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ISSUE 324 | June 30, 2014
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Buy-back plan to safeguard forests State decision assures sustainable timber supply
THE NSW Forest Corporation has bought back 50,000 cub m of hardwood allocation from its largest customer on the north coast in a bid to safeguard a sustainable supply of timber for the region’s sawmillers. Welcoming the decision, the general manager of the NSW Forest Products Association Maree McCaskill said securing the supply of high quality saw logs to all industry on the north coast not only maintained the supply of vital products to the state’s building industry but sustained regional employment. “For FPA members, whose businesses rely on allocations
The NATIONAL voice for • Timber Merchants • Suppliers • Manufacturers
Blackbutt forests .. First thinning of 15-year-old blackbutt at Comboyne in the NSW mid-coast region.
of timber under contract with Forest Corporation NSW, the long-term sustainability of both
the resource and the industry is
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Cont P 3
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ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1
INDUSTRY NEWS
‘We’ll get on with the job of reopening the forests’ Leaders disappointed by Doha decision “IT won’t stop us with getting on with the job of reopening the forest industry,” a disappointed Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said after UNESCO’s world heritage committee summarily dismissed the Abbott government’s bid to wind back protection of the state’s forests. He said he accepted the umpire’s decision. He said while the state government fully supported the submission, it was not pivotal to his plans. “Let’s be clear, this was a federal government commitment they took to the election,” Mr Hodgman said. “They won that and they’re delivering on that. They’ve got our support but we’ll accept the umpire’s decision.” The committee meeting in Doha, on the east coast of the Persian Gulf, took just seven minutes to consider the approach and no country spoke in favour of the bid to de-list 74,000 ha of old-growth forest.
Timber jobs will be lost – Colbeck
forestworks@forestworks.com.au
www.forestworks.com.au
PAGE 2 | ISSUE 324
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government was ‘’disappointed’’. ‘’We’re disappointed with the decision but the application we made to remove from the boundaries of the world heritage listing areas of degraded forest areas of plantation timber we thought was self-evidently sensible. “We will be carefully looking at the decision and deciding what’s best now,’’ he added. In a joint statement, Environment Minister Greg Hunt and the Parliamentary
Tony Abbott
Will Hodgman
Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck said the government had honoured an election commitment by seeking the boundary change. “The committee has not approved the Australian government’s request. Australia accepts and will consider the decision of the world heritage committee,’’ the statement said. The de-listing bid, one of few in UNESCO history, arose of out a 2013 election promise by the Abbott government to roll back a 170,000 ha extension to the 1.5 million ha Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The extension fulfilled a key plank of the peace deal struck by industry and green groups to end the generation-old Tasmanian forest conflict, and was guided through by former Labor Environment Minister Tony Burke. After Liberal landslide wins in three of the five Tasmanian seats in the election, the government claimed a strong mandate to wind back the listing. “We need to ensure that the great state of Tasmania is a strong economy as a well as a beautiful national park,” Mr Abbott repeated recently. Senator Colbeck launched a campaign arguing that the listing of 74,000 ha of forests made a mockery of world
Richard Colbeck
heritage values because of previous logging. But the federal Environment Department told a Senate inquiry into the de-listing bid that only 4% of the 74,000 ha had been heavily disturbed. Senator Colbeck, who has posted dozens of photographs which he claims show the degraded nature of the 74,000 ha area, said the decision would cost jobs. “There’s no questions that livelihoods will be damaged, businesses will be lost as a result of this,” he said. “The people in the highvalue end of the forest sector, the wooden boat builders, the furniture makers, they will lose access to their resource. “It’s a matter of having sensible access to a resource. This extension is basically a Labor-Greens move which will damage the forest industry. The whole listing in 2013 by [former environment minister] Tony Burke and the Greens was an ideological one aimed to destroy the forestry industry.” The International Union for the Conservation of Nature advised the World Heritage committee that the wind back would be “clearly inappropriate”, and diminished the wilderness’ outstanding universal values. Among areas targeted for delisting was the bitterly disputed Upper Florentine Valley in central Tasmania.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Changing supply contracts gives even flow of resource “Anyone who appreciates their own garden or backyard accepts that active management of an area leads to a healthier outcomes for plants, trees and animals.
From P 1
of paramount importance,” Ms McCaskill said. “In this concern, the timber industry stands united with the NSW government and with north coast communities in seeking to harvest timber in a sustainable way. “This decision ensures that a well-regulated supply will continue and assists in crafting a future for timber businesses post 2023 when negotiations under a further Regional Forest Agreement have concluded.” The government resumption will mean some short-term pain for Boral Timber and will have a major impact on their operations on the NSW North Coast.
State shows foresight on decision Before the ink was dry on signed RFAs in 2003, then premier Bob Carr transferred much of the coastal blackbutt forest to national parks in an apparent ploy to win green preferences at the election. Since then, forestry has been honouring wood supply agreements, signed before the
Looming cliff in supply arrangement Maree McCaskill
Ross Hampton
Carr government plunder, but is at a stage where this cannot continue. The state’s forest and park estate is the most highly regulated in the world and the timber industry works very effectively within these parameters. Of the total 785,407 ha of state forest controlled land on the north coast, only 315,175 ha (40%) is made available by the Forest Corporation for selective, sustainable harvesting. Clear felling is not a practice used in the state’s native hardwood forests. The Forest Products Association argues that the key to ensuring sustainable forest management is to treat the entire tenure in New South Wales – whether national park, state forest or Crown land – with the same management
Katrina Hodgkinson
regime, one that achieves a triple bottom line – social, environmental and economic benefits. “Communities in Europe, the UK, the US and Canada agree that environmental sustainability requires active forest and park management rather than estate lock ups, which result in long term environmental degradation,” Maree McCaskill said.
“This is simply a microcosm of the practices needed in the larger NSW estate.” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Ross Hampton said the Baird government should be applauded for showing foresight and acting to manage, along with industry, timber supply in northern NSW by changing the contracted supply arrangements to ensure Cont P 7
Step towards sustainable future NSW Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said the $8.55 million agreement to reduce the harvest of highquality saw logs on the north Coast would ensure the longterm sustainable supply of timber from the region’s forests. The state government has acted on the recommendations of the independently chaired Project 2023 steering committee to buy back about 50,000 cub m of timber allocations annually for the next nine years.
