Australian Forests & Timber - May 2021

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In the news

Learn when to burn Forest management must get clever when carrying out fuel reduction burning Philip Hopkins

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he threat of climate change means that forest management must become more clever in determining when to carry out fuel reduction burning, according to a senior East Gippsland fire expert.

Garry Squires, a former Gippsland forest manager who is now a consultant, said there was a lot of talk about climate change and the reduced window of opportunity for burning.

“I’m a great believer that the climate change issue means we must be smarter in finding that window of opportunity,” he said, citing one example.

“If you are going to burn in March and things are drier than they used to be, then instead lighting at 2 o’clock in the afternoon you light at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.”

Mr Squires was addressing a group tour of East Gippsland’s forests which were burnt in the huge 2019-20 bushfires. The group consisted of architects/builders, forest grow-

Key Points orest management • Fmust become more

clever in determining when to carry out fuel reduction burning.

orest management • Fseems to cease about Easter.

he opportunity to • Tburn right through winter exists.

ers, community activists and fire managers. The tour was organised by the Institute of Foresters/Australian Forest Growers.

The group stopped at one patch of State Forest near Orbost that had had a fuel reduction burn about six years ago. There was little vegetation and undergrowth on the ground

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he past 12 months have proved that good communication is vital. Staying in touch has never been more important. The timber industry has proved its resilience in the face of fires, floods, export issues and a pandemic.

The building industry has responded with the announcement of the first softwood, CLT and GLT facility to be built in South Australia.

At Ryan Media we want to bring you the latest in up-to-date information to keep you informed about your industry from the forest floor to the tallest build-

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between the tall, straight trees, which were clearly visible. It was cited as an ideal example of the benefits of fuel reduction.

Mr Squires said this site could easily have a burn – a regular cool burn - every two, three or four years.

“This will be very easy to burn; you could have low key fire today (two weeks after Easter),” he said.

However universally – in East Gippsland anyway – forest management seemed to cease about Easter.

“We are saying this could burn today, why aren’t we burning now, right through the winter at sites like this? Why are we not burning the silver top ridge tops? Or the slopes through the winter?

“To me, that’s part of the change in thinking that DELWP (Department of Environment, Lands, Water and Planning) have to have about widening the window of opportunity in what is in many people’s eyes a changing climate that’s making it drier.”

State Forest near Orbost that had had a fuel reduction • burn about six years ago. There is now little vegetation and undergrowth between the tall, straight trees.

Mr Squires said the opportunity to burn right through the winter was still there.

“It’s just a matter of being smart and adaptable. The local staff must have the ability to make the decision on the spot,” he said.

“They can’t wait and say, ‘We’ve been out to the bush, we think it’s right’ ... and go through three levels of approval before we are allowed to burn it. You mut have a site like this on the burn plans, so when the lo-

cal staff say it’s right to go, they just do it.”

Mr Squires said in his earlier years, you could tell forest overseers to do some needed casual burning where necessary.

“I know we’ve gone past that and you must have planning in the right place, so the burns have to be on some sort of schedule, but once they are on that schedule, there should be the opportunity for local people to make those decisions,” he said.

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In the news MAY 2021 Issue 3 – Volume 30 Established 1991 3―4

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Queensland Timber 6 ― 10 Round Table 12 ― 13 Kilns 15 Technology 22 Mills 24 ― 29 Front Cover: A good chainsaw is one of the most powerful tools in the timber industry. We look at the history of leading chainsaw manufacturer Oregon Saw Chain Company and its latest offering.

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4

IFA/AFG to rebrand to increase reach and profile T he Institute of Foresters and Australian Forest Growers is seeking public opinion on a new name as it looks to increase its reach and profile.

IFA/AFG President Bob Gordon said the decision made at the last board meeting would further grow the organisation’s profile and skillset, helping deliver greater outcomes for its members.

Pollinate, a market research company lead by Howard Parry-Husbands, has been engaged to consult with the general public about a list of possible new names for the organisation.

“As increasing our profile is very important to IFA/ AFG members, the board wants to ensure any new name being considered will support this objective,” Mr Gordon said.

“The board expects to hear the perceptions from over 1000 members of the general public and the results from the survey will be available to the board in May/June for discussion.”

Meanwhile Jim Wilson has been appointed as a director of the IFA/AFG and Leon Holt has been appointed as a board observer.

“The appointments of Jim and Leon will assist us as we continue to adapt and deliver for our mem-

IFA/AFG President • Bob Gordon

Key Points

market research • Acompany has been

engaged to consult with the public about possible new names.

he aim is to grow the • Torganisation’s profile and skillset.

he results from the • Tsurvey will be available to the board in May/ June.

bers, forest science and the broader forest sector,” Mr Gordon said.

IFA/AFG CEO Jacquie Martin said that she was delighted to be working with Mr Wilson and Mr Holt.

