,425 ha) in 2011 and 80 \% (399,744 ha) last year. “We expect the opening of the export market [to be an] incentive for the development of industrial forest concessions,” Hadi said. “However, we have to conduct thorough discussions with related stakeholders first, considering our past experience of rampant illegal logging and illegal log trading following the IMF’s [International Monetary Fund]
Hadi said the government would scrutinise the plan thoroughly to avoid a repetition of past experiences and would guarantee that only logs from industrial forests were exported, and export gateways would be limited. To dispel concern over a lack of supply in the domestic market, Hadi said the ministry would only export eucalyptus and acacia wood not used in the production of local furniture. Industry observers say opening the export market would not lead to illegal logging and trading as in the past because the government had mandated the Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) for timber exportation. The government introduced the certification in part to curb rampant illegal logging in Indonesia in 2010. The SVLK gave Indonesian producers greater access to the global market as it guaranteed that the timber and its byproducts were sourced in an environmentally friendly manner. – Jakarta Post.
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EVENTS
Cliff Face House .. 2012 winner residential class new buildings for Fergus Scott Architects and Peter Stuchbury Architecture
Recycled hardwoods won design prize for timber sustainability Entries open for 2013 awards GREEN technology is more often than not a red herring for environmentally friendly home design, Sydney architect Richard Cole says. The use of expensive ‘eco’ glass, home automation systems and even solar panels should be used only as a last resort for most coastal homes, the award-winning architect asserts. A well-considered design will almost always trump the need for green gadgetry. “So-called green technologies can work well if you can have fantastic systems and you’re in the right climate for it, but for many people they tend to be very expensive and can be a distraction from the real issue at hand,” Mr Cole says. One of his celebrated projects, a timber house in Hilltop Road in Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches, achieved a sustainable design by use of recyclable materials, orientating the home in the right direction and maintaining a smaller floor space. Louvre windows are
dennis@industrye-news.com
strategically placed to create a breeze throughout the house, while the living area and both bedrooms take full extent of the sun, warming them naturally. The home is constructed from a hybrid of sustainable materials – mostly local blackbutt and jarrah timber – that form the clever skeletal framework. Dark-stained jarrah used for the floors and internal cabinetry contrasts with light blackbutt used in the beams and lintels. Sturdy but light steel piers lift the home off the steep site and into the surrounding canopy, which meant energy-intensive excavations were not needed. The home, completed last year, won an Australian Timber Design Award for its extensive use of sustainable hardwoods. Entries for the 14th annual Australian Timber Design Awards are now open. This year entries will be considered for seven application awards and various recognition awards (previously Cont Page 11
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issue 267 | 29.04.13 | Page 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
Government and industry should create value through collaboration
Working together for new investment and development THE forest and wood products industry and local government need to build on a history of collaboration and work together to safeguard jobs in Victorian communities and encourage local investment, says VAFI CEO Lisa Marty. Speaking at the National Timber Councils Association conference in Melbourne on April 19, Ms Marty said the forest and wood products industry was a major employer in many communities and both local government and industry needed to work together to improve the economic competitiveness and opportunities for industry and the benefits for local communities. “Across Victoria the industry plays an important socioeconomic role in many of our communities,” Ms Marty said. “It directly employs 24,000 people, indirectly supports a further 40,000 to 50,000 jobs, produces more than $400 million in logs and generates $7.8 billion in sales and services income. “Around 10,000 of these direct jobs are in rural and regional areas and about 14,000 jobs are in secondary manufacturing. “There are also important flow-on benefits to other local businesses.” “Together, we must ensure our communities, particularly those who rely on the industry the most, remain vibrant, resilient
Timber and forestry plays an important socio-economic role in many communities.
and liveable communities into the future.” Ms Marty said industry and local government had a common goal to make this a reality, and to get better outcomes for local businesses, workers and communities. “Industry and local government can work together to support new investment and economic development including local manufacturing operations, improving infrastructure key to productivity and competitiveness, such as roads, and encouraging the procurement of locally produced wood and paper products,” she said.
Lisa Marty .. common goals.
