The Federal Government has removed the controversial “water rule” from the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme.
The water rule – with its complex exceptions - has been an ad-hoc and ineffective way of managing water resources.
The Australian Government is addressing this holistically, in partnership with states and territories, as part of the renewal of the National Water Initiative.
The rule prevented plantation and farm forestry projects from access to the carbon market, held up much-needed investment in new plantations, and disincentivised replanting trees sending the total estate into decline.
Removing the “water rule” creates certainty for forestry to better contribute to emissions reduction through increased participation in carbon farming and investment in new timber plantations.
“The removal of these restrictions nationally is great news because Australia desperately needs new production tree plantings to grow future timber and wood fibre supply. Today, the Government has delivered for industry by removing these barriers to carbon markets,” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Joel Fitzgibbon said. Australia needs one billion new production trees planted by 2030 to secure Australia’s future timber and fibre supply for everything from house frames to packaging and paper products.
Furthermore, AFPA-Master Builders Australia analysis highlighted that Australia will be 250,000 new house-frames short of demand by 2050 if Australia’s doesn’t achieve the billion new trees by 2030 goal. That’s cities the size of Newcastle
and Geelong combined. Australia has the golden opportunity to ready itself for insatiable international demand for sustainably sourced wood and fibre, with global demand forecast to quadruple by 2050.
The amendment clears the way for planting up to 100 million trees Australia-wide by 2030.
“The forest products sector thanks the Government for its delivery of this key commitment. AFPA will continue to work with Minister Watt and other Government Ministers on fibre security strategies which build sovereign capability while helping Australia realise its decarbonisation ambitions,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
Plantations and farm forestry plantings store carbon, enabling growers to participate in the ACCU scheme to generate carbon credits and earn additional income from selling these credits.
These credits are certified through the Clean Energy Regulator for compliance with the detailed requirements in ACCU scheme methods and rules to ensure they have integrity.
Applications to register new plantations and tree planting projects in the ACCU scheme with a start date after 1 June 2024 will now be assessed without being subject to the water rule.
The government has also approved four additional regions where tree planting projects can meet the water rule before its removal. They cover Regional For-
estry Hubs in south and Central Queensland, North Queensland, the Northern Territory and Ord Valley, and southeast New South Wales. These newly approved regions are in addition to existing regions in Western Australia, Tasmania, New
South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said that the lifting of this unnecessary barrier will help to promote new plantations on farms
Continued on page 8
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Adecade of change has made the Tasmanian forestry industry a leader in responsible business.
Despite it being 10 years since Gunns Ltd was placed into liquidation, many of forestry’s detractors seem to view the industry through an outdated lens.
In the decade since Gunns, the state’s forestry industry has become a sector every Tasmanian should be even more proud of. But despite that, our opponents still trot out the same out-of-date arguments – arguments that have nothing to do with our modern, responsible and ethical businesses.
For context, in early 2013, after years of damaging revelations about the forestry industry, the final nail was hammered into the coffin of Gunns – leaving those left in the industry to rebuild.
And since then, the forestry industry has been at pain to show it’s learnt from the past, has atoned for its mistakes, and moved to become an industry now prouder of its professionalism, transparency and commitment to the environment.
But it hasn’t stopped our detractors from trotting out the same tired old arguments. They continue to claim Tasmania’s forestry industry is unprofitable, that we are causing wholesale destruction of Tasma-
nia’s forests, and that we are involved in deforestation practices.
Of course, none of that is true. But it makes an easy headline to ensure their coffers are regularly topped up by ideological mainland dollars.
The fact is over 50 per cent of the state is protected in reserves, and our industry is the backbone of Tasmanian economy, employing over 5000 Tasmanians directly and indirectly the majority spread across our regional communities. Their claims about deforestation are also a patent lie. Deforestation involves changing the use of land after harvesting. Tasmanian forestry replants or regrows every tree it harvested. If you want to see deforestation in action in Tasmania, you don’t need to look far.
The ever-increasing urban sprawl around our cities is local deforestation. Every new estate changes the use of the land to urban – and if that was native forest, that’s deforestation.
In Asia, Africa or the Amazon that change in land use is often unchecked and unregulated, which can lead to devastating environmental and social impacts.
By the way, Dan Andrews’ decision to end native forest logging in Victoria means that state will now be forced to source their hardwood from these locations – at a massive cost to the environment. Victoria’s decision is a case of NIMBY environmentalism, acting locally, but delivering a worse outcome for the planet.
In addition, our detractors’ claims that post-harvest burns are environmental vandalism are also patently untrue. Anyone who has seen a forest in the months and years after a bushfire has swept through know it’s fire that causes Australia’s eucalypt forests to regenerate and regrow.
The truth is the forestry industry is one of the most heavily regulated in the country. And while that regulation can be a burden at times, the industry welcomes the close eye cast over it.
It means we can confidently say that we are held
to the highest levels of government scrutiny. And in a world-wide market where not all forestry is as heavily regulated, it means brand ‘Tasmania’ on our timber and wooden products can guarantee that our timber is world’s best – not only for its quality, but also for its ethical status.
Further, our members are not being constrained by the minimum requirements. They see the value of going beyond the already tough government regulations. We have Tasmanian growers, processors and manufacturers leading the way on reconciliation programs, education initiatives, accreditation systems and environmental standards.
These extras may add to the cost of production, but they ensure that the Tasmanian forestry industry is known around the world for its high environmental and social standards.
Let’s face it, the world’s instable demand for timber is not going away anytime soon. Tasmanians should be proud of the gains our forestry industry has made in the last 10 years, and they can look to the future confident that the industry will continue delivering its diverse forest products as world-leaders in a renewable, responsible and respected industry.
It has been a time of highs, and lows for the timber industry across Australia recently.
On the upside the largely ineffective and controversial “water rule” has been scrapped.
The rule prevented plantation and farm forestry projects from access to the carbon market, held up much-needed investment in new plantations, and discouraged replanting trees sending the total estate into decline.
Removing the “water rule” creates certainty for forestry to better contribute to emissions reduction through increased participation in car-
bon farming and investment in new timber plantations.
The amendment clears the way for planting up to 100 million trees Australia-wide by 2030.
Put simply, it will get trees in the ground.
But on the downside the Weekly Times’ reported that almost 900 Victorians have lost or face losing their timber industry jobs by January.
And that 900 could probably conservatively blow out to thousands as businesses that rely on the timber in-
dustry pay packets start laying off staff or worse, shutting down.
It reported that a third wave of timber industry job losses looms over regional Victoria, with VicForests’ 163 staff left in limbo, not knowing if they will have a job after January 1.
What is truly offensive is the Victorian State Government’s attitude.
Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney’s office said “no decision has been made about the long-term future of VicForests at this point in time, but we thank VicForests staff for their understanding…”
That must make VicForest staff sleep so much better at
night knowing that the Minister has thanked them.
Meanwhile, Australian Forests & Timber News will again host a special feature FORESTRY NOW in our September edition.
FORESTRY NOW will provide key industry statistics, overview, and analysis of the state of the Australian forestry sector, including views and contributions from senior industry figures.
Don’t miss this industryleading report in September’s Australian Forests & Timber News.
The International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) Division 5 Conference in Cairns provided a unique opportunity to learn from experts in forest research, share knowledge, and establish connections with other forestry professionals.
The event is also a platform to discuss and collaborate on solutions to global challenges related to sustainable forest management and responsibly sourced forest products.
Responsible Wood’s strong commitment to promoting sustainable practices in the forestry industry was on display at the conference’s grand opening, with Responsible Wood’s Sustainability Manager, Matt de Jongh, delivering the keynote speech, emphasizing the significance of responsible forestry and sustainable utilization of forest resources.
“We were pleased to participate in, and sponsor, the IUFRO Conference, which brought together experts and stakeholders from around the world to discuss the sustainable utilisation of forest products. It was a remarkable opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and drive positive change in the industry,” Mr de Jongh said.
“Responsible Wood’s involvement with the event reflects our dedication to promoting responsible forestry practices. By supporting events like this conference, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of sustainably sourcing and utilizing forest products. We believe
that sustainable practices are crucial for the long-term health of our forests, as well as for the economic and social well-being of communities that depend on them.”
The conference served as a platform for showcasing innovation in the forest products sector. Participants explored various avenues, including technological breakthroughs and novel manufacturing techniques, to enhance the sustainable utilisation of forest resources.
“Innovation plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable forest product development and adoption,” Mr de Jongh said.
“By embracing new technologies and practices, we can optimise resource allocation, reduce waste, and minimise our environmental footprint.”
Organising such an event requires significant effort, and IUFRO should be com-
mended for their efforts in bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers. Through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to sustainability, those in the forest industry have the opportunity to create a future where forest products play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, supporting
communities, and preserving our precious natural resources.
“By supporting events such as this, we continue to advocate for a future where forests are nurtured, protected, and managed in a manner that benefits both the environment and society, and that remains economically viable,” Mr de Jongh said.
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The decision by the Victorian State Government to fast-track the closure of the native timber industry to the end of this year caught the industry off guard. Those working in the industry are facing an uncertain future as are the communities they live in.
We asked three industry leaders for their views on what will be needed to help those impacted through the crisis they face.