“Jim Wilson and Leon Holt are long-time supporters of the IFA/AFG and are passionate about the future of the profession, the sector and our association,” Ms Martin said.

“Jim’s career has been focused in the private sector and he has invested his recent years working with Forico in Tasmania, as well as providing significant service to the forest sector

in advocacy and leadership.

Jim is a registered Forestry Professional.

“Jim is also an active farm forester with both plantation and native forest in Tasmania. His experience and knowledge in these areas will bring a new dimension to the board and his recruitment is part of the Institute’s succession plans.

“Leon’s background is in native forestry and the public sector in Victoria, he was awarded the Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forest Management in 2019. He lives in northern Victoria with his young family and has recently begun establishing a farm forestry enterprise. As a longtime contributor to the IFA/ AFG, and the sector more broadly, Leon’s continued insight will be highly valued in this new role.”

“I am delighted to provide service to the Institute

as a director. The future is bright for our profession,” Mr Wilson said.

“We are increasingly recognised as an enabler to a significant climate change solution. My passion is with people and I’m interested in supporting the IFA/AFG as we mature into the merger, rebrand as a united entity, and recruit broader membership interest from all who are passionate about well managed forests.”

“I am very happy to continue contributing to the IFA/AFG in the role of board observer, after several years working on the Future Foresters Initiative and the Member Services Working Group,” Mr Holt said.

“I’m passionate about forestry and the future of our profession, and I have recently started out on what I’m sure will be an exciting journey as a tree grower. I think the IFA/AFG is increasingly providing a leadership role in our sector, and I look forward to being part of the institute as we continue to become more diverse, promote our brand, advocate for forestry, and deliver more and better member services.”

WWF buying into the war on Australian forestry

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he anti-forestry lobby appears to going on a war

footing.

The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia has reportedly set up a legal fund for community groups to challenge development decisions in forests they say are under threat from land clearing in the aftermath of the 2019-20 bushfire disaster.

The six areas are the Border Ranges in Queensland and NSW, Nymboida, the Yengo-Wollemi, the north and South Coasts of NSW, and the Eden-Gippsland

region across NSW and Victoria.

The WWF says it is funding Environmental Defenders Office solicitors to help the community use existing federal and state laws to protect the six landscapes.

Does that include protests?

That remains to be seen.

At the moment protests are continuing and the resulting punishments for those charged seem little more than slaps on the wrist.

There was some hope that the photograph of a protestor who put an infant’s life in danger for the sake of a media stunt at a logging site in East Gippsland might have sparked widespread outrage.

There was certainly outrage, but hardly widespread. Don’t expect any massive penalties if the latest appearance by Bob Brown Foundation activist and repeat offender Lisa Searle is any indication.

She was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order entailing 49 hours of community ser-

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

vice after pleading guilty to trespass and resisting a police officer.

Bob Brown’s response was more concerning.

He said the sentence would not deter Searle and other activists from continuing to fight for the forest, noting she “does more hours of community service than anyone else I know, as it is”.

The WWF has a fine reputation for championing causes relating to wildlife and the environment.

It is hoped that campaigners do not tarnish that good name. www.timberbiz.com.au

Queensland Timber Export licence crackdown

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he Queensland timber industry is calling for a crackdown on regulatory compliance for native hardwood log exports and a suspension of federal export licences from Queensland until such time as an adequate compliance regime is put in place.

Chair of the Timber Queensland Hardwood Division, Curly Tatnell said given the magnitude of concerns over non-compliant native log exports, Timber Queensland is taking the unprecedented step to recommend to the Australian Government an immediate suspension of native hardwood log export licences.

“Over the past three years we have consistently raised our concerns with both the Australian and Queensland Governments over rogue native log export operators and the rising tide of suspect exports. These operators have been able to avoid scrutiny through a simple tick and flick export licence exercise with no systematic auditing or checking of their regulatory requirements. There has been no tangible action on compliance or enforcement during this time,” said Mr Tatnell.

Some of the major concerns of industry include breaches of state and federal environmental regulation, poor biosecurity practices, misreported volumes or log categories to avoid detection and unsafe work practices.

“Not only is this a threat to the environment and good forest management, it is damaging the local hardwood industry and reputation of the industry as a whole. It really is a kick in the guts to the thousands of workers and local timber businesses that are fully compliant with the regulatory requirements. Fly by night operators, flagrantly abusing the rules cannot be tolerated by industry and should not be tolerated by Governments,” Mr Tatnell said.

Timber Queensland has recommended key actions to combat non-compliant exports, but this will take time given the complexity of regulation and overarching federal and state requirements.

“We are calling for an export suspension for at least two years, which could be

6

Peak body wants supply future Philip Hopkins

Hoop Pine being harvested in South East • Queensland.

Q

ueensland’s peak forestry industry body is pushing the State Government to guarantee future supply of hardwood from native forest due to the failure of the hardwood plantations promised in the South-East Forest Agreement.

