Timber & Forestry E News Issue312

ISSUE 312 | 7.4.14 16,000 delivered weekly to timber merchants, sawmillers, wood processors, foresters, members of national and state organisations and associations, builders, specifiers and selected architects.

Play by the rules Powerful industry group acts on non-conforming building products

AN action plan to counter damage to manufacturers from non-conforming building products will be presented to industry stakeholders following a meeting of Australia’s industry sector groups in Sydney last month.

The workshop, convened by the powerful Australian Industry Group, was attended by representatives of the engineered wood, steel, plastics and paint industries.

“The chorus of complaints about nonconforming products infiltrating the building and construction sector raises important questions about quality and safety,” says Innes Willox, chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, which represents more than 60,000 businesses employing more than one million people.

“It also poses serious commercial challenges for the businesses that do play by the rules,” he said.

“The safety risks to employees and the public Cont P 3

‘Steiger-counter’ keeps eye on quality

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Lexie Hurford joins TCA board as national restructure begins All branches to receive membership renewal package

WELL-KNOWN North Coast NSW timber identity Lexie Hurford has been appointed to the interim board of the Timber Communities Australia to assist in the organisation’s national structuring process.

Ms Hurford of Hurford Hardwood, Lismore, has been a member of TCA since its early days and is now actively involved in the formation of a local timber community group in the region.

Announcing the appointment, national coordinator Helen Murray said that following a comprehensive review of TCA and recommendations for a new constitution to better reflect grassroots members, a revised constitution was undergoing a final clearance by the interim board in preparation for voting in May. Ms Murray said the constitution would be up and running for the new financial year and information on the new structure would be sent to all current members.

There will be four categories of proposed members – individuals (includes family), branch members (with clear guidelines about how branches and the national entity interact), affiliate members (separately incorporated entities that support the goals of TCA and commit to its charter) and sponsor members (e.g. local businesses).

New TCA constitution better reflects the grassroots members These categories of members will also be entitled to elect board directors to reflect the broad based membership of TCA. “A membership renewal package will be sent to all existing branches and members whose subscriptions were paid

Page 2 | issue 312

NATIONAL coordinator of Timber Communities Australia Helen Murray recently met industry stakeholders in Western Australia. She said TCA’s strategy for a broader scope of community engagement within both plantation and native forest sector regions was reflective of changes in the industry.

“TCA hopes all industry members will support Tish Rakich, TCA’s WA communications manager in her grassroots engagement work in the state and help to ensure there is a stronger than ever local base to add weight to TCA’s work and influence on national issues,” Ms Murray said.

• Helen Murray (centre) and Trish Rakich are pictured with Brad Barr, resource manager at Wespine, during a visit to the Bunbury-based mill.

Next stop for Ms Murray is Tasmania where she will meet TCA members and industry leaders and representatives.

– Photo by Melissa Haslam of FIFWA.

Lexie Hurford .. working actively for TCA in the North Coast NSW region.

up and current for the 2012-13 financial year,” Ms Murray said.

“The 2012-13 memberships are deemed as current for the 2013-14 year while the TCA review is carried out and the new structure developed. Therefore 2014-15 renewals will be issued.”

Packages are planned to be mailed in May with subscriptions covering 2014-15. Full details of the new structure will be

contained in the package including ‘frequently asked questions’ which will enable members to decide which category they are eligible for and want to belong to.

Anyone who may have an earlier lapsed membership (i.e. had not renewed their membership in 2012-13) or is interested in joining TCA for the first time, should email contact@tca.org.au and request a package. They should provide their full name, phone number and address. All packages will be sent in May. Helen Murray admitted the TCA website was in dire need of a clean-up.

“With the part-time national coordinator on board and bedding down the restructure we quite simply must prioritise actions,” she said.

“Rest assured that the website will be receiving some attention soon and a whole new face is our goal in 2014-15.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Confusion among stakeholders over complaint responsibilities From P 1

as well as the risks to business sustainability and long-term asset values are serious. The evidence of non-conformance now in the Australian building market including structural collapses, under strength materials, shoddy and fraudulent practices and inadequate compliance frameworks, poses a threat to employee and public safety.”

EWPAA general manager Simon Dorries, who addressed the workshop, said noncompliant building material, much of it imported from countries that did not adhere to Australian standards for stability or public safety, were driving down the market share for Australian manufacturers.

Tour of inspection .. looking over the new EWPAA offices and laboratories at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, are Henk Van Zetten, Queensland manager, Wesbeam, Ahsan Qureshi, quality assurance manager, Wesbeam, Perth, and Noel Coxhead, general manager, Zelam Pty Ltd, Melbourne.

structurally under loads well below those referenced in accompanying documents which stated the grade as F17.

“This is potentially quite a serious case of structural non-

Bad imports driving down market share “It costs money to build with quality material and sections of the market are demanding cheap, cheap, cheap – but they’re not getting good cheap,” Mr Dorries said.

A dramatic report on the ABC 7.30 program last week reporting “catastrophic failure” of building products has re-ignited calls for tougher standards.

Mr Dorries told an industry group at the recent opening of EWPAA’s new offices and testing laboratories in Brisbane, attended by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck, that unless the government policed the importation of non-compliant products, Australia would be without an engineered wood products industry within 10 or 15 years.

“Australian-based businesses conforming to relevant standards and regulations can be at a competitive disadvantage when

compliance.”

Mr Dorries, who has personally machine stress graded tens of thousands of plywood sheets, said it was very unusual to see panels break in the test machine at proof loads so far below the claimed F-grade.

To help get a better picture of the current situation, the Australian Industry Group has conducted extensive research and interviews with more than 400 businesses across engineered

Certifiers must share burden on compliance wood, steel, electrical, glass and aluminium, paint and plastic pipes industry sub-sectors.

Of great concern was the Cont P 15

Innes Willox .. important questions about quality and safety.

the price at which a competing product is sold reflects lower levels of attention to the quality required under Australia’s conformance framework,” Mr Dorries said.

“Nothing has changed; without serious enforcement of rules and adequate deterrents, nonconforming products will remain in the market.”

