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‘There’s thousands of jobs among the trees, The from harvesting to genetics and computers’ NATIONAL
FORESTRY is going through a revival at the University of British Columbia, drawing a new wave of urban students like Robert Smidstra, who see not just a profession in earning a forestry degree, but also a way to bring about social change. The 23-year-old Langley student is one of 778 undergraduates registered in the faculty of forestry this year, many of them like himself, young people from the Canadian province’s lower mainland who are motivated by concerns about global warming, carbon emissions and sustainability.
voice for
Jobs in the forests .. student Ashley Dobko hopes to unlock the secrets of British Columbia’s past old growth trees.
Only when he graduates, Robert expects to be in a position where he can actually do something about it. Forestry has become cool.
“One of the reasons I chose forestry is that I want to somehow change society in a positive way,” Robert said. Cont P 6
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 1
INDUSTRY NEWS
FIAC committee structure to be announced this week New body to advise government on forest issues
By JIM BOWDEN
Innovation Skills and practices that work
25 March 2015 Canberra
Save the Date The 7th Annual Industry Development Conference followed by the AFPA and ForestWorks Gala Dinner at Parliament House.
www.forestworks.com.au
This program has been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Industry. ABN: 39 946 785 543
THE long-awaited composition of the Forest Industry Advisory Council announced by the Prime Minister Tony Abbott at an allindustry dinner in Canberra in March is expected later this week. The first meeting of the new council is scheduled for early October. Mr Abbott named Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck and Institute of Foresters of Australia president Rob de Fégely as co-chairman.
Council will serve vibrant forest sector Members of the FIAC have been nominated and Senator Colbeck’s office is awaiting acceptances, expected early this week. The FIAC will be a new body inside the robes of office shed by the Forest and Wood Products
Tony Abbott
Richard Colbeck
Council, which was formed in 2000 and formalised by the Howard government under the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002. This means, effectively, no new legislation is required to introduce the new advisory council. The FIAC will provide a broader service to the wood processing sector and will invite greater input from state forestry groups. The council’s role in providing funds for industry development is also being examined. Although the terms of reference of the FIAC have yet
Rob de Fégely
to be announced, Rob de Fégely said he was looking forward to his co-chairing role. “I am sure the new council will create a healthier, more vibrant forest sector serving both conservation and production,” he said. “In theory, and in my own professional opinion, the new advisory council is all about supporting an industry that has had a lot of division over the last 20 years. “It will recognise positives such as carbon in the forest and improving plantations and resource development.”
Contractors to share $7m in industry re-build plan TASMANIA’S Resources Minister Paul Harriss says harvesting contractors would be offered financial incentives to help rebuild the industry. The announcement follows the state Liberal government’s scrapping of the forest peace deal and the opening up of 400,000 ha of protected forest for possible logging in six years. Mr Harris said that $7 million left over from the $20 million allocated to shut the industry down under the previous LaborGreens government would now be used to encourage harvesting contractors. “We are about using that money to ensure people have the best opportunities to grow their businesses and stay in the
PAGE 2 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
industry to build capacity,” Mr Harriss said. “There will be rigorous structure around that and we won’t be making the same mistakes that were made under the previous Labor federal government. “The first challenge here is to provide appropriate incentives for people to stay in the industry who would have taken exit packages under the previous regime because the wood would not have been available.” Mr Harriss said it was about those who were willing and able to get on with business in a conducive ‘can-do’ environment. The plan is to offer the $7 million to the harvesting contractors by application only, and conditions will apply.
Mr Harriss said there were other programs for sawmillers and residue processing. He said the previous government had sent a message that the forest industry was closed, and a new pathway had to be planned now. Sawmiller and chairman of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania Glenn Britton told the ABC he did not expect jobs to flow quickly following the repeal of the forest peace deal. “It will be the status quo for next period of time,” he said. “Let’s not forget that there will be no harvesting in the 400,000 ha for at least six years, so the industry .. will be relying on the current timber production zone for our volumes of wood.”
INDUSTRY NEWS
Plantation sector open for business
ABARES report encouraging for investors
INVESTMENT in Australia’s plantation sector shows the industry is open for business, says federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck. Senator Colbeck said the Coalition was encouraged by confidence shown through recent investments in the plantation sector. The Australian Plantation Statistics 2014 update was released last week by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) and provides an upto-date look at softwood and hardwood plantations. “The annual report supports forest industry planning and decision-making,” Senator Colbeck said. “The report found Australia’s total plantation estate remained stable in 2012-13, with a total of 2,012,500 ha reported compared with 2,012,600 ha in 2011-12. “About 2200 ha of new plantation areas was established in 2012-13, but this figure is offset by the removal of areas that were either deemed commercially unviable or did not replant at the end of their lease agreement.” Senator Colbeck said this showed the dynamic nature of rural land use, where plantation estates could be returned to other agricultural activities. He said recent investment
Here for the long haul .. companies committed to plantation expansion.
in the plantation sector demonstrated companies were here for the long haul and were committed to expanding plantation estates on suitable land as well as increasing productivity on existing estates.
Colbeck said. Senator Colbeck said the Coalition was committed to
rebuilding Australia’s forestry sector and supporting it with appropriate policies that would help the sector grow. Overseas investors in the plantation sector are supported by an established and professional forestry service industry that employs more than 130,000 workers for end-to-end planning, planting, silvicultural and harvesting services. Recognising Australia’s competitive strengths, international forestry and wood products companies from Asia, Europe, New Zealand and the US have established large forestry operations in Australia. These include Carter Holt Harvey, Hancock Timber Resource Group, Hansol, Marubeni, Nippon Unipac, Norske Skog and Weyerhaeuser World Timberfund.