The chief executive of Timber Queensland, Mick Stephens, said the industry had welcomed the State Government’s state timber action plan announced in November 2019, which included the setting up of a native timber advisory panel.

“We saw it as a way forward for things like hardwood security. We are getting some positive messages – but the rubber has got to hit the road and we need some action,” he told the recent Timber Queensland forestry symposium in Brisbane.

The native timber advisory panel was to look at the South-East Forest Agreement (SEFA) and other hardwood issues, including northern Australia.

“A two-year study was promised, but we are not convinced anything tangible has been done in that space.”

Mr Stephens said under the SEFA, which expires in 2024, industry would move out of state forests and transition to plantations.

“There is a realisation that the plantations failed – they were planted in the wrong areas, with the wrong species … with good intentions but they do not provide a substitute resource,” he said.

Timber Queensland had put forward three simple steps: “We need to extend the hardwood supply ar-

Key Points espite private native • Dforestry’s potential, a

lot of the forest was not in good condition.

pplying forestry • Ascience could improve its health and provide a flow of timber.

here is no state • Tgovernment plan to

develop the timber industry in northern Australia.

rangements from state forests on a long-term basis with a sustainable yield – that’s pretty straightforward forestry science; accelerate the private native forest resource; and get landowners aware of the resource they have on their property.”

Mr Stephens said of the 20 million hectares of native forest, two million hectares of high-quality forest was available in south-east Queensland, while the 17m ha of other land included tenures and leaseholds.

“Private native forestry also has a lot of potential – 2m ha in south-east Q private and 6m ha of private forest in northern A. We have a forestry code of practice; it’s very stringent, helps with environmental credentials and helps manage the environment,” he said.

“If we can get a deal, we can double the value of production of the industry and generate more jobs. If we don’t, we have a prob-

lem. Without that resource security no one will invest in capital and equipment.”

Despite private native forestry’s potential, Mr Stephens said a lot of the forest was not in good condition.

“It’s overstocked and needs a good trim, a haircut,” he said. Applying forestry science could improve its health and provide a flow of timber. “We want to promote those benefits and look at the long-term returns from improving those stands.”

Farm forestry was a big opportunity that provided benefits for landowners - income diversification, shade for animals, productivity and carbon benefits, but there were challenges.

“We are still working on a methodology with governments on the carbon benefits of managed forests.

They are there for plantations but need more work on natural forests,” he said.

Mr Stephens said a study by the Forest and Wood Products Association and the Queensland Department of Agriculture had identified a potential private resource in south-east Queensland of 1.9m ha.

“If we manage half of that and improve stands by 50 per cent, we could get annual yield of over half a million ha a year. Do nothing, and it’s 150-200. It just shows you that spectrum of potential. It’s very real; we need to work with the agricultural sector and landowners to deliver that potential,” he said.

“Landowners will not change their behaviour unless you show what it means for their enterprise, profitability or otherwise. It will require some significant funding. We have proposed

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

Timber Queensland’s • Mick Stephens farm forestry programs – we estimate $6m over four years. The LNP in a previous election committed to that. These are the sort of things the native timber advisory panel will talk to the government about.”

Mr Stephens said there was no state government plan to develop the timber industry in northern Australia, but “a mature industry is starting to emerge”. The Cooperative Research Centre on Northern Australia, with industry and Timber Queensland, had identified some real opportunity.

This included native forest, silvo-pastoral - integrating forests with cattle – and mine site rehabilitation that could lead to mass production forestry.

Mr Stephens said indigenous forestry development was possible in the north, with 70 per cent under indigenous ownership, including Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.

“We are working collaboratively across the north ….

But there is a need for more engagement with those communities. More inventory, more detail …. with training, there could be local jobs in forest management, harvest and haulage, marketing – all through the supply chain,” he said. www.timberbiz.com.au

Queensland timber

Government backs timber action plan T

Queensland • Agriculture Minister Mark Furner.

Philip Hopkins

he Palaszczuk Government has vowed that its native timber action plan, which involves many stakeholders, will provide investment security that will guarantee a long-term sustainable native forest timber industry in Queensland.

The Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner, said the native industry advisory panel, which the Government had recommitted to during the election campaign, was a key instrument in the action plan.

“Native forests are also a key component of your industry, supplying about 18 per cent of Queensland’s domestically-sourced timber, of which around onethird is cypress pine and two-thirds is native hardwood,” he told the Timber Queensland symposium in Brisbane.

“The plan presents a significant policy shift towards the long-term supply of State-owned native timber based on sustainable harvesting levels, underpinned by comprehensive resource assessments.”

Under the plan, stateowned native timber production will end in the South East Queensland Regional Plan area on 31 December 2024.

However, Mr Furner said state-owned native timber production would continue in the ‘balance region’ of the South East Queensland Forests Agreement region, known as the Eastern hardwood region, until 31 December 2026.