Mr Dorries referred to recent tests carried out on significant examples of imported noncompliant products that could have cost lives on building projects in northern Australia.

“Plywood panels, suspected to come from Asia, failed

issue 312 | Page 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

EWPAA laboratories unmatched for scope of wood testing services

Richard Colbeck opens new premises at Eagle Farm THE wood testing services now provided by the EWPAA were unmatched anywhere in the southern hemisphere, the general manager Simon Dorries said at the opening of the association’s new offices and laboratories in Brisbane.

The facilities at Eagle Farm were dedicated on March 28

by Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture.

About 40 EWPAA members, industry leaders, government officials and timber and forest sector representatives from five states, the ACT and New Zealand inspected the premises.

Simon Dorries said the shift was one of efficiency and consolidation.

“All refurbishments were

Helping to celebrate the official opening of the new EWPAA offices and laboratories at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, are Tony Honey, managing director, PNG Forest Products, Bulolo, PNG, and Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts representatives Michael Murphy, marketing manager, LVL, Box Hill, Vic, and Cameron Rodger, technical director, Auckland, NZ.

carried out by staff members and building materials for the renovations were donated by EWPAA members,” he said.

Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 members enjoying the forestry day functions in Brisbane are Don Towerton, Thora Wholesale Timbers, Sunnybank Hills, Alan Jones, Marburg (immediate past president), and Peter Mort, Sunshine Coast.

Simon Dorries and laboratory manager Suzie Steiger took guests on a tour of well-positioned stations that test samples for structural and bonding strengths, windloads and formaldehyde emissions, including inspection of a giant reaction testing frame that assesses the racking capacity of thin panel bracing walls and systems such as plywood and MDF. Mr Dorries said EWPAA certified products were guaranteed and tested under strict National Association of Testing Authorities accreditation rules, something not all products could claim.

The association also had been granted JAS-ANZ accreditation as a certification body under the Australian Forest Certification Scheme Chain of Custody

Standard.

He said samples from member plywood and LVL mills were tested daily with other properties tested on a monthly basis. The schemes were accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australian and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) Mr Dorries said the association had a proud history that was continuous back to May 1934 when nine Queensland manufacturers founded the Queensland Veneer and Plywood Board.

“Throughout our long history, the association has been fiercely independent of government funding supported on a voluntary basis by veneer, plywood, LVL and wood panel manufacturers.

FWPA mounts CRC bid for wood manufacturing FOREST and Wood Products Australia is developing a bid for a cooperative research centre in the sector focused on optimising the manufacturing sector to better suit the known quantity and quality of existing forest resources.

Support and encouragement has been received from the R&D community for FWPA to advance

Page 4 | issue 312

the CRC bid, although to be successful, the bid will require significant cash and in-kind support from industry.

The proposed CRC will focus on initiatives to improve the international competitiveness of existing manufacturing facilities and to assist in the deployment of the new generation of wood fibre technologies.

INDUSTRY NEWS

2014 AROUND THE CIRCUIT APRIL 2014

AUGUST 2014

3-6: The Cats Are Keen in 2014.

44th Hoo-Hoo JIV Convention, Coffs Harbour.

Contact Trish Waters, JIV Secretary, PO Box 42 Hampton Park, Vic 3976. Tel: 0418 358 501.

Email jiv.secretary@bigpond.com

5-6: MobileTECH 2014: Primary Industries Future. Brisbane.

12-13: Auckland, NZ (www.mobiletech2014.com).

These events will profile the latest mobile tools, technologies and innovations driving the future of primary industries (farming, horticulture, forestry, dairy, meat, wool, fisheries and mining). MobileTECH 2014 will showcase a wide range of mobile technologies and innovations, including smartphones, tablets, mobile apps, satellite mapping and communications, robotics, aerial drones, remote sensors, electronic tagging, intelligent data, M2M, real-time analytics and cloud-based platforms.

MAY 2014 19: Frame Australia 2014 conference and exhibition.

In conjunction with the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

Venue: Park Hyatt Melbourne.

The conference theme is pre-fabricated timber and wood products in residential and commercial construction, including trends to using timber panels for buildings up to 5 and 10 storeys high.

International speakers will provide global updates on equipment technologies and construction trends for timber frame and truss and wood panel systems in building. The exhibition display comprises 23 exhibitors from Europe, North America and Australia. For more information visit www.frameaustralia.com

JUNE 11-12: Wood Flow Logistics 2014 – Rotorua, NZ. 17-18: Melbourne (www.woodflowlogistics.com).

This series will add a number of components from the steep slope wood harvesting event and will provide a practical update on innovations, strategies and technologies used by leading forest products companies to improve their planning, logistics and operations within the wood supply chain – from forest through to market.

6-9: AWISA 2014 exhibition.

Brisbane Convention and exhibition Centre. Displays of panel processing, solid wood and timber machinery, tooling, manufacturing software, plus ancillary products such as dust extraction and materials handling equipment. Opportunity forn the cabinet, kitchen, furniture, joinery, timber, fit-out and panel industries to inspect new equipment.

Inquiries about booking space: email info@awisa.com or call Geoff Holland. Tel: (02) 9918 3661. Fax: (02) 9918 7764.

Mob: 0412 361 580.

Email: info@awisa.com 7-8: DANA conference, Melbourne.

The Australian forestry and forest products sector: its situation in 2014 and trends going forward.

Bayview Eden Hotel, Melbourne.

Speakers: Gavin Hoe, RISI China; Oliver Lansdell, global pulp specialist; Rodrigo Monreal, solid

wood products chief of Arauco, Chile; Matthew Wood, CEO Stora Enso Australia; Russ Taylor, president of WOODMarkets; Peter Barynin, lead economist with Boston USA- based RISI; Peter Zed (Australian sawmilling sector); Simon Dories, general manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia; Ross Hampton, CEO, Forest and Wood Products Australia; Steve Whitley, CEO, Forestry Tasmania.

Conference includes panel of overseas plantation investors.

