Timber and Forestry E News Issue 331

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Setting the standard for sustainable forest management Globally recognised by PEFC, the world’s largest sustainable forest management certification scheme.

ISSUE 331 | Aug 18, 2014

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R&D slide impacts on wood and food

Mick Keogh

Michael Jeffery

Andrew Campbell Jerry Vanclay

Rob de Fegely

Mark Wright

Controversial speakers to address Lismore forest growers conference

THE gradual decline of research, development and extension in Australian agriculture and forestry has the potential to impact on the profitability, productivity and performance of Australia as a food and wood

producer.

That’s the opinion of Australian Farm Institute executive director Mick Keogh, who will be a keynote speaker at the Australian Forest Growers 2014 Biennial Conference to

be held at the Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, from October 26 to 29.

A major focus of the conference – Trees: The Future Crop for Changing Climates

Cont P 3

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18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

International trader buys Tilling Group operations Half a century and end of an era for family

THE Tilling group of companies has entered into a conditional offer to sell its wholesale and distribution business to international trader Itochu Corporation, owner of Pacific Woodtech Corporation, the primary supplier of engineered wood products to Tilling.

The sale of Tilling Timber Pty Ltd, announced last week by managing director Glenn Tilling, marks the end of an era for the family, which has been synonymous with the Australian timber industry for more than 50 years.

“This acquisition will provide a competitive supply chain from veneer peeling through product manufacture to distribution of the world’s most high tech engineered wood products,” Glenn Tilling said in letter to industry.

Core integrity of Tilling operations to be maintained

forestworks@forestworks.com.au

www.forestworks.com.au

“This offer will of course ensure long-term tenure of supply, and ongoing support for the ever increasing volume of EWP products consumed in the Australian market for many years to come.”

The transaction is conditional upon a number of matters, including the satisfactory completion of a due diligence process and may take a few

End of an era .. Glenn, Judy and Norm Tilling with Logan Mayor Pam Parker at the official opening of Tilling’s $14 million Queensland distribution and office facility in Logan City in March last year.

months to complete with an estimated handover to be late in the current calendar year.

Itochu is buying the shares in the company, so all existing supply agreements remain unchanged with no requirement for new credit applications to be completed or any changes needed on purchase orders.

With the transaction, the Tilling family has ensured the core integrity of its operations will be maintained and existing staff will remain.

Tilling is one of Australia’s largest timber wholesalers and importers. Judy and Norm Tilling started as small suburban timber traders in their first office at Eltham, Vic, in 1963.

Over the next 50 years, the company grew into a major remanufacturer, importer and

distributor of global forest products, with wholly owned distribution complexes in all mainland states supporting 320 employees.

The company history in Queensland started in 1976 with products sold through a wholesale distributor. It then took off with rented premises in Moss Street, Springwood, the building of a freehold warehouse and office in Barrinia Street, Springwood, in 1980, moving to a much larger purpose-built facility in Meadowbrook in 2000 – then to a $14 million world-class distribution and office facility at Crestmead in Logan City.

As well as manufacturing facilities at the 8 ha Kilsyth head office, 31 km east of Melbourne, Tilling operates sites in Sydney (24,000 sq m), Perth (25,000 sq m) and Adelaide (8000 sq m).

Boosting housing supply the key to affordability

MASTER Builders Australia has told the Senate inquiry into affordable housing that urgent reform to boost the national housing supply is the key to housing affordability.

“Reducing the massive shortfall in new housing is the major challenge the nation faces in maintaining home ownership

PAGE 2 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

as a realistic aspiration rather than an unaffordable dream,” CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“Supply side reforms must include measures to generate appropriate funding for social housing.

“Master Builders’ eight- point affordability agenda addressing the structural barriers to

increasing the housing supply are set out in our submission to the inquiry chaired by Senator Sam Dastyari.”

Mr Harnisch said the plan called for a commitment to a national housing affordability agenda to be agreed by federal, state and local governments through a reinvigorated COAG.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Forestry key component in mix to achieve sustainable outcome

From P 1

– will be the expansion of the $22 billion forestry and timber industry in the midst of a carbon economy.

The conference will reflect the changing nature of modern forestry, looking beyond managing forests for timber products, to embracing the social and environmental values of tree growing.

Mr Keogh says it is important for Australia to increase its level of investment in research and development.

“I think Australia faces the option of passively allowing the research and development system to continue its gradual decay,” Mr Keogh said.

“That is certainly what all indicators suggest has been happening over the last few decades and with it we have to recognise national competitiveness.

“If we don’t have that productivity growth we are not going to stay competitive and we are not going to stay profitable by definition unless we are lucky with terms of trade.”

Mr Keogh says Australia needs to consider re-engineering the research and development system to create a new model capable of facilitating a surge in innovation and productivity growth.

“That is certainly what we are going to need if all these expectations about Australia in the Asian Century and being the food bowl of Asia are going to be met,” he said.

“I think that is a real challenge a lot of us are going to face.”

Mr Keogh says Australia has historically relied on research and development funded by government bodies and supplemented by growerfunded levies, but changes to the funding system in the last decade have led to a decline in the real level of funding for

AFG conference organising committee members .. Professor Jerry Vanclay, Southern Cross University, Associate Professor Doland Nicholls, Southern Cross University, and Mark Wright, manager at Super Forest Plantations.

research and development.