“This buy-back will allow the continued maturing of north coast forests and has been agreed in negotiations between the Forestry Corporation and its largest hardwood customer on the north Coast, Boral,” Ms Hodgkinson said. A summary of the independent report by consultants URS Australia is available on the Department of Primary Industries website – www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ agriculture/resources
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 3
INDUSTRY NEWS
Builders, industry agree: framing innovation must be two-way street By JIM BOWDEN
WHEN more than 200 builders, designers and specifiers turn up for a timber frame seminar and stay glued to the last minute of the last presentation there’s the realisation that the trade sector is looking for change – and innovation. Speakers at the Timber Queensland event at Portside in Brisbane last Thursday nailed the attention with a theme ‘gaining height and removing risk’.
Challenging convention to innovate Happy with the outcome, TQ CEO Rod McInnes said if innovative changes in the industry were to be absorbed by both builders and frame manufacturers, then it was all
In the frame .. speakers Geoff Stringer, technical manager, Hyne, Geoff Robb, general manager, Buildus, Rod McInnes, CEO, Timber Queensland, Colin MacKenzie, TQ’s manager, timber application and use, and Peter Crooke, sales manager, Bretts Home Timber and Hardware.
about a two-way communication process. “Builders are obviously looking for something different and seminars such as this illustrate the wood industry has the goods. “We need the courage to challenge convention and try
new ideas.” The seminar explored the economics of framing options, regulatory compliance with pine framing, termite treatment systems and sent strong messages about the importance of on-site experience. Backgrounding the ‘gaining
height’ theme is the building innovation that will be needed to meet the demand for mediumdensity housing which has reached record levels. Forest and Wood Products Australia is working with the Australian Building Codes Board and state regulators on deemed-to-satisfy solutions across all building classes to allow increased heights for both lightweight and massive timber systems. In the past year, market demand for property in this category – units, townhouses, medium to high-density housing – has risen steadily. A new Bankwest study shows that new home approvals in this category were up, reflecting the high levels of demand. Around 43% of new home approvals Cont P 15
BLUE Framing - Proven Performance LASERframe TERMINATOR Blue uses Determite preservation technology successfully used in Australia for nearly 10 years. Ongoing testing and proven performance in Australian houses equals peace of mind protection from one of Australia’s largest wood product producers. D LASERframe TERMINATOR Blue is treated for protection from termites for up to 25 years* AND has been specifically tested and approved** against European House Borer (EHB). Determite preservative is highly repellent to termites and has been used and proven effective in Australian homes below the Tropic of Capricorn. D LASERframe TERMINATOR Blue is produced by an innovative quality controlled factory process to ensure correct coverage of timber framing products in compliance with Australian Standards and building regulatory requirements D LASERframe TERMINATOR Blue framing is backed by Osmose, one of the world’s largest supplier of timber preservative treatment products and covered by a limited guarantee* against termites and EHB for 25 years. For product support visit chhwoodproducts.com.au/laserframeterminatorblue * The guarantee is provided by the chemical supplier for the benefit of the property owner. It is a limited and conditional guarantee covering the provision of replacement product used in Australia. The full terms and conditions are available at www.chhwoodproducts.com.au/guarantees. See guarantee for details. ** Approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Osmose® and DeterMite® are trademarks of Osmose, Inc. or its subsidiaries. DeterMite treated timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. © 2014 Osmose, Inc.
The natural solution for you.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
2014 AROUND THE CIRCUIT
JULY
6-9: NZIF 2014 conference – Napier War Memorial, 48 Marine Parade, Napier. This is the Institute of Forestry’s main event for the year. Forest owners, professionals, managers, consultants and educators will meet to discuss the conference theme, ‘Tackling the Challenges and Delivering Value’. Field trip to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand’s fruit bowl and premium wine region – and 135,000 ha of forest plantations split between a few larger companies and many smaller growers. Email: admin@ nzif.org.nz Web: www.forestry. org.nz
AUGUST 2014 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. 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: The Australian Forest and Forest Products Sector: Situation in 2014 and Trends Going Forward. DANA conference – Bayview Eden Hotel, Melbourne. Presentations on the tree plantation industry and its trading environment, log production and exports, softwood and hardwood woodchip export trends to major markets and the future outlook; the sawn timber industry – production and direction (including import competition), the potential for wood panel expansion, the domestic pulp and paper sectors and global pulp demand outlook, wood pellet potential; and more. This includes 13 speaker from Australia and 10 high-profile specialists in their fields from overseas – two from China, two from Canada, two from the US and one each from Chile, Finland and New Zealand. Shanghai-based RISI forestry specialist Gavin Hao will provide an extended presentation on North Asian and Indian softwood and woodchip markets, where Australia fits into these markets in 2013 and 2014, and predictions about future demand. Other speakers include 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. Full registration details, plus the program, speakers, sponsorship and the online registration can be viewed at prcc.com.au / danamelbourne2014 or contact Pamela Richards at email pam@ prcc.com.au
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
SEPTEMBER 17-18: Wood Innovations 2014: Timber Preservation – Wood Modification – Composite Products – Rotorua, NZ. 23-24: Melbourne. (www.woodinnovations2014. com). Changes in new wood treatment formulations, processes and systems, standards, legislation with the focus also on wood plastic composites and modified wood products. 19-20: ForestTECH 2014. Rotorua, NZ. 25-26: Melbourne. (www.foresttech2014.com). Remote sensing, field Inventory, forest estate planning.