Contact Pamela Richards at pam@prcc.com.au or visit www.dana.co.nz 11-12: DANA conference, Rotorua, NZ. The New Zealand forestry and forest products sector: its situation in 2014 and trends going forward. Novotel Rotorua Hotel, Rotorua. Web: www.prcc.com.au/ danamelbourne2014.

Conference consultant: Pam Richards 61 3 5781 0069.

Email: pam@prcc.com.au

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issue 312 | Page 5

PRESENTATION

IFA fellowship recognises long and dedicated service to forest industry

David Wood applauded at International Day of Forests event RESPECTED long-serving forester David Wood was awarded the status of Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia at a special industry luncheon in Brisbane on March 28.

More than 70 guests applauded when MC Stephen Walker, IFA Queensland president, announced the award which was presented

by Rob de Fégely, IFA national president, and Keith Jennings, an IFA Fellow and former IFA Queensland division chairman.

The day recognised the International Day of Forests, which was celebrated on March 21.

David Wood has been a forester for 50 years, working a diverse range of fields, both in Australia and overseas.

Utilised skills in corridor management He started as a young labourer at Nambucca state forest then commenced a cadetship with the Forestry Commission of NSW, attending Sydney University and

Page 6 | issue 312

participating in the Vanuatu Natural Resources Inventory Project, with project partners CSIRO and Queensland DPI Forestry and on AusAID forestry projects. This included the institutional strengthening of the Vanuatu Department of Forests and assisting in the development of the Vanuatu Code of Logging Practice, Vanuatu Reduced Impact Logging Guidelines and Vanuatu Silvicultural Prescriptions, and supporting training programs.

Professional recognition .. forester David Wood is presented with the status of Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia by Keith Jennings, an IFA Fellow and former IFA Queensland president (left), and Rob de Fégely, IFA national president (right), at a luncheon in Brisbane that celebrated the International Day of Forests.

graduating from ANU in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science (Forestry).

In 1995, he completed a Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources, Law and Policy form the University of Wollongong.

In the early part of his career Mr Wood worked for 20 years in the planning and supervision of harvesting and forest management operations

in native forests in New South Wales and was district forester at Tenterfield with the Forestry Commission of NSW. His NSW experience included working as an environmental auditor developing audit procedures and conducting routine operational audits and special investigations.

For nearly a decade, Mr Wood then worked in a range of positions in Vanuatu,

Vanuatu government recognition Mr Wood also assisted in the development of the Vanuatu National Forest Policy and helped in the organisation of several South Pacific regional forestry conferences and workshops. On a recent visit to Vanuatu, his work was recognised by the Vanuatu government with the Minister of Agriculture presenting a plaque that ‘acknowledges the significant contribution Cont P 7

PRESENTATION

Active on development of IFA state policy From P 6

of Mr and Mrs David Wood in the economic development of forestry in Vanuatu’.

More recently, Mr Wood held the position of manager, vegetation and sustainable pole forests, with Ergon Energy in Queensland, where he utilised his forester skills in the area of utility corridor management. His expertise and skills in this field led to him being recognised in 2011 as a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) specialising in utility corridor management.

In this capacity, he strived to ensure that the management of power and gas corridors was more attuned to community expectations through the application of high quality ecological and spatial management skills that no other professionals can provide.

Since joining in 1974, Mr Wood has been a very active contributor to the objectives and functioning of the Institute of Foresters of Australia; he was secretary for the North Coast NSW branch for 10 years and actively participated on a policy development subcommittee for the Queensland division of the IFA. Mr Wood has been a regular attendee at IFA conferences, field days and seminars and is widely recognised by

NZ lumber exports fall in New Zealand JANUARY recorded a significant drop in lumber exports from New Zealand, well below January 2013, but in line with the five year average for January.

Lumber exports were well ahead of average for all of 2013.

Exports to the growth markets of China and southeast Asia were actually above January 2013, but it was the higher value markets of the US and Australia that were down yearon-year.

Relaxing on the Moda deck during the International Day of Forests luncheon in Brisbane are forester Dick Pegg, Ian Last, HQ Plantations, Keith Jennings, former IFA Queensland chairman, and Graham Applegate, who has returned after seven years of forest research in Indonesia.

IFA members for his wide ranging forestry expertise and knowledge.

He maintains strong networks by active membership of Australian Forest Growers, Greening Australia, Arboriculture Australia and the Utility Arborists Association of Australia, in addition to his participation in the IFA. In his acceptance speech, Mr Woods recalled that when he visited a career guidance councillor during his school days, and after narrowing down to a couple of options, the councillor suggested that with a surname like Wood, he could do worse than select forestry as a career.

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issue 312 | Page 7

FOREST CERTIFICATION

PEFC accreditation endorses China’s forestry management THE Chinese Forest Certification Scheme has been endorsed by the world’s largest forest sustainability certification system.

China voluntarily sought endorsement by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), which is globally recognised for its sustainability benchmarks and currently has the world’s largest area of forests under certification.

Welcoming the announcement, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck said PEFC also endorsed the Australian Forest Certification Scheme, including the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), which certified a significant amount of production forest area in Australia.

Acceptance .. the China Forest Certification Council joined PEFC International in 2011 and submitted its forest certification sheme for PEFC endorsement and mutual recognition in 2012.

Internationally, PEFC has endorsed 37 national forest certification schemes and

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another eight countries are in the process of applying for endorsement.

“PEFC is one of the world’s foremost programs for endorsement of national forest certification schemes and is leading to increased opportunities for Australian forest products in international markets,” Senator Colbeck said.

“It is very encouraging that China is promoting long-term sustainable forest management by voluntarily seeking endorsement by PEFC for its national forest certification scheme.

China one of the world’s biggest timber markets “China’s dominant market position means that demand for AFS (PEFC) certified forest products will only increase and places Australia well in accessing global markets.”

Senator Colbeck said there was a potential for increased demand of AFS certified products due to China’s

recognition under the PEFC system.

“Australian exporters of AFS certified forest products can have confidence that China, one of the world’s biggest timber markets, recognises the authenticity of the global PEFC certification system,” he said.

The Australian Forestry Standard has been endorsed

by PEFC since 2004 and AFS certified products are recognised in the international market place.