Mr Keogh cited a reduction in state government funding contributions, a distracted and removed CSIRO, an undersupply of university graduates and limited university resources, short-term focused projects and a dominant private sector as reasons for the decline.

He says technological change and improved technological efficiency are the keys to achieving productivity growth.

“Productivity growth provides an opportunity to increase profitability,” he said.

Army officer who was awarded the Military Cross, is another key speaker. Others include Andrew Campbell, director of the research school for the environment and livelihoods at Charles Darwin University, highly regarded for pioneering

whole-of-farm planning and playing and instrumental role in the development of Landcare; Professor Jerry Vanclay, head of the school of environment, science and engineering at Southern Cross University; and prominent foresty industry veteran Rob de Fegely, president of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.

AFG biennial conference convenor Mark Wright said it was a major coup for organisers to have secured such distinguished, high profile keynote speakers.

“All keynote speakers share a vision and commitment to regenerate the Australian rural landscape while delivering sustainable food, fibre and water production solutions,” Mr Wright said.

Forestry is a key component Cont P 11

Productivity an opportunity to lift profitability “If we can’t get productivity up we are going to have to rely on favourable terms of trade to increase profitability.

“And history suggests that is not a good thing to rely on.”

More than 40 presentations from leading forest researchers and practitioners, a day of field trips, featuring local forestry initiatives, along with icebreaker and dinner events complete a full conference program.

Former Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery, a retired senior Australian

18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

Rebuilding confidence in the timber industry

Ministers drop in on forestry operations in SE Queensland

ASSURANCES that the federal government was working to reinvigorate the forest industry and ensure it was competitive, sustainable and at the forefront of technology were given by Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck during a visit to forestry operations in southeast Queensland recently.

Senator Colbeck engaged with many people directly involved in the industry. “Having the opportunity to experience the industry first-hand and take the knowledge back to Canberra is invaluable for policy making,” he said.

During the visit Senator Colbeck visited Hyne’s Tuan sawmill, the Laminex mill at Gympie and Hancock

Opportunities .. Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck (left) confers with Hyne CEO Jon Kleinschmidt at the company’s Tuan operations in southeast Queensland.

Queensland Plantations forestry operations in the Gympie and Imbil areas, including the Toolara nursery and a mechanical harvesting operation in slash

Industry focus .. Queensland Forestry Minister John McVeigh pays a visit to Melawondi sawmill in the Mary Valley.

info@forestry.org.au | www.forestry.org.au PAGE 4 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

pine plantations.

“The forestry operations I visited demonstrated an attention to detail, commitment to improved productivity and focus on safety,” Senator Colbeck said.

“The dynamics of the supply chain are changing and everyone involved in the distribution network, from log suppliers to sawmills, need to respond to specific customer demands to remain competitive in a global market.”

Senator Colbeck said the ability of the industry to get its product to market on time and in good condition was raised as a priority and would be assisted by the Coalition’s investment of $50 billion to improve transport infrastructure throughout Australia.

Other issues that came up during Senator Colbeck’s visit to the region included the need for training, work force availability and the removal of the carbon tax.

“I was pleased to hear the removal of the carbon tax will considerably reduce the energy bill of the Laminex mill, which had experienced cost pressure from materials and energy,” he said.

“Another important issue is the ability to respond to pressures of a global market and I am aware of the need to support ongoing workforce training and development.”

He said the Coalition planned to support and help school leavers undertake further study, including VET training and university education, and would assist in providing a skilled workforce for the forestry industry’s future needs.

Senator Colbeck said it was clear the forestry industry made a significant contribution to the economy of southeast Queensland and it was good to see all sectors of the industry working together.

Also visiting the region last week, Queensland Minister for Forestry John McVeigh observed first-hand the secure jobs and major investment delivered by Superior Wood’s Imbil and Melawondi sawmill and manufacturing plants in the Mary Valley.

Timber Queensland CEO Rod McInnes said the minister’s visit highlighted the vital contribution the hoop pine timber industry was making to the local economy.

“The last five years have been pretty tough for the Mary Valley so a world-class manufacturing business with big growth plans is a new chance for the area,” Mr McInnes said.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

2014 AROUND THE CIRCUIT

SEPTEMBER

13: 2nd Annual Women in Forest & Timber Network Charity Champagne High Tea. Franklin Villa, 35 Brighton Road, Highgate Hill, Brisbane, 2 pm-5 pm. Tickets $55 p.p. Fab food, chilled champagne and great prizes .Register at www. timberqueensland.com.au/events

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.

25: Make the Connection.

Engineered wood seminar.

Moda Events Portside, Level 2, Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, 2.15 pm-5.30 pm (includes afternoon tea and cocktail function). Free entry for Timber Queensland members and technical subscribers. Non-members $40 p.p. Industry experts discuss the design, specification and realities of developing buildings incorporating glued-laminated timber (glulam), wood I-joists, cross-laminated timber, wood structural panels and some world firsts: post-tensioned round

timber wall panels, round timber floor panels and hollow timber piles. Guest speakers, panel sessions and live demonstration included. Details at www. timberqueensland.com.au/events (see notice, Page 8).

OCTOBER

16: Chile Wood Expo – Lake Room, Waterview Conference Centre, Bicentennial Drive, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay, Sydney. Free entry for wholesalers, trade agents, timber merchants, resellers, retailers, manufacturers, builders, technical experts and trade association representatives.