Plantations show dynamic nature of rural land use “It is pleasing to see recent investment in the plantation sector, especially after a period under the previous Labor/ Green government where the industry was effectively discouraged by measures that excluded the industry,” Senator
$3m approved to restore Scottsdale mill APPROVAL has been given for a $3 million restoration of the former Gunns sawmill at Scottsdale in northeast Tasmania. Andrew Nikolic, MP for Bass, said the funding was part of the federal government’s Tasmanian Jobs and Growth Plan. Dorset Renewable Industries Pty Ltd will undertake to restore
the mill’s timber processing capabilities. The $3 million package will see the purchase of the former Gunns sawmill at Ling Siding and its restoration for timber processing. Andrew Nikolic congratulated David Hamilton and his fellow board members at Dorset Renewable for their work on the project.
www.certisource.com.au
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 3
INDUSTRY NEWS
10 million trees: one winter!
NSW plantings provide enough timber to build a quarter of the houses constructed each year AS exemplar of why Australia is considered world leading in its use of its forest resources, the Forestry Corporation of NSW has just announced it has planted almost 10 million seedlings over winter. “In a carbon constrained global economy the world is looking again to timber and all the products we make from wood,” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Ross Hampton said.
The best way to reduce planet’s gas emissions “Timber products store carbon and the replanted forests suck in greenhouse gases. “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says
grown these trees will provide enough timber to build a quarter of the homes constructed in Australia each year. CEO Nick Roberts said this was a fantastic achievement by dedicated nursery and silviculture teams.
Future supply .. NSW Forestry Corporation CEO Nick Roberts (left) and federal Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck look over seedlings during an inspection of the Tumut forest nursery.
that a carefully and sustainably managed forest, used for timber products and then replanted, exactly as we see NSW Forestry Corporation doing here, is the best way to reduce the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions. “The Forestry Corporation is to be congratulated for making
PAGE 4 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
this concerted effort to ensure that every tree felled and used for timber products will be quickly replaced.” NSW Forestry Corporation silviculturists and contractors have planted the equivalent of 17,000 football fields of trees, mostly pine varieties. When
‘Our people take our charter very seriously’ “Our people take our charter to operate sustainably very seriously and take great pride in providing an important renewable resource to Australians. These plantations will replenish our environment as well as provide the materials we need to provide year-round regional jobs and grow our renewable economy.”
2014 AROUND THE CIRCUIT
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. 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: posttensioned 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 13).
OCTOBER
10: Forum for the Future: The Timber Industry in NSW. 10 am-2 pm at National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney. Speakers include Mark Bouris, chairman of Yellow Brick Road and executive chairman of
US-based technology company TZ Ltd; Daryl Patterson, head of operational excellence, Lend Lease’s property business; Ken McBryde, Australian architect, Hassells Architecture; Ross Hampton, CEO, Australian Forest Products Association. Cost: $140 p.p. includes lunch. Booking and inquiries: fpa@nswfpa.com.au 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 17: VAFI annual dinner – Park Hyatt, Melbourne. Theme: ‘Securing the Future”. Speakers include MPs Peter Walsh and Jacinta Allan. MC radio presenter, comedian and author Ian Cover. Inquiries to Jillian Roscoe at jroscoe@vafi.org.au 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
EVENTS
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 • Harvest and haulage
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
• Sawmilling and other wood processing • Pulp and paper processing • Forest product exporting
Join us today and share the benefits Call (02) 6285 3833
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 5
CAREERS
‘The green side of forestry is attractive, but in the end, it’s about the economy’ From P 1
“In engineering there are always opportunities to improve systems efficiency and make society better – but you can also do that in forestry. “Global warming is such a big issue; how we see carbon, how we use carbon, and how we offset it. In forestry, you can actually control that in some manner.” Robert Smidstra is typical of the new generation of students who are turning forestry as a way to fulfil their desire to bring about social change.
They’re going back to forestry’s beginnings “In a sense, they are going back to forestry’s beginnings in North America,” says John Innes, dean of the UBC Faculty of Forestry. “Essentially what we are trying to do is go back to the roots of forestry to a certain extent, which is much more of a conservation, management and sustainable utilisation approach.” A decade ago, British Columbia was still immersed in the ‘War in the Woods’, with ecoactivists fighting loggers over black-and-white issues, jobs
urban forestry, a new and growing discipline in North America, which stresses the carbonsequestering and oxygenproducing properties of forests to improve urban landscapes. Harvesting is part of the overall picture, but it is not reduced to the jobs-versus-theenvironment simplicity. A healthy human environment includes employment and a healthy forest includes a harvesting component. Forestry student Robert Smidstra .. changing opinions among his contemporaries.
versus the environment. Forestry was viewed by the young as a destroyer of the environment and enrolment at the UBC faculty reflected its low esteem in the eyes of students. In 2003, there were only 450 undergraduates compared to this year’s 778. Robert Smidstra says he still runs into contemporaries with little understanding of forests and forestry. “They really don’t think about it as a career, or they think that you have to go into the middle of nowhere to do your job,” he said. “That’s not true, there’s thousands of jobs, different unique jobs. Sure, there’s forest operations which is about harvesting and replanting, but there are a lot of jobs in growing
PAGE 6 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
Dr John Innes .. conservation, management and sustainable utilisation approach.