“Current holders of sales permits for state-owned native timber in the Western hardwoods region have guaranteed supply until 2034. These permits have previously ‘rolled-over’ annually by one additional year. These annual extensions have now ceased,” he said.

“These permits include supply volumes that have not been underpinned by forest resource assessments, meaning sustainable harvesting levels are unknown. Ending the annual extensions will allow outcomes of forest resource assessments to inform decisions about future supply.

However, there is still a lot more work to be done.”

Mr Furner said the native timber advisory panel brought together key stakeholders. “The panel will consider native forestry on both state-owned and privately-owned land, conservation outcomes, economic impacts and opportunities for both the industry and regional communities,” he said.

“The panel will provide

Key Points

tate-owned native • Stimber production

would continue in the ‘balance region’ of the South East Queensland Forests Agreement until 31 December 2026.

urrent holders of • Csales permits for

state-owned native timber in the Western hardwoods region have guaranteed supply until 2034.

overnment • Gcommitted to the

ment process. These establishment of initial steps are theindustry foundation of a timber ourministerial long-term advisory commitment to deliver a native timber committee. views to the government on policy options and implications for industry of moving towards the longterm sustainable supply of state-owned native timber resources.”

Mr Furner said views about native forestry were wide-ranging. “The panel will include representation from a cross section of stakeholders to ensure these views are heard and fully understood,” he said.

“The approach allows for open engagement and provides opportunities for input into the policy develop-

industry that balances commitments to the environment and to regional jobs.”

Mr Furner said the reelected Government had also committed the establishment of the timber industry ministerial advisory committee, which would discuss issues critical to the industry.

Downstream timber processing and economic opportunities would be explored for both the plantation and native hardwood industries. “This includes new products, innovation and taking a whole of industry view to identified opportunities across the supply chain such as wasteto-energy, contributing carbon benefits,” he said.

Mr Furner said recent positive developments showed the Queensland industry’s potential for growth. The state’s strong supporting

research and technical capabilities, especially at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), positioned the state to meet the growing demand for innovation in engineering wood products.

“In particular, the manufacture of advanced engineered wood products using spindleless lathe technology, especially for low value logs, may have enormous potential,” he said.

“DAF is also working on opportunities to optimise timber processing and advanced engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams and bridge girders, and glue laminated beams.

“Progressing these advancements will allow for local manufacturing of these advanced products, that at present are mostly sourced from overseas.”

Opposition to press for resource security for timber industry

T

he Queensland Opposition will continue to press the Palaszczuk Government on resource security for the forestry industry, the surge in hardwood sawlog exports and institutional arrangements to ensure the success of the Government’s timber plan.

The Opposition Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Tony Perrett, told Timber Queensland’s Brisbane forestry symposium that he understood the concerns of the forest industry. Mr Perrett said the Premier announced the Government’s timber plan 18 months ago in Maryborough, which included the promise to put in place a timber advisory board. www.timberbiz.com.au

“It simply has not happened.

There is concern in industry it has taken this Government more than 18 months to just think about the board, given some of the challenges the industry does have,” he said.

“It’s important to get a board in place. I’m a bit cynical about the process. I’m concerned it was more a political fix for the Member in Maryborough at the time. The announcement was welcome, but the fact it has not been followed up is unacceptable …. The minister needs to appoint that board so there is certainty around your negotiations with the State Government. If that doesn’t happen, I

will continue put pressure on the government.”

Mr Perrett said he had huge concern about the growing export of whole hardwood logs out of the state. Industry was rightly ramping up pressure on the issue with the State and Federal Governments.

“Some activities in the Cape are not above board, and concern is starting to spread across the state,” he said. “I will bat hard for industry in this area, at the state and federal level.”

Timber Queensland has called for a regulatory crackdown on native hardwood log exports.

Over the past four years,

containerised native hardwood log exports have risen dramatically to more than 360,000 cubic metres. TQ says this has been accompanied by widespread reports and incidents of poor forestry practices and breaches of state and federal environmental regulation from opportunistic log traders.

Mr Perrett said another important issue was the future of the south-east regional forest agreement. “I do not know where the Government will go with that,” he said. It was pushed out pushed out beyond state election, “kicked into the long grass”.

“Well-managed state forests

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

can not only benefit the $3.8 billion industry, but environmental outcomes would be much better if we have well managed state forests.”

Mr Perrett said it was well known that when the deal was made in 1999, the then Premier, Peter Beattie, made commitments about farm forestry plantations.

“These have not materialised, but this has not been acknowledged by the Government. What was supposed to provide resource security to you, has not materialised. The Government needs to go back to the drawing board for this,” he said.

7

Queensland Timber Hub names management team

T

he South-East Queensland regional forestry hub has appointed the management team to implement and progress further development of the industry in the region.

The hub is part of a network of hubs funded by the Australian Government, with one million dollars in seed funding for the SouthEast hub to leverage and implement projects to boost productivity and growth in the sector.