Registration brochure available soon. Inquiries to Nicolas Birrell (02) 9262 2326 or nbirrell@ prochile.gob.cl or John Halkett 0417 421 187 or john.halkett@ bigpond.com 26-29: Australian Forest Growers 2014 Biennial Conference. Trees: The Future Crop for Changing Climates.

Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. More than 40 presentations from leading forest researchers and practitioners, a day of field trips, featuring local forestry initiatives, along with icebreaker and dinner events complete a full conference program. Speakers include Australian Farm Institute executive director Mick Keogh, former Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery, Andrew Campbell, Charles Darwin University, Prof. Jerry Vanclay, Southern Cross University, and Rob de Fegely, president.

Institute of Foresters Australia.

Contact Mark Wright, AFG 2014 conference convenor. Email: agconference@afg.asn.au

NOVEMBER

13-14: Engineered Wood Products – From Here to the Future. Australian timber industry seminar.

Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort, Gold Coast. Co-hosted by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia and Forest and Wood Products Australia. Australian and international speakers. Contact Eileen Newbury, marketing manager, Forest and Wood Products Australia.Tel +61 (3) 9927 3212. Mob: +61 (0) 41931 3163. Email: eileen.newbury@ fwpa.com.au or visit www.fwpa. com.au for registration and accommodation details.

2015 MARCH

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

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

• 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

18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 5

Another look at AWISA 2014 in Brisbane

Hostesses Jamie Houldsworth and Paula Parkyn join Craig Gilbert, sales representative, and Aaron Phillips, director, on the Precise Precut stand at AWISA 2014 in Brisbane.

James Harris and Peter Hammond of Windsor Kitchens, Geelong Vic, chat with Mick Craig Demonstrating CNC routing systems on the (centre) on the Homag Australia stand at AWISA Multicam stand at AWISA 2014 are Matt Krainz, 2014.

Paul Schmahl and Mark Collins.

Mariah Vowles works comfortably at the controls of a vacuum handling unit on the Millson Components stand at AWISA 2014 with technical sales representatives Rod Kellett.

Business development representatives on the Housing Industry Association stand .. Morgan Rick and Stuart Swan.

A big welcome on the Wood Tech Queensland stand from managing director Paul McBride.

Next issue: The men and their machines at AWISA 2014

PAGE 6 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

CERTIFICATION

Chain of custody very ‘palletable’ in the sourcing Australian timber

A LEADING provider of pallet, container and crate pooling services for many of the world’s largest supply chains has achieved 100% chain of custody certification for timber sourcing in Australia.

“This is a significant milestone in our ongoing sustainability efforts,” procurement manager for CHEP Australia Bruce Paterson said.

The chain of custody certification is part of the AFS forest certification scheme and is internationally recognised by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.

Worked with suppliers to fulfil requirements CHEP worked with its suppliers to help them fulfil the requirements for the certification, which provides assurance to Australia customers that the supply base used to make and repair the timber pallet pool

Wood used for pallets is 100%-sourced from sustainably managed forests.

is sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Denis O’Hara, CHEP’s global procurement coordinator, said certification was one of the most powerful tools companies could use to assure the public that they were committed to environmental responsibility and sustainable forest management.

“I am proud that all of our suppliers are now C-o-C certified,” he said.

This latest achievement builds on international recognition

earlier this year of the sustainability efforts of CHEP’s parent company, Brambles, which was named a global leader in sustainability for the industrial and auto sector.

Under the PEFC international standard, sustainable forest management is a holistic approach defined as the stewardship and use of forests and forest land. This is carried out in a way and at a rate that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and potential

to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels.

Also, it causes no damage to other ecosystems.

CHEP owns and manages more than 300 million pallets, crates and containers in 50 countries.

The company internationally uses timber that is 100%-sourced from sustainably managed forests and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The results so far, in terms of reductions in energy consumption, improvements in water and waste management, and responsible management of lumber resources, have been impressive, and this environmental success looks set to continue as CHEP works towards its longer-term goals.

CHEP’s chain of custody certification in Australia was carried out by industry consultant Andy McNaught, who is also technical manager for the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.

Safe working conditions in forests are industry responsibility

NEW Zealand’s safety watchdog is calling for an urgent blueprint for action in the forestry industry. WorkSafe NZ says it should be developed and implemented by the Wood Protection ®

forestry sector itself.

In a submission to the Independent Forestry Safety Review, WorkSafe CEO Gordon MacDonald says the sector must take full responsibility

for putting in place systems, process and behaviours to prevent dangerous work situations.

He says WorkSafe is prepared to act as the catalyst

to ensure this happens.

Mr MacDonald says the forestry sector too often turns to the regulator to solve problems when it should be doing that itself.

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THESE SYSTEMS ARE READY TO BE USED - COME AND LEARN HOW TO IMPRESS Seminar

highlight!

MAKE THE CONNECTION:

Mark Batchelar, MLB Consulting Engineers (Auckland) discussing the engineering and design for Te Wharehou O Tuhoe, a NZ tribal headquarters constructed utilising virtually all available engineered wood product technology and built to meet the Living Building Challenge - the most strict sustainability criterion that can be applied to buildings.

use engineered wood products to do more with less

Live Demonstration –

Connection Calculation

Hear industry experts discussing the design, specification and realities of developing buildings incorporating glued-laminated timber (glulam), wood I-joists, cross laminated timber, wood structural panels and some world firsts: post-tensioned round timber wall panels, round timber floor panels and hollow timber piles.