Emma Kealy
There is less than six months until Labor shuts down Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry. So far, all we have seen from Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allan and this Labor Government are media releases, spin and talk. Without real action, timber towns will be punished for their incompetence.
The uncertainty of not knowing if you’ll have a job in six months’ time is having a critical impact on the mental health of not just
timber workers, but their children and other family members too. Daniel Andrews promised face-toface mental health support and has yet to provide any specialised services to these communities, and this must change immediately. Labor’s cost of living crisis is already taking a significant toll on timber workers and allied businesses across the state, who simply don’t know where their income will come from in six short months. While replacement industries and jobs have
been promised by Labor, not a single additional new job has been created since Labor’s shut-down of the sustainable native timber industry was announced. Without proper planning, the sustainable native timber industry’s closure could exacerbate the cost of living crisis right across Victoria. The sustainable native timber industry is integral for the smooth running of our supply chains, particularly pallets produced using hardwood. Proper planning is essential to maintain the supply of pallets, with recent history showing us that any shortage will risk the supply of food and medication that Victorians rely on every single day.
Deb Kerr
The abrupt closure of native forestry in Victoria means the state faces immediate challenges. Not just the industry, but everyone in Victoria. To address these issues clearly and effectively, the government must consider the following: Support and mental health: The way the announcement has been handled, and the fact that everyone in the industry was blindsided by the decision, means it can significantly impact mental well-being. Organisations such as ForestWorks and government bodies provide counselling services, work-
shops, and resources to help individuals cope with the emotional challenges they may be facing now. Considering the new timeline, the implementation of those programs needs to be sped up. Organisers must also identify which areas need more resources and reassess how the requirements have shifted.
Loss of income and investment: Another main concern is the financial impact on business, employees, and stakeholders. Transition packages for sawmills that, prior to the announcement, had chosen to remain operational until 2030 rather than opt out early should have priority. By providing a fair support system, the government can alleviate the financial burden for these businesses.
Retraining opportunities: When forestry workers start moving away, this has ripple effects across the entire community. Less kids in schools, less support for local sport clubs, less customers for local businesses. Those affected by the closure need access to comprehensive retraining programs. Again, ForestWorks is currently working on programs for re-training and relocation. Empowering individuals to acquire new skills and explore alternative employment options could help with immediate job losses and minimise the impact on communities as much as possible.
Sourcing fibre for continuing mills: For mills that continue operations, ensuring a reliable supply of fibre
becomes paramount. Exploring alternative sources, including imports, can help bridge the gap caused by the closure of native forestry and ensures that we retain manufacturing capabilities in the state. The government seems to have accepted that this fibre is likely to come from countries with poorer environmental and corruption indexes than Australia.
Clarity for affected regions: We are already seeing unintended consequences, such as an increase in illegal harvesting (e.g. for firewood) in Victoria’s forests. We will see more of this as the cost pressures and lack of available timber worsen - what is the Government doing to ensure adequate supplies are available under community licences and community pools for collection to avoid this? Regions require clear guidelines regarding firewood collection points, small-scale timber producers, and the involvement of Traditional Owners (TOs). So far, the promised ‘certainty’ has not been fulfilled.
The state government needs to look at ensuring there is adequate funding applied to the transition programs within these affected communities and that the funding is applied to the major areas of concern including but not limited to: mental health, upskilling, and future strategies for these communities economies to survive and thrive.
Victoria’s native timber industry is not only sustainable, but a better environmental option than shipping our best-practice industry and jobs overseas. Exporting our timber industry means that we lose our oversight and regulation of how timber harvesting and forestry is managed, including threats to endangered species of flora and fauna. Victorians will now be forced to buy timber in the competitive international market against other nations looking to import wood products, meaning our supply will be at the whim of the global market and bear the additional financial and environment cost of shipping and importation. Labor has no plan going forward on how replacement industries and jobs will be established in areas where job losses will be felt the most. We also know that Labor has failed to meet their own deadlines to deliver new plantations, which poses ongoing issues in our supply of timber and in providing alternative jobs for timber towns. Judging by the failed Latrobe Valley Authority, our timber towns will
struggle to transition and recover from Labor’s cruel actions.
The Andrews Labor Government has also stubbornly refused to acknowledge how the closure of ancillary heavy machinery industries will impact critical bushfire prevention and firefighting activities, putting lives and property at risk as specialised skills and equipment are lost over time. This will also put the local environment at risk if alternative land management, bushfire prevention and firefighting arrangements are not put in place to replace what is lost from this industry’s closure.
Deb KerrIn addition to short-term challenges, there are longterm issues that require attention and strategic solutions:
Re-employment opportunities: Finding suitable job prospects for workers affected by the closure is a significant long-term concern. The government needs to identify emerging industries and provide targeted training programs to equip workers with the skills needed for new job opportunities.
QWhat needs to be done immediately?
Emma KealyWith less than six months until Labor shuts down Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry, it’s time to see real action and support on the ground – not just media releases, spin and talk.
The Premier must honour his commitment to provide face-to-face mental health support.
Communities and businesses that indirectly financially rely on Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry have been forgotten by Labor, and must immediately be provided with details are what compensation will be provided to buy out their machinery and support job losses.
Victorians also need to know what the Andrews Labor Government will do to ensure an uninterrupted supply of hardwood is available to ensure we can still
While this sounds good in theory, the reality is that for many small communities in eastern Victoria, there will simply be no employment opportunity in an alternative industry. Workers who can, will move away. Some will, for various reasons such as age, mobility, finances, carer duties or family structures, be unable to move away. But they may also be unable to find paid work in their community.
Preserving skills: To prevent the loss of valuable skills in affected regions, strategies to retain and transfer expertise to new sectors is important. Skills development programs, mentorship opportunities, and knowledge-sharing platforms are underway through ForestWorks, but a lot needs to be done to preserve the unique skills and experiences acquired in the forestry sector. Simple measures such as videos showing the skills of current employees, for example when operating mill equipment, would serve two purposes. It would demonstrate their value and help future employers understand their skills and abilities.
streamline the process and minimise disruptions, stabilising the timber supply chain.
Impact on innovation in the hardwood processing industry: Many businesses that operate off the back of hardwood timber have been at the forefront of innovation and have developed high tech processing and products. The incentive to continue investing and innovating is reliant on access to wood fibre over long planning horizons and despite the Government’s messaging that there is a transition to plantation grown timber, there is simply not enough product being grown to support the greater industry.
Identifying replacement industries: So far, the government has not been able to identify replacement industries for affected communities. Attempts to replace forestry with ecotourism, as has been suggested by environmental activists, has been an abject failure elsewhere – there is nothing to suggest eastern Victoria will be any different. We encourage the government to incentivise companies to set up business in regional Victoria, along with setting up decent infrastructure such as housing to attract both businesses and workers alike.
Forest management and Traditional Owners: Re-
sponsible forest management practices and engaging Traditional Owners in decision-making processes are key considerations for the long term. By involving Traditional Owners in planning and management, we could promote environmental stewardship and community empowerment.
Karen Stephens
Victoria needs to be able to meet the current and future timber demand. Certainty around timber supply demand. There needs to be certainty around the future of plantation timber and that includes the trees on farms program. If a farmer plants a tree and goes to harvest it in 30 years time, they need to have certainty that the government is not going to change the legislation between now and the trees harvesting time. They need certainty that they will be able to harvest their investment in the future. At the moment there is no certainty that this would be the case and so the confidence in farmers investing in tree planting on their properties to be able to harvest the timber in the future is low. Adding to this is the availability of suitable timbers and access to reliable overseas markets.
access medications at the pharmacy and food at the supermarket.
Most importantly, locals need to see action on the ground and Labor’s promised newly created jobs being advertised so that timber workers can plan for their future. This would provide the certainty that timber workers and timber towns desperately need.
Deb KerrTo address the current situation effectively, the following immediate actions should be prioritised: Ensure timber harvesting continues: To address the current timber supply shortfall, it is crucial to ensure uninterrupted timber harvesting until the end of the year. Collaborative efforts between industry stakeholders, government bodies, and regulatory agencies can
Provide certainty and planning for affected groups: The government should immediately create a comprehensive plan for small-scale harvesters, Traditional Owners, and firewood producers in Victoria. Victoria should avoid the lock up and leave approach to forest management that will undoubtedly have perverse impacts for many Victorians and the wide uses of Victoria’s state forests.
Mental health support: As mentioned above, the closure of native forestry can have a significant impact on the mental well-being of those affected. And while there is a process to help workers, what forest workers ultimately want is to work, take pride in their jobs and provide for their families.
Address firefighting capacity gap: With the potential
impact of a ‘super El Niño’ on fire risks, addressing any existing firefighting capacity gaps is essential. Immediate measures should be taken to bolster resources, including personnel, equipment, and training, to ensure adequate response capabilities. Collaboration with emergency services and government agencies is crucial for effectively addressing these gaps and enhancing community safety.
Contingency planning and responsible timber imports: One of the many unanswered questions is: Where will our wood come from? The reliance on hardwood imports raises concerns about the carbon footprint of those imports, and the impact on exporting countries with poorer environmental credentials. Collaborative efforts between Victoria’s State Government and the Federal Government are needed to establish stringent regulations and certifications for
timber imports. By safeguarding against unsustainable or illegally harvested timber (both here and in exporting countries), we can maintain the integrity of local ecosystems and support responsible global trade practices.