After a thorough selection process by the regional Steering Committee, Kerry Fullarton has been appointed as Hub Manager. Kerry has over 30 years’ experience as a senior manager for a range of Government sponsored and private sector projects.

With a strong background in stakeholder engagement and project management, Kerry said she has delivered a broad range of skills based and business outcomes in the local area.

“I very much look forward to reaching out and meeting with local companies and stakeholders to further grow the forest and timber industry in the region,” said Mrs Fullarton.

“A key task will be to look at the opportunities and challenges for the industry going forward, and to prioritise key projects that can help boost industry growth and investment,” she said.

Kerry will be assisted

by Mark Diedrichs in the part-time role of Technical Advisor to the hub. Mark has extensive commercial industry experience working within Australia and New Zealand with relevant qualifications in economics and forestry.

Mr Diedrichs will provide technical and commercial expertise to the deliberations of the Steering Committee and management team, as well as with project proponents.

“Being part of an integrated team will provide significant value to the aims and goals of the South-East hub, and assist in the implementation of key projects,” said Mr Diedrichs.

8

New technology to boost production

•

Growing the next generation of renewable timber at HQP’s nursery.

Philip Hopkins

H

QPlantations is using new technology both to produce more from its forests and deal with customers as a way to add value to its plantation assets, which are unlikely to be expanded.

That was the key message of Group Marketing Manager at HQPlantations, Steve Worley, in a presentation to Timber Queensland’s recent forest symposium in Brisbane.

“We don’t have any more area to plant. What we’ve got at the moment is a growing population looking for timber and the pressure on the resource is mounting… we have to use what we have got better,” he told the gathering.

HQP, which has just celebrated 10 years’ existence, has 146 full-time staff and produces 80 per cent of Queensland’s sawn timber.

“We manage about 330,00 hectares – a challenge. We have a productive land base of 195,000ha that is shrinking, slowly. We also manage the remainder for conservation and protection,” Mr Worley said.

The company’s tree species include about 145,000 ha plantation of a sub-tropical species, southern pine - “slash pine and Caribbean pine that produces a hybrid that in effect gets the best of those two species”. Added to that is 140,000ha of indigenous species, Araucaria hoop pine, “a beautiful species”, he said.

Mr Worley said innovation was driving the challenge of how to add value.

A chief new technology

was LIDAR, an instrument that operates like radar or sonar. “It sends out a laser pulse that gives you back a lot of information about the environment that you can see a long way away,” he said.

Traditionally, it was impossible to measure every tree in a forest. Previously, forest samples gave information on growth models.

“The game has shifted in past 10 years. We are using this technology now to look at every tree … We are seeing for the first time the whole of the forest,” Mr Worley said.

“We fly over the top, send out the pulses, but we also walk around with a backpack – a terrestrial LIDAR - to produce a thing called a ‘hover map’,” he said. The operator walked through a plantation and gained detailed information on the structure of the forest – “all those things you get from aerial, but also the understorey and other important things to make an operation plan”.

Mr Worley said another innovation, Geohortex, involved digital maps of very high quality that brought digital mapping together and other business data.

“The complex software package helps us take in-

formation we gather in mapping and match that with compartment data, physical and financial data – for example, how many hectares were approved this year and how much did it cost,” he said.

“We can put it on a tablet and take it to the bush.

Foresters, instead of writing down stuff and coming back to the office, are putting in information where they are standing on the job. They make decisions on that basis, downloading from the Cloud all the information they need to make a decision.”

Mr Worley said HQP had a research team that built on the past government work, developing the genetics of Queensland’s unique tree species and using the best seedlings.

In the past 10 years, the mean annual growth of trees had improved by 18.2 per cent. “Industry says we need timber that does not bend. We have bred for that. We are getting stiffness increases of 10 per cent, which is important for structural product,” he said. Many trees split after cyclones. “We are breeding now for that, to improve root firmness, stem structures.”

Mr Worley said another new technique was to drill cores through the trees to understand tree quality. “A tool penetrates the trees and gives an idea of the strength properties of the tree,” he said. It was becoming a good predictor of the stiffness, allowing a very good sample collec-

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

tion that “tells us how the logs will perform in the sawmill – pretty amazing stuff”.

Mr Worley said policy now aimed also to add value through getting closer to its 32 customers – some very big – to know exactly their wood needs. New software in the harvesting head of contractors’ equipment enabled the operator to be given information on the customer’s order, such as “what Hyne wants this week, in terms of cutting instructions to the head”.

Thus, when operators approached the bush, “they can cut to the optimum”.

“We’re still ironing out bugs ... Analysing the data, we will use that to make sure we get the best results from the forest we have got,” he said.

Another innovation was the customer portal – a unique website for customers “who can see how we are tracking against their orders”- that also provided other commercial information.

“For example, there may be a couple of days to go in a sawing operation with little wood left. You might get nervous, but with the customer portal, you know what’s coming,” he said.