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Exhibitor

Date Thursday 25 September 2014 Time 2.15 – 5.30pm (Including afternoon tea & cocktail function) Location Moda Events – Portside Level 2, Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton Cost TQ members & technical subscribers FREE $40 non-members

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER www.timberqueensland.com.au/events

PAGE 8 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

SEATS ARE LIMITED, BOOK TODAY!

TOP UP YOUR POINTS – formal or informal CPD points available

INDUSTRY NEWS

Aussie helpers .. British Columbia officials greet Australian wildfire fighters as they arrive at Vancouver International Airport.

Aussies called to fight forest fires in Canada

CANADIAN fire fighters struggling to contain outof-control wildfires in British Columbia have received some much-needed help from personnel on the other side of the globe.

More than 80 Australians arrived last week as the province continues to battle its busiest wildfire season since 2010.

British Columbia received help last month from firefighting crews who travelled from cities across Canada, but now it is looking outside the country for additional assistance.

Maximising every available resource The province has already used up more than double its $60 million fire-fighting budget for 2014. Now the government may have to spend as much as $2.5 million for the Australian help.

“We don’t make the decision lightly to go internationally for resources,” British Columbia’s chief provincial fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said.

“We have maximised every available resource in Canada right now.”

The $2.5 million will buy the province a team of Australian fire experts, including fire management and behaviour specialists, for up to five weeks.

Costs will rise the longer they stay.

“We’ve got a highly experienced, well-trained team that we’ve brought across, and we’re really aiming to help out as much as we can,” Australian fire fighter Jon Rofe said.

The hot, dry summer has made the British Columbia wilderness vulnerable to wildfires, which have been ignited by humans or triggered by lightning strikes.

An estimated 2480 sq km of land has been scorched by flames this year, with more heat ahead.

It will be the first job in British Columbia since 2009 for the Australian. They were called in five years ago to battle wildfire problems.

Of the more than 2500 personnel currently on the ground, 1600 are provincial staff, 860 are British Columbia contractors and about 200 are from outside the province.

Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Weekly distribution is over 16000 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region. Timber&Forestry e-news hits your target market – every week, every Monday!

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18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 9

PLANTATION RESEARCH

Climate holds key to planting of bluegum and radiata plantations CSIRO models may determine health of tree crops

PREDICTED changes to Australia’s climate over the next one to three decades will affect management strategies for Australia’s bluegum and radiata plantations.

Forecast changes in the frequency and intensity of droughts, bushfires, and emergent diseases and pests will affect where plantation managers can plant with the confidence of getting a healthy tree crop and how they should look after their trees.

Researchers from CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, with support from FWPA, have spent three years modelling predictions of plantation productivity for 2030 and 2050 under a range of likely climate scenarios.

They examined data from

INSURANCE IT’S ALL IN THE SELECTION

daily weather data to predict variation in wood density and stiffness; and Climex, which predicts changes in the distribution and abundance of invasive insect pests related to climate.

Understanding potential of future hazards Managing the risk .. harvesting bluegums at Kalangadoo, north of Mount Gambier, SA.

a variety of sites in five key Australian forestry regions: southern Western Australia; the Green Triangle in South Australia and Victoria; eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales; and northern New South Wales.

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PAGE 10 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

As a result, the Australian plantation industry now has a greatly improved capacity to quantify and manage both the risk and impact associated with climate change and variability, from the scale of a region down to a site.

The project developed a series of regional reports to assist industry understand and mitigate potential future hazards. Five climate scenarios were used for the analyses, and the results refined to deliver management practices that may improve survival and growth no matter which climate pattern will ultimately occur. Thus identifying future opportunities for growers.

Using historical management and silviculture data Working closely with growers the researchers were able to use historical plantation management and silviculture data.

The researchers used three models to look at climate risks and impacts: Cabala, CSIRO’s plantation growth and water use model for analysis of productivity and the impacts of drought on stand mortality; e-Cambium, which uses information about site, management regime and

The research looked at how wood properties might alter with climate change. Increased temperature, reduced water availability and elevated CO2 levels generally tend to increase wood density, although the effects of CO2 are small relative to effects of temperature and water availability. It also considered the likelihood and impacts of increased drought, pests and fire, as well as whether current growing and management practices can adapt to cope or whether new production systems, such as new species and new products, may be required.

The results indicate that for bluegums (Eucalyptus globulus) lower stocking rates in water limited environments can substantially reduce the risk of mortality without reducing productivity.

Applying fertiliser may increase productivity to current levels but possibly may increase risk of tree mortality.

For Pinus radiata, modelling suggests that increasing the initial stocking or reducing the number of thinnings to two and delaying the first thinning will increase productivity but the effect on risk is unclear.

Importantly this tool will better enable growers, at both the regional and sites specific levels, to manage risk and identify future opportunities in both soft and hardwood plantation estates.

ENGINEERED WOOD

NZ flooring system ‘anchors’ against quakes

A BUILDING soon to be constructed in Nelson will be the first in the world using a new timber flooring system designed

by University of Canterbury structural engineering experts with huge potential benefits for the Christchurch rebuild and for the whole country.

The new university-designed flooring system, pre-stressed prefabricated panel in timber (3PT), consists of a combination of structural materials offering light engineered timber, costeffective concrete anchorage

and high strength prestressed or post-tensioned reinforcement.

The new design was conceived in 2010 during a conference in Nelson with world experts in timber engineering research and was invented by the University of Canterbury’s Dr Alessandro Palermo and Professor Stefano Pampanin.