Ms Marty said a positive local model for collaboration between local government and industry was the work between the Pyrenees Shire Council and local industry to support a new trial forestry operation at
‘There is an opportunity to improve our collaboration at the local, state and national level and this must be done in a coordinated way’ - Lisa Marty
Mt Cole, which had remained available but not used for timber production since 2004. This trial and potential future forestry at Mt Cole has been promoted by local sawmill Pyrenees Timber, the Pyrenees Shire Council and local community group, Friends of Mt Cole and The Pyrenees Ranges. It has the potential to maintain local wood processing, local forestry services businesses and provide socioeconomic benefits to the local community. “This local support made the state government’s decision to re-allow sustainable harvesting in the region possible, a decision that will help secure the future of the business and provide job security to the mill’s employees, and the employees of other firms that do business with the mill,” Ms Marty said. “It also secures roughly $500,000 a year of spending in the region.” Ms Marty said this kind of collaboration between local government and industry across Victoria would help improve the sustainability of the industry and industry dependent communities. “There is an opportunity to improve our collaboration at the local, state and national level and this must be done in a coordinated way, with Timber Towns Victoria and the National Timber Councils Association having a key role,” she said.
Housing finance figures positive sign for building industry HOUSING finance figures released last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show some positive signs for the building industry, but more must follow to confirm a recovery
Page 10 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
The total number of dwelling commitments rose 2% in February, seasonally adjusted. The number of commitments for the construction of new dwellings rose 1.5% and commitments for the purchase of new dwellings rose 0.6%,
seasonally adjusted. Master Builders Australia’s chief economist Peter Jones said the figures were welcome news for the industry, but a run of positive results was needed to confirm a recovery.
“The Reserve Bank must continue to act by cutting interest rates and ensuring a sustained building industry recovery can take place and boost the non-mining economy.”
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EVENTS
Entries for the 14th annual Australian Timber Design Awards are now open.
Timber design award sponsors announced From Page 9
Best Use Of awards). Awards this year include sustainability, the Rising Star award, small budget projects and the popular People’s Choice Award. Entries close on June 28 and winners will be announced in mid-September at a presentation night in Melbourne. Tilling Timber has signed up as a Silver Partner to sponsor the new western red cedar award. Judging from past entries, this should be a popular award, particularly among those entering projects that feature exposed timber enjoying high natural resistance to decay. Also, the Window and Door Industry Council is sponsoring a new award – the excellence
in the use of timber products in windows and doors. Award partners include WoodSolutions (platinum), Boral Timber (gold), Hurford Hardwood, Intergrain and Tilling Timber (silver), and Australian Forestry Standard, Briggs Veneers, Crowther Blayne, Timber Veneer Association of Australia, Design Pine, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, Hyne, Window and Door Industry Council, Kennedy’s Timber, Weathertex, NSW Forest Products Association, Victorian Association of Forest Industries, and Universal Magazines (bronze). Contact Jane Letteri on 1800 685 519 or email jane.l@tdansw.asn.au
Skills training under threat MASTER Builders has expressed strong concern over two proposals threatening the viability of many small to medium sized training providers. The National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) is seeking to introduce changes which will massively increase the compliance burden for a registered training organisation (RTO). The Australian Skills Quality Authority is proposing to triple some fees as part of a
cost recovery strategy. Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch says if the proposals are adopted it will be a double whammy for RTOs at a time when industry conditions are tough. “Many registered training organisations in the building and construction industry are one or two-person operations who deliver high quality and specialised industry training,” he said.
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Get fair dinkum! Use Aussie and Kiwi wood and keep jobs at homethe spirit! That’s
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issuE 267 | 29.04.13 | PAgE 11
PASSAGES
Hundreds gather to celebrate the life of industry gentleman and war hero Bill Brett snr was respected timber businessman By JIM BOWDEN
THE sobriquets “a gentleman and a scholar” truly applied to William James Brett, a favourite nephew of James Fairlie Brett, who founded the family timber dynasty almost 100 years ago. William (Bill) Brett snr died in Brisbane on April 18, only a few months before this 90th birthday, and more than 400 family members, friends, colleagues and war service buddies gathered at the Centenary Memorial Gardens Chapel in Sumner last week to celebrate his life as an astute businessman and a distinguished airman in World War 2. Tributes flowed for the endeared industry leader and former chairman of Bretts who along with other family members initiated ambitious development plans that created one of Australia’s most efficient and successful timber and hardware businesses importing, exporting and manufacturing timber and panel products, and operating a cypress sawmill at Inglewood. He was also a former chairman of Queensland Cement and Lime, a position that linked him with J.L. Brett’s early business interests in cement, wool, gold and oil. Bretts had significant interests in sawmills throughout southeast Queensland and from 1933 began manufacturing plywood. A photograph in a book that charts the company’s history shows a line-up of board members who influenced Bretts’ growth in more recent times: Bill Brett snr, Bill Nutting snr, Keith Hardy, Bill Brett jnr, Ian Brett, Bill Nutting jnr, John Hozier, Ted Spice, John Christoe, Peter Annand, and Lloyd Zampatti, who until 2005 was chairman and chief
Page 12 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
Bill Brett pictured on Bretts Wharf, Brisbane, (circ late 1990s) with then Queensland Premier Wayne Goss.