seeds, genetics, computers. There’s silviculture, operations planning, finance. Chain of custody is important too.” Robert’s special interest is in
When they get a degree there’s a well-paid job “The economy is important, but there is a way to balance that. What we learn in our courses are different methods to manage certain objectives.” He has, he says, changed opinions among his contemporaries. John Innes said it’s only logical that the turnaround in perceptions about forestry should come out of UBC. It’s the country’s largest forestry faculty and you have to pass through a forest, Pacific Spirit Park, to get to the university, creating an awareness of wood and its role in our lives. Cont P 7
CAREERS
‘We are still going to be exporting wood when the LNG is exhausted’
From P 6
“We are in a centre of wood, people know about wood, we celebrate wood, people see trees all about them and we are in a nice environment. We market that,” Dr Innes said. The green side of forestry is attractive, but forestry in the end, is about the economy. “The department is very economically focused,” Dr Innes said. “The faculty is returning to the forestry’s conservation roots, he says, but it is also moving forward in terms of technology and research. From new wood products to new building systems utilising wood. All of the programs include an option of co-op employment
– working with an employer in the student’s chosen field. Looking to the future, Dr Innes says he is pushing for new courses that would cover issues of importance to British Columbia, such as an undergraduate course on the emerging bio-economy and a Master’s degree in resources trade, with emphasis on issues like trade with Asia. “We would have courses in international trade law, things like the World Trade Organisation and how it works; how to identify potential problems like dumping and quotas; we would be looking at the economics, at marketing aspects of it, marketing in different cultures.
“You know, British Columbia spent a lot of time trying to sell large, wood-frame houses in China without really thinking ‘what is the demand for these?’ Now they are looking at wood trusses, which have far more potential – basically taking the big square buildings and putting a pitched roof on them because the flat roofs leaked.”
Students like the lifestyle Students, he says, like the lifestyle, they like the greenness of what they are doing, and they like the fact that when they get their degree, they are going to get a well-paying job out of it.
Employment is virtually 100% for grads, who, after five years, earn an average of $78,000 a year. And with the North American economy rebounding, the forest industry, where many of the grads will find employment, is vibrant and full of potential. “In forestry, we are still going to be exporting wood when the LNG (liquefied natural gas) has been exhausted. “Our trees will be growing 100 years, 200 years and 300 years from now. We will still be able to grow trees as well as anyone, even with climate change.”
– Extracts from an article by Gordon Hamilton in The Vancouver Sun.
Noted architect appointed CEO of Design Institute
THE Design Institute of Australia has appointed architect Pru Sanderson as its new chief executive officer. Ms Sanderson is past CEO of VicUrban and Monash Property Management and has held senior roles with GHD, Federation Square Management, City of Melbourne and the Melbourne Museum. Currently director of Wood Protection ®
Parks Victoria, an associate of Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute and Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Ms Sanderson will join the DIA on September 29. She will assume the reins of the Institute from general manager Phillippa Rowland, who will step aside from her role at the end of the year. After graduating with
Pru Sanderson
honours in architecture, Ms
Sanderson worked as a conservation architect on many sites including Parliament House and Como. She then held senior positions in relation to major infrastructure projects – as design manager for the Melbourne Museum and manager of development and operations for Federation Square, and in local government with City of Melbourne and City of Whitehorse.
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 7
EVENTS
World of wood at gala event
FORUM FOR THE FUTURE
THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN NSW 10 October 2014, 10am – 2pm National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour The Forum will be opened by NSW Minister for Finance Hon. Dominic Perrottet. Speakers; Mark Bouris, Ken McBryde, Daryl Patterson, Ross Hampton.
Mr Ross Hampton
$140 including lunch RSVP by 2 October (seating is limited) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER For booking and enquiries email: fpa@nswfpa.com.au AUSTRALIAN FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
Mr Ross Hampton was appointed CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association in May 2013. Mr Hampton is a veteran of the policy and political scene having worked, at various times, as a reporter, adviser and policy advocate for the last twenty-five years in Australia and overseas. Mr Hampton has a long exposure and association with the issues confronting the Forest and Forest Products sector including water policy, climate change policy, trade policy, industrial relations policy and environment protection.
DARYL Engineered wood excellence .. presentation of the EWPAA Sanderson PATTERSON Trophy for best design using LVL, plywood and wood panels was
presented last year to Andrea Quagliola of MORQ Architects, Perth (left) by Michael Murphy, Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, Melbourne.
Head of Operational Excellence | Property | Lend Lease Australia
Registrations still open for design awards in Sydney
Daryl Patterson was appointed Head of Operational Excellence to Lend Lease’s Property business in 2012 responsible for overseeing the Property business’s operational improvement, governance and innovation across Australia. Lend Lease’s Property business units span multiple sectors including greenfield subdivision, commercial office towers, high rise apartments, an extensive retirement village portfolio and major mixed use urban redevelopments around Australia.