The idea has Proved to have huge commercial potential and Kiwinet, the Kiwi Innovation Network consortium of universities and crown entities,

has funded the University of Canterbury project with a grant of more than $800,000.

“What makes this flooring system unique is the concrete anchorage and the connectors,” Dr Palermo said.

“Prefabrication and prestressing are key aspects that make the product novel.

The cost-effectiveness of the flooring system is it can be prestressed by using the same facilities used for pre-stressed concrete flooring systems.

“A lighter flooring system

means less seismic forces involved during earthquakes.

The flooring system has huge potential for Christchurch as designs are seeking to reduce the stresses in soil therefore minimise the foundation costs of buildings that can be quite considerable.”

Professor Pampanin says a building in Nelson will shortly install the flooring system and several prototypes have already been tested and performed much better than traditional timber flooring systems.

AFG supports membership of more than 500 growers From P 3

in the mix required to achieve sustainable primary production outcomes, improved landscape health, improved habitat provision for wildlife, rehabilitation of degraded landscapes and mitigation of climate change impacts.”

Australian Forest Growers

is the national association representing private forestry and commercial tree growing in Australia. It supports a membership of more than 500, representing growers with small plantings through to very large estates.

Some growers have more than 1000 ha of plantations and other

native forest managers have properties of several thousand hectares under commercial management.

Registrations for the conference are now open, and more information is available at the Australian Forest Growers (AFG) website www.afg.asn.au.

The conference is supported

by sponsors including the Federal Department of Agriculture, Wood Products Australia, Southern Cross University, Hurford Hardwood, Lismore, the Lismore City Council, ForestWorks, the Forestry Corporation of NSW, Super Forest Plantations and BSI.

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18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Wide support for FCJA policies at key AWISA forum in Brisbane

FEDERAL government officials joined a strong industry delegation at a special meeting of the Furniture Cabinet and Joinery Alliance at AWISA 2014 in Brisbane, demonstrating the peak body is ‘cutting the mustard’ in Canberra.

“FCJA is continuing to push the ‘level playing field’ in its submissions to the Abbott government,” policy adviser Peter Kreitals said.

Message is getting through to government “We have developed and lodged submissions with the Parliamentary Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee’s inquiry into commonwealth procurement procedures.”

Mr Kreitals said the Australian furniture, cabinet and joinery industry had major cost imposts through the need to abide by high regulations and standards, but the government had favoured cheaper imports that were not subjected to these same costs and standards.

“The submissions call for more equitable treatment for local industry and an end to the reverse discrimination against Australian-made products,” he said.

Managing director of Blum Australia and FCJA board member Brett Ambrose said the furniture, cabinet and joinery industry had been “left in the wilderness, politically” for too

Conferring in Brisbane at the FCJA forum .. Brett Ambrose, managing director, Blum Australia, Sydney, Tracey Gramlick, executive director, Australian Windows Association, Richard Brooks, CEO, Cabinet Makers and Designers Association, and Peter Kreitels, policy adviser, Furniture Cabinets and Joinery Alliance, Melbourne.

long; it was heartening to see that the FCJ Alliance was breaking through on the need for a level playing field and that its message was getting through to government.

Federal Department of Industry officers from the manufacturing performance branch attending the Brisbane meeting, along

with representatives of the wood machinery sector, industry organisations and manufacturers.

Mr Kreitals said these open forums would continue around Australia, the next in Melbourne on October 22, culminating in Canberra in June next year at Parliament House, with the Industry Minister expected

Meeting during AWISA .. Gerard Ryan, CEO, Australian Shop and Office Fitting Industry Association, Dr Sasha Alexander, senior lecturer, design innovation and sustainability, University of Western Sydney, and Jim Snelson, CEO, Borg Group Holdings, Sydney.

to chair the meeting at which firm policy and strategy recommendations would be discussed.

He added: “We were pleased to be associated with the AWISA 2014 exhibition in Brisbane and gained exceptional mileage with our stand there. The feedback from visitors was very rewarding.”

Allies .. Fred White, director, HK Joinery Design, Sydney, Brad Willis, Kitchen Fusion, Gosford, NSW, and Matt Ford, Bindi Furniture, Sydney

Export opportunities improving for plantation hoop pine

From P 4

“Export opportunities are improving for this Australian native plantation-grown timber as people around the world discover that it’s an excellent building product.”

Superior Wood purchased

the Imbil softwood sawmill, kilns and dry mill facility and sophisticated low temperature drying, high technology chop line and remanufacturing facility in Melawondi from Hyne in October 2013, offering stability to the 110 people already employed.

PAGE 12 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

Superior Wood director Skene Finlayson said the business was ramping up production both domestically and internationally.

“We’ve got export contracts with China, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan,” he said.

“Opportunities are becoming

available in other parts of the world, including the US again, as some markets start to improve.”

Mr Finlayson said Superior Wood was on a mission to be the very best hoop pine sawmilling and value adding operation in the world.

ENGINEERED WOOD

How high can they go? Architect sure on 45-storey wood buildings

IN the five years since British Columbia increased the height limit for wood-frame buildings, new structures have been popping up all over the Canadian province.

Now lumber’s biggest advocates are predicting they can build higher than they ever expected.

When the province raised the limit for wood-frame buildings to six storeys from four, more than 200 new five- and sixstorey buildings have been approved, including 58 that are already complete.