2015 MARCH
25: ForestWorks annual industry conference and dinner in Canberra. Flagship event for the forest, wood, paper and timber products industries. Joining with the Australian Forest Products Association to co-host the popular networking industry dinner at Parliament House. Conference will look beyond the innovative technologies in industry and focus on the people, exploring how they can help to bring about innovation. Further details will be announced in the coming months, including the conference theme, speakers and venue. Contact forestworks@ forestworks.com.au
THE AUSTRALIAN FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION The lead voice in Canberra on policy affecting forest, wood and paper products industries. AFPA strives to deliver benefits for the complete industry value chain including those involved in: • Forest growing • Harvest and haulage • Sawmilling and other wood processing • Pulp and paper processing • Forest product exporting
Join us today and share the benefits Call (02) 6285 3833
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 5
EVENTS
AWISA cornerstone of business in woodworking, joinery sectors Opportunity to get up to speed on new technology
STILL haven’t made up your mind about visiting the AWISA 2014 in Brisbane? Yes, attending can be a complex planning decision and time-consuming to attend. In deciding – if you have not already done so – here are some things to think about. Stepping back a bit first, trade shows have long been considered to be the traditional economic barometer of industry health, a measure of the commercial performance of exhibitors and an important interface with existing and prospective customers. For exhibitors, trade shows are almost a question of life or death. “There is just no way we can afford not to be here,” said one exhibitor at the last AWISA show. “People in the industry are here to look and if you are not here you won’t be seen.”
Winds of change may well be starting to blow Yet times are changing. Today’s markets and marketing strategists are asking if yesterday’s recipes can still
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event. AWISA – at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from August 6 to 9 – has won a hard-earned reputation as the southern hemisphere’s meticulously planned and executed woodworking trade show attracting international exhibitors and visitors and displaying leading-edge technologies and products over the years. AWISA has demonstrated a commitment to providing a most impressive platform for exhibitors and buyers to conduct business transactions.
guarantee tomorrow’s business success soufflé The winds of change may well be starting to blow through the exhibition halls of some traditional trade shows. For instance, large classical international trade fairs are finding themselves faced with alternative shows and are having to compete against new electronic and other marketing techniques. And although many exhibitors and buyers demonstrate a remarkable loyalty to trade fairs, it is noticeable that they are developing a keener cost
awareness and weighing up the benefits in a way that they may not have done in the past. But for shows like AWISA it would be fatal to describe them as other than critically important. AWISA remains very much the cornerstone of business in the woodworking, joinery and furniture trades, both in Australia and New Zealand. Equally, AWISA has developed a reputation as an occasion not to be missed. If the major suppliers to the woodworking industry and manufacturers want to stay on top of their game, AWISA is a ‘must attend’
Cutting edge new machines, systems and technology Participants have generally acknowledged that they cannot afford to miss AWISA; it presents the best opportunity in Australia to see the most comprehensive range of machinery, equipment and products that can assist businesses to operate more efficiently and be more profitable. AWISA has demonstrated a commitment to providing a most impressive platform for exhibitors and buyers to conduct business transactions. So .. still not sure whether or Cont P 7
INDUSTRY NEWS
Timber communities suffered when Carr government locked up vast tracks of forest From P 3
a more even flow of resource into the future. “Industry in NSW has been alerting government for some time that it was approaching a looming cliff in supply under current contracts with the NSW government,” Mr Hampton said. “This situation was created by the Carr government early last decade by locking up vast tracts of forest. “At that time the government failed to properly appreciate the likely impacts on the 25,000 people in regional areas dependent on the forest products industry.” Mr Hampton said Australia was home to the most sustainably managed forests in the world and the 2013 State of the Forests Report records no reduction in the areas of rainforest, multiple-use public forest, or forest in any of the RFA regions compared with 2008. Australia imported more than $4 billion worth of forest
Great opportunity to get up to speed on new technology From P 6
not you should attend the show? The smart money suggests that you need to be there if you want to learn about cutting edge new equipment, systems and technology. So even if you are not presently in the market for machinery or equipment, AWISA provides a great opportunity to get up to speed on industry technology, designs manufacturing trends, the latest hardware styles and products – your business survival may depend on it. For more details and to preregister as a visitor, go to www. awisa.com
Bob Carr .. little appreciation of impacts on forest jobs.
products annually while exporting only about $2 billion worth.
“Consumers cannot always have the same degree of confidence about sustainable
forestry management from imports as they can for our carefully managed domestic products,” Mr Hampton said. “We all gain from the economic, social and environmental benefits of using wood from sustainably managed forests in place of concrete and steel as we move to a carbon constrained global economy. “The Baird government has clearly demonstrated their commitment to managing this natural, renewable resource wisely.”
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Contact the Australian Lonza team for full details of the Lonza value package. phone:1300 650 636
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 7
INDUSTRY NEWS
Doug Howick remembers Norton Ladkin.
Diana Llloyd updates on university courses.
Joane Forster addresses the meeting.
Katherine Neaves .. thanks by video link.
Adian Lynch of Hancocks Plantations.
Ladkin scholarships awarded to students at Mt Gambier meeting From BRIAN PAGE
MORE than 40 guests gathered at a Mount Gambier Timber Industry Club meeting in Mount Gambier this month for the presentation of scholarships to forestry students from the Southern Cross University. Keynote speaker Ian Tyson, chief executive of Timberlink Australia, was welcomed by
club president Maurie Drewer. Funding to support the scholarships came from the Norton Ladkin Memorial Award and committee member Doug Howick of Melbourne Hoo-Hoo Club 217 spoke of Mr Ladkin’s great leadership in the softwood pine industry. Diana Lloyd, Southern Cross University course Val Fennell receiving life membership of Club 214.
owned and has a processing capacity of 400,000 cub m of sawlog a year, some of which is harvested from 6000 ha of company owned and managed land, with the remainder sourced from plantations in the southwest region of Victoria. Katherine Neaves of Hancock Plantations, Gippsland, thanked the meeting by video link. Her cheque and certificate were collected by Adrian Lynch of Hancock Forestry. A great surprise to two outstanding members of Mount Gambier Timber Industry Club 214 was the presentation of life memberships to Val Fennell and Lew Parsons.