Chief of Staff DARYL to the Australian Government MARK BOURIS Chairman of AsMinister PATTERSON for the Environment in the mid Mr Hampton played a key role in Yellow Brick Road, Executive 2000’s, the developmentappointed of forestry policy as well Head of Operational as policies which impact forestry industries. During this period Mr Hampton was one of the Chairman of U.S.-based Excellence to Lend Lease’s lead advisers in the Australian Government’s international climate change negotiations at Prior to joining AFPA, Mr Hampton led the technology company TZ Limited business in 2012 United Nations’, Property and associated, meetings in development of the Australian public sector Washington, New York, London, Buenos Aires for global networking giant Cisco and Zurich. (ASX:TZL), Non-Executive responsible formarket overseeing the System, and is credited with a significant share of the multi-million dollar growth Cisco enjoyed. Chairman of Serena Resources Property business’s operational Mr Hampton grew up in northern NSW. He trained as a journalist and spent his early Limited, and Chairman of improvement, governance career reporting in the regionsand and then capital cities. biotechnology company Anteo innovation across Australia. Lend Mr Hampton has achieved a Masters in Public Policy, majoring in the environment, from the ANU Crawford School of units Economics and Diagnostics (ASX:ADO). Gained Lease’s Property business Government as well as a Bachelor degree from Curtin University. fame as the founder of Wizard span across multiple building Mr Hampton is married to Linda and has three school- aged children (as well as 600 olive Home Loans, “The Apprentice” and development trees andsectors four ancient Land around Rovers). on Channel 10 and is Adjunct Australia. An architect who has Professor for Banking & Finance crossed into construction, project and Business Law & Tax at and development management University of New South Wales of complex landmark projects. Australian School of Business Daryl has overseen Lend Lease’s and he sits on boards for the investment into delivering UNSW Australian School of Australia’s first Cross Laminated Business Advisory Council and Timber constructed building the University of Western Sydney the world’s tallest CLT apartment Foundation Council. building of its kind. Recently he has lead the formation of KEN MCBRYDE leads design in a specialist team dedicated the HASSELL Sydney studio. An to timber engineering and internationally awarded Australian prefabricated solutions for a wide architect, he has collaborated range of Lend Lease projects. extensively with Renzo Piano, and worked in London, Paris, Genoa ROSS HAMPTON Appointed Osaka, Dubai, and Sydney. He is CEO of the Australian Forest currently working on numerous Products Association in May large commercial timber projects 2013. Mr Hampton is a veteran across Australia and is also part of of the policy and political scene the design team for the Darling having worked, at various times, Harbour Live redevelopment. Ken as a reporter, adviser and policy is a founding committee member advocate for the last twenty-five of the Council of Tall Buildings years in Australia and overseas. and Urban Habitat in NSW.
Starting his career in architecture, Daryl progressed into construction management, project management and development management of complex landmark projects. Most recently Daryl has overseen Lend Lease’s investment into delivering Australia’s first Cross Laminated Timber constructed building, and the world’s tallest CLT apartment building of its kind. More recently Daryl has lead the formation of a specialist team dedicated to timber engineering and prefabricated solutions for a wide range of Lend Lease projects. Daryl’s experience during his twenty years within Lend Lease has included the development and delivery of major urban renewal projects in capital cities throughout Australia. These projects are a key competitive differentiator of Lend Lease around the world and typically have multi-billion dollar end values. These projects entail a broad mix of asset classes, multiple buildings and substantial civic infrastructure. Daryl’s initial attraction to Lend Lease was its long and compelling history of challenging and improving how things have been done in the property industry. Carrying that as a personal approach to how we create our projects and how we operate as a business Daryl has sought to challenge the status quo with the first Australian utilisation of cross laminated timber and the introduction of commercially operated sustainable central precinct utility solutions. Key achievements and attributes
24 Napier Close Deakin ACT PO Box 239 Deakin West ACT 2600 02 6285 3833
enquiries@auspa.com.au
• B.Arch, University of Auckland
• Forté CLT building, Melbourne, VIC • Jacksons Landing, Sydney, NSW
ausfpa.com.au
• Victoria Harbour, Docklands, VIC
@AFPAonline
• Showground Hill, Brisbane, QLD • Green Utilities start-up business
• Timber Solutions start-up business
BE quick – registrations are closing for the 15th annual Timber Design Awards to be staged at Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum on Darling Harbour this Thursday (September 18). Some of the best entries ever by architects, design engineers and builders will be presented at the prestigious event, which celebrates excellence in design and use of timber.
• Recipient 2012 Lend Lease Global Award for Excellence in Innovation
TDW1902 8/14
HOSTED BY: TIMBER NSW, TDA, TABMA
PAGE 8 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
Excellence in timber design use Special guest Senator Richard Colbeck, federal Secretary for Agriculture, will join a packed venue with winners and finalists introduced by event MC Rebecca Gilling from Planet Ark, a popular
Senator Richard Rebecca Gilling Colbeck .. .. timber design special guest. awards MC.
Australian actor. Bookings are still open and tickets are available at $165 p.p. on line at www.timberawards. com.au or contact Jane Letteri on (02) 8424 3702. Pre-dinner drinks will be served at 6.30 pm at the Australian National Maritime Museum. 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney, with dinner and presentations to start at 7pm. Dress is smart casual.
Australia slips for competitiveness in latest global report
AUSTRALIA’S competitiveness ranking has slipped further in the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-15 produced by the World Economic Forum, dropping one place from last year to 22nd. “This continues an annual downward trend since 200910 when we ranked 15th,” Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox said. “With Australia’s absolute Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) performance static this year, and broadly stable since 2010-11, more and more of our competitors are leap-frogging ahead as they improve their performance and competitiveness,” Mr Willox said. “Australia’s deteriorating international competitiveness is particularly evident in the burden of government regulation, where our ranking has fallen to 124th in 2014-15, from 60th in 2010-11.