Among the finished structures are the two buildings at Sail, a six-storey condo development at the University of British Columbia, the five-storey Library Square development in Kamloops and the fivestorey Riverport Flats rental development in Richmond.

The new projects come as the province pushes to revitalise the forestry industry and find new markets for wood projects.

But builders can go even higher than six storeys if they use ‘mass timber’. Unlike the light-frame or stud construction used to build houses and lowrises, mass timber is made by bonding together thin layers of wood to create a material that is much stronger and more fireresistant than lumber.

Proving the buildings are just as safe To get approval for mass timber structures higher than six storeys, developers must prove that the building will be just as safe as if it were built with concrete and steel.

Vancouver architect Michael Green has been one of the world’s strongest voices in support of tall wood buildings.

He grabbed attention with the audacious claim that mass

on a “very large timber project” in Minneapolis with a large developer that has traditionally built skyscrapers.

‘Building to be absolutely the world’s tallest’

Up, up, up .. the Adera Development Corporation’s Sail condo development at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver includes two six-storey wood-frame buildings.

timber construction can be used for structures as tall as 30 storeys, but he now believes he wasn’t shooting high enough.

“I’ve been saying 30 for a long, long, long time .. but I picked the number 30 out of the air,” he said.

“I am quite convinced that we’re going to get to 40, we’re going to get to 45. I don’t know where we’re going to end.”

Green believes that as these buildings push higher and higher into the sky, concrete and steel will be incorporated into the structure in an attempt to get the most out of each material.

Green’s firm designed the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George, a seven-storey mass timber building at the University of Northern British Columbia that was recently completed and has been cleared for occupancy.

Now he’s got his sights on much bigger things. Although he couldn’t give any details, he said his firm is now working

And a few weeks ago, Green submitted his proposal for a ground-breaking new 16-18 storey wood student residence building at UBC. “It will absolutely be the world’s tallest. It’s absolutely one of the most important wood projects to be announced in the last, well, ever,” he said.

“It’s a huge step for UBC and even if I don’t get the project, I’m tremendously honoured that everybody has embraced the idea to this extent.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Triabunna: witness claims grudge by Gunns boss played a role in mill sale

POLITICAL interference and a personal grudge between two key forestry figures are being cited as the reasons behind the sale of a Tasmanian woodchip mill to environmentalist investors.

The former Gunns mill at Triabunna was sold to millionaires Jan Cameron and Graeme Wood for $10 million in 2011.

The inquiry was called after a report claimed that the mill’s infrastructure was deliberately dismantled last year to prevent it ever being used again for wood chipping.

A state parliamentary committee dominated by Liberal MPs has held its first day of hearings into the sale.

According to an ABC report, the first witness Ron O’Connor said he had secured commercial and government loans to buy the mill, and had a wood supply deal locked in with Forestry Tasmania.

He told the inquiry an alleged personal grudge between a former Gunns boss and Forestry Tasmania head played a part in the sale to environmentalists.

He believed Gunns CEO Greg L’Estrange wanted to get back at Forestry Tasmania’s Bob Gordon.

“Greg L’Estrange and Bob

Greg L’Estrange

Bob Gordon

Gordon didn’t get on and, this is only my theory, Greg said once at a meeting that [if] he could ever do anything to hurt them, to hurt Forestry, he would,” Mr O’Connor said.

He also claimed political interference by the then federal government prevented his logging consortium from buying the mill.

‘Infrastructure was deliberately dismantled’ He had secured finances from private sources and the State Economic Development Department to buy the site.

Mr O’Connor claimed former premier Lara Giddings did little to help him.

“The government was never

Jan Cameron

Graeme Wood

supported, we had numerous meetings with Lara, anybody can pay lip service,” he said.

The committee’s chairman Guy Barnett has claimed the sale of the mill to environmentalists was suspicious, and voters wanted to know the previous government’s involvement.

“We have every intention of getting to the bottom of this very murky affair,” he said before the inquiry began.

Former timber harvester Leigh Arnold told the inquiry the new owners had no intention of reopening the site to loggers.

Mr Arnold approached them about leasing the site.

But he told the inquiry he left the meeting with the pair’s representative, Alec Marr, with the clear impression they meant to shut down the mill altogether.

“At the end of the discussion, I don’t think there was any question in my mind that they had any intention of ever opening it,” he said.

“So hence when they formally put out expressions of interest, I didn’t bother. I thought that would be a waste of ink.”

In a written submission to the inquiry, Mr Marr said he invited expressions of interest from the timber industry but did not receive any serious proposals.

“The tender process was very frustrating because there was effectively no interest in operating the Triabunna mill as a commercial woodchip operation,” it reads.

“This, of course, fitted with Gunns’ experience of having the mill on the global market for a year with no interest in purchase.”

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THE ENVIRONMENT

NSW red gums get their first drink in $80m watering project

ENVIRONMENTAL water has started flowing through Australia’s second largest red gum forest in southwest New South Wales.

The $80 million Living Murray project will use 42 km of infrastructure to manoeuvre sheets of water through 2500 ha of the Koondrook-Perricoota forest between Echuca-Moama and Barham.

The scheme has the capacity to flood 17,000 ha of the forest, but this will be a small trial event, with 21 gigalitres of water released from the Torrumbarry weir into the 3.8 km inlet channel.

The water will flow into creeks and open areas of the forest where red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) generally don’t grow.

The watering event will last for about 40 to 50 days, but

Linda Broekman, Living Murray coordinator with the NSW Forestry Corporation, told ABC Country Hour that some creeks could hold water for much longer.