Karen StephensThere needs to be conversations and consultation with stakeholders around the legislation and understanding the environmental impacts around the decisions that have been made. With a lack of forest management in Victoria, we now face a range of adverse consequences. Clear strategies and funding for the active management and monitoring of these forests need to happen now. And there needs to be a plan to retain specialist skills, experience and expert knowledge from the management of these forests so we can continue to monitor, mitigate and respond effectively to bushfire emergencies.
Corryong’s Walker Sawmill has been an integral part of a beautiful and breathtaking environment, working hand in hand with locals for a mutually beneficial outcome which has stood the test of time for over 80 years.
But it will all come to an end later this year because of the Victorian Government’s decision to shut down the native timber industry.
“It was with heavy heart that I decided to shut the sawmill and hand back the remaining 12 months on our VicForests licence but the recent decision by the government to close at the end of December has rendered every Victorian sawmill worthless as far as processing our own native sawlogs,” Walker’s Managing director Graham Walker said.
“We have an annual contract and hope to secure a further contract to extend our life up to December 2023. The decision to end native forestry in Victoria is the cruellest and most ridiculous decision that has ever been made, and purely based on city votes, not scientifically based,” Graham said.
In a letter to the Corryong Courier, Mr Walker laid the blame for the mill closure
squarely at the feet of the Victorian government.
“The decision to end native forest logging is ripping small communities like Corryong apart,” he said.”
“Our business has been supporting wages since 1965 and the flow-on effect to all our suppliers will be felt heavily as over $4.5-5m per year was going into the economy and supporting other businesses.
Graham followed in the footsteps created by his grandfather Bob Walker, and Graham’s dad, Max.
Bob had come from Tasmania to spot mill on farmers’ lands, setting up a tractor-driven bench to mill timber, supplying timber for buildings in places like Yackandandah and Tallangatta. They would walk a team of six horses in one day from Tallangatta to Shelley to setup a camp, living in tents.
The sawmill relocated to Corryong because it was
rich in mountain ash and had essential town services. The new mill was part owned by William Horton & Co who were wool buyers but could see a future in timber.
“Logs were sourced from VicForests locally but in the 1990’s we purchased a licence to acquire logs from New South Wales,” Mr Walker said. “We employ 22 staff, have a full workshop, including welding and maintenance, a Canadian twin breaking down saw with Gibson line-bar for milling logs up to 110cm girth and 7 metres long; alongside a Gibson Twin Edger for processing logs 4 metres long and up to 60cm girth. Two Grey engineering benches are used to rip the flitches to size for timber or pallet timber. This is docked to length and stacked by manual labour. Our pallets are manufactured on a Viking QC306 nailing machine and then the pallets travel through two paint booths before being automatically stacked ready for the B-Double trucks,” said Graham.
Spot Pallet Supplies began as the side-string of the hardwood timber mill where the fall-down of timber was better suited for pallets. Max Walker purchased the tree heads left behind, and value-added this by cutting pallet tim-
ber, which is only 1165mm in length, giving the advantage of being able to cut out knots and defects; considered a revolutionary idea because it utilised logs that would be left to burn in the next bushfire.
Max was the pioneer of integrated logging and instigated a policy of removing all the low grade logs and heads of trees to re-saw them for pallet timber.
This operation began in about 1967 where a “Spot Mill” was again setup in Brown’s yard in Corryong to cut pallet timber.
Walker’s Sawmill or “Spot Pallet Supplies” as it is more widely known, has been producing timber and pallets for CHEP for more than 50 years.
In 1998 Graham was struck down with a mystery illness and sent to London for diagnosis; then America to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion.
“I had a virus that mutated
From page 3
in Queensland for multiple benefits.
“Queensland was a big loser from the existing barrier which effectively blocked the ability for farmers and landowners to access carbon credits for new plantations in areas that received over 600 mm annual rainfall. We do get lots of rain in many parts of Queensland which can support carbon farming with wood production,” Mr Stephens said.
“As an industry we have worked tirelessly to get this barrier removed so that plantation and farm forestry can compete on a level playing field with other landbased carbon farming activities under the scheme.
“It is disappointing it has taken many years to get this issue resolved under successive Governments, but when it comes to public policy we take the view that common sense will ultimately prevail.”
The Victorian Forest Products Association said the decision was a win for forestry and the environment, and importantly, the decision would improve Australia’s sovereign timber capability. The amendment clears the way for planting up to 100 million trees Australia-wide by 2030.
The South Australian Forest Products Association has been in discussions with the South Australian Govern-
ment about the importance of seeking the early removing the ‘water rule’, as access to the carbon market will incentivise investment in South Australia’s plantation and farm forestry estate which will lead to more trees in the ground to help meet our future fibre needs whilst at the same time helping the South Australian Government achieve its net zero targets.
“The removal of this red tape barrier is great news because it will help us get more trees in the ground which will help us meet the fibre needs of the community tomorrow. COVID-19 showed us the importance of sovereign capability in
fibre supply and today’s announcement by the Federal Government is a step forward in making that happen,” SAFPA CEO Nathan Paine said.
To further support new carbon farming projects and Australia’s forestry industry, the Government is also providing $73.8 million in grant funding to support the establishment of new plantation forests.
The grant funding supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantations to help expand Australian timber supply, contribute to carbon reduction and create regional jobs.
“New long-rotation soft-
a gene and my body was destroying my muscles,” Graham said.
“By 2001 I was in a wheelchair and in 2005 on a ventilator at night to breathe, then in 2010, a tube for nutrition and fluids followed by the need for 24-7 ventilation.
In 2017 when dad was forced to retire at 94, I managed to keep operating, cutting power bills by installing 900 solar panels, upgrading the sawmill, boosting production by 50 percent. I installed CCTV cameras to manage the sawmill remotely as I wasn’t able to be onsite, requiring carers and 24-7 supervision in case my ventilator failed.
“My biggest setback came in 2020 when my right lung collapsed, followed by a further collapse five days later, and another care-flight from Albury to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne where I have been on a first name basis since 2010.”
wood and hardwood plantations will help Australia meet future demand for timber, while ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the forestry industry,” the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt said.
“The removal of the water rule demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to support the plantation forestry industry.
“The plantation forestry industry is a big employer in regional areas, and this move will encourage industry to take a bigger role in helping Australia bring down emissions whilst also providing an important resource.”
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Forestry Corporation’s Blowering Nursery is at full production in readiness for the 2023 planting season, with almost three million seedlings inspected to ensure they meet the required standard.
These seedlings will join a further 3.5-million from Forestry Corporation’s Grafton Nursery and will be dispatched to planting crews across the state’s softwood plantation estate from Bathurst, Bombala, Tumut and Walcha.
The planting program runs from now until September and by that time the nursery crew will have inspected 11 million cells and dispatched around nine million quality seedlings that will help supply the building industry and community down the track.
Phil Green, Plantation Improvement Manager, said given the nursery has endured one of its toughest growing seasons on record, inspection is a vital step to ensure seedlings dispatched from the nursery can grow
to their full potential and supply timber needs in decades to come.
“These seedlings are going to become future generations’ homes and furniture, so we go to great lengths to ensure we produce high quality, robust seedlings that will produce the best timber when they are ready for harvest,” Mr Green said.
Since Forestry Corporation’s Blowering nursery commenced production in 1997, it has seen over 176 million seedlings pass through its gates to help
build people’s homes and workplaces.
Mr Green said the current crop of seedlings started their journey in October last year when the team at the nursery sowed more than 400 kilograms of seed into individual cells.
“Like last year, with a large program on foot as we continue to replant areas harvested and those devastated in the 2019 bushfires, we have again engaged additional assistance to help with the grading and dispatch program,” he said.
“At the height of this year’s dispatch program, we anticipate that we will be sending almost one million seedlings out of the nursery gate each week.”
Forestry Corporation utilizes different seeds for trees destined to be planted in different parts of the estate so that they have the best chance of making the most of their planted environment and growing into the highest-quality timber possible at the individual site level.
Nigel Grant and his team around Tumbarumba are flat out.
They are planting two million pine seedling mainly from Forestry Corporation’s Blowering Nursery.
And they are planting them by hand.
“Planting is extremely hard work. You must be fit,” NIgel said.
“Our workers are mainly in the 18 to 35 year age group.
“They work hard and make very good money. You’re out and all sorts of weather.”
Maximum temperatures can get down too eight degrees and get down to minus seven some mornings
“This year we will usually run two planting crews,” Nigel said.
“But this year the trees coming out of all nurseries have been stunted, due to the prime growing time last
year was overcast and cold and the trees didn’t grow to their full potential.
“So instead of planting 3.4 million trees we are back to two million.”
There is 20 in the crew at present but normally there would be double that.
Nigel Grant Contracting is based at Tumbarumba NSW
in the heart of the pine region. The company works across a huge area covering the Southwest slopes of New South Wales.
Company owner Nigel Grant set up the company in 2007. He was born in Tumbarumba and grew up farming but switched from farming to forestry in 2006 when he was 36 years old.