Senator Colbeck said Australia’s forest industry was among the best managed and most sustainable in the world.

PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Thanks to its eco-label, customers and consumers are able to identify products from sustainably managed forests.

With over 30 endorsed national certification systems and more than 240 million ha of certified forests, PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification system.

Six final bids for assets of Gunns TWO companies have entered final bids for the Tamar Valley pulp mill project proposed by collapsed Tasmanian timber company Gunns.

Receiver Korda Mentha said bids had come in for Gunns’ assets, including two for the mill. Bids had been received from theUS, UK, Australia and Asia.

As well as the mill, four parties have expressed interest in Gunns’ forestry assets, including plantations and freehold land and a woodchip mill.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Questionnaire on timber industry’s R&D plan for Qld INPUT is being sought from the Queensland industry into the research, development and extension (RD&E) that is required to meet the future needs of the state’s forest and timber industry.

A team of consultants led by Victoria-based Braden Jenkin has been appointed

by Queensland’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to support an industrybased advisory committee established by Forestry Minister John McVeigh.

The team will assist the committee develop a research, development and extension strategic investment plan.

Other members of the team are Dr Lyndall Bull, based at ANU, Canberra, Dr Russell Haines, forestry research program manager, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and Dr Michael Blyth, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products

Eight will guide investment of $1.4 million The investment plan will help to ensure that future forest and timber industry RD&E investment is aligned with industry priorities. In particular, the plan will guide investment of $1.4 million by the state government over two years in response to the Queensland Forest and Timber Industry Plan to align current RD&E with identified future directions, in addition to existing funding of around $3 million a year.

Members of the team have interviewed a number of people from across the industry over the past three weeks. They are interested in the views of industry participants on current and future issues and needs which could be addressed and

improved through investment in R&D and extension.

Individuals and organisations interested in making a contribution to the development of the plan are invited to complete a questionnaire which can be found at the web link www.surveymonkey.com/ s/ZSM69M3 Contributors can leave contact details at the end of the questionnaire if they would like to discuss their comments with one of the team members.

Contributions can be made up until April 11.

The advisory committee will be chaired by Scott Spencer, Deputy Director-General, Fisheries and Forestry, who has qualifications in economics.

Other committee members are Brian Farmer, CEO plantation (representring plantation growers); Barry Underhill, Assistant Director, Forestry, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (native forest grower/forest policy); John McNamara, CEO, Parkside Group Milling; Simon Dorries, general manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia; Bruce Robb, vicepresident, Housing Industry Association Queensland; Chris Lafferty, research and development manager, Forest and Wood Products Australia; and Dr Michael Kennedy, general manager, forest science, DAFF.

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issue 312 | Page 9

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS CELEBRATION

Richard Colbeck man with passion for the role of forests in world’s diverse eco-system TIMBER journalist and coordinator of the forest industry luncheon in Brisbane Jim Bowden described special guest speaker Senator Richard Colbeck as a man with a real passion for the role of forests in the health of a diverse and interconnected ecosystem.

In a vote of thanks, Jim said Senator Colbeck, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, was “just the kind of champion we need in Canberra”.

“You have a wide portfolio – fish, farms and wood, and they’re all interlinked as infinite industries.

We reckon you got the best post.

In fact, we have embraced you as our own forestry minister.”

He added: “A world without forests would be pretty bleak. Life as we know it couldn’t exist. In fact, it would, more than likely, be a dead planet.

“That’s because everything

INSURANCE..

IT’S ALL IN THE SELECTION

Forest industry luncheon coordinator Jim Bowden, managing editor, Timber&Forest enews (right), makes a presentation to keynote speaker Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, while Alfred Chapple, president, Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218 (left) and Pieter Verlinden, JIV president, Hoo-Hoo International, unfurl the Hoo-Hoo flag with the Black Cat emblem. Club 218 organised and hosted the event at Portside, Hamilton, in Brisbane.

Enjoying the industry luncheon celebrating the International Day of Forests in Brisbane are Brian Farmer, CEO, HQ Plantations, and David Smith, senior real estate consultant (agribusiness), CBRE, Brisbane.

keeps them sustainable.

“Since trees are important for everyone around the world, the United Nations has designated March 21 as the International Day of Forests.

“Of course, every day is a celebration of our forests.”

Jim Bowden said as a former wood turner and carpenter, Richard Colbeck would appreciate his gift of appreciation – an ornate box crafted from camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) and purple heart (Peltogyne pubescens), a South American wood that starts as a deep purple then matures to a dark brown.

“We reckon you’ve earned the purple heart after fighting on all those battlefronts in Tasmania,” Jim said.

A raffle during the luncheon raised almost $1000 for the children’s charities supported by Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218, the

organiser of the event.

A jewellery box made from rose mahogany (Dysoxylum fraseranum) and Tasmanian tiger myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii) was won by Noel Coxhead of Zelam in Melbourne.

The day’s master of ceremonies Stephen Walker, chairman of the Queensland division of the Institute of Foresters of Australia, went home with the second prize – a lazy Susan crafted from Tasmanian oak (Eucalyptus regnans), red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) and mararie (Pseudoweinmannia lachnocarpa).

In turn, Mr Walker presented a number of luncheon guests with his special prize-winning IFA Forestry Day chilli jam.

All the wood items presented and raffled were provided by John Muller of Wood Addiction, Montville, and fellow members of the Blackall Range Woodcrafters Guild.

we take for granted – clean air, abundant wildlife and nearly every product we use in our daily lives from the roof over our heads to the pencil behind my year – would not exist without the forests and the sound management that

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Page 10 | issue 312

New building approvals close to record levels LATEST ABS figures show that residential building approvals remained close to record levels during February.

“Although approvals fell by 5% during February compared with January, the overall picture is one of strength in the sector,” says HIA senior economist

Shane Garrett.

“Compared with the same time last year, approvals activity has increased by well over 20%. Typically, approvals can take about six months to translate into activity on the ground.”

ENGINEERED WOOD

It’s an all-new show of EWP technology at FRAME 2014

Global experts represent six countries at Melbourne event THE majority of exhibitors at Frame Australia 2014 are attending for the first time, with a host of new and established products specifically for prefabricated timber frame and wood panel building.