executive. James F. Brett with his brother B.C. Brett and Colonel J.E. Christoe founded the company in 1913 on the present site of the Bretts Timber and Hardware store at Windsor in Brisbane. Bretts started by buying and selling timbers mostly milled in the Mary Valley area of Queensland. ‘JF’ outlived his two partners and was the managing director until his death in 1966, aged 83.
Third generation family member Bill Nutting jnr now heads the company. Former sawmiller John Crooke, whose father Eric joined Bretts as an accountant at the age of 19 and was based at the company’s Grey Street hardware store in Brisbane, remembers Bill Brett “as small in stature but possessing the highest principles of anyone in the industry”. Mr Crooke said he was an elite
‘Bill Brett was small in stature but possessed the highest principles of anyone in the industry’
member of the Queensland industry’s ‘Timber 7’, a group of industry leaders that met regularly at the Brisbane United Service Club which over the years included himself and such personalities as Lambert Hyne, Warren Hyne, Harold Marshall, David Wilkinson, Colin Wilson, Frank Straker, John Hancock and Charlie Henry. The memorial service, on the eve of ANZAC Day, also brought together two crew members who flew with Bill Brett during special missions over Europe and north Africa in World War 2 – his pilot Max McKay, 89, of Dapto, NSW, and bombardier Howard Walker, 90, from Melbourne. Mr Brett joined the air force in 1939 after schooling at Brisbane Boys College. Mr McKay, who was trained as a fighter pilot, fondly remembers his late crew member as an alert, witty and good man who was great company on those dangerous missions. Bill Brett was trained in Australia (with the RAAF) and in England as a wireless operator and air gunner and with his two mates flew 32 special missions with the RAF over North Africa, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, northern Italy, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Based in Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea on the heel of the Italian boot after the Germans were driven to northern Italy, their RAF Squadron 148 flew Short Stirlings, the first four-engine British heavy bombers and a twin-engine Vickers Wellington. But most of the missions – which principally involved dropping supplies to Marshal Tito’s underground movement in Yugoslavia and parachuting Cont Page 14
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ENGINEERED WOOD
Quake-proofing Christchurch Architects, engineers inspect city’s rebuild in wood NEW Zealand has vast reserves of renewable forests and much of this timber is used in the residential construction of new housing. However, very little of it is used in the commercial sector for large buildings and about 50% of the timber harvested is exported as logs to other countries Architects and other building professionals have returned from a three-day trip to New Zealand to witness the major role played by timber buildings in the reconstruction of Christchurch. Featured buildings use the latest large-span timber technology – post-tensioned moment frames and shear walls, composite timber and concrete floors and long-span roofs. Case studies were presented by building designers, building owners and the researchers who developed the revolutionary Expan timber technology. The tour took in the University of Canterbury which has produced ground-breaking research in timber engineering, on-going in a variety of fields for many years. The university is researching fire resistance issues to speed up the use of timber products in the construction industry. Timber buildings will play a vital role in the Christchurch rebuild and world class research is being conducted at the university to achive this goal. Research by PhD student James O’Neill, under the supervision of Professor Andy Buchanan, involves testing full size floors in a large furnace under loads to determine how they may behave in a building fire. “Timber floors have been shown to exhibit very good performance in fires in the past due to their slow rate of burning and the formation of
Beating the tremors .. NZ Wood CEO Jane Arnott and architect Jasper van der Lingen with laminated veneer lumber similar to that used in Christchurch’s Merritt building, which will be the world’s first multi-storey Expan timber frame structure office building. – Fairfax NZ photo.