Silviculture is Nigel Grant Contracting’s main business, but the company also undertakes, earthmoving, environmental rehabilitation, weed spraying and contract firefighting services.
Key customers are corporate forestry state and local governments agencies and farmers.
The company also does a lot of work for Hume Forests, Sothern Cross Forests and Snowy Mountains Forests, these companies have
now caught up with the post fire planting.
“When we finish planting, we’ll go on to weed control, fertilizing and wildling removal.
“And then we run two summer firefighting outfits for Forest Corp,” he said.
“We also run three fire crews for Hume Forests.”
Nigel Grant Contracting also carries out work for national parks and rehabilitation works.
“We do a lot of wildling and regeneration work in the cooler months,” he said.
“The worst effect of the recent fires besides losing millions of trees is all the wildling seedlings that sprouted post fires.
“So, you go and plant your 1000 stems per hectare, and in some areas’ there’s 2000 stems growing in between the rows that germinated from seeds.
And again, they have to removed by hand.
“Otherwise, they’ll compete, and you’ll have 2000/5000 stems per hectare instead of 1000,” Nigel said.
In 12/15 years’, time the harvesting crews won’t be able to get their harvesting heads around the tree’s, another major problem is the new trees won’t grow because of the competition.”
The company also undertakes inventory data collection on trees in plantation’s supplying information to various forestry companies regarding harvesting, future budgeting requirements and plantation health. silvicultural is a highly specialized field which is extremely labour intensive with staffing numbers reaching over 50 employees in busy times of the season.
“It’s a hard game, but it is very rewarding,” Nigel said.
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Research conducted by The University of Queensland has revealed that Queensland native forestry, including timber harvesting, could actually help conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate risks.
Dr Tyron Venn, from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability reviewed more than 350 publications, studying the ecological and economic impacts of Queensland native forest management, which includes everything from fire management to timber harvesting.
“Stopping forestry in Queensland’s native forests may sound like a positive outcome for the environment, but the research suggests that it would further shift our impacts offshore and increase carbon emissions, while generating little benefit for biodiversity conservation within Australia,” Dr Venn said.
Since the 1990s, Australia’s annual harvest of native hardwood sawlogs has dropped by 2.2 million
cubic metres, as large areas of stateowned native forests have been declared National Parks or other types of conservation reserves in which harvesting is not allowed.
“Over the same time period, imports of hardwood products from less-well managed forests in Asia and the Pacific increased by a similar amount,” Dr Venn said.
“In many developing countries, large international timber companies operate with disregard for the environment and often have negative impacts on traditional forest communities.”
“Without realising it, many Australians buy products made with foreign timbers and threaten conservation efforts for the orangutan,
Malayan tiger, Asian sun bear and Asian tapir.
The research found that Queensland’s low-intensity forestry management techniques are informed by science to minimise environmental impacts.
Queensland law allows selection harvesting in some of the state’s public and private native forests, which typically removes 10 to 20 trees per hectare every 20 to 40 years.
Strict rules regulate how this is conducted, such as by requiring minimum retention of trees of different sizes, including large old trees with hollows.
“Selection harvesting can restore wildlife habitat, promote and conserve floristic diversity and improve the resilience of large trees against climate change and bushfire,” Dr Venn said.
Dr Venn said forestry is the twenty-fifth most important threat to biodiversity in Australia, and forestry in Queensland impacts only 0.8 per cent of Australia’s 1,795 threatened species.
“There are 24 more important threats we should be focused on, including invasive weeds, invasive predators, urban development, and reduced fire frequency or intensity” he said.
Dr Venn said Queensland should continue to manage some of its forests for wood production, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“The IPCC has long argued that sustainably managing forests to produce timber, fibre and energy will generate the largest carbon sequestration benefit from forests,” he said.
“If Queensland reduced its native forestry in the near future, the knock-on effect would be negative impacts on global efforts to conserve biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions due to increased consumption of timber imports and carbon polluting substitutes.
“Queensland can maximise its contribution to global biodiversity and climate goals by continuing to manage some of the state’s native forests for timber production.”
Astrain of roundworm discovered for the first time in Australian pine plantations during University of the Sunshine Coast-led research could become the timber industry’s latest biocontrol weapon.
UniSC Forest Research Institute’s Dr Helen Nahrung, who studied the worm in a collaboration across Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, said its natural dominance among other strains used to attack a notorious wood wasp pest was surprising and exciting.
“The unexpected identification of this nematode (worm) is hugely significant for science and industry,” said Dr Nahrung, who shares the discovery with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the University of Pretoria and Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute).
Dr Nahrung and Dr Angus Carnegie of the NSW DPI will travel to Brazil in September to outline the finding to a meeting of southern hemisphere commercial plantation managers in the hope of saving more radiata pine trees from a fatal fungus caused by the wasp pest.
“Radiata pine is Australia’s most prevalent plantation softwood, used widely in
housing and furniture con struction, but the $1billion industry is vulnerable to the Sirex wasp, an invasive pest that kills trees by spreading a wood-rotting fungus,” said Dr Nahrung.
“This worm strain (Delad enus siricidicola – Lineage D) is already acting to pro tect the trees. It burrows into wasp larvae and steri lises the female eggs, help ing to kill the wasp life cycle while also eating the wasp fungus.
“We don’t know how or when it got to Australia but its genetic strength certain ly indicates that it could be a new addition to the worm strains already used for bio logical control of Sirex fun gus.”
The latest paper, published in the journal Biological Control, reported that the new nematode was found in forests in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and NZ’s North Island.
It was the first study to explore the population genetic structure of a large collection of D. siricidicola in Australia since the worm became widely used in biological control in the early 1970s.
funding and was done in collaboration with the Queensland Government, Australian National Sirex Coordination Committee, Forest & Wood Products Australia and the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme at University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute.
Native to Eurasia and Morocco, sirex wood wasps were accidentally introduced to the southern hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. They also recently arrived in North America.
& Wood Products Australia
with recommendations to review biological control programs with a view to trialling the new nematode.
“This should not be seen as a silver bullet, rather a sensible use of the genetic diversity present in the environment,” the report stated.
Sirex wood wasp, Sirex noctilio, is the most damaging invasive pine plantation pest in the southern hemisphere, killing millions of trees. It has arrived recently in Queensland but has been present in Tasmania since 1952 and mainland Australia since 1961. The wasps haven’t spread to Queensland’s main coastal plantation regions of Beerburrum and the Fraser Coast. However, climatespecies models predict most of Queensland’s pine-growing regions are suitable for it to establish hives.
Aleading New Zealand pulp mill has upgraded its Distributed Control System (DCS) to Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx.
Winstone Pulp International Ltd (WPI) produces a range of timber and pulp products derived from renewable plantations of Radiata pine for both New Zealand and international markets.
Its pulp mill in Karioi, Ohakune (about 100km south of Lake Taupo) was experiencing usability challenges with its DCS, and WPI saw risks for the future of the business.
“Our existing DCS was coming to the end of its lifecycle. It required highly specialised knowledge and was not easy to modify if our needs changed. It was not a cost-efficient or optimised way of running the pulp mill,” said Lindsay Rowe, project manager, WPI.
WPI already had Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx DCS running in some areas of the plant, where it was operating reliably and efficiently, so the decision was made to convert the rest of the plant to PlantPAx, to create a unified DCS.
“We wanted a true DCS to be implemented plantwide – something that was user-friendly, with standard template that could easily be modified as our needs change in the future. Importantly, we wanted a DCS that was simple to learn and to operate, to minimise the risk of an experienced maintenance technician retiring and leaving a knowledge gap in the company, for example,” added Rowe. WPI produces a range of timber and pulp products derived from renewable plantations of Radiata pine for both New Zealand and international markets.
The Karioi pulp mill –which produces wood pulp that is used for folding boxboard manufacture – has more than doubled its production capacity since it began in 1978, by implementing new plant, processes, and technology. WPI’s latest investment follows this trend of utilising proven technology to drive reliability and efficiency benefits.
John Deere’s TimberMatic Maps and Manager has proven a gamechanger for Albury-based forestry contractor Mitch Drummond whose business has expanded from two to five employees in the past 18 months.
Mr Drummond began in forestry after leaving school and worked as an operator for around 12 years before establishing M&C Harvesting in 2019.
The business’ high-performing fleet is made up of a number of John Deere machines including two 859MH Tracked Harvesters and two 1910E Forwarders. Both the tracked harvesters and forwarders are designed to withstand rugged environments, such as steep slope logging.
Contracted to produce approximately 115,000 tonnes per annum of softwood timber from the Northern Districts of HVP Plantation’s forestry area, Mr Drummond said it was critical his equipment was up to the job.
“We specialise in intermediate terrain, between steep slope and flat and have the contract for first and second thinnings,” Mr Drummond said.
“Over the past 12 months, especially, we have experienced wet weather and
the tracked harvesters have performed exceptionally well.”
John Deere’s connection with the Waratah range has also been a drawcard for Mr Drummond, who utilises Waratah 618C attachments on his harvesters.
“We really like the combination of the John Deere and the Waratah heads and the reliability and the reputation that these two brands have working together.”