The one-day event at the Park Hyatt Melbourne on May 19 is being run in conjunction with the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia which will hold its AGM and conference at the venue on May 20.

Many will be exhibiting for the first time International exhibitors dominate overall with the largest number participating in 16 years

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of holding the Frame event, which supports the view that pre-fabrication in Australia will join the global trend of increasing interest from residential builders.

Exhibitors at Frame with displays for the first time include: • Airco / Senco Fasteners (Aust) – suppliers of a wide range of timber fastening air

tools and fasteners including coil guns, framing tools, screw guns and many more.

• APA – The Engineered Wood Association (USA) – global membership of producers and suppliers of wood products including plywood, OSB, I-joists, glulam and composite wood products.

• Australian Framing Automation (Aust) – a newlyformed company specialising in automated manufacturing equipment for timber truss and frame fabricators.

• Bliss & Reels (Aust) – machinery merchant supplying a large range of production equipment for many industries including timber truss and frame pre-fabrication.

Cont P 12

If you think using Risky Inferior Products is the way to go because they’re cheaper ..

.. then you’d be DEAD WRONG! Trust only tested and certified products. Untested and noncertified structural plywood, wood panels, LVL and formply can cause serious accidents – even deaths – on building sites, resulting in litigation and can be traced to the source of supply.

The risk is too great.

• Damage to your business • Possible loss of life • Legal action • Media exposure

EWPAA-branded products are independently tested to the highest standard and guaranteed to comply with Australian and New Zealand building codes and standards.

Certified under JAS-ANZ accredited product certifiation, they carry the designated design loads that meet the safety and quality requirements of trade unions and comply with all workplace health and safety standards.

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Unit 3, Unit 3, 106 Fison Ave West, Eagle Farm 4009 Qld Email: inbox@ewp.asn.,au Web: www.ewp.asn.au

issue 312 | Page 11

ENGINEERED WOOD

Wide range of building products, systems for prefabrication covered in one-day event From P 11

• Boral Plasterboard (Aust) – plasterboard wall and ceiling system solutions, including multiframe a complete timber frame construction system for low-rise apartment buildings.

• Cadwork (Canada) – software system using 3D-CAD/ CAM for pre-fab timber construction with specialized modules for a complete solution from planning to manufacturing.

• LAP Laser (Germany) – laser projection for wood processing measurement or alignment and positioning of timber and panels in truss and frame prefabrication.

• Loggo (Aust) – the newest and greenest flooring and portal frame building system from renewable resources in a lowcost engineered timber solution.

• Mohringer (Germany) – high quality woodworking equipment technology with

Page 12 | issue 312

From Sweden .. Randek develops, manufactures and markets high-performance machines and systems for prefabricated house manufacturing.

technical innovation in sorting and stacking lines for processed timber components.

• Randek (Sweden) – machines and systems for prefabricated house manufacturing including cut

saws; wall, floor and roof lines; truss systems; from manual to fully automated.

• Rotho Blaas (Italy) – innovative products in wood fastening systems with structural screws, concealed joints, angle

pieces and shoes, wedges and other construction fastenings.

• Tilling SmartStruct (Aust) – engineered wood building systems that are quick to construct, safer and costeffective, utilising Tecbeam in cassette floor systems up to five storeys high.

• UBIQ – INEX (Aust) – INEX is a new magnesium oxide technology building product in sections and panels for flooring, wall and ceiling applications, either internal or external.

Delegates at the conference and exhibition will have a unique opportunity to visit displays and talk to local and international experts on a wide range of building products and systems for prefabrication and construction to find out what’s new.

For more information visit www.frameaustralia.com

FOREST MACHINERY

DANA Melbourne

Australian Forest Industry Sector Conference August 7 and 8, 2014 Almost all speakers are already confirmed for the 2014 DANA Melbourne Conference. It is time to register now to take advantage of the Earlybird rate!

There will be many “highlight” presentations at the meeting, all presented by recognised and highly regarded speakers on:

• A key note address by Ric Sinclair of Forest&Wood Products Australia overviewing the sector, its status and direction.

• The volatile but vibrant Australian plantation forestry business:

Forestry claw .. Falcon has a real bird’s eye view.

Grappling with the logistics at wood flow event MORE than 400 forest managers, owners and harvesting contractors from New Zealand, Australia, the US, Canada and South America converged on Rotorua at the end of last year.

The occasion was the steep slope wood harvesting conference and a forestry safety summit organised by the Forest Industry Engineering Association.

The success of the November event along with innovations drawn from a transport and logistics program run for US forestry companies in the Pacific North West in October last year have

been incorporated into this year’s Wood Flow Logistics 2014 event.

The mid-June series is being run for local companies in both Australia and New Zealand.

“New technologies, new practices and new operating systems developed and adopted by some of the more innovative forestry, harvesting and wood transport companies will be the focus of the event,” says FIEA director Brent Apthorp.

At last year’s steep slope event, technologies that improved both worker safety Cont P 14

will 2014 finally see an end to the recent wholesale ownership churning?

• The rapidly growing Australian log export trade. China just gets hungrier and hungrier, including into 2014. How far can it go?

• The Australian softwood and hardwood woodchip trade. 2013 ended with the highest ever exports of hardwood chip from Australia to China – by far. Will this continue? India took 11 shipments of woodchips in 2013 (mostly from Australia); and 2014 is stacking up to be a record if price requirements can be met. Will India be the next hardwood chip mecca?

• Just how much pulpwood does Australia have?

• The global and Pacific Rim softwood log and lumber supply demand and supply balance. Is a supercycle in the making?

Two international speakers share their views. Any impact on the Australian industry.

• The Australian sawmilling sector. Ready for a rebound?

A presentation on the impacts of competition from European and from Chilean lumber producers will be highlights of the meeting, as will a view from a high profile Australian speaker.

• The Pacific Rim Wood Panel industry and where Australian production might fit in the future.

• A presentation on the global and Pacific Rim pulp industry status and supply and demand projections going forward by UK based Hawkins Wright. The perennial Australian pulp expansion question discussed.