a protective char layer, and this research aims to better estimate the behaviour of timber floors in fires and how engineers can design them in the real world for better fire performance,’’ Mr O’Neill says. With the issue of sustainability becoming increasingly prevalent on the agendas of major corporations and governments worldwide, timber as a structural material is fast becoming the most viable alternative to other materials such as concrete and steel. Making better use of the vast renewable timber resources available in New Zealand is the first step towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future. “Timber buildings will play a vital role in this regard, and the world class research being conducted at the University of Canterbury will aid in achieving this goal,’’ James O’Neill said. Meanwhile, at a Wood Smart construction seminar in
Christchurch this month, more than 100 architects, engineers and suppliers were introduced to an Expan timber-framed building concept that uses post-tensioned steel tendons running through LVL beams. Architect Jasper van der Lingen spoke about the firm’s latest frame design work that moves during quakes to reduce damage to the building, but at the same time allows the building to ‘self-centre’ after the shaking finishes. The design was the ‘third generation’ of post-tension timber technology, Mr van der Lingen said. “One of the decisions we made really early on was we wanted to make a real architectural feature of this technology. We didn’t want to hide it.” The building was drawn up during continuing aftershocks and the plan was to use the overt technology to reassure people of its safety.
Lightweight, flexible buildings that move with tremors to absorb their energy are better suited, germinating the seeds of a new architecture in the city
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“Traditionally, the architecture of Christchurch has been of masonry. The most stunning buildings have been made of stone, brick and concrete,” Mr van der Lingen said. He could understand the reasons, stemming from the settler’s desire to make his mark on a new land and to create lasting new landmarks. “We’ve seen a city that’s used to building big, heavy buildings that look like they are going to last forever. “After the quakes we’ve all kind of had the feeling that that kind of architecture is not as appropriate in shaky isles like these.” Instead, lightweight, flexible buildings that move with tremors to absorb their energy are better suited, germinating the seeds of a new architecture in the city. The LVL timber was not treated, and as such is not exposed to the elements. “So the only way to display it is to put it behind as much glass as you can,” Mr van der Lingen said. University of Canterbury associate professor of engineering Stefano Pampanin said a booming economy meant more buildings going up and companies were mostly relying on simple designs that could be churned out by newly minted engineers and architects. However, the global boom meant steel was much more expensive than concrete and timber designs were yet to fully develop and come to prominence. “There has been a one-or-theother attitude among designers when it came to steel-reinforced concrete, structural steel or timber frames, but that has started to fall away since the quakes,” Mr Pampanin said.
issue 267 | 29.04.13 | Page 13
INDUSTRY NEWS
Skilled labour hard to find as US housing rebounds and prices soar EVEN as US housing rebounds from its worst downturn since the 1930s, production bottlenecks are pushing up building-materials costs, land prices are rising and skilled labour ready to begin work is hard to find. At just about every turn, builders are paying more for materials. The wholesale cost of softwood lumber climbed 30% in the year ended March, data from the Labor Department show. Oriented strandboard, or wood particleboard, surged 68%, while gypsum products such as sheetrock climbed 18%. Suppliers of glass, drywall and wood products, who reduced output during the slump, are testing the vigour of the rebound by boosting prices before committing to restore capacity. Builders, including Lennar Corp, Toll Brothers Inc and KB Home are asking home buyers for more money as a result or are delaying sales, posing a temporary hurdle for the industry that has become one of the pillars of the economic expansion. Building-material manufacturers “are raising prices dramatically, and once
US housing construction booming .. but where are the skilled builders?
they’re convinced that these prices are going to stick, they’ll start reinvesting in those plants,” helping ease supply constraints, said John Burns, chairman of Californiabased John Burns Real Estate Consulting, which provides research to developers, construction-product manufacturers and investors. “Those can take a year to get up and running.” In a sign demand remains strong, a report shows sales of new houses advanced in March, capping the best quarter for the industry since 2008. Purchases of new singlefamily properties climbed 1.5% to a 417,000 annual pace.