“The water will continue to flow out of the forest for another couple of weeks after that,” she said.

“Water can typically sit in the deeper waterholes all year round and in the wetlands, I’d expect they’d be drying out, sometime in October or November.”

Several cameras have been set up in the forest to monitor the flood event.

Linda Broekman says this flood is designed to test the new infrastructure.

“The scheme is capable of delivering a wide range of flood events. We expect to be delivering large infrequent

Thirst-quencher .. environmental water flows through river gum forests.

floods as well as more frequent, smaller floods.

“This one is a fairly small event and that’s quite deliberate so that we can get to know the structures and confirm their functionality.”

Meanwhile, a new structure built near Gunbower in northern Victoria is enabling water to flow into the red gum forest as part of the joint federal government and Victorian commitment to the national Living Murray initiative.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Senator Simon Birmingham and Victorian Minister for Water Peter Walsh have officially launched the Hipwell Road environmental watering infrastructure.

The new infrastructure is designed to deliver environmental water from the River Murray into the forest.

Senator Birmingham said the environmental works would allow a more natural watering regime to be restored to the forest, while also using environmental water more efficiently.

SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2014 THE 2ND ANNUAL

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Register at www.timberqueensland.com.au/events Tickets: $55 – fab food, chilled champagne & great prizes

18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 15

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Forest owners gird for losses in Sweden’s worst forest fires

FOREST owners are preparing for large losses as French water-bombing planes arrived to help emergency services gain control of the biggest forest fire in Sweden’s modern history.

One reconnaissance aircraft and two water-bombing planes from France are using water from nearby lakes and two Italian planes are expected to arrive to help with the blaze, which has been raging near Sala, about 100 km northwest of the capital Stockholm, since July 31.

Water bombing French planes using lake water The main forest owners in the affected area – Sveaskog, Bergvik Skog and AB Karl Hedin – have lost thousands of hectares of trees since the fire broke out. The blaze has affected an area covering 15,000 ha.

“We can’t yet say how much we’ve lost but it is of course large sums of money

recorded in Sweden since 1992.

Dry heat and wind drove the flames into treetops.

The fires have spread to cover an area of 150 sq km and emergency services have deployed more than 150 fire fighters, while the military has a further 150 people in the area.

A total of 17 helicopters have been deployed to contain the fire.

Scorched .. fires wipe out thousands of hectares of pine forests in Sweden.

given that such a big area has burned,” said Helene Baeck, a spokeswoman for state-owned Sveaskog, said.

The company has managed to contain the fire on its land since August 2, she said, adding that 1000 to 1500 hectares of Sveaskog’s forests has burned.

So far about 1000 people have been evacuated from their homes while the roughly 4500 inhabitants of Norberg are prepared to leave their homes if the fire spreads further.

“While we must continue

to work very hard, the earlier catastrophic conditions of extremely low humidity and very strong winds have lessened,” forestry officials said.

“While the fire spread at a speed of 2 km an hour, it is currently not spreading at all and we have managed to contain it within the affected area. We’re now working on putting it out.”

Sweden has had a dry and hot summer, increasing the risk of forest fires. Temperatures in the region reached 35.1 deg., the highest August temperature

Site of blaze consists mainly of pine forests The site of the blaze consists mainly of pine forests, bogs and marshlands, surrounded by lakes. The fire is thought to have started during ground work as machines prepared to plant new trees, according to a Sveaskog spokesman.

Bergvik Skog, whose biggest shareholder is Helsinki-based Stora Enso, said at least 2500 ha of its forests have burned.

It was too early to estimate the cost as the fire is still raging.’

China’s lumber and log trade yo-yos through 2014 LUMBER and log imports to China slowed in early 2014 but picked up in the second quarter to reach close to record highs, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Russian lumber and New Zealand logs increased the most.

Wood buyers in China were more active in the late spring after a slowdown during the winter months. This resulted in increased importation of logs and lumber during the second quarter. The biggest gains were in lumber from Russia and softwood logs from New Zealand.

A slowdown in the Chinese economy impacted the

construction sector in early 2014 resulting in a decline in lumber import volumes by 16% in January-March this year compared to the previous quarter.

The biggest drop was in Canadian lumber shipments, which fell to their lowest levels in two years.

The reduced activities in the building sector during the winter months also impacted log import volumes to China, but it was more of a break in the upward trend rather than a decline, with first quarter 2014 imports about the same as in October-December 2013.

Later in the spring, the economy picked up steam and

PAGE 16 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

the GDP rose by 2% in the 2Q, up from 1.4% in the 1Q/14.

The annual growth rate is now on target to reach close to 7.5%, which would be slightly lower than in 2013, but still considerable growth compared to most other major economies around the world.

Most of the positive news in the second quarter came from the industry and retail sectors, while the real estate market continued to be weak with housing sales more than 9% lower the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2013.

Despite the reduction in house sales, China increased the importation of both lumber

and logs in the second quarter of this year with lumber volumes climbing 19% from the first quarter.

Russia, which currently supplies about 40% of softwood lumber to the Chinese market, increased shipments by as much as 32% from the first to second quarter this year. The second largest lumber supplier, Canada, only shipped 2% more volume quarter over quarter, Although Canada and Russia are by far the largest suppliers of lumber to China, other countries are expanding their sales to this growing market.

The biggest gains have been in shipments from Chile and Europe.