John Deere’s digital forestry operating systems, TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager, have added significant efficiency to M & C Harvesting operations. The GPS system provides managers remote capabilities, to the working site allowing the ability to manage production between harvester and forwarder such as marking locations of stacked timber in the plantation along with creating boundaries around the cut site.
Mr Drummond said it was a powerful tool to streamline production, especially with an expanding workforce.
“I started harvesting with a two-piece system and
have now grown to five allowing me to transition into a management role,” Mr Drummond said.
“A key feature that interested me from John Deere was TimberMatics Maps and TimberManager and its ability to accept PDF maps with overlays showing the direction for T1 out rows, and we’ve found the mapping to be very accurate.
“Traditionally, boundaries are laid out by boots on the ground, so the use of TimberMatics Maps means our operators don’t need to get out and walk around the block to check boundaries as much, which in turn gives them more seat time and higher production.
“It also means I can see where my machines and operators are at any time, which helps if problems arise in that I can now assist resolve issues remotely.
“I can also see production figures for each machine, including how much wood has been harvested, and is left on the ground and delivered to the landing by the forwarder. It’s really accurate data allowing me to assess the production of each machine daily. It also allows me to monitor what the harvester has cut, what is left for the forwarder to collect and what has been delivered to the landing.
“Being able to monitor the machines and how they perform including fuel consumption to time refilling is also of enormous benefit to operational efficiency.”
Mr Drummond said while it was John Deere’s reputation for quality that first piqued his interest, it was the proven reliability and back up support that persuaded his purchase.
“I have had a really good relationship with all the team at RDO Equipment, Lavington and I would say they’re responsiveness to our needs for servicing is always excellent,” Mr Drummond said.
“I can always trust that they will arrive with everything required, like filters, oils and parts, for the job and I can hand my machinery over to them and get on with what I need to do.”
While the forestry industry is under pressure following severe bushfires and rising input costs, Mr Drummond is thrilled with the direction of his business. “I am really happy with how the business is tracking having expanded to five staff in the past 18 months, and I am excited to continue growing which could mean more employment opportunities and additional equipment for M&C Harvesting.”
The Australian Forest Contractors Association has entered into a collaboration with the Queensland Trucking Association.
This collaboration is expected to deliver a range of valuable services and resources, aimed at benefiting AFCA members in the areas of Human Resources and Industrial Relations.
Established in 1907, the QTA has been the peak industry body representing road freight in Queensland for over a century. It is widely recognised by the Queensland Government as the pre-eminent representative body for the heavy vehicle road freight industry. Through this partnership, AFCA members will gain access to QTA’s expertise and services in employment relations and advocacy. With a members spread around the country, the QTA leads its policy priorities with a national advocacy approach to service members wherever they may be in Australia.
AFCA members will now receive complimentary HR and IR advice from a qualified IR specialist.
The following services will be available to AFCA’s members: Advocacy and Employment Relations:
• Assistance in applying and interpreting the national employment standards (NES) and the Fair Work Act 2009.
• Guidance on all aspects of employment law, including anti-discrimination legislation.
• Interpretation and application of relevant awards, agreements, and employment contracts.
• Support in addressing employment conditions and wage rates.
• Advice and assistance on performance management, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment.
• Support and guidance on matters related to the Fair Work Commission and industrial tribunals.
• Timely alerts on current industrial and employment issues impacting employers.
• Exclusive invitation to attend quarterly QTA employer forum meetings (both online and in person).
• Access to member prices for all QTA events.
Additionally, QTA will provide AFCA members with optional fee-for-service offerings, tailored to meet individual needs at a nominated hourly rate. These services include:
• Assistance and representation in matters before the Fair Work Commission
and various industrial tribunals.
• Review and preparation of documents, including correspondence, employment contracts, and responses to unfair dismissal and general protections applications.
• Support and guidance in drafting and negotiating enterprise agreements, individual flexibility agreements, and employment contracts.
• Assistance in preparing show cause letters, written warnings, and termination of employment letters.
• Workplace representation and support.
• Preparation and delivery of information sessions and educational workshops.
The AFCA believes this partnership will greatly enhance the resources and support available to members, enabling them to navigate complex HR and IR matters with confidence and ease. The collaboration between AFCA and QTA reflects the AFCA’s commitment to providing exceptional value to our members and strengthening its collective representation in the industry.
For further information or to access these services, please email office@afca. asn.au
Powerful, durable and purpose-built, the Kenworth name has been synonymous with the logging industry for decades. With an extensive model range and choice of options, a Kenworth can be customised
Following the resounding success of our Professional Ownership & Driver Wellbeing Program the Australian Forest Contractors Association has launched the Professional Freight Task Management program.
This program is open to all members as well nonmembers combining the PODW program with the ATSSS Heavy Vehicle Crash and Rollover Awareness Program.
The program will be presented by industry experts Alan Pincott from Australian Trucking Safety Services & Solutions and Kirstin Pincott from KJ Training & Consulting.
Professional Freight Task Management goes beyond the scope of PODW and now incorporates the renowned Rollover Program. This comprehensive training package has been meticulously designed to promote ‘best practice’ not only within the transport industry but also across various nontransport sectors.
With an emphasis on safety, efficiency, and industrywide excellence, this program is set to revolutionize the way freight tasks are managed. It equips professionals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the freight industry while prioritizing the well-being of drivers.
By combining the expertise of Alan and Kirstin, this program offers a holistic approach to freight management. Their extensive experience and dedication to safety will ensure that participants gain invaluable insights and practical strategies to enhance their operations.
The AFCA is inviting industry professionals, both within and outside the transport sector, to join in this cutting-edge training opportunity to foster a culture of continuous improvement and set new standards for excellence in our respective industries.
The program includes:
• Understanding our industry’s vehicle crashes
• Heavy vehicle national law; Chapter 1A safety duty
• Chain of Responsibility (26C) Primary duty
• Alcohol and other drugs
• Sleep cycles and sleep hygiene
• Attention, concentration
and the tricks your mind plays
• How to respond to an accident
• Trip planning
• Creating awareness, engagement & working as an industry
• Understanding crashes & rollovers
• What happens when a truck rolls
• Why they roll & the forces involved
• Understanding your vehicle, your load & your industry
• Where trucks roll and identifying high risk locations
• EBS technology
• The human factor Costs per person is $170 for AFCA members and $190 for industry members.
New Risutec dealer
Randalls Equipment Pty Ltd, will take on Risutec dealer responsibility in Australia and New Zealand to offer full sales, service, and parts support for Risutec reforesting attachments to forestry contractors within the region.
Randalls will offer packaged deals on Sany excavators and the Risutec reforesting attachment of choice for new customers and custom installation for any installed base customers may already have.
GTTIA awards
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards. Each award category aims to showcase the remarkable achievements of individuals and companies within our vibrant timber community.
The award winners will be celebrated at the Gala Dinner Event on October 27.
FA position statements
Forestry Australia has released a series of two-page Position Statements to better inform members and the community of its position on a range of issues.
The first five in a series of position papers covers the areas of Ecologically Sustainable Forestry Management; Forest Fire Management, Forest Fire Recovery and Restoration, Sustainable Forest Harvesting and Forest Research, Development and Dissemination.
TFFPN retirement
After more than five “great years” in the Convenor chair, the time has come for Therese Taylor to step back from her role with the Tasmanian Forests & Forest Product Network.
Ms Taylor said it has been a professional highlight for her to work with the forest industry to establish and nurture a network organisation which enables members to work collaboratively together on issues which affect the entire supply chain.
OFO appointment
OneFortyOne has appointed Branislav Zoric to the position of Chief Forester working in both Australia and New Zealand.
Branislav will provide technical and professional advice on forestry matters including the integration of environmental, social, and economic values for sustainable forest management.
Mechanised Logging has announced a significant investment in the Tasmanian forestry sector with the introduction of new cutting-edge machinery.
The recent acquisition of two John Deere Harvesters and one John Deere Log Forwarder, affectionately dubbed “new green for the MechLog team,” reflects the company’s unwavering belief in the industry’s growth potential.
MechLog’s Managing Director, Anthony Brown said with a total investment of over $3 million, the new John Deere state-of-the-art machines will significantly augment the company’s capabilities in harvesting softwood and eucalypt clear-fell while continuing to address the escalating demand for timber products.
The harvested timber will be supplied to the Timberlink Mill in Bell Bay, Norske Skog New Norfolk and the Forico mills at Hampshire
and Bell Bay, contributing to a robust supply chain, and augmenting the local economy.
“The highly acclaimed John Deere 1910E forwarder, celebrated for its durability, resilience, outstanding performance, and operator comfort with its rotating and levelling cab ensures a smooth ride even in the harshest terrains. Its spacious cab design provides unparalleled 360-degree visibility, allowing operators to work productively throughout the day,” Mr Brown said.
“The 1910E forwarder integrates advanced operatorfriendly technology. The optional TimberMatic F-09 machine control system and TimberLink delivers complete machine control, enabling operators to optimise settings, monitor performance, and manage operating costs. This cutting-edge software ensures maximum efficiency and productivity throughout our operations.
“Supported by the formidable John Deere PowerTech Plus 9.0-liter engine and boasting a 19-metric-ton load capacity, the 1910E forwarder sets an unrivalled standard for heavy-duty applications and challenging conditions. MechLog firmly believes that investing in topof-the-line equipment not only enhances operational capabilities but also underscores our commitment to sustainable forest.