Mr Worley said to further add value, the whole industry should establish a brand, Brand Queensland. “We have a great story to tell, but we don’t tell it well enough. It’s time to start promoting the business and the business supply chain,” he said. www.timberbiz.com.au

Queensland timber

Putting trees in context A s she settles into her new job as chief of Queensland Private Forestry Service, Arna Love contemplates a paradox: an arborist for 19 years, she now has to put her knowledge of trees into a wider context.

“We look at individual tree without taking into consideration the ecosystem that it’s a part of,” Arna said. “I have a tree background, having worked as an urban forest arborist, but forestry is fairly new.”

With a lot of experience in project management, the New Zealand-born Arna decided to take the plunge into private forestry, having had a longstanding interest in native hardwood forests and how they are managed on a holistic level.

“I just felt like I could develop skills and knowledge in the space. Coming without having that prior knowledge of forestry, I have already learnt a lot,” she said, bewildered at the conception of many that “forestry is about logging and not necessarily sustainable”.

“It’s the complete opposite - it’s extremely sustainable. We have a substantial resource in private forestry.

If you look after forest, it’s limitless, generational. Constantly thinning as we do, the next generation of trees comes through,” she said.

Lobbying government is just one aspect of Private Forestry Service Queensland (PFSQ), which has been operating for about 20 years. It’s an incorporated, ‘not for profit’ association located in Gym-

From modest beginnings, Ensign has grown to become one of the most trusted and respected names in the log handling business. Today, Ensign continues to build on that reputation as it continually refines and develops its product range in an effort to supply its clients with the very best tools for the job.

Queensland Private • Forestry Service’s Arna Love. pie, generally regarded as Queensland’s largest and most diverse forestry region. PFSQ was originally one of 18 Regional Australian Forestry Committees set up with support from the federal and state governments.

“We are lucky with the knowledge and experience in our organisation in PFSQ. We are not ‘one-man’ band, we have a highly skilled

team,” said Arna. Her predecessor, Sean Ryan, maintains a strong interest in the private sector.

“Our main income source and contract is Energy Queensland, managing their sustainable pole farms,” said Arna. “We establish management plans for private forestry landowners. Through extension workshops, we try and educate landowners

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on what they have, the value of it and what it could be worth in the future.”

She comes to the job at a time when private forestry is assuming a bigger role in timber strategy. The peak industry body, Timber Queensland, is pushing the State Government to increase its support for private native forestry management incentives and extension activities.

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Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

2/03/2021 1:46:44 PM

9

Queensland Timber

Maintaining a commitment from the ground up, and up

Roy Pearce • built his sawmill west of Mackay from scratch.

Keith Smiley

C

all it willpower, call it commitment or label it faith, Roy Pearce still grew his business from the ground up.

After thirty three progressive years, Platypus Timbers sawmill is today a modern enterprise in a mediumsized package; inland west of Mackay in Queensland’s lush forest region; or about 100 kilometres away from the source. The mill draws from hardwood and pine plantations within Crediton State Forest, and logs in freehold timber forests.

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They allow the forest to regrow quickly by cutting to chest height, “So, it’s regrowing, and never-ending.

Under 30 years later we can go back to those same areas again,” says Platypus’ owner, Roy Pearce.

Roy Pearce is a curiosity – driven by a strong work ethic, yet comfortable with a moderate income – a man of faith, he would add.

Part of his success is being willing to listen and to absorb information. Being open minded about business, he also believes he is connected to a higher authority as a ‘third partner’,

beyond his wife Rosanne and himself. He is talking about a belief in God where prayer can make a marked difference to how many orders he receives for cut timber. Rosanne agrees, and they are pleased to dwell with one another, in what Roy says, is a marriage without arguments. ‘Hallelujah’, many might say, but down to business, three decades do paint a picture: “My dad guaranteed a loan I received from the bank 33 years ago at 21% interest, when I was just eighteen.

They took more risk than I did, while I believed I would make something out of it. I’ve always enjoyed my work and my wife says that’s a problem because it is a way of life, not just moneymaking,” says Roy. “I still do my own logging, a couple of loads a week, and this includes doing all my own bush work.”

While many of the larger sawmills were closing down, Roy saw a ‘neverending future’, as a smaller-sized operator.

“We supply pine framing, mouldings mainly for restoration work, dunnage and mining timbers, cut from spotted gum, iron bark, kwila, and red cedar,” said Roy. Their range covers flooring and decking, fencing, and other uses of hardwood and pine.

The factory employs three workers, two men and a woman, who work as a team,

according to Roy. “The biggest problem is to find mill workers. The mining industry is paying ridiculous rates for drivers; we train our people and they leave us for the mines; whereas other sawmills find workers, especially as you move further away from the mines.”

Roy is critical of the State government, for not ensuring them a future: “We don’t have long term sales and the government hasn’t had a timber policy, but keep dreaming about it. They’ve bumbled along, making sure they’re re-elected. But their ultimate plan is to stop logging.”