Remembering contribution of Norton Ladkin
Lew Parsons .. now a life member of Club 214.
info@forestry.org.au | www.forestry.org.au PAGE 8
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convenor, gave an update on the continuing success of the forestry course, career opportunities in forestry and the success of graduates in gaining long-term employment. Joanne Forster of AKD Softwoods at Colac, Vic, received the first cheque for $1000 and expressed appreciation to all concerned for the scholarship support. AKD is 100% Australian-
Ian Tyson of Timberlink Australia completed a wonderful night with a most thoughtful address about his company and parent New Forests - an investor in sustainable forest and environment management, their integrated model of sawmill processing at Tarpeena and in Tasmania linked to forest assets including 80,000 ha of forest land in the green triangle region. Mr Tyson said Timberlink sought to optimise the value chain in a global market where the ability to compete Cont P 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
Enjoying the dinner at the Mount Gambier meeting .. Kathy Drewer, Robyn Parsons and Sigrid Howick.
Big costs are logs labour and freight From P 8
economically was a challenge. But he said the economic cycle was moving positively after several years of difficulty since about 2006. Local timber demand is up 16% this year but the markets are moving to about 45% high density living compared to say 25% with detached housing and are being affected by changing demographics and growing populations in cities. “Imported timber products are at higher levels and are here to stay and Australia has always imported timber products,” Mr Tyson said. “The big costs are labour, logs and freight and the industry is now heavily capital intensive.” Timberlink has received a $7.8 million grant from the South Australian government
as part funding of $21 million for a range of fast-tracked efficiency improving projects which address bottlenecks in processing. This also supports Timberlink’s Towards 2020 Business Strategy, using much local trades and companies in these projects.
Confidence in the industry’s long-term future This signifies the company’s confidence in the industry’s long-term future, but, says Mr Tyson, the industry has been too reliant on the housing market and needs to grow other markets, and to be cost efficient and able to address all markets even though the Australian dollar is high.
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Old friends catch up at Mt Gambier meeting .. Jan Didwell and Laurie and Christine Judd.
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ISSUE 324 | PAGE 9
TIMBER PRESERVATION
Upgrade at Pinewood Products brings dual CCA-MicroPro colour production
Tighter margins but bigger volumes at Oxenford plant UPGRADING of one of Queensland’s largest timber treatment operations has included a conversion to dual CCA and MicroPro production. The new technology is in line with the business expansion philosophy of Pinewood Products located on a 5.5 ha site at Oxenford, on the northern Gold Coast development corridor. Housing and infrastructure in the region is booming and rapid ongoing population growth is expected to reach 127,000 or almost the current size of Redlands, Caboolture or Cairns by 2021. The company has been a family-owned manufacturer of quality treated pine products servicing merchants and wholesalers for more than 30 years, a market that now extends from Cairns to Melbourne and across to Adelaide. “Our production volumes have never been bigger, but the market is still considered ‘tight’,” manager Mike Lipscombe said. “There’s too much poorly treated timber around but we have never compromised on
a supplier of preservative treatment technology to Pinewood Products for many years. Recently, Osmose assisted in the upgrading of the company’s treatment plant to a dual CCA and MicroPro facility enabling the treatment of MicroPro decking and MicroPro Sienna coloured outdoor preservative treated products.
Watching new trends in coloured wood
An eye for quality .. Amanda Cook, sales assistant, and Belinda Carlson, office manager, check out Pinewood Products treated timber packs at the Oxenford site.
quality and we take compliance very seriously,” he said. “We put a label on everything and ensure products are treated to the required level.” Mr Lipscombe insisted the industry must stand together to fight non-compliant treated timber making inroads into a respected market. Pinewood Products is specialising in landscaping
timbers, both pine and hardwoods, including ACQ pine decking, CCA pine sleepers, decking and pergolas and hardwood decking and valueadding with pallets and frames and trusses material. “But we’re watching the trends to new technology such as coloured outdoor treated products,” Mr Lipscombe said. Osmose Australia has been
“We’re pleased that Pinewood Products has installed the new MicroPro technology and look forward to expansion of this coloured outdoor treated product category over the coming months, Nick Livanes, Osmose business development manager, said. “The introduction of MicroPro Sienna has been an exciting development for the Australian market following its success in North American and other markets and its pleasing that our customers as well as the market are embracing the Cont P 11
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PAGE 1 0 | ISSUE 324
Engineered Timber Products
TIMBER PRESERVATION
Industry acceptance of MicroPro technology follows success in North American markets From P 10
technology,” Mr Livanes said. MicroPro technology is a revolutionary way to pressure treat timber for decks, fences, landscaping, and general construction uses. The technology offers many
benefits, including significantly improved corrosion performance in contact with fasteners and hardware, similar to CCA pressure treated timber and untreated timber. Pinewood Products draws its softwood timber resource from a wide area – from all the major
Mike Lipscombe inspects MicroPro coloured outdoor products produced at the dual treatment plant at Pinewood Products.
sawmills up and down the coast and from New Zealand. Some landscaping hardwoods are brought in from northern NSW. The company operates three low-temperature gas-electric ‘finishing’ kilns for decking and
F7 pine. But the most exciting recent piece of machinery at Pinewood Products has been the installation of a NZmanufactured Lakeland auto stacker to strip out and peel down sale packs at a rate of 2000 cub m a month.
Their service stacks up .. pictured beside the Lakeland auto stacker at Pinewood Products are timber yard staff Bruce Newton – a 20 years’ service employee – Heath Sergeant and Jake Westernan.
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COLOUR YOUR WORLD with MICROPRO SIENNA® - NEW GENERATION OUTDOOR TIMBER. MicroPro Sienna® preservative treated outdoor timber products have the look of hardwoods and longer lasting colour due to new micronized colour pigment technology. Give your OUTDOOR ROOMS the DESIGNER LOOK.
®
• Uses long lasting advanced formulation MicroPro® preservative treatment technology which has a number of environmental certifications. • May be used in all end uses including childrens playgrounds and garden beds. • Micronised colour is pressure treated into the timber and is not just “skin deep” • Available products include sleepers and fence components
For product information call Pinewood Products on 07 5573 1244 or visit our website www.pinewoodproducts.com.au Osmose®, MicroPro® and MicroPro Sienna® are registered trademarks of Osmose, Inc. or its subsidiaries. MicroPro Sienna timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. Greenguard Gold® is a registered trademark of Underwiters Laboratory LLC. © 2014 Osmose, Inc.