“MechLog has recently taken delivery of a John Deere 959 harvester, fitted with a Waratah 624 harvesting head as well as a new John Deere 2154 fitted with a Waratah 622 harvesting head. This will be the sixth 2154 Swing Machine MechLog has purchased. We are very happy with the performance of this model, as are the crew who use them every day. The JD link and timber manager software is a useful addition, which facilitates remote
monitoring of production, operator performance, and communication between John Deere machines.
“We are delighted to have commissioned these valuable additions to our machinery fleet. This investment exemplifies our unwavering confidence in the Tasmanian forestry sector and its potential for growth. The new John Deere Harvesters and Forwarder will significantly enhance our operational efficiency, enabling us to meet the rising market demands while ensuring a sustainable supply of highquality timber. We take great pride in our contribution to the local economy and our commitment to responsible forestry practices,” Mr Brown added.
MechLog eagerly anticipates showcasing the new machinery and sharing the positive impact it will have on the Tasmanian forestry sector.
Now rated 21 metric tons the 1910E increases your capacity to move more wood… and that’s what it’s all about.
The John Deere’s G-Series Forwarders are built forest-tough, with robust axles together with increased diesel power providing the strength to carry hefty loads over long distances and deliver solid tractive performance in every operating condition. Combine this with durable booms and Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) system, upgraded hydraulics and electrical components that won’t let you down. Plus, with forward-thinking advancements in rotating and levelling, and ergonomically advanced cab, operators are kept safe and comfortable for maximum productivity and reduced fatigue. Find success in the forest with a G-Series Forwarder.
Komatsu Forest took up the Peterson dealership just over 12 years ago with a strong belief in the market potential of the Peterson flails and chippers which would compliment KF’s existing forestry product line in Australia.
When considering the market is somewhat small, the Peterson/ Komatsu Forest partnership has been very successful in taking a strong market leadership with both flail chippers and horizontal grinders.
Since 2011, KF have delivered more than 70 Peterson units with orders for a further nine units for delivery over the next 12 months.
“Something both companies have worked hard to achieve and are very proud,” Brenton Yon, Sales and Marketing Manager, said.
“We expect to continue and expand the momentum created by our partnership.”
The grinder business continues to increase with strong emphasis on recycling products such as waste timber and green waste.
In addition, there’s good potential in the processing of forest residues. The horizontal grinders now make up nearly half of the Peterson sales in Australia with the Peterson 2710D being the most successful model with 20 units in the field and orders for a couple more in the coming months.
“We’re extremely pleased with the Peterson’s success and have been somewhat surprised by the growth of the Peterson Grinder sales”, says Brett Jones, Managing Director Komatsu Forest.
Peterson have four-model range of horizontal grinders; 2710D/4710D/5710D/ 6710D and are available as either wheeled trailer or self-propelled track and all with the same unique features;
• Upturn 3 Stage Grinding Process for a superior fracturing process.
• Impact Release System, incorporating a Patented Air Bag protection for contaminated feed stock.
• Impact Cushion System protecting the mill from catastrophic damage from
large items in the feed stock.
Currently all Peterson models sold in Australia are self-propelled tracked grinders fitted with Tier II engines with the most popular 2710D followed by the 5710D as the preferred models spread across the country.
• The Peterson 2710D is powered by a Caterpillar C18 570 kW engine (Tier II) weighs 30,900 kg and is designed for easy mobility with high production.
• The Peterson 5710D is powered by a Tier II Caterpillar C32 839kW engine (Tier II) weighs 43,091 kg is designed for operations requiring very high production and demanding endproduct specifications. It provides the highest power to weight ratio of any Peterson grinder.
The Jefferies Group, a long-term Peterson owner from Adelaide started in the grinding business in the late 90’s when they purchased a second-hand Peterson 2400 which they on sold to Snell Contracting in 2013. Now they have just taken delivery of a new 2710D adding to their current fleet of a 2710C and 5710D.
“From our point of view, the Petersons are good reliable machines,” Martin Jefferies says. “And we’re quite happy with the service and back-up we get from Komatsu Forest.”
The Jeffries Group manufactures composts and soil improvers from green organics received from most of metropolitan Adelaide’s council kerbside collections, as well as supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. Large quantities of tree trimmings, street sweepings and end-of-life wooden pallets make up much of the clean green and timber inputs.
“For us, Komatsu Forest has gone out of its way to try and get a part, whether it’s in Australia or the US. “That’s key for a business.
You’re making a profit when these machines are running,” Martin said.
Snell Contracting
Phil Snell, the Owner/Operator of Snell Contracting purchased his first grinder, a second-hand Peterson 2400 from the Jefferies Group Adelaide which was later replaced by a new Peterson 2710C. Since 2016, he’s purchased five Peterson 2710D Grinders, including two in September 2022, from Komatsu Forest. His knowledge of the grinding industry has developed over the years, and he’s now quite discerning about having the right equipment for the job.
“I stuck with Komatsu Forest, and Peterson, because they’re focused on the timber industry and do it well”. said Phil.
Phil built his business in
Northern Territory on land clearing and grinding green waste for local councils and has secured a five-year contract for site clearance and rehabilitation at Rio Tinto’s 15,000-hectare bauxite mining lease in Nhullaby, formerly Gove. The Gove site has been supplying the global aluminium industry with bauxite for more than 40 years but is expected to cease later this decade.
Work to support closure of the operation and rehabilitate the area is already under way. Phil and his team are clearing and mulching timber to be used to rehabilitate the mine’s burrow and red mud ponds.
Gove is the fourth-largest town in the Northern Territory and a nine-hour drive from Katherine. For the Rio Tinto job, Phil’s equipment is transported by barge and remains onsite for six
months. The remoteness adds some complexity to servicing or any issues that arise, East Arnhem Land is 700 kilometres from Darwin so you need equipment you can rely on in a remote location.
“We’ve got to work around the wet season so we ramp things up where we can. We’ve got two grinders working 12 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Phil. “Remoteness and monsoon rains are a real challenge,” added Phil “but Komatsu Forest gets things done”.
“The Peterson 2710D is ideal for Phil’s operation because it’s designed for high production and frequent moves between jobs,” said Brenton Yon, Komatsu Forest National Sales Manager. What has also developed over the years, is a relationship between Phil and Komatsu Forest
Lincom Group, a leading equipment supplier, has become the MDS (a Terex brand) exclusive distributor for Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. This new partnership marks a significant milestone for both companies and is set to bring a range of new opportunities to the local market.
Lincom Group has been supplying high-quality equipment and services to the mining, quarrying, recycling and waste industries for over 27 years. With an extensive portfolio that includes mobile crushers, screeners, conveyors, and other specialised equipment, the business is wellpositioned to help customers take their productivity to the next level.
The partnership with MDS is a testament to Lincom Group’s core value of supplying only the best-in-class equipment. Speaking about the new agreement, Lincom Group CEO Stephen Watterson said, “We are thrilled to be the exclusive distributors of MDS heavy-duty rock trommels in key regions. We are excited to be working with such an innovative manufacturer and look forward to bringing their industry-leading equipment to our customers.”
Headquartered in Ireland, MDS specialises in designing and manufacturing stateof-the-art heavy-duty rock trommels. Their equipment is designed to deliver maximum efficiency, reliability, and versatility and is trusted by customers worldwide.
The MDS heavy-duty rock trommels provide unparal-
leled productivity and can screen rocks as large as 800mm. In addition, these trommels are packed with unmatched features such as hydraulic jacking legs, remote control, modular drums, drum cleaners and electronic systems to monitor and control aspects of the trommel.
The range includes mobile, semi-mobile or static, and the MDS trommels are built for harsh conditions and
built to last, with capacities from 350 to 1000 tons per hour.
With a focus on consistently delivering and exceptional customer service, Lincom Group boasts a vast and wellestablished network of sales and service centres that is unmatched in the industry, providing its customers with fast and effective support for all the equipment lifecycle.
With a shared commitment to quality, innovation,
and customer service, this partnership is set to deliver real value to customers and is an exciting new chapter in Lincom Group’s continued growth plan.
The first MDS M515 track trommel will arrive later this year. This model will come complete with fold-out stockpiling conveyors and is ideal for creating riprap and recovering rocks that are mixed with clay and other sticky materials.
MechLog has launched a new training programme aimed at improving the skills of people entering the forestry industry in Australia and Tasmania. The programme - Skills Enhancement & Employee Development (SEED) - also aims to assist the industry to attract younger people, and those from similar industries, to consider a career in the forest harvesting sector.
MechLog’s CEO Ms Jillian Aylett Brown said SEED was set to revolutionise the way new entrants to the forestry industry are trained.
With a focus on younger participants, SEED is an innovative, customised training programme designed to support successful learning outcomes and create career development opportunities
for new entrants to the industry.
“MechLog is excited to launch our Skills Enhancement & Employee Development programme,” she said.
“SEED is designed to improve the skills of people entering the forestry industry as well as assist the forestry sector to attract new talent. With an aging workforce and increasing demand for timber products, it is crucial that we invest in training and development to ensure a sustainable future for the industry,” Ms Aylett Brown said.