Platypus Timbers continues to build a better sawmill rather than ‘running it into the ground’, despite the feebleness of the government.

“Others say I am gambling with the future, injects Roy.”

With two grown children and two youngsters, the Pearce’s are busy most of the time, contributing to the local scout group at the Seventh Day Adventist church where they meet. They love to water ski and occasionally go south to the Alps for snow skiing, or camping and hiking nearby.

“I’ll never be the one sitting in the office, telling the manager what to do, and I never ask a worker to do something that I wouldn’t do myself, says Roy, adding, “we are not a big concern, and you can’t hide or bludge.”

Some say faith can move mountains or manifest a silent partner in a sawmill as Roy Pearce believes. He worked hard to get where he is, but is happy to take a weekly respite every Saturday, which is a bonus.

• Roy’s son Zac is a big wheel at Platypus.

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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Round table

Q&A Panel

The need, or otherwise, for a Great Koala Park, on the north coast of NSW has generated a great deal of debate. In this Round Table three experts discuss the current situation and the need for such a park.

Q

an you briefly outline C the history of the koala population and forest management around Coffs Harbour?

Peter Rutherford In healthy mature forests, koalas have a low population density, relatively large home ranges and are hard to find in the wild. Forest and woodland regeneration events and large scale production of epicormic shoots following bushfires, have resulted in booms in koala populations in NSW. Koala populations have eventually declined or crashed, as droughts and changing food resources have brought unsustainably high koala population densities back to more sustainable levels.

High levels of young foliage are found in young regeneration resulting from wildfires or harvest and regeneration operations. State Forests containing relatively high populations of koalas residing in post-harvest regrowth forests have been “protected from logging” by transfer to the reserve system. Epicormic regrowth in forests impacted by high intensity wildfires or those affected by decline or dieback, also provide abnor12

Vic Jurkis is a former senior NSW Forestry Commission professional forester. In 2004 he was awarded a Fellowship by the Joseph William Gottstein Memorial Trust, to investigate eucalypt decline across Australia.

Peter Rutherford is spokesperson for South East Timber Association (SETA) and is a well-respected forestry scientist of 40 years standing.

Coffs was one of three areas in NSW where mail-outs showed that koalas were increasing. There were even more records in 2011, so OEH “downsampled” the survey data and “adjusted” Vic Jurskis In 1845, a report on Abo- them for “forgetfulness”. rigines’ prey in the Bell- They reported that koalas inger Valley didn’t mention were declining because koalas. There was no fur “habitat loss has been reindustry at Coffs and only lentless since European Setmally high levels of poten- 6 records of koalas before tlement”.

By the Millennium the 1960s. They irrupted tial koala feed.

In recent decades, farm after that with the start of Drought, even blackbutt forest woodlots and planta- urban sprawl and reduced soils and roots were detetions of species favoured by grazing and burning. Koalas riorating. Between 2015 and koalas have shown that koa- firstly appeared and then 2017, aerial surveys by DPI las can coexist with farming disappeared from various identified 44,000 hectares and forestry operations in localities as development of dead or near-dead forests on the north coast. Forestry rural landscapes, without progressed.

At the same time, they Corporation lidar surveys the need for mountains of green tape contained in en- were increasing in dense found that about a third of vironmental zones and poli- regrowth forests created by the forest area had impencies such as the Koala State intensive harvesting using etrable scrub. DPI “sampled Environmental Planning chainsaws and bulldozers. a broad range of timber harPolicy 2019 (Koala SEPP By 1991 koalas were three vest intensities and times times more abundant in re- since harvesting” as well as 2019).

Claims of potential koala growth than in oldgrowth old growth reserves. Koalas extinction are not new. In forests. In 1995 regrowth are now in plagues throughNovember 1939, the Coffs forests at Pine Creek were out the declining forests irrespective of any logging Harbour Advocate reported locked up to save koalas.

Since the 1980s prescribed history.

“Years ago the fascinating At Coffs Harbour, koalas koala was a common sight burning has been reduced in the bushlands of the with increasing environ- are now five times more North Coast, but now they mental restrictions and Na- abundant than previously are a rarity.” In the past, it tional Parks. Chronic euca- thought. has been slaughtered for its lypt decline has extended pelt, almost to the verge of through forests, and species Maree McCaskill There is considerable eviextinction, and now there such as koalas, psyllids, are only 200 known koalas bellbirds and mistletoes dence that there was not a in the whole of New South have irrupted. Blackbutt colony of koalas in the Coffs Wales, including those in grows on well drained soils, Harbour area before the so it’s not prone to decline early 1960s. Both CSIRO and captivity.”