“We’re seeing somewhat of a bottleneck,” Michelle Meyer, senior US economist at Bank of America Corp, said. “There’s more demand for these products, which means the housing industry is healthier and the economy is healthier. “Higher costs are one reason home construction is not rebounding faster,” said Ms Meyer, who projects residential building will add 0.5 percentage point to gross domestic product this year and 0.65 percentage point in 2014, which would be the most since 1983. Last year, it contributed 0.3 percentage point. Boise Cascade Co. (BCC), which makes products such
as plywood sheathing and laminated-veneer lumber, anticipates a “challenging environment as the industry works to restart capacity and rebuild infrastructure in response to higher demand levels,” Thomas Carlile, chief executive officer, said. “Current pricing reflects constraints that exist through the supply chain from logging to manufacturing into multiple levels of distribution,” he said. Toll Brothers, the largest US luxury-home builder, is raising prices in about 60% of its communities as demand among high-end customers improves. Material and labour costs that rose by $4500 per home for all of last year were already up by another $3000 in the first quarter of 2013. About $2000 of that additional expense was lumber alone. Financing remains one of the biggest constraints, especially for smaller builders, who are also hardest hit by rising costs, says economist David Crowe. “We’ll continue to move forward, just not as fast as we Cont Page 17
World War 2 pilot remembers: Bill was alert, witty and a good man From Page 12
agents behind enemy lines – were completed in Handley Halifax British heavy bombers. The three crew members were the only Australians in the squadron which included South Africans, Canadians, New Zealanders and Brits. Max McKay said the crew trained and flew missions from March 1944 until the end of the war in June-July 1945.
Page 14 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
British World War 2 bomber Handley Halifax .. crew member Bill Brett snr.
“I’m happy to say we didn’t drop one bomb and as such took no lives, military or civilian,” he said. Bill Brett who was married to Noela (dec’d) is survived by his sons, Bill jnr and Ian and their wives Boo and Natalie, grandchlldren Annabelle, Mitchell, Domi, Lucas, Gabby and Jono, and sisters Allison, Beth, Marion and Elva.
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Lessons in truck loggers survey on forest industry jobs potential Wrong impressions given on career choices
THE Truck Loggers Association in British Columbia has commissioned a public opinion poll to better understand public sentiment towards the forest industry – and some of the findings are concerning. Most notable is the ‘disconnect’ between the perceived future of the industry in Canada (most are optimistic) and the perceived existence of forestry jobs (most believe there is a shortage of jobs). The concern of the association lies in the fact that at a time when members and other forest sector employers are growing and looking to fill thousands of positions, prospective workers in our coastal communities are looking elsewhere. “The predominant view that the future of the industry is positive (2.5 times as many respondents were optimistic than pessimistic) is well founded,” says TLA executive director Dwight Yochim. “The US housing market is recovering and lumber prices are up more than 50% from a year ago and 100% from when the US housing market crashed in 2009. “Further, housing permits for future construction have climbed to the highest level in almost five years, pointing to a sustained rebound.” The confidential poll, ‘Attitudes on Forestry’, was prepared for the TLA involved 409 randomlyselected coastal residents 18 years or older. Of concern, notwithstanding the positive views of the industry’s future, is that 51% of the respondents indicated that there is a shortage
Opportunities .. future in forest industry postive.
of jobs compared to 14% who said there is a shortage of workers (21% said there is neither a shortage of workers or jobs and the balance had no opinion). Further, 50% said that they wouldn’t recommend a career in forestry to a family member or friend. “I believe there are two key reasons for the ‘disconnect’,” Dwight Yochim said. “First, although the industry’s resurgence has been building for months, it follows the longest and most severe housing collapse since the World War 2. Suffice to say, it takes time to make people believers again when you’ve been down for so long. “Second, critics of the industry continue to promote negative impressions of our forest practices. This in turn has incorrectly convinced many of our youth that the sector is
Dwight Yochim .. industry’s resurgence has been building for months.
not environmentally sound or sufficiently high tech to be a priority career choice. “What’s ironic about these findings is that they come at a time when the world is increasingly focused on reducing its carbon footprint and
‘What’s ironic about these findings is that they come at a time when the world is increasingly focused on reducing its carbon footprint’ – Dwight Yochim
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recognises that forest-based materials have a significant advantage over materials that are non-renewable and/or require large amounts of fossil fuel energy to manufacture (e.g. plastic, steel and concrete). “Further, efforts to maximise the value and use of forest fibre abound, such as advanced engineered wood products for tall-wood buildings, biomass to produce power and heat and biomass-derived replacements for chemicals and plastics. “As such, our industry is increasingly viewed as the hightech sustainable industry of the future and the related job opportunities are broad and vast.” Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, noted that over the next decade 25,000 job openings are anticipated due to retirements and economic growth alone. But Dwight Yochim asks: “What do we do in the short term?” There are many who believe that a comprehensive branding campaign is required to position the forest sector as a worldleading high-tech industry, a job creator and source of improving government revenues – all true attributes but expensive to execute. Mr Yochim says a more immediate solution may lie in some of the grass roots strategies initiated by the TLA, along with Western Forest Products and TimberWest, involving support for the Alberni School District’s project-based learning program.
issuE 267 | 29.04.13 | PAgE 15
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Search for the toughest of trees 5000 Douglas firs wait for hammer to drop!