Industry must foster culture of investment “Australia’s poor performance is highlighted this year by two ‘key pillars’ of the GCI: goods market efficiency, where Australia’s peak ranking of 9th place in 2009-10 has plummeted to 29th place this year; and a disturbing 56th place in labour market efficiency, from a high of 9th place in 2009-10. Specifically in relation to labour market efficiency, Australia has slipped to 125th for relative competitiveness of pay and productivity, from a peak of 26th in 2008-09; 136th for rigidity in hiring and firing practices, compared to 46th in 2008-09; 132nd for the flexibility of wage determination, down from 75th in 2008-09; 109th for the cooperation in labour-
INDUSTRY NEWS
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! Innes Willox .. low ranking in technological readiness.
employer relations, compared to 37th in 2008-09; and 50th for the competitiveness of redundancy costs, from a high of 6th in 2011-12. “The WEF Report also highlights the need for government and industry to foster a greater culture of business investment and innovation, given our relatively low rankings for technological readiness, business sophistication and innovation,” Mr Willox said. “These are issues we have raised on behalf of members in our submissions to the Financial System Inquiry and Competition review this year, and will again in the upcoming taxation whitepaper.” Mr Willox said the WEF Report reinforced recent calls from the business community for greater urgency to be injected into building domestic productivity and competitiveness. This was particularly the case in relation to reforms of industrial relations with restrictive labour regulations identified as the most significant impediment to doing business in Australia. “In light of this report, AIG again urges the government to accelerate progress on its foreshadowed Productivity Commission review of Australia’s workplace relations arrangements,” Mr Willox said.
HEAD OFFICE Correspondence to Custom Publishing Group PO Box 569 Ormeau QLD 4208 Phone +61 7 5547 6547 PUBLISHER Dennis Macready Phone +61 7 5547 6547 dennis@industrye-news.com
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 9
TRAINING
‘People most valuable asset’ Hyne recognised in NSW training awards
QUEENSLAND-based Hyne Timber has been officially recognised for its training in the ‘large employer of the year’ category in the NSW government training awards. Hyne Timber attended the ceremony in Sydney last week, just missing out to Wyong Shire Council. CEO Jon Kleinschmidt said the people were the most valuable asset and as such, afforded the greatest investment. “Being recognised as one of three finalists for the NSW training award in the ‘large employer of the year’ category firmly supports Hyne’s vision to engage its people on a continuous improvement journey,” Mr Kleinschmidt said. “This journey sees all employees as valued trainees, including myself. For example, all employees are in the
Recognition .. members of Hyne Timber’s Tumbarumba mill dispatch team, from left, Judy Kelso, Michael Arnold, Sid Davey and Melissa Mende.
process of undertaking training towards the Certificate III and IV in Competitive Systems and Practices. “Since 1882, it’s the people of Hyne Timber who have made and continue to ensure the success of the company.” Employing more than 500 people, the Hyne Timber
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footprint reaches from Cairns to Melbourne. About 220 of those are based in New South Wales with the majority at the Hyne Timber mill at Tumbarumba. Judy Kelso, area coordinator at the Tumbarumba mill, has proudly worked for Hyne Timber for nine years. She said she was really pleased to see the company recognised for its training, although claims she isn’t at all surprised, “I’ve completed many courses now in leader development and I’m currently undertaking training towards the Certificate
4 in Competitive Systems and Practices,” Judy said. “I have much clearer goals at work now. We meet every day to discuss our progress against goals and we take immediate action if we are off track. “I have been learning problem-solving skills and often solve problems without having to seek advice from a supervisor, which is much quicker. “We are a lot more engaged now and I do find the skills I am learning helpful not just at work but in my personal life, too.
Journey sees all employees as valued trainees “I certainly feel like I’m a valued employee with a great career ahead of me. Hyne Timber wouldn’t be training me if they didn’t want me back here tomorrow contributing to the company.” Hyne Timber is also a finalist in the Queensland awards which will be announced later this month.
Industry partnerships should develop alternative products THE Institute of Foresters of Australia says the industry should use the latest round of South Australian government funding to develop new and alternative products, such as bio-plastics. Applications for the remaining $10.46 million in the South-East Forestry Partnerships Program are now open. IFA president Rob De Fegley says it is important the industry looks to develop new markets and value add. He says there are number of opportunities that would be possible in the state’s southeast. “Biomass would be an immediate option but some of the more longer term and
exciting products such as the bio-plastics, bio-polymers, some of the biofuels, they’re not immediately usable commercially but there’s a lot of work being done around the world and Australia is certainly an option that could utilise some of these areas,” De Fegley said. He says the future of the local forestry industry, including greater export volumes, is promising. “Asia is running short of wood fibre because of the growth in China and also of emerging growth in India and the current suppliers to those markets are running out themselves,” he said.