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1 1
INDUSTRY NEWS
CSIRO must rethink abandoning forest science research
Forest research .. playing vital role in carbon capture and storage.
AWISA 2014 is the international exhibition for the Australian and New Zealand cabinet, joinery, furniture, timber and panel industries.
PAGE 1 2 | ISSUE 324
THE Australian Forest Products Association has called on CSIRO chief executive Dr Megan Clark to rule out axing forestry science as the organisation seeks major staff reductions driven by government budget measures. AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said CSIRO management was clearly being forced to grapple with a very challenging budget environment. “However, if reports of the complete, or near complete, abandonment of forest related research are true, this would be a profound mistake and a black day for Australia,” Mr Hampton said. “Forest and forest products research has already borne more than its fair share of the burden of CSIRO funding cuts. In 1985 there were more than 320 staff working in this area. By 2005 the number had shrunk to some 170. “Cut after cut has reduced that to just 33 scientists in 2014. “If CSIRO now effectively abandons this field altogether it will be doing the national interest a grave disservice. “All over the globe it has been recognised that we built the 19th century with steel, the 20th century with concrete but the 21st century is seeing the resurgence of timber. There is just no choice for a
carbon constrained, resource constrained, and yet rapidly growing global population. “There is more construction forecast for the coming 40 years than has occurred in all of human history to date. Australia’s competitor nations have realised that far from being simply a heritage industry, forestry and timber products research, is a vital part of the future. “In Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Finland and elsewhere they are surging their forestry research to drive more productivity from their fibre resources and making transformational breakthroughs in areas such as bio-fuels and bio-plastics.” Mr Hampton said unless CSIRO changed course Australia would look back on this decision with great regret. “Our best and brightest tree scientists, including those who have helped us understand the vital role forests play in carbon capture and storage and those who have revolutionised the productivity of our forest centres thereby underpinning communities in Mouth Gambier, Tasmania, Gippsland, Albany and southeast Queensland will soon be packing their bags to take the jobs in Canada, Chile, Vietnam and China,” he said.
conference WOOD SUPPLY
The Australian Forestry & Forest Products Sector Melbourne, Australia | 7 & 8 August 2014
Bayview Eden Melbourne Hotel
DANA Conference to debate the Australian domestic forest industry sector, and its wider role in the Pacific Rim as an import market and an export supplier.
Fourteen Australian and eight international speakers complete the line up. A premiere event covering an industry which generates $22 billion annual turnover and employs 120,000 people.
Topics Include: • Timberland investment • Logs • Woodchips • Sawn timber • Wood panels
• Pulp • Paper • Wood pellets • Carbon • And much more
For more info go to: http://www.prcc.com.au/danamelbourne2014/
International Forest Industry Advisors
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1 3
BUILDING ADVICE
We’re headin’ south – and we’re doing it for the kids Brisbane Timber Industry Hoo-Hoo Club 218 has entered the 2014 Variety Club of Queensland Bush Bash to again raise funds for disadvantaged children – heading south in August in the club’s veteran Bush Bash performer, a 1977 Holden Kingswood. Already, the club’s entry in Variety’s 25th anniversary event has raised more than $8000 from kind sponsors. Club 218 acknowledge the generous support of Forest and Wood Products Australia and the Australian Forest Products Association. The Hoo-Hoo Bush Bash team will distribute more than 300 industry promotional bags to schools along the route which begins in the capital of Cane Toad kingdom at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and finishes 10 days later in the heart of Cockroach country at Moore Park in Sydney. Please support Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218’s effort so we can enrich the lives of sick and needy children. Sponsorship will attract wide media coverage and is tax deductible. Sponsorship so far has reached more than $12,000. Donate on-line. https://2014bash.everydayhero.com/au/tim All sponsorships will be recognised.
For more information and to discuss sponsorship options contact committee members: Don Towerton 0428 745 455, Tim Evans 0417 726 741 or Jim Bowden 0401 312 087. PAGE 1 4 | ISSUE 324
Timber deck guide timely resource on construction code THE increasing popularity of timber decks in Australian homes has led to headlines of collapsing structures, generally caused by poor design and/or construction. The WoodSolutions Domestic Timber Deck Design Guide provides a comprehensive resource to enable both professional and DIY users to design and construct decks that conform to the national construction code. It is estimated that 60% of inquiries to a popular timber technical advice service relate to timber decking. From queries about the suitability of various kinds of timber to fixing requirements and the advantages of different finishes, questions come from both professional builders and DIY deck builders and maintainers.
60% of technical inquiries relate to timber decking One of 20 titles in the range of technical design guides, the timber deck design guide covers decks that are associated with Class 1 structures (such as detached houses, villas and townhouses) and Class 10 structures (such as garages, sheds and swimming pools) according to the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 2. In 24 pages the guide provides general information covering everything from bushfire construction requirements and termite protection to fixing and
finishes. Advice on deck use and maintenance is also included, as is an appendix with solutions to common deck problems. The guide is available as a free download from www.woodsolutions.com.au Hard copies can be purchased from SAI Global. Further information is available from the website which has timber species data, technical design guides and other free downloads created to inform architects, engineers and other design and building professionals. Wood Solutions is managed by Forest and Wood Products Australia and supported by industry companies and organisations. Note: For the design and construction of decks for commercial, industrial or marine applications, or where a deck has to take heavier loads such as tiles, spas or even vehicles, a structural engineer must be consulted.