IT’S hard to tell at a glance, but greenhouses at Canada’s Pacific Forestry Centre are home to some stressed out trees. A veritable forest of 5000 Interior Douglas fir seedlings, each in its own pot, are waiting for the hammer to drop. Half will be infected with a nasty fungus normally carried by the Douglas fir beetle. The remainder are fated to become blighted with two different kinds of often-fatal root rot disease. Three thousand other Douglas firs have already been squeezed dry from various levels of an imposed drought. Stressing out trees at the forestry lab is an effort to find Douglas firs that will not only survive through hard times, but are genetically hearty enough to thrive. It’s those rare genetic traits of both tolerance and resistance that research scientist Elisa Becker is hunting for. Dr Becker is stationed at the centre’s laboratory in Victoria, British Columbia, one of five research centres within the Canadian Forest Service. Facing a shifting climate over the long term and plenty of diseases and pests, zeroing in on genetic advantages will help promote higher survival rates for tree planting, and ultimately improve timber yield and quality for one of B.C.’s most economically valuable trees. “(Forestry managers) want trees that grow fast, but you might get less quality and get root diseases faster,” Dr Becker says. “It’s a bit of a trade-off. We realise now (growth) isn’t the only goal. You want fit trees that can withstand stressors and have quality. We want to see if we can get everything without trade-offs.” For the next few months, the seedling forest at PFC will be watered and grown, before
Page 16 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
Stressed .. Canadian federal forestry scientist Elisa Becker checks on British Columbia Douglas firs growing at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria, BC.
fungus ‘lollipops’ are inserted into PVC tubes that reach the roots in each pot. After a year, each of those thousands of trees will have employed strategies to combat infection – some might stop growing, while others may develop large lesions within the wood. Some, a small number, might fight off the fungus and keep growing dense timber almost as if nothing were there. Dr Becker’s team has seen this tolerance and resistance in action in the drought phase of the study last year. “With drought, some handled being dry and grew, and some shut down,” she says. “Normally we’d look for resistance of what the tree can survive and how it limits damage. But tolerance is important. If there is a lesion or damage and there’s still good quality wood, we want that.” In terms of root rot, the PCF study plans to infect its Douglas firs with phellinus, a coastal fungus, and armillaria, found in
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), also known as Oregon pine,or Douglas spruce, an evergreen conifer native to western North America.
the southern interior. Root rot does just that – weakens roots in ways that are largely hidden until the tree falls in a windstorm. “Root disease is not like the pine beetle, which is bright red. Root diseases are underground eating trees,” Dr Becker said. “It doesn’t impact mortality but
Understanding resistance and tolerance could lead to improved tree breeding for 15 to 16 million Douglas fir seedlings planted each year
it impacts volume, height and growth. If we can improve the quality of wood and volume, this (study) will make a difference that way.” The work builds off similar research on increasing resistance to root-rot led by forestry centre scientist Mike Cruickshank. The study led by Dr Becker is the largest, the first to stress out the same variety of tree in multiple ways. “Trees react differently to disease, but when tree growth is affected, wood quality will be affected as well,” Mr Cruickshank said. “This is a major issue upstream on the value chain, where people rely on consistent wood quality.” The Ministry of Forests provided PFC with the Douglas fir seedlings, and is a partner in the study. “Understanding resistance and tolerance could lead to improved tree breeding for the 15 to 16 million Douglas fir seedlings planted each year in the interior, Ministry scientist Barry Jaquish said. “We want to make sure the trees planted have a good chance to survive and grow. It’s not a huge problem, but it’s of economic importance. If there is armallaria (fungus), we lose a lot of those trees.” Building pest- and diseaseresistant forests, which extends to other species like weevil-resistant spruce trees, is also about being prepared for impacts of climate change within British Columbia and Canada. The expectation is that the overall climate will be drier and more prone to tree diseases. “It’s a challenge. We think with climate change there will be more of these host-pest problems,” Dr Jacquish said. “We want to be proactive and responsive to these things.” – Victoria News.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
It may take years to rebuild the labour force needed to meet housing demand From Page 14
could.” Increasing demand also means there are few experienced contractors idly waiting to jump at the next project. In some regions, it may take years to rebuild the labour force needed to meet housing demand because many skilled workers “have left in favour of other greener pastures” such as better- paying jobs in the energy industry,” says Brad Hunter, chief economist