ENGINEERED WOOD
Engineers ‘make the connection’ at Brisbane engineered wood seminar
TIMBER engineers will be thick on the ground when they make the ‘connection’ at Timber Queensland’s engineered wood seminar and demonstrations in Brisbane next week. More than 150 have registered for the event at the Moda conference centre at Portside, Hamilton, with many more expected – all drawn by the calibre of two keynote speakers. • Mark Batchelar, noted NZ-based engineer of MLB Consulting Engineers in Auckland; and • Colin MacKenzie, a consulting engineer, who for almost 40 years has been active in all facets of timber engineering and design. The seminar on September 25 – Make the Connection – has been constructed around design and specifications and the realities of developing buildings with a multitude of engineered
Mark Batchelar
Colin MacKenzie
wood components. These include glued-laminated timber, wood I-joists, crosslaminated timber, structural panels, post-tensioned round timber wall and door panels, hollow timber piles and some ‘world-first’ technology. Hands-on sessions will show how to calculate a timber connection and provide a
practical demonstration on how to apply the connection. Mark Batchelar will explain the engineering and design for the magnificent Te Wharehou O Tuhoe, a NZ tribal headquarters constructed utilising virtually every available engineered wood product technology and built to meet the ‘living building challenge’ – the most strict sustainability criterion that can
Trust only tested and certified products. Untested and noncertified structural plywood, wood panels, LVL and formply can cause serious accidents – even deaths – on building sites, resulting in litigation and can be traced to the source of supply. The risk is too great. • Damage to your business • Possible loss of life • Legal action • Media exposure
be applied to buildings. A multi-award winning design engineer, Mr Batchelar holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) NZ 1972; Master of Engineering (Civil) NZ 1973; and is a fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ and a member of Institution of Engineers Australia. Colin MacKenzie, who sits on a number of standards committees and has been involved for more than 35 years in developing national technical resources supporting the appropriate use and application of timber, stepped down as manager, timber application and use, with Timber Queensland in July to undertake private consultancy. Mr MacKenzie has been principal author for many publications including AS 1684 and the Timber Service Life Design Guide. • See notice, Page 13.
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 11
INDUSTRY NEWS
Building industry backs findings of independent 457 review report
THE building and construction industry has welcomed the Minister for Immigration Scott Morrison’s support for a more efficient and flexible 457 visa skilled migration program. The program is based on the Independent Review Panel’s report into the 457 program released last week by Senator Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration.
Program allows response to current demand “The report’s findings and recommendations will position the government to achieve a more balanced 457 program to help unlock investment in the construction industry, enhance productivity and create more jobs for skilled Australian workers,”
Scott Morrison
Michaelia Cash
Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said. “The report finds there is no systematic rorting of the 457 visa program by employers,” he said. “The program is not about bringing in foreign labour at the expense of local workers, rather the program allows the building industry to respond to current and forecast future demand. “Claims by unions that a more flexible 457 visa program will lead to local jobs losses have no basis
Wilhelm Harnisch
in fact. There is no incentive for a business in the construction industry to employ a foreign worker ahead a readily available skilled local tradesperson. In fact quite the opposite.” Master Builders welcomes the report’s other recommendations, particularly for greater flexibility around the English language requirements, reforms to allow responsive and demand driven skilled migration where the standard 457 program is not
suitable and appropriate relaxing of regulatory requirements where a sponsor has a proven track record of ethical compliance. “The recognition of the importance of working closely with business and other stakeholders through a ministerial advisory council is also very welcome,” Mr Harnisch said. “The construction industry has a history of booms and busts and the report’s recommendations for a more flexible and efficient skilled migration program will allow the industry to better manage its cyclical labour needs. “However, Master Builders’ first priority is getting unemployed ‘tradies’ back to work and training more apprentices to meet the industry’s needs for a skilled workforce. Accessing foreign skilled tradespeople only occurs when there is no viable alternative.”
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 12 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
info@forestry.org.au | www.forestry.org.au
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INDUSTRY NEWS
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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.
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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
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EVENTS
Resource foresters plan array of workshops for ForestTech One of region’s most eagerly awaited technology events
IN last month’s issue of this magazine we highlighted just why remote sensing has made such a profound impact on local foresters in planning and managing their forest estates. ForestTECH 2014 this year on both sides of the Tasman will involve all those responsible for data capture, inventory management and remote sensing in Australasia. They along with international expertise drawn from Canada, the US, Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland will be sharing just how far they have got with their trials, what tools are being used, how the technology is being rolled out and what impact – financially and operationally – it’s made to the forestry company. “It’s probably one of this
Remote sensing .. profound impact on local foresters in planning and managing their forest estates.
region’s most eagerly awaited technology events,” says FIEA director Brent Apthorp. “Judging by the registrations that have already come in, the number of exhibitors and
Two new events 1.
Understanding plantation water licensing New legislation, new rules, new opportunities Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 October 2014 Mount Gambier, South Australia
2.