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TEL: +61 7 5547 6547
INDUSTRY NEWS
Low interest rates stimulate demand for new housing, multi-res buildings From P 4
were for medium-density homes, up from 39.8% in the previous 12-month period. Over a period of five years, approvals for medium-density homes grew by 45.9%. And in contrast, approvals for detached housing dropped by 8.5%. The market is demonstrating a preference for mediumdensity housing over detached residential properties because populations are concentrating around major cities and opting for smaller properties. Affordability is also a reason for the trend. The Australian Construction Industry Forum forecasts residential building expenditure to grow at an average annual growth rate of 2.3% between 2013-14 and 2022-23. The upturn in expenditure reflects the anticipated interest rate forecast, with relatively strong
Nick Blyth, Tilling Timber (left) catches up with the Hyne team at the framing seminar .. Shane Robertson, based at Maryborough and Jeff Gibson and Andrew Proctor, Hyne, Brisbane.
growth in the short term, before moderating by around 2016-17 to 2019-20 given the projected ramp up in interest rates. Record low interest rates in recent years have stimulated demand for new housing. Residential starts are projected to peak at around 185,000 dwellings by 2017-18, says ACIF.
Activity is set to be strong in New South Wales in coming years, evidenced by an ongoing surge in investment in both new housing and apartments, multires and town houses. The yearto building approval numbers in NSW for 2013-14 for new houses show an increase of about 20% over the previous
financial year. This figure is even higher for multi-res and town house approvals, which is about 45% higher. In Queensland, the effects of relatively low interest rates and a steady growth in income is expected to translate into a reinvigorated residential building market compared to levels anticipated in the rest of Australia. In New South Wales, projected growth in residential building activity will be supported by a combination of low interest rates, a growing population, inflow of overseas investor capital, and a shift in consumer preferences towards high-density, multi-unit dwellings. Growth in this sector is projected to be significantly faster compared to Victoria, where a much flatter trend is expected after several years of solid growth.
Don’t buy a lemon! Trust only tested and certified products that are guaranteed. Untested and non-certified 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 members’ products are independently tested to the highest standard; guaranteed to comply with Australian and New Zealand building codes and standards; certified under JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme; guaranteed to be safe and to carry the designated design load; meet the safety and quality requirements of trade unions; meet all workplace health and safety standards.
The choice is obvious. Specify EWPAA products stamped with the approved certification. Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Unit 3, 106 Fison Ave West, Eagle Farm 4009 Qld Tel: 61 7 3250 3700 Fax: 61 7 3252 4769 Email: inbox@ewp.asn.au Web: www.ewp.asn.au
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1 5
WOOD SUPPLY
New Zealand now largest supplier of softwood logs – most to China
Exports increase fourfold to almost $2bn in 5 years NEW Zealand is now the world’s largest supplier of softwood logs with exports increasing fourfold to almost $2 billion in five years, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. More than 20% of the world’s softwood log trade originated from New Zealand. In 2013, around 57% of the country’s timber harvest was exported and the value of the trade has tripled in five years. A majority of the log volumes were destined for China, but South Korea, India and Japan were also sourcing logs from New Zealand last year. Russia and the US ranked second and third as global log suppliers, each shipping about 15% of the softwood logs traded in the world last year. Not only has the volume
to China accounted for 72% of the total export volume, followed by South Korea, India and Japan. The magnitude of the log export volume cannot be underscored enough. In the fourth quarter last year, as much as 57% of the timber harvest in New Zealand was exported in log form. Such a high share of exports of unprocessed wood is unmatched in the rest of the world. Setting the pace .. volume of logs exports from New Zealand ports has increased dramatically.
of logs exported from New Zealand increased dramatically in the past five years, with almost a doubling of exports to over 16 million cub m, but the value of the logs has gone up even faster. The average value of exported logs reached a new
Being a TABMA member gives you: • Group buying discounts • Assistance with the placement of trainees & apprentices • CoC certification advice • Industry specific staff recruitment at competitive rates • National networking opportunities • An exclusive trade credit insurance plan • Technical advice and assistance • Industrial relations advice • WH&S audits • Annual Timber Industry Dinner Call 1800 822 621 for membership enquiries PAGE 1 6 | ISSUE 324
record high in March this year, which was double the value just four years ago, says WRQ. Despite the dramatic increase in saw logs leaving the country and the closures of a number of manufacturing facilities in New Zealand, domestic log consumption has not changed much over the past 10 years. In 2013, the forest industry consumed just slightly less logs than the 10-year annual average consumption. China is, of course, the reason for the surge in log exports and the record high timber harvest levels in New Zealand. In 2013, shipments
Value of logs has gone up even faster While timberland owners have mightily benefited from the strong log export market, domestic sawmills have not seen the same surge in export volumes. In 2008, the total value of exported lumber equalled that of exported logs at about $USA500 million. Since that time, the export value for lumber has gone up a respectable 30%. However, this pales in comparison with the value of logs that have gone up fourfold to reach close to $US2 billion in 2013.
Wood products take green ribbon for green economy NEW Zealand natural wood specialist Abodo Wood has captured the Green Economy Award at this year’s Green Ribbon event. Abodo’s range of preservative free, locally grown cladding products were noted as influential in a drive towards sustainable, cradle to cradle building materials. “It is fantastic to receive some recognition for the healthy wood products, but we feel more work is required to reduce New Zealand’s dependence
on imported wood species of dubious sustainability,” Daniel Gudsell, a director at Abodo, said. “In addition, we feel the more education is required on wood preservatives and their effect on people and the environment.” The Green Ribbon Awards, held by the Ministry for the Environment, recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals, organisations, businesses and communities to protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment.
EVENTS
DANA conference on track for record roll-up in August WITH less than six weeks to go, registrations for the Australian Forestry and Forest Products conference in Melbourne in August are running at 150% more that at the same time for the last event in 2013. Organiser Dennis Neilson of Dana Ltd said the conference theme built around the sector’s current situation and trends going forward, should ensure a successful networking event. A strong domestic and international flavour has assured the numbers; 14 Australian speakers will join eight visitors from Canada, Chile, China, New Zealand, the UK and the US. Leading international pulp market expert Oliver Lansdell from Hawkins Wright in London will present on global pulp supply and demand trends – a vital indicator to the likely state of health of future demand for Australian hardwood and softwood woodchip exports to North Asia and India. Hawkins Wright has also established itself as a premier advisory company on biomass, particularly wood pellet demand trends in the UK and Europe, where almost all of the current trade action is occurring. But it also closely observes the exploding demand for wood pellets in Asia. The Australian sawmilling sector will be well covered.