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Timber smugglers won’t heed China’s voluntary guidelines

MASSIVE flows of illegal timber stolen from forests around the world will not be stemmed by voluntary industry guidelines currently being developed by the Chinese Government, environmentalists have warned.

In formal comments recently submitted to the Chinese government and published last week, the Environmental Investigation Agency has recommended the guidelines be replaced with a principled and legally enforceable ban on illegal timber trade into and within China.

EIA’s comments were made in response to the draft ‘Guidelines for Overseas Sustainable Forest Products Trade and Investment

by Chinese Enterprises’, issued

by China’s State Forestry Administration.

In recent years, EIA has published a series of damning

EIA investigation .. Mozambican politicians and Chinese traders are systematically involved in timber smuggling and illegal logging.

investigative reports exposing the methods and scale of illegal logging and timber smuggling driven by Chinese timber companies around the world.

EIA forest campaigner Jago Wadley says as the world’s biggest importer of illegal wood, and in light of extensive irrefutable evidence that Chinese companies are

complicit in driving destructive illegal logging and timber smuggling, China needs to move beyond unenforceable voluntary guidelines and take unequivocal actions to prohibit illegal timber.

The EIA report published in July shows how timber smuggling for the Chinese market has led to Mozambique suffering a 93% illegal logging

rate and tax losses of $US146 million in what is the world’s second least-developed nation.

It is now China’s biggest African timber supplier.

In June, the EIA report ‘Myanmar’s Rosewood Crisis’ revealed how rampant demand for luxury furniture had transformed Myanmar into China’s biggest rosewood supplier worldwide, with the likely consequence of two species becoming commercially, if not actually, extinct in the very near future.

And May’s EIA report ‘Routes of Extinction’ documented how Chinese demand for illegal luxury Siamese rosewood has sparked a violent crime wave resulting in the deaths of hundreds of forest rangers and loggers while pushing the species to the brink extinction throughout the Mekong.

18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 17

EVENTS

Dirt, dust and freezing nights but Hoo-Hoo crew are happy ‘Back o’ Burke’ and on the last leg of charity event

CAR 253 where are you?

“Back of Bourke in the dirt and dust and it’s bloody freezing,” came the loud reply over the static.

We were talking last Thursday with Tim Evans and Dorothy Ferris, co-drivers of Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218’s entry in the 10-day, 3500 km Brisbane to Sydney Variety Bush Bash – a 1977 Holden Kingswood.

“But we wouldn’t have missed it for quids,” Dorothy, 75, a friend of the Evans family, said.

“Just to see the smiles on children’s faces was worth every penny.”

Kids’ smiles were worth every penny Both drivers shared the cost of the trip – fuel and all expenses – out of their own pockets.

The veteran of three Bush Bash events, the Kingswood, the club’s entry in the Bash on behalf of the timber industry, has helped raised more than $45,000 over the last three years for needy children.

When we called, Tim and Dorothy were getting used to sleeping in ground swags in minus 2 temperatures then getting up before breakfast to chip off ice before heading down another dusty track in the NSW Outback.

Bourke, a town 800 km northwest of Sydney, is considered the gateway to the Outback, hence the expression “back o’ Bourke”.

Tim and Dorothy are equipped with more than 500 timber promtion bags, provided

by FWPA, that include lots of goodies for the kids and industry information for communities and school teachers along the way.

Bashers away .. Brisbane Hoo-Hoo Club 218’s 1977 Kingswood entry in the Variety Club of Queensland’s Bush Bash is surrounded by club members and sponsors, from left, Jim Bowden (vice-president), Jim Burgess (secretary/treasurer), Tim Evans (Club 218 Bush Bash coordinator and lead driver) John Crooke, pioneer club 218 member and sponsor, Dorothy Ferris, Coolum (co-driver) and Alan Jones, Club 218 past president and sponsor.

Howdy from Hoo-Hoo .. Tim Evans and Dorothy Ferris dropped in to share some fun with the six children who attend the local school at Wanaaring, a small village on the Paroo River in northwestern New South Wales, about 980 km from Sydney. Teacher Jess Freestone (left) helped hand out some of the goodies brought by the Car 253 crew.

This year in its 25th anniversary run, the Variety Queensland Bush Bash saw more than 400 participants flagged off in the early hours of Friday, August 8, by rugby league icon Wally Lewis at Suncorp Stadium.

Termed the ‘Cane Toads and Cockroaches’ 25th Anniversary

PAGE 18 | 18 AUGUST, 2014

Variety Bash, entrants headed southwest for towns such as Millmerran, St George, Wandilla Station, Bourke, Cobar, Narromine, Dubbo and Bathurst, supporting local economies along the way, with community groups supplying food and the drivers finding accommodation

where possible.

This year marked a National Bash where close to 2000 participants in 700 cars in six consecutive state bashes, culminating in a National Bash celebration in Sydney last Sunday. It also marked 30 years since the first Variety Bush Bash was introduced by entrepreneur Dick Smith, during which time the event has raised more than $200 million for children in need.

Joining Hoo-Hoo club members at Suncorp Stadium was well-known forester Gary Bacon, who as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland Freemason was there to help send off the Freemasons team in the Bush Bash.

The forest and forest products industry is still encouraged to support the event and donations can be made at https://2014bash.everydayhero. com/au/tim All sponsorships will be recognised and published.

ON THE ROAD

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

Mob: 0401 312 087 18 AUGUST, 2014 | PAGE 19