Adaptive management Tuesday 21 October 2014 J. H. Maiden Theatre Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney INSTITUTE OF FORESTERS OF AUSTRALIA
02 9431 8670 events@forestry.org.au forestry.org.au/ifa-events PAGE 14 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
technology providers that have signed up to attend and presenters that unfortunately can’t at this stage be accommodated in the program, it’s going to be another major forestry technology event.” Last year’s ForestTECH was a sell-out with well over 400 attending. The popularity of this year’s event can also be seen in the large number of practical workshops that have been set up by industry in both countries. Events planned around ForestTECH 2014 include: In Australia: A practical half-day workshop will share information on research and the operational deployment of LiDAR and remote sensing into their own operations. This is will be led by Australian forestry companies FCNSW, HVP, Forestry Tasmania and HQPlantations along with the Canadian Forest Service. It is planned to run on the second afternoon of the two-day Melbourne event on Wednesday, November 26. A ‘hands-on’ half-day practical workshop for users of LAStools will be run by Dr Martin Isenburg from the US on Thursday morning, November 27, at the Bayview Eden, the day after the ForestTECH conference. Dr Isenburg, who developed
LAStools to process LiDAR point cloud data, has been sponsored through the FWPA project PNC305-1213 ‘Operational deployment of LiDAR derived information into softwood resource systems’ and by the Forestry Corporation NSW. Delegates interested in attending the half-day workshop should contact Tony Brown of Forestry Corporation NSW, (tony.brown@fcnsw.com.au) to register. Participants will need to bring their own Windows laptop to run LAStools. Information about LAStools can be found on http://rapidlasso.com/ New Zealand: Cengea Solutions has planned a oneday workshop for Australasian clients on Tuesday, November 18, the day before the Rotorua conference. The Interpine Group is running a LiDAR analysis introduction course to show how to manipulate and utilise LiDAR datasets (with a specific focus on forestry derived outputs, such as terrain and vegetation surfaces, vegetation related metrics, through to extracting plot and tree level) on Friday, November 21, the day after the Rotorua conference. The practical workshop is aimed at building on the ForestTECH 2014 conference content. It will allow people to start using the technology and understand how to utilise the data. Participants will be using forestry specific LiDAR derived datasets in software such as FurgoViewer, Quick Terrain Modeler, LasTools, Fusion and ESRI ArcMap. ForestTECH 2014 will run on November 19 and 20 in Rotorua, and then again in Melbourne on November 25 and 16. Full program details can be found on the event website www. foresttech2014.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
NZ government spends $200m on dirty dairy farms: NZIF claim
‘National party is paying the polluters to pollute’ THE New Zealand Institute of Forestry has consistently demanded the government stop paying the polluters to pollute. “However they continue to do so,” the president James Treadwell said on the back of an announcement that the National party will spend $200 million to buy stream side land on “dirty dairy farms”. Mr Treadwell said: “We have achieved the utmost perversity if this policy comes into place. This National government has allocated taxpayer funds through the irrigation accelerated fund to promote irrigation schemes to intensify dairying.
Just another land user like farming? “Then in a ridiculous attempt to ameliorate the damage caused by uncontrolled dairy intensification, it now proposes to use taxpayer and ratepayer funds to buy back stream margins to reduce the totally predictable pollution.” Continuing his criticism of
are well below pastoral levels, bacterial contamination is at natural levels and streams within forests harbour much native biodiversity. “The NZ Institute of Forestry is interested to know if the taxpayer will pay foresters if we choose to reverse our decision to set back from stream sides, and if not why not,” Mr Treadwell said.
Far exceeds value paid to farmers the policy, Mr Treadwell said the National government had endlessly used taxpayer money to alleviate the pollution of farming and had now added a further $200 million of taxpayer and ratepayer money to preserve the tax free capital gains of dairy farmers. Foresters voluntarily agreed to set back from rivers to ensure protection of water and aquatic environments many years ago. There has been no taxpayer funding to help with this. Forestry’s long run baseline nitrogen emissions are close to natural levels, sediment levels
James Treadwell .. government is milking taxpayers.
“Subsidies paid to farming by ignoring their pollution along with this $200 million far exceeds the value paid to farmers of old in the form of supplementary minimum prices and marginal Land’s Board grants.” Mr Treadwell asked: “Do foresters, who are just another land user like farming, operate in a parallel universe to farming – one a land of rules, consents, regulation and costs (regardless of justification), and the other a wonderful regulation free world where nothing can be allowed to impact the bottom line?”
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| PAGE 15
FOREST CERTIFICATION
FSC celebrates 20th anniversary, but tropical forests remain big challenge
Weak governance and conflict responsible for deforestation
“WE are proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last 20 years. We have come a long way, but we can achieve even more. And the world’s forests need that.” This was a statement made by Kim Carstensen, director-general of the Forest Stewardship Council ahead of the organisation’s official celebration of its 20th anniversary, at its triennial general assembly in Seville, Spain, this month.
Many tools needed to fight deforestation FSC was founded in 1994 after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro failed to address
Challenge .. loss of forest cover remains a significant challenge, especially in tropical regions where FSC’s influence remains limited.
the challenge of deforestation. Since the Rio Summit, the world has lost 7% of its forest cover, according to FSC. While some countries in temperate regions have seen deforestation rates stabilise,
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Kim Carstensen .. promising developments towards more sustainable approaches.
or even reverse, loss of forest cover remains a significant challenge, especially in tropical regions where FSC’s influence remains limited. “There are many tools needed to prevent deforestation in tropical forest countries,” Kim Carstensen explained. “One of these tools is certification,” he said. “We currently have 20 million ha certified in tropical timber countries, and about 10% of the total FSC certified forest is in the tropics. This is not nearly enough. “But we do know that those 20 million ha are being managed in such a way that is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable. We need
to work to increase that 20 million ha substantially.” Mr Carstensen said the reasons for this deforestation had little to do with the forests themselves; tropical deforestation was mainly caused by conversion of forest for palm oil cultivation, beef grazing, soya production, and all manner of other agricultural activities. Weaker governance and often conflict in many tropical forest countries was also responsible for deforestation. Plantation establishment played a role in some settings, but FSC was seeing promising developments towards more sustainable approaches, particularly where certification played a role. After 20 years in existence, FSC certification has a strong global reach – robustness of certification criteria and number of businesses involved in the system. More than 180 million ha is FSC certified. The organisation works with 150,000 small holders around the world, and is increasingly working with indigenous groups who live in and around certified forests. Recently, FSC formed the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee to ensure that indigenous people have a say in the way forests are managed.