“We believe that SEED will play a crucial role in ad-
dressing the skills gap in the forestry sector and assist MechLog to attract new talent to the company. It is an exciting time to be involved in forestry, with new technologies and innovations creating opportunities for growth and sustainability.”
SEED will be offered to new employees pursuing a career in harvesting operations with MechLog, including school leavers and those looking to transition from other industries.
“While places are limited, we are always interested in hearing from suitably capable applicants who are interested in joining the MechLog team,” Ms Aylett Brown said.
Successful recruits will have the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications in forestry, including a Certificate III
in Forestry Operations. Trainees are provided with on-the-job training by industry professionals on forestry equipment dedicated to training to ensure that their theory work has context with its practical realworld application.
“SEED is an advanced training concept that combines technical training and life-skills education to support and improve the learning experience and outcomes for new entrants to the forestry industry,” Ms Aylett Brown said.
The life skills programme is delivered alongside the forest operations qualification of a Certificate III in Forest Operations, ensuring that SEED trainees receive a comprehensive and wellrounded education. SEED also represents MechLog’s commitment to safety, per-
sonal development, and enhancing skills and knowledge, with a focus on providing a targeted approach to developing a well-trained workforce for the forestry sector.
“MechLog has been delivering successful training outcomes to the forestry industry since 1994, and the SEED philosophy is shaped by the company’s own observations and experiences,” Ms Aylett Brown said.
“Many of the forestry professionals we have trained over the years have advanced to become supervisors and managers within our own company and with other forestry companies. We believe that SEED will continue this tradition of excellence and produce a new generation of skilled and motivated forestry professionals,” she said.
To address the skills shortages in the forestry sector and the need for innovative and collaborative solutions to training and tertiary education, the Committee for the Future of Forestry Education (COFFE) has developed a proposal for a Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Forestry programs.
It is proposed that the University of Tasmania will coordinate the program and
this innovative collaboration model will see different units delivered by different institutions including Southern Cross University, Australian National University, Melbourne University, University of South Australia, University of the Sunshine Coast and University of Tasmania.
The move is a result of a meeting held at Forestry Australia’s Symposium in Albury last year, at which university representatives
discussed the issue of education and skills shortages in the sector. The group was expanded, forming COFFE, and now comprises universities, commercial forest growers, AFPA’s HR Committee, ForestWorks, ForestLearning and Forestry Australia.
Forestry Australia’s CEO Jacquie Martin said the lack of opportunities to study forestry at university is resulting in a skill shortage which is impacting the forestry
profession, the forestry sector, and the future of forest management in Australia.
“Forest growers are recruiting graduates with environmental science or agriculture qualifications, as they are well-qualified in their field, but they lack some specialist forestry knowledge and skills,” Ms. Martin said.
“It is hoped this innovative and collaborative program will address these challenges by allowing those with
environmental science or agriculture qualifications to ‘top up’ or extend their skills into the area of forestry and provide a pathway for people who are seeking a career in forestry.”
The Graduate Certificate will include an Introduction to Forestry and the Forest Sector; Forest Planning and Operations; Carbon Forestry; and Plantation Silviculture. It is hoped that the first unit will be open for enrolment in 2024.
Afinal logging harvester that combines power and productivity with agility and excellent climbing ability. And a harvester that is also a perfect match for the C164 head.
This is one way of describing the new eight-wheeled harvester from Komatsu Forest, the third addition to their range of eight-wheeled harvesters specially designed for demanding conditions.
The Komatsu 951XC is a new harvester for final logging in steep terrain and on soft ground. The eightwheel design, combined with the stable Komatsu concept, ensures a machine with great stability, excellent manoeuvrability, and low ground pressure.
The Komatsu 951XC is also optimised for use with the Komatsu C164 – a harvester head specially designed for logging large trees – although naturally it works just as well with a range of other heads.
The Komatsu 951XC is part of Komatsu Forest’s product series of machines specially designed for challenging conditions.
“Now we have a complete range of eight-wheeled machines, specially designed for demanding conditions,” Joakim Johansson, Product Manager Harvesters at Komatsu Forest says.
The machine design is much like that of the Komatsu 951, although there are some differences. The Komatsu 951XC has the same wheel size as the 931XC, lending the machine a more compact design and giving the 951XC a total machine length that is shorter than that of the Komatsu 951.
The Komatsu 951XC has 242 kN of underlying tractive force and unique interaction between engine, control system and power transmission. The hydrostatic transmission enables engine power to be fully utilised, providing considerable advantages in difficult terrain as well as excellent climbing ability. This is much due to the machine’s
large hydrostatic pump, which can maintain higher speeds at high tractive forces.
“What is special about the 951XC is that it combines the strength of a 951 with an extremely compact design. Since it has about the same dimensions as the 931XC it can be used in denser stands,” Joakim explains.
951XC is also equipped with hub reductions. They provide an advantage when working in challenging conditions, such as steep, snowy, or wet terrain, as they increase the life of the bogie and thereby machine reliability.
The Komatsu 951XC has new working hydraulics to better utilise the diesel engine. The new hydraulics also provide faster feeding from start to maximum speed and allow the saw motor to work even more efficiently.
“The new working hydraulics contribute to a feeling of an even stronger engine according to the test operators that have been working with 951XC,” Joakim states.
Although the working hydraulics are new, in all
other respects the Komatsu 951XC shares the same proven design as other Komatsu harvesters, meaning 3Pump System.
“This enables several crane and head functions to be used simultaneously with retained maximum hydraulic power, all thanks to the machine’s hydraulic power coordination,” Joakim continues.
Powerful Crane
All Komatsu harvesters are equipped with parallel cranes, this has been the case since 1999. With the Komatsu Forest design concept, the lifting booms and outer booms are linked, thereby eliminating an entire aspect of crane control. This concept simplifies crane operation by ensuring that the head is always in level regardless of crane cycle stage. The parallel crane is also cleverly designed to be fast in its outward movements, when the head is unloaded, and powerful in its return movements, when the head is heavily loaded.
Compared to the 951, the Komatsu 951XC has a significantly shorter distance from the centre of the crane to the front wheels.
This creates a larger working area in front of the machine, that enables the operator to work at shorter reaches.
“The new larger working area in front of the machine means more powerful crane movements. And for those who equipes their machines with Smart Crane they get an even more easily manoeuvred crane with excellent precision,” Joakim explains.
The Komatsu 951XC, just like all other Komatsu harvesters, features a highperformance operator environment. Examples of the many advantages include the spacious cab, good visibility and comfortable cab climate.
Thanks to the machine’s stability and levelling cab, the operator is always seated level without the need to stretch and strain to maintain a good seating position. The 951XC is, as all Komatsu harvesters, based on the tried-and-tested Komatsu concept that offers favourable weight distribution and has a low centre of gravity. In addition, the eight-wheeled XC series harvesters have a double
oscillating bogie on the rear frame giving the machines completely unique handling characteristics.
“Our double oscillating bogie on the rear frame is an innovation of which we’re very proud. As well as increasing stability by lowering the machine’s centre of gravity, the machine follows irregularities in the terrain in a forgiving manner while delivering excellent manoeuvrability in challenging terrain conditions,” Joakim said.
The work to develop a new machine is a massive team effort. Before a new machine model is launched prototypes are thoroughly tested first with Komatsu’s own test operators and then by contractors working in environments suitable for the specific machine model. One of the contractors, Henrik Lysebäck at Lysebäcks Skogsentreprenad, tested a prototype of the 951XC in the fall of 2022 and concludes the test like this; “The 951XC is a good machine, stable and comfortable to operate. It is a machine you can trust, and you feel secure working at a long reach. This is definitely a machine I would like to continue to work with.”
The Weiler B457 track feller buncher models have the latest Cat C9.3 engine that produces 298 hp (222 kw).
A Tier 3 engine option is also available. The B457 is a non-leveling model best suited for plantation thinning, biomass harvesting, and medium-production select or clear-cut applications; The B457 provide a leading combination of lift capacity, swing torque, and drawbar. Multi-function performance is achieved through dedicated pumps and optimised circuit configurations. In addition, a standard or heavy counterweight option is available for a diversity of harvesting conditions. Unobstructed ground clearance enables unimpeded travel over stumps, rocks, and other debris.
The Weiler B458 is a leveling machine for steeper terrain and excels in select or clear-cut logging. The B458 provides a leading combination of lift capacity, swing torque, and drawbar. Multifunction performance is achieved through dedicated pumps and optimised circuit configurations. The B458 has an extended track roller frame option that includes two additional bottom rollers for a total of eleven, enhancing overall machine stability in steep terrain. In addition, a standard or heavy counterweight option is available for a diversity of harvesting conditions. Unobstructed ground clearance enables unimpeded travel over stumps, rocks, and other debris.
The Weiler B757 track feller bunchers provide industry leading lift capacity
The voice of Australian forest contracting businesses for over 20 years!
throughout full reach, a key benefit in large timber. A robust undercarriage utilises proven components, customised for demanding forestry conditions while maintaining industry leading ground clearance. Both reduced tail swing and full tail swing machines are available as tilting or nontilting to meet a variety of application requirements.