• The Australian paper industry and its direction.

• Australian woodpellets: Korean demand is skyrocketing; from zero recently to 500,000 tonnes in “In 2014 w 2013 and some say to more than 2 e are unlikely to million tonnes in a few years. Will see such a strong li this mean a revival in Australian ne-up of internatio production and exports? nal and domestic presenters • Tree-based carbon; moribund covering a ll importan recently, but with a new aspects o t f the Austr government and a new policy, alian F o re stry and F what chances of revival? orest Products Industry”

To register immediately, visit www.prcc.com.au/ danamelbourne2014 and follow the register link or contact Pamela Richards at pam@prcc.com.au issue 312 | Page 13

FOREST MACHINERY

Up to 95pc utilisation with grapple carriages From P 13

and productivity on steeper terrain were highlighted.

What’s interesting is that a number of these new innovations were developed by those working in the forest.

There was an immediate need to change how wood was being harvested with their current equipment; the initiative was coming from contractors working together with local engineering companies.

Dale Ewers is a harvesting contractor based in Nelson with crews working around New Zealand. Late in 2011, the company decided after experimenting with a number of grapple carriages on their cable hauling and yarder operations to design and build their own – the Falcon Forestry Claw (pictured).

The grapple carriages are now used in all of Dale’s crews and have been picked up by other contractors.

Fifteen have been produced.

A smaller and lighter carriage has also just been built (800 kg lighter with a maximum payload of about 4 tonnes) and at the time of writing, was being trialled by two of Dale’s crews.

The forestry claw incorporates a camera into the grapple carriage providing the operator a real time bird’s

Forest managers, owners and harvesting contractors will be attracted to events in Melbourne and Rotorua.

eye view of the operation. It includes an infrared camera and carriage lighting for operating in the dark, GPS location (with data on cycle time, elevation, distance, speed and slope being supplied), details on carriage distance to hauler and a host of other benefits.

Innovations by South American harvest experts Dale’s Nelson crews are up to 95% utilisation with the grapple carriages.

Other innovations include an addition of an extra arm on the grapple that will hold trees already within the claw to multi-bunch – potentially

leading to a 30% increase in the number of trees brought up to the landing.

Other innovations being worked on by Dale and his team include a remote winch assist dozer, remote winch assist digger, crew voice recorders, automated hauler controls and a log carriage being fitted with a felling head.

The objective from the start was to mechanise their harvesting operations with the aim of eliminating or reducing incidents on the landings, then with breaking out operations and finally, incidents through manual felling on steeper slopes.

Dale will be outlining these innovations, and one of Australia’s largest stand-alone

harvest and haul operations Sunchip will be presenting as part of the harvesting component of the Australian leg of the wood flow logistics event his year. In addition, the very latest developments from Waratah Forestry Attachments, Tigercat, Brightwater Engineering, an overview of innovations used by leading South American harvesting operations and a new on-line mapping product to assist in harvest planning will be discussed at both the Australian and New Zealand legs of the event.

Wood Flow Logistics 2014 will run in Rotorua, NZ on June 11 and 12 and again in Melbourne on June 17 and 18.

Visit www.woodflowlogistics. com

Don’t WASTE an Opportunity FR See AM yo EA ua us t .. tra lia Page 14 | issue 312

Loggo Pty Ltd has developed possibly the world’s CHEAPEST and most COST-EFFICIENT engineered wood product for floor and house frame building.

A world breakthrough in EWP technology .. a proven concept in its infancy set to revolutionise production costs using the ‘throw-away’ waste timber market.

Joint venture partnerships as well as license agreements will be considered.

Don’t WASTE time visit www.loggo.com.au

Engineered Timber Products

FOCUS ON TASMANIA

‘Greens’ land grab never stops’ Environmenal groups seek further heritage extensions PARLIAMENTARY secretary to the Minister for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck says he is not surprised by admissions from the environmental groups made to the Senate Environment and Communications Committee Inquiry into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The senate inquiry took evidence at a sitting in Hobart last week.

A number of environment groups submitted that the 2013 extension of 170,000 ha which was an increase in area of 13% was not satisfactory and reiterated their desire to extend the TWWHA even further.

“The admission by the Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation and Environment Tasmania that they are seeking further extensions to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area shows what we have been saying all through this process,” he said.

“The Greens Party and environmental groups want to kill off the forestry industry and enough is never enough.”

Senator Colbeck added: “We know from their submissions to the World Heritage Commission in 2010 that they wanted the estate extended by 806,000 ha.

The 2013 extension of 170,000 ha was never going to meet their

Richard Colbeck

Will Hodgman

demands.

“It is obvious that the ENGOs will never be satisfied until the great majority of public land in Tasmania is forever locked away from human use, this includes not only forestry and mining, but will extend to popular recreational activities like horse-riding, hunting, fishing and even beekeeping which introduces exotic animals into the environment.”

Hodgman outlines expansion of new areas for logging He said there was never going to be any peace; it was just a ruse to “draw in the gullible.”

Senator Colbeck declared: “These Green groups are lost in the last century attitudes of lock up and lock out. Progressive thinkers now promote broad

Paul Harriss

landscape scale management.”

As FAO director-general José Graziano da Silva said in the 2012 State of the World’s Forests Report: “A challenge for the forestry profession is to communicate the simple idea that the best way of saving a forest is to manage it sustainably and to benefit from its products and ecosystem services. If the principles of sustainable forest management are applied and forest products and ecosystem services play an increasing role, the global economy will become greener.”

Meanwhile, Tasmania’s new Liberal government is set to outline an expansion of logging in areas earmarked for protection, despite the forestry industry voicing its support for the peace deal that set out the reserves.

Premier Will Hodgman

José Graziano da Silva

is expected to unveil the government’s alternative plan to the Tasmanian Forest Agreement within the next week.

The new plan may allow for an escalation of logging in areas of forest due to be set aside for protection under the agreement. The Liberals have vowed to tear up the peace deal, which was struck between loggers, environmentalists and the previous government to end decades of conflict over the state’s forests.