for Metrostudy, a Houstonbased homebuilding consulting company. Phoenix has had the biggest labour shortage, in part because the area’s housing collapse and recovery were more pronounced and also because some Mexican immigrants who worked in construction left Arizona after the state legislature passed a strict immigration law in 2010 aimed at undocumented workers, Mr Hunter said. Prices of finished lots in
desirable locations may continue to soar. In the wake of the housing crash, developers stopped preparing land for new construction, a process that can take years in states such as California. Builders are also deliberately slowing production to lift prices while waiting for more land to become available. Pricier new homes, rather than hurting demand, may divert buyers toward relatively less expensive previously-owned ones, says Millan Mulraine, an
economist for TD Securities USA in New York. “That would help reduce the pool of existing properties waiting to be sold, and eventually shrink the price gap with newly-built dwellings. “The faster the drawdown of inventories, the closer we’ll get to a more normal housing market,” Mr Mulraine said. “As for rising costs, it’s the growing pains resulting from the beginning of an earnest recovery in housing. It suggests we’re on our way.”
FWPA one of the great hopes for industry From Page 4
happen before this. “Then the industry enters its slow ‘close-down’ period in January and February, so if there are to be any signs of relief we won’t see them until at least the second quarter of 2014.” Dr Head said the improved US market was a potential positive for Australian industry .. “in the sense that the Americans and other overseas suppliers are likely to concentrate on this growth, rather than fiddle about sending a container or two Down Under”. He said industry couldn’t
expect much sense out of the current government at the moment as it dithers in a hung parliament. “Everything is tailored to making business pay at a time when business is on its knees. Businesses don’t vote and nobody in Canberra is prepared to discuss how this impacts on voters. “Renewable energy is an example, par excellence. “How a government can vote to support carbon reduction by stopping our industry from rolling out renewable energy defies any logic – except political logic.”
Dr Head said the long election campaign, the carbon tax and its effect on electricity prices, and the high dollar allowing imported products to become more established, had created a ‘perfect storm’. “One certainty is that after September 14 we’ll have a government making better decisions without the coalition of greens and independents.” Dr Head said on a positive note, Forest and Wood Products Australia was one of the great hopes for the timber industry. “It’s where we come together as an industry well governed. And it’s well administered. It
needs all the industry support it can get.” Meanwhile, it’s heads down in the trenches. “We’re in survival mode – and the industry will survive and live to fight another day,” reflected Dr Head. “Although sadly, not every soldier will make it through.”
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issuE 267 | 29.04.13 | PAgE 17
CLASSIFIEDS POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Join the FSC Australia team! Deputy CEO – Policy
FSC Australia is seeking a Deputy CEO - Policy who is experienced working in a diverse multi-stakeholder environment; has a sound knowledge of a standards setting regime, as well as ISO Guides relating to standard setting and conformity assessment. This person needs to be able to think on their feet, apply sound judgement to complex problems and manage a Standards interests. Ideally this person would have successfully managed a multi-stakeholder standard development process and have experience providing advice on standards and policy issues in a multi-stakeholder environment. The individual will demonstrate leadership while maintaining a close relationship with colleagues, Members, the CEO, the Directors and FSC International. Applications will close at 5pm on the 3rd of May, 2013. For further information, including application requirements, contact Forest Stewardship Council Australia 96-104 Dryburgh Street, North Melbourne 3051, Australia Tel: +61 3 9329 9984, Email: info@fscaustralia.org For more information, including application requirements, download the position description. Deputy CEO - Policy PDF
FOR SALE Expressions of Interest Closing 17th May 2013 10.15ha TIMBER TREATMENT PLANT KALANGADOO SA Under instructions from Wepar Investments Pty Ltd (in liquidation)
Creosote treatment plant. Various buildings and shed structures, office equipment. Significant and specialised equipment, plant and tools. The company operated as a timber treatment plant specialising in the timber preservative treatment of CCA and Creosote products to renovation and agricultural markets. David Herbert 0408 849 080 7 Helen Street Mt Gambier SA 5290
(08) 8725 0500 Page 18 | issue 267 | 29.04.13
RLA416
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