AFCA advocates on behalf of our members to improve their business outcomes and the sustainability of our working forests, serving the industry and our members since 2002
AFCA engages with government industry stakeholders and the community to represent the interests of our members We play an important role in ensuring members, the forest industry, supply chain and governments are aware of developments and best practices for a viable forest industry and future
AFCA is here for our members to ensure they have an organised and strong representative voice both within the industry and at all levels of government
The Weiler B758 track feller buncher is a slightly bigger and more powerful version of the B757. For example, the B757 has a Cat® 336 HD HEX undercarriage, while the B758 has a Cat® 349 HD HEX undercarriage.
Weiler wheel feller bunchers are the most innovative in the market and deliver more productivity
and greater fuel efficiency. Patented technologies including the PowerDirect Plus System and Transverse Mounted Engine combined with advanced multi-functioning hydraulics allow the machine to cut and carry more wood than ever. Saws fully integrated from the factory ensure total machine support.
2020
VICFORESTS has recorded zero logging truck rollovers in the 2019/20 financial year. The turnaround is a boost from 2007/08 when it recorded 19 truck rollovers.
VicForests has a fleet in excess of 100 trucks and the dynamic nature of each trailer-load of timber means log truck rollovers pose a major risk to its business with the potential for catastrophic consequences for truck drivers and other road users.
The Australian Trucking Safety Services and Solutions was the training provider which played a huge role in achieving this milestone.
2017
AUSTRALIA is ideally placed to significantly reduce emissions from coal-fired power stations by co-firing them with renewable wood waste, in a game-changing element in Australia’s “clean coal” challenge that’s already used around the world, according to the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA).
Newspaper reports that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is advocating for the potential of co-firing renewable wood waste to reduce emissions from Australia’s ageing coal power stations as part of Australia’s clean energy future highlights the once-ina-generation opportunity.
2012
FORESTRYSA is continuing its campaign against illegal activities in the forest with the help of its publicised camera surveillance network.
The network was established across the plantation estate in May 2010 as a means to help reduce and control instances of rubbish dumping, tree cutting in native vegetation and other illegal activities that cost ForestrySA considerable time and money each year.
Since starting two years ago, the camera network has captured images that have been used as evidence in successful enforcement action for breaches of the Forestry Act and Native Vegetation Act.
One of the major causes of hydraulic failure is contamination in the hydraulic system.
Some estimates hold that 75% of failures can be traced back to contaminated or aging hydraulic fluid, while others claim that 80% are due to contamination alone. However, you can minimize contaminants from infiltrating your system.
There are preventative steps you can implement in your existing preventive maintenance for hydraulic systems plan to minimize the impact of air and water, as well as steps you can take to mitigate existing damage.
The first level of defence against contamination involves filtering all hydraulic fluid before it is added to your system. As mentioned earlier, even new hydraulic fluid will contain some level of contamination, and more modern hydraulic system components can be damaged by this contamination even though it may seem insignificant. Filtering fresh hydraulic fluid is a must.
The second level of defence against hydraulic contamination is regularly checking and replacing the hydraulic filters in your system. Waiting until the manufacturer’s recommended date for replacing them may be too late – the filter may have become clogged which eventually causes the fluid to bypass it. On the other hand, replacing them too soon is a waste of money that could be used elsewhere.
Another important aspect of dealing with filters is making sure that the filters installed are the proper ones (e.g., the correct micron rating and type) and that they are high quality components. Cheap filters may seem attractive for saving money, but in the long run they will cost much more. Keep in mind that when a cheap filter fails, it can do serious and expensive damage to the hydraulic system. Although not normally considered part of the filtering on a hydraulic system,
the installation and checking of desiccant breathers is also a good preventative measure. OEM breather caps and dust caps can allow moisture to enter the system, whereas a desiccant breather has multiple layers of desiccant material to absorb moisture before it makes its way into the system. In addition, these breathers are much better at preventing fine dust from infiltrating the system. The third level of defence against hydraulic system contamination is the practice of cleanliness during maintenance and repairs. The system should not be opened up to the atmosphere except when necessary, and it should not be left open without good
reason. This prevents ingression of moisture and air, as well as dust. If the exterior of the system is dirty, it should be cleaned at least in the immediate area of where the repairs are to be made. When hydraulic hoses are disconnected, both the hose and the port should be plugged immediately. Repairs and disassembly should always be performed in a clean workspace, and only lint-free cloths should be used.
The fourth level of defence against contamination is to address any leaks as soon as they are detected. If hydraulic fluid is able to make its way out of the system, then contaminants can also get inside the system. This is especially true when
leaks can be traced back to failed seals and brackets or a leaking bearing.
Preventive maintenance for hydraulic systems is critical for hydraulic equipment, whether it is an industrial system running in an enclosed plant or an integral part of a powerful hydraulic excavator. One of the major factors behind the failure of hydraulic systems is contamination. If contamination has already become a problem, there are definite steps that can be taken to mitigate the damage. Preventive measures, including the correct use of filters and hydraulic fluid analysis, should be a part of every comprehensive hydraulic maintenance plan.
The final report of the Trials Review, Information and Genetics (TRIG) project, has been released along with advisory information and updated data.
According to TRIG Steering Committee Chair, Dr Kevin Harding, the project sought to leverage the past work of Victoria’s farm forestry sector by accessing legacy information and datasets to ultimately deliver new, updated tools and information for the next generation of farm forestry plantings.
“Victoria has a proud legacy of extensive farm forestry trials and research established during the 1980s through to the early 2000s,” Dr Harding said.
Dr Harding said farmers and small private forest growers need to maximise the quality of trees that they
integrate into their farm plantings or investment plantations if they are to grow commercially competitive trees.
“To grow the best quality trees farmers and foresters need to be informed on the genetic quality of the stock they source and use, as well as its likely performance in their planting region.
“Performance tends to be dictated by species, provenance (where it comes from) and inherent genetics like frost resistance and drought tolerance and stem straightness, desirable branching habit and tree vigour.
“To assist farmers and tree growers the TRIG project has captured the learnings from past programs and repackaged the information so its current and accessible and also able to be interrogated using interactive web tools.
“The program also identified sources of seed with the highest genetic quality for key species that have grown well in this State to ensure future plantings can be established with high quality tree stock.
PF Olsen was appointed as project manager and on behalf of the TRIG Steering Committee engaged with farm forestry groups, indigenous groups, forestry consultants, CSIRO, and the Victorian Government to learn more about these historical trials and what information from these trials can support the expansion of trees on farms in Victoria.
Australia’s Research and Consulting Manager with PF Olsen, Dr Phil Lacy, said the project delivered a broad range of outcomes that required extensive consultation, site visits and
some operational activities.
“Through the life of the project, we had the pleasure to engage with some very passionate tree plantation owners who have successfully integrated trees into their farming enterprise for multiple benefits,”
Dr Lacy said.
Further outcomes from the project included:
• The development of productivity maps of two key species (Eucalyptus cladocalyx and Corymbia maculata) which will be made available via an interactive web portal on the Forestry Australia webpage.
• Analysis into the potential for forest forestry plantings to access carbon markets in Australia.
• The identification of a series of model plantings to be highlighted as demonstration sites, with some
case studies published in the report.
• An overview of the opportunities and barriers to access existing and new sources of improved seed for a key suite of farm forestry species
The TRIG project was designed in consultation with Farm Forest Growers Victoria, with funding provided by the Australian Government, and delivered via the Victorian Government’s Department of Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Forestry Australia, in its project oversight role, engaged PF Olsen to project manage and deliver the TRIG Project.
To read the final report and review the data, go to https://www.forestry.org. au/victorian-trials-project/
With many opportunities and challenges currently facing the Australian forestry industry, Australian Forests & Timber News will again host a special feature FORESTRY NOW in our September edition.
SSAB and Ponsse Plc, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cut-to-length forest machines, have joined forces in a partnership in which SSAB is to deliver fossil-free steel to Ponsse gradually beginning in 2026.
This partnership will further solidify Ponsse’s position as a provider of sustainable forest machines and bring SSAB closer to its goal of establishing a fossil-free value chain.
“It’s great to have a reliable partner like Ponsse now joining our fossil-free journey. Joint efforts are needed to meet the challenging CO2 reduction targets in forest machines. Both companies prioritize sustainable solutions and will strive to make a positive impact on forest machines using SSAB Fossil-free™ steel, fostering innovation while respecting nature,” says Lotta Ruottinen, Sales Director at SSAB Europe.
“Our products and services will play a crucial role in assisting our customers in achieving their cli-
mate objectives during the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our PONSSE EV1 forwarder concept with completely electric drive and our partnership with SSAB regarding fossil-free steels will lead our development towards carbon neutral forestry,” says Juha Inberg, Chief R&D and Technology Officer, Ponsse Plc.
SSAB plans to revolutionize the entire steelmaking process. SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market at a commercial scale during 2026 and to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from our operations in around 2030.
SSAB works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking, replacing the coking coal traditionally used for iron ore-based steelmaking with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production.
We’ve been a leading force in air flow design for almost 3 decades, with 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-bladed propellers, designed and manufactured exclusively for the lumber industry. Now, they are even more capable with higher- temperature capacity for certain applications. We combine this technology with unsurpassed customer service, design consultation and technical expertise, so whatever your air flow need, you can trust SmithCo to deliver.