Hodgman said that the Tasmanian Resource Minister Paul Harriss, is in the process of drawing up an alternative to the forestry agreement.

“I am optimistic that within a week or so Paul Harriss will be able to outline more details about what has been developed as part of our plan.”

Non-compliant products hit supply chains From P 3

finding that 92% of respondents reported non-conforming products in their supply chain.

According to this survey, 45% of companies are experiencing eroded margins and reduced revenues due to the presence on non-conforming products.

In addition to the impact on individual business’s finances, the report indicates NCPs can pose safety risks, escalate deterioration rates in buildings,

reduce asset values, increase maintenance costs and have the potential to impact on the Australian economy and general overall competitiveness.

The efficiency of the current regulatory system and conformance framework – the system used to ensure products are fit for purpose – was also examined in the research.

Despite convincing evidence of NCPs in the market, 43% of respondents reported they had not lodged a complaint. Of

these, close to half indicated they did not know how to lodge a complaint, or reported that complaints previously lodged did not achieve a result.

There appears to be confusion among stakeholders about who has responsibility and the arrangements for reporting and recourse when non-conforming product is found,” Innes Willox said.

“In some cases, the gaps and weaknesses in the building products conformance

framework are giving rise to voluntary, industry-led, third party product certification schemes and such arrangements can be effective.”

The report suggests that building certifiers bear a disproportionate share of the burden for ensuring product conformance and that greater emphasis on conformance at point of sale and increased responsibility on product suppliers and builders may be required.

issue 312 | Page 15

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Scientists unlock wood’s energy potential with recipe for enthanol Breaking lignin down into useful chemical components

TURNING wood fibre into a commercially viable, renewable source of ethanol is a dream that fuels the efforts of Purdue University’s centre for conversion of biomass to Biofuels in Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Standing in the way of that dream is a hurdle called lignin.

Lignin is what makes wood wood – that is, stiff and durable compared to other plants. While corn can be fermented and distilled into ethanol with relative ease, getting ethanol from wood fibres is like squeezing water out of a rock.

Until now.

A group of scientists at Purdue has devised a catalytic process that unlocks the energy potential of wood by breaking the lignin down into useful chemical components called phenols.

Once the lignin is out of the way, the remaining wood cells, or cellulose, can more easily be converted to biofuels.

Funelling profits into developing cellulosic fibres While the process works in the laboratory, a key question is, will it work in the real world?

A new company headquartered in Purdue Research Park is about to find out.

Based in the Kurz Purdue Technology Centre, Spero Energy Inc. will seek ways to scale up the process of converting wood waste into compounds that can be used not only for biofuels but for chemicals that have

derived phenols may find a niche by virtue of being made from a renewable, more environmentally benign source – trees.

“The customers would be in the fragrance and flavouring industries,” he said. “Those industries would get products from a renewable source rather than from a nonrenewable source (petroleum). We hope that we will be able to do so.

Customers are in fragrance and flavouring industry

Senior scientist Trenton Parsell holds wood chips in his left hand and a small vial containing phenols in his right hand. Purdue University has developed a patent applied-for catalytic process that breaks down the lignin in wood, producing phenols, used in fragrances and food flavourings.

value in the fragrance and food industries.

Spero Energy president Mahdi Abu-Omar says the company has its work cut out.

“This is a (company) that I started to basically speed up and move to commercialisation this Purdue technology that we developed,” he said.

“The technology essentially (transforms) the waste component of wood into highvalue chemicals.”

First, the company must scale up the process, then find customers for its lignin-derived phenol compounds.

If that succeeds, the plan is to funnel the profits into further developing cellulosic fibre into a viable source of biofuel. It’s a competitive market.

“There are technologies out there where people start with sugars and make biofuels or renewable fuels,” Abu-Omar said. “Cellulosic ethanol is something that hasn’t completely entered the market. ”For now, the company’s focus is primarily on deriving phenols from lignin, which comprises about 30% of wood waste.

Currently, most phenols are derived from petroleum. Wood-

Ancient face in a tree stares at Canadian loggers A FACE carved into a tree trunk was discovered by forestry workers in a remote location at Toba Inlet on the British Columbia coast. It had

Page 16 | issue 312

been staring down an ancient river valley in the rainforest for almost 200 years. The chance discovery has helped to silence a question of doubt regarding the

geographic limits of Klahoose First Nation traditional territory.

Two forest contractors working in a cutblock and turned around to discover the carved face.

“We’ll start by scaling up to demonstrate the ability to make these chemicals from a renewable source at a price advantage to the customer. The second potential customers are people making renewable fuels.

Abu-Omar said the catalytic process the company used is proprietary and patent appliedfor. The process was relatively clean, producing phenols and lignin-free cellulose, with water its only byproduct. He and others at Purdue had been developing the process for about four years, he said.

Other principal officers in Spero Energy are CEO Tony Hamer, a Purdue alumnus with 40 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, and Basu Saha, the company’s chief technology officer and associate research scientist in the chemistry department at Purdue.

Abu-Omar is the R.B. Wetherill Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Purdue.

ON THE ROAD

Honda Odyssey models on track for multi-seat comfort and fuel efficiency New bloodline earns the VTi room in the trophy cabinet WE settled into Odyssey’s leather-trim saddles and headed to Eagle Farm race track in Brisbane to catch up with veteran jockey Noel Best, 81, who won a Doomben 10,000 in 1948 when he was just 15 years old.

“Odyssey, eh? Run as good as Nebula Odyssey’s chestnut mare Star Giggle?” questioned the former trainer and jockey who rode in the Melbourne Cup in 1957.

We were at the track to write a sports story on Noel, parking the fifth generation bloodline Honda Odyssey near some stables.

This was the VTi eight-seater that could have accommodated a dozen jockeys.

New features and technology set a high benchmark The Odyssey Vti and sevenseater VT-iL model have arrived with a new design, a host of new features, improved fuel efficiency and state-of-theart technology. Both feature a 2.4 litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, delivering 129kW at 6200 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.

The engine is coupled with continuously variable transmission with torque converter and paddle shift, delivering dynamic driving and outstanding fuel efficiency.