Industry icon Peter Zed will cover the domestic industry itself, but will be more than fully supported by Canada’s Russell Taylor of International Woodmarkets Group and Peter Barynin of Boston-based RISI who will present on North American/Pacific Rim log and lumber demand trends and predictions. On the domestic import competition side, the Australian CEO of giant European forest products company Stora Enso Matthew Wood, and Rodrigo Monreal, the head of solid wood products for the huge Chilean company Arauco, will discuss the position of their companies related to the Australian market. Other forestry and wood product topics include plantation investment, log and woodchip exports, the Australian wood panels industry including particleboard, MDF, LVL and new products such as CLT, wood pellets, bio-energy and bio-fuels and tree-based carbon offsets. The conference will be held at the Bayview Eden Melbourne Hotel on August 7 and 8. All details of the program, venue and registration are at www.prcc.com.au/ danamelbourne2014/ Contact conference manager Pam Richards at pam@prcc. com.au
Illegal logging seminar open LATE registrations are being accepted for the illegal logging regulations and timber due diligence training seminar in Brisbane today (June 30). Organised by the Timber Development Association, the seminar will give importers a solid understanding of the regulations and how they can comply. Two officers from the federal Department of Agriculture will
give a briefing on the chief parts of the regulation and the DA stance on compliance. The Brisbane seminar runs from 9 am to 4.30 pm at Broncos Leagues Club, 98 Fulcher Road, Red Hill. The cost of $495 includes an importer’s resource package (hardcopy) and lunch. Contact Stephen Mitchell on 0432 860 100.
GOTTSTEIN TRUST APPLICATIONS FOR 2015 AWARDS
The Joseph William Gottstein Memorial Trust invites applications from interested persons for Gottstein Fellowships and Gottstein Industry Awards. GOTTSTEIN FELLOWSHIPS Fellowships are awarded to people from or associated with Australian forest industries to further their experience, education or training either within or outside Australia by undertaking a project. Appropriate project topics are listed on the Gottstein website (www.gottsteintrust.org). Candidates will be selected on the focus of their project, and on their ability to complete and disseminate the information acquired.
GOTTSTEIN INDUSTRY AWARDS These awards are available to assist workers in the Australian forest industries to improve their industry knowledge and work skills. Applications focusing on small group study tourswill be favourably viewed, although any relevant project topic may be proposed. Candidates will be selected on the value of the project.
INTERVIEWS Applications for each category will be considered by the Trustees and promising applicants will be selected for interviews in October 2014.
FURTHER INFORMATION Further details may be obtained from the Trust’s website at www.gottsteintrust.org, or from the Secretary.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS The closing date for applications is 19th September 2014. Applications should be forwarded to: Dr Silvia Pongracic, Secretary, J. W. Gottstein Memorial Trust Fund, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169 Telephone: 0418 764 954 Email: secretary@gottsteintrust.org
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1 7
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Goliath is world’s fastest and biggest wooden roller-coaster US scream machine drops riders 55m at high speed THE fastest and biggest wooden roller coaster in the world .. that’s what they’ve dubbed the stomach-churning Goliath ride at the Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois. The wooden coaster features the world’s tallest and steepest drop, aiming to break three world records and making it, at least according to Six Flags, “the most extreme coaster of its kind on the planet”. Riders get taken up a 50.3 m hill to be dropped almost 55 m on an 85 deg, angle. Goliath reaches 115 km an hour and includes three overbanked turns, a 180 deg. zero G roll, an inverted drop and an inverted zero G stall. The speed is believable enough if you consider that some of it is only 5 deg. away from a pure vertical drop. “The first drop is great but the first drop is nothing. It’s the twisting and the turning and the acceleration and the feeling of being thrown out of the thing,” says 88-year-old John Murman, one of the first people to ride the rollercoaster.
New design manipulates wooden track “Thank God that they had you pinned in there.” Wooden rollercoasters traditionally feature loopthe-loops, but the specially laminated wood and layers of steel made the gravity-defying track possible. Hot-shot roller-coaster designer Alan Schilke’s job is to make people scream. When he saw how small the construction site was, crammed between a railroad track and other rides, he knew he would have to do back
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Designed for screams .. completing work on Goliath, the world’s largest wooden roller-coaster.
flips to squeeze shrieks out of his customers. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” he said. “We had to make a crazy ride just to get it to fit on the site.” Goliath is the latest creation in a revolution in roller-coaster construction, aficionados say. Its patented new construction technique manipulates wooden tracks into shapes never before seen, with inversions, overbanked curves and whip-crack reversals of direction. The coaster was built by the upstart innovator in wooden coasters, Rocky Mountain Construction Group, out of Hayden, Idaho. Before launching the business with his wife, cofounder Fred Grubb was a carpenter and welder building coasters at Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho. Frequently working to repair old wooden coasters, which often wore out where the wheels made contact, he and his engineers decided there must be a better way. While traditional wooden roller coasters like the American Eagle or Little Dipper at Great America have simple steel plates lining the track where the wheels go, Rocky Mountain instead built a steel trap that encases the wood track and is much stronger.
The company then developed a method of building new wooden coasters that prefabricates computer-designed tracks. Rather than building tracks onsite, as done in the past, Rocky Mountain cuts, flexes and welds the steel into whatever shape is needed and fastens it to laminated pine in the shop, while curving it to within a sixteenthof-an-inch margin of error over 40 feet of track. That technique allows the track to bend in ways traditional wooden rides wouldn’t. The company wowed riders last year after it built the new Outlaw Run coaster at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Montana. The ride won the coveted Golden Ticket Award as the best new amusement park ride of 2013. Using similar techniques as Outlaw Run, Goliath’s wheels will ride on a metal covering that is also filled with grout to provide more strength and a quieter run – an important concern to neighbours who live near Great America. In addition, the cars will run not on traditional steel wheels but on nylon wheels in the cold and urethane in the heat. The construction crew of about 35 men from Idaho included former tradesmen, loggers and rock climbers who had worked
in more commonplace forms of commercial and residential construction. But as owner Grubb said, “Square (construction) is much easier than what we’re doing but not near as much fun.” The workers are used to winter temperatures in northern Idaho that often drop below zero, but even they were taken aback by the latest Chicago winter, one of the worst on record. Since September, they’ve worked 11-hour days, six days a week through the snow and cold, missing only two full days of work because of weather. But with the wind chill and snow numbing workers’ hands and making footing on high structures treacherous, the crew members had to stop frequently to recover in warming shelters, cutting down productivity by more than half.