Certification has a strong global reach The general assembly is FSC’s top decision-making body, where the members propose, debate and vote on policy that guides the organisation. As a memberled democracy, FSC is unique among forest certification systems.
NOSTALGIA
Historic bandsaw generates buzz of excitement at Gympie museum Artefact traces five generations of Hyne family
and Woodworks owner, Gympie Regional Council, has donated the old Tozer Park depot sheds which Private Forestry Service Queensland has demolished and is reconstructing to house the exhibit. The bandsaw was the second to be used at the Maryborough sawmill and was purchased from Barnett Bros at Bell Bay in Tasmania. It was originally manufactured by Isles Forge and Engineering at Coffs Harbour.
ONE of the largest bandsaws ever used in Australia is set to be on permanent public display at Gympie’s Woodworks Museum, thanks to the contributions of its past and present owners. The large-scale installation process is currently under way. The bandsaw will be displayed in a purpose-built, elevated shed and officially dedicated by Hyne Timber director Chris Hyne at an open day and 30th birthday celebrations at the museum on October 4.
A significant portion of Hyne history
Displayed in a purpose-built, elevated shed Hyne CEO Jon Kleinschmidt is pleased to partner with Woodworks to share such a significant artefact from Queensland’s timber industry’s glorious past. “Hyne Timber has been in the business for 132 years, and this saw represents a significant proportion of that history, both for the company and the local industry,” Mr Kleinschmidt said. “The technology has evolved, the timber has changed, but right across five generations Hyne has helped realise the Australian family dream by developing quality timber products. “The preservation of this bandsaw is about capturing the history of the local timber industry and sharing it with our
“This historical piece of machinery stands at 6 m high so the relocation and installation is a huge project in itself. “We thank Hyne Timber for their partnership and contribution of $20,000 towards the relocation of the saw to its new home at the Woodworks Museum.” DTM, the current owner of the former Hyne & Son hardwood mill, has donated the saw itself
Hyne & Son originally adopted bandsaw technology after seeing the newly invented mills that operated in the US in the 1900s. In 1905, then CEO Henry James Hyne purchased Hyne’s first bandsaw. He bought it from a company at Purgatory on the NSW North Coast which had imported it from Canada but found it unable to cut Australian hardwoods. Legendary millwright ‘Yankee Jack’ made this hardwood conversion and operation possible, along with help from several other innovative bush engineers. In 2000, Hyne Timber transitioned to plantation softwood pine logs exclusively, and Tuan sawmill is now the largest softwood mill in Queensland.
forestry roads, bridges and skid sites are variable and often not up to the mark,” Dr Brown said. “I hope our research at the university’s School of Forestry will help raise standards for design, construction and maintenance of forestry roads.” He said the likelihood of
accidents could increase when infrastructure was not specifically designed for heavy forestry machinery and logging trucks. Infrastructure not wide or strong enough to withstand repeated heavy loads had been cited by the coroner as a contributing factor in accidents.
Served industry well .. one of the largest bandsaws ever used in Australia will be on permanent public display at Gympie’s Woodworks Museum.
local community. “Operating at the Hyne & Son Maryborough mill, the saw cut Fraser Island hardwood up until Christmas 1978. Private Forestry Service Queensland executive officer Sean Ryan said the scale of the machine “takes your breath away, even for people in the industry”.
University of Canterbury to help with forest safety
THE University of Canterbury is to launch a new research project to make sure New Zealand’s new forestry roads are safe and are established with minimal environmental impact. The industry is building more than 1400 km of new roads a year and the research, to be
conducted by Dr Kris Brown, will help improve design standards. “The importance of infrastructure is widely recognised by forestry stakeholders, but the New Zealand Independent Forestry Safety Review Panel has heard that the quality and adequacy of
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 17
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Forest industry in Europe invests $3bn in switch from newsprint to bio-material
FOREST companies in Finland, Norway and Sweden will invest $3 billion in 2014 in attempt to move beyond mostly producing newsprint and commodity packaging grades. The idea is to diversify product lines to include new bio-products from wood fibre and to generate bio-energy to reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels, says the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Reducing the dependence on fossil fuels The pulp and paper industry in the Nordic countries has started to see a new dawn with a growing demand for pulp and paper products made from long wood fibre from the vast conifer forests in Northern Europe. The primarily end-products
A mix of wood fibres .. the increasing source of bio-energy.
will be softwood market pulp and virgin fibre-based container board, but major investments are also being consider in increasing the utilisation of forest biomass for energy on a larger scale Although the investment decisions have not been finalised for all projects, these ruminations
PAGE 18 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
are a sign that the forest industry in this part of the world sees the future in a much brighter light than just a few years ago. Swedish forest owner federation Sodra and the Norwegian energy company Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy,
intend to establish a bio-fuel conglomerate at the site of the now closed pulp mill in Tofte, just south of the capital Oslo. In Finland, Metsä Fibre has plans to invest $1.5 billion in a plant that will produce softwood pulp, renewable bio-energy and what the company categorises as “various bio-materials”. Some of the factors that have placed softwood fibre in a new positive light are limited investments in the establishments of softwood plantations worldwide; favourable global supply/demand balance for softwood pulp over hardwood pulp; increased demand for packaging material requiring wood fibre with high strength; and a rise in research in new products made from trees, sometimes as substitutes to non-renewable materials such as plastic and metal.
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Mob: 0401 312 087 SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | PAGE 19