Both variants pack in the feature – Honda’s ECON mode and eco assist, vehicle stability system, tyre deflation warning system, six airbags (including third row), daytime running lights, Halogen headlights with auto on/off and cruise control with steering wheel mounted buttons.

The VTi features cloth trim, a retractable third row seat with

Top bloodlines .. Honda Odyssey is good for the course.

40/20/40 split fold, front and torsion beam rear suspension and power-sliding door with remote open-close on the passenger side.

Added are, two-speed intermittent windscreen wipers and rear window wiper, HDMI jack and two USB ports, hill tart assist, power windows with remote open and 17 in. alloy wheels.

The multi-view camera and ‘smart park’ assist helped us negotiate reversing through some horse trailers and a blind spot information system and cross-traffic monitor were useful as we entered the early dash-for-work drivers on Racecourse Road.

Another highlight is the second row captain’s chairs with arm rests and ottoman.

All seven seats are finished in leather trim and the front seats have heating.

The new Odyssey is the first vehicle in the Honda range in Australia to feature the nextgeneration of Honda’s audio system. A touch screen displays audio functionality, hands-free Bluetooth functionality as well as system information.

We agree with Honda Australia director Stephen Collins: “As one of Honda’s most awarded models, the outgoing Odyssey set a high benchmark. We’re sure we’ll be finding room in the trophy cabinet for this new model as well.

Manufacturer’s prices: Odyssey VTi-L $47,620; Odyssey VTi $38,990. All colours are metallic or pearlescent.

Big people-mover .. inside the Honda Odyssey eight-seater.

** ** THE much-anticipated Honda CR-V Diesel has landed in Australia, offering the best of CR-V’s packaging and excellent fuel economy.

Since the fourth-generation CR-V arrived in November last year, Honda has sold just over 14,000 units.

The new diesel variant completes the CR-V offering, which includes a choice of two and four-wheel drive, manual and automatic transmissions as well as the option of an advanced driver assist system in the petrol 4WD VTi-L. The CR-V DTi-S and DTi-L feature a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine delivering 11 0kW of power at 4000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 2000-2750 rpm.

New to the diesel is Honda’s 4WD control system that give extra grip on uneven or slippery surfaces. It also features hill descent control (automatic only) that works in tandem with the vehicle stability assist to provide even more security and connection with the road.

The exterior is styled with 17 in. alloys with a full sized spare, halogen headlights with autooff timer function, LED daytime running lights and LED rear tail lights.

Manufacturer’s price is listed at $38,290.

issue 312 | Page 17

CLASSIFIEDS

POSITION VACANT Want to sell prestigious forestry equipment?

We have an opportunity for a highly motivated and disciplined sales professional to promote and sell our suite of forestry products throughout Victoria and South Australia.

Our suite of products includes the entire range of Tigercat equipment, from feller bunchers, skidders to forwarders and mulchers, as well as Hyundai forestry machines, Rotobec grapples, Waratah/ Satco processors and Berco undercarriage.

To be successful for this role you must have the following: • Proven track record of achieving sales targets.

• Technical / mechanical aptitude and understanding.

• Genuine ability to build positive, lasting relationships with clients, suppliers and industry members.

• Strong organisational, negotiation and follow up skills.

• Considerable experience and/or knowledge of forestry equipment and their application.

• High-level communication skills, with a commercial aptitude.

• Enjoy being ‘out on the road’ visiting customers.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a driven individual looking for a diverse and fulfilling role within a continually expanding organisation. A generous remuneration package is on offer to the right candidate.

For queries regarding the position please contact David Hazell: 0409 711 111.

Why taking an ad with us is the best value for you!

• More than 16,000 deliveries and many more viewers each week • Read and re-read everyday as the most authoritative industry information medium • Best rates, best service - unbeatable • Faster, wider penetration of your message in Australiasia than any other industry publication • Adverts take readers and potential clients direct to websites

To apply please email your resume to hr@onetrak.com.au

Contact Timber & Forestry Enews

1300 727 520 WWW.ONETRAK.COM.AU

Tel: +61 429 508 050 dennis@industrye-news.com

POSITION VACANT

General Manager Tilling Timber Sydney Tilling Timber (Group) is one of Australia’s largest National forest products wholesaler/importers. A privately held company, Tilling Timber Pty Ltd was established by the present owners in November 1963.

The company has extensive offices and warehouse facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide as well as manufacturing facilities at its head office complex located in Kilsyth, Victoria.

As a result of considerable expansion within our NSW operations we now have an excellent, challenging and highly rewarding opportunity for an experienced Timber Industry General Manager to come on board. Reporting to the Tilling Group Managing Director, this role involves the following key responsibilities: • Staffing; recruitment, training and development, retention, morale, disciplinary action and budgeting.

• Budgetary; budget and target setting, maintenance and achievement, at the branch level, department level and sales representative level.

• Margin maintenance and retention.

• Reporting; sales and financial, daily, monthly and annual.

• Operational; stock concerns including control, maintenance and churn, waste minimisation, efficiencies and improvements.

Page 18 | issue 312

• Customers; existing customer relationship maintenance and management, business development including identifying and approaching potential new customers and new markets.

This role involves some travel on occasion. Candidates must possess extensive timber industry experience, knowledge and a strong contacts network.

Experience required: • 5+ years experience in a similar senior role within the timber industry • Excellent leadership skills • Technologically savvy • Proven experience setting, managing and achieving budgets and targets • Sound understanding of workplace health and safety • Understanding and experience working with an ERP system, Prostix experience highly advantageous Confidential enquiries and applications should be directed to Laura-Lee Martin, HR Manager, on 03 9725 0222 or alternatively at lauram@tilling.com.au All applications will be addressed in the strictest of confidence.

297x210mm Vertical 254x93mm Horizontal 125x190mm Vertical 125x93mm Horizontal 73x190mm Horizontal 73x190mm Vertical 140x44.5mm 110 Vertical 34x44.5mm

297x210mm Vertical 254x93mm Horizontal 125x190mm Vertical 125x93mm Horizontal 51x93mm

issue 312 | Page 19