Built by loggers, tradesmen and rock climbers Crews still must finish building the track and installing the mechanicals, like the chain that lifts the cars and the magnetic brakes that stop it. Then will come hundreds of test runs, featuring water-filled dummies wearing accelerometers to ensure that riders can tolerate forces exceeding three times the pull of gravity. Despite the winter work, crew members say building coasters is a lot more rewarding than building an office or a sewage treatment plant. “It’s better,” supervisor Matt Whiteman said, “because when you’re done, you get to ride what you’re working on.” Park officials wouldn’t say exactly how much the coaster cost but said it was more than $10 million.
ON THE ROAD
Malibu surfs all roads in style: a global car for a local market Adept cruiser at home on urban streets or the highway THE challenge with adapting a global car for the local market often begins with the tyres. “As a global vehicle, sold predominantly in left hand drive markets, Malibu was originally specified with left hand drive tyres,” says Holden specialist engineer Michael Barber. He says using left hand drive tyres in a right hand drive market can lead to a vehicle that pulls excessively to the left. You’ve got to hand it to Michael: “We’ve developed a right hand drive 17 in. tyre for the CD and the Malibu CDX is equipped with the same excellent 18 in. Bridgestone performance tyres that are fitted to the VF SV6 and SS Commodore. Getting good tyres onto any car is an important fundamental to delivering a great drive.” In addition to tyre development, the Holden engineering team created a new suspension set up for the Malibu with a unique damper tune to deliver a good balance in ride and handling that works well on Australian roads.
Good balance in Malibu’s ride and handling “What we aimed for with Malibu was to deliver a car with great all-round performance and we’ve been successful in creating a really adept cruiser that is as at home in an urban environment as it is on rolling b-roads or an interstate highway,” says Barber. In addition to the dynamics work, Holden has also been tackling Malibu’s powertrain calibration as part of a global work share strategy, which uses the available resources and skills of the company’s
Plenty of appeal .. Malibu comes to rest in a timber yard at Oxenford.
engineers from around the world to perform development work on future model cars. The design team, based at Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground, calibrated the auto transmission for the petrol Malibu on sale in Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Korea. A unique throttle and pedal map for Australia was developed in conjunction with GM Korea to deliver enhanced drive quality for local roads. Over the years there’s been quite a few different mid-sized Holdens, but none look as striking or drives as good as the new Malibu CDX, a 2 litre turbodiesel model that at $35,990 it presents quite a package. With 350Nm on tap, the Malibu’s diesel push provides quite reasonable surge for overtaking and off-the-line
acceleration. It teams well with the smooth six-speed auto which shifts decisively and generally has the right gear underfoot. The turbo-diesel engine responded well with minimal turbo-lag. Over the week, we achieved just below 6.4 L/100 km which with a 73-litre tank give a fair travelling radius – 1000 km or more. Our diesel model was equipped with hydraulic steering units, while petrol models receive an electro-mechanical system. Malibu’s interior layout is a little futuristic, set off by a cool blue illumination that wraps around the dash. Comfortable, too. Plenty of space up front and a well-padded pair of seats. The two hefty timber types in the back suffered a sardine squeeze
Plunging temps outside .. warm and comfortable with heated seats inside.
as far as leg and headroom go, but they were big blokes. The leather upholstery has a nice feel. The heated seats also worked a treat, when the outside evening temperature on the Ipswich road return slid down to 6.4 deg. C. The base model CD comes with climate control, a reverse camera, Bluetooth connectivity, push-button start, cruise control, electronic park brake, and a 7 in. touchscreen infotainment system. Stepping into the CDX model adds a few more luxuries, such as leather trim, dual-zone climate control, fog lights, heated and power front seats, and rain-sensing wipers. Prices for petrol models start from $28,490 for the base model Malibu CD, through to $31,990 for the Malibu CDX. Diesel adds a $4000 premium across both models. Malibu has a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating and features six airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, collapsible pedals, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and brake-force distribution and three child-seat anchor points. The quick run around the north Gold Coast corridor, then up to Ipswich, was an effortless drive and the tyre-kickers at the timber yard gave it a thumbs up for overall appeal.
ISSUE 324 | PAGE 1 9
CLASSIFIEDS
POSITIONS VACANT
Non-executive directors (2)
Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) is seeking to appoint at least two non-executive directors to its skills-based Board. At least one of the appointees is required to be independent of the industry and must not be a director or employee of an FWPA voting member. Candidates with strong skills in the area of best practice corporate governance, marketing or market development would be highly regarded. FWPA is an unlisted public company (limited by guarantee) that provides national, integrated promotion, research and development services for the Australian forest and wood products industry. FWPA is committed to helping the industry be collaborative, innovative, sustainable and competitive. Company members are wood processors, forest growers, and importers of wood products. As a rural research and development corporation, the Company also receives matching funds from the Commonwealth government for its R&D activities. Information about FWPA and the process for appointing Directors is set out in FWPA’s Constitution, available from the company’s website at www.fwpa.com.au/ An independent Director Selection Committee established under the Company’s Constitution will consider proposals for candidates, and recommend to the FWPA Board persons for nomination for appointment as a Director. The Committee is required to ensure that candidates will result in a balanced, skills-based Board. All candidates must provide a covering letter and resume and clearly identify their ability to meet one or more of the requisite skills and experience nominated in FWPA’s Constitution (clause 13.14). Applications will only be received by email and should be sent to the Secretary, Director Selection Committee: rob.lockwood@fwpa.com.au Please note the closing date for applications is Friday 11th July, 2014
Contact Timber & Forestry Enews Tel: +61 3262 3001 cancon@bigpond.net.au
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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
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