In June 1950, the Grafton and its leaves aren’t particu- Dr Lunney found this to be Examiner reported that Mr larly attractive to foliovores. the case in their peer reNevertheless, by 2009, viewed papers. By the early E A Nicholson, a member of the Royal Zooological Society of NSW said “the Native bear (or koala as he is better known), was faced with extinction.”

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

Maree McCaskill joined Timber NSW as General Manager in October 2013. She has considerable experience in managing peak industry bodies and member organisations, representing members at state and federal levels.

1990s koalas had become abundant in the regrowth forests in the area. With the reduction in prescribed burning, major additions of area to the National Parks estate where active forest management does not occur, and intense harvesting in regrowth forests at that time, koala numbers exploded. It is interesting that with decline in the health of eucalypts, the koalas seem to accelerate their breeding – formally referred to as an irruption.

More recently, Dr Brad Law, an eminent forest ecologist with NSW Department of Primary Industries has developed a new method of identifying habitats containing koalas called the Songmeter. His work over the last three to four years has shown that pre 2019/20 wildfires, the koala was found in equal numbers in National Parks and working State forests around the Coffs Harbour region and the north coast generally. Forest harvesting and management in State forests does not impact on koala numbers and there is evidence to show that they like regrowth forests because of the quality of the young eucalypt leaves. His continued work in tracking the koala colonies and habitats will indicate effectively what the populations look like post fires. www.timberbiz.com.au

Round table

Q

Peter Rutherford Many myths surround koala conservation in NSW, including one perpetuated by activist NGOs, which claims the population of koalas in NSW, at the time of European arrival was 10 million. This is used to support claims that koalas will be extinct in NSW by 2050 unless more koala habitat is “permanently protected”.

These claims are more to do with activist fund raising and campaigns to transfer state forests to national parks, than sustainable koala management.

A 2019 report written and supported by a number of activist NGOs, claims that “Expansion of the protected areas network is necessary to prevent further decline of koala populations.

More than 400,000 hectares of state forests, Crown land and other government lands by inclusion within the reserve system or provided with in perpetuity protection. Approximately 500,000 hectares of freehold

Q

koalas across NSW, continues to be cast as the threat to koala survival by activist NGOs.

hat does this tell us W about the likely effect of a Great Koala Park? land that require in perpetuity protection or purchase or additions to the reserve system.”

The Great Koala National Park (GKNP) proposal is simply using an icon species as a tool to condemn another 900,000 hectares of NSW native forest to the so called “protected areas network.” The campaign seeks to stop native forest harvesting and impose a wilderness neglect philosophy across both public and private NSW native forests.

These forests will be ecologically sterilised by repeated mega-fires, as none of the activist driven proposals address this major threat to all biodiversity.

It is ironic that of the most sustainable way to sustain higher than ‘normal’ koala populations, with a young foliage resource, is by the harvest and regeneration of a percentage of koala habitat each year. However, this form of active management, which has supported numerous populations of

Vic Jurskis A Great Koala Park won’t help koalas. The only accurate information in Newcastle University’s taxpayer funder “independent assessment” is the disclaimer – “no responsibility or liability will be accepted by the University”.

Three of four statements in the first paragraph are incorrect: “The koala is listed as vulnerable and populations of koalas are in decline across the country.

The major issues are clearing of habitat, disease, natural disasters, roads, dogs and over-browsing. The 2020 NSW Inquiry found that koalas will become extinct in NSW before 2050.

This assessment was based on evidence presented to the Inquiry before the bushfires in 2019/2020.”

Koalas are listed in ACT, NSW and QLD, but not in SA and VIC. A few unsustainably dense populations in NSW and QLD crashed during the Millennium Drought. Other populations in all states continue to irrupt and will crash or burn during future droughts. There is more

an you place this in a broader context of C sustaining biodiversity in forests?

Peter Rutherford More than 6 million hectares of private native forest was to be “permanently protected” under the now defunct Koala SEPP 2019.

The GKNP proposal shows a clear alignment between activist NGOs and activist bureaucrats desire for the transfer of significant, if not all areas of state forest to the parks and reserves system. Koala “conservation” proposals would also substantially reduce or eliminate harvesting from private native forests.

Millions of hectares of “permanently protected” www.timberbiz.com.au

parks and reserves, along with most of the associated biodiversity were incinerated in the 2019-20 bushfires.

Recent announcements by the NSW Environment Minister suggest that he does not understand the catastrophic failure of the NSW conservation reserve system to effectively protect the state’s biodiversity from landscape threats, including repeated high intensity bushfires and feral predators.

NSW, along with most other state and federal environmental legislation is rooted in the terra nullius

principle. The terra nullius principle effectively denies the role played by Aboriginal fire management, in the evolution of the Australia biota under a regime of regular disturbance by low intensity patch burning.

Consequently, conservation reserve managers, regulators and activist NGOs see fire exclusion as a key element of “protection” for koalas in particular and biodiversity in general. The “precautionary principle” is also misused to justify hands off management that allows heavy fuel loads to accumulate across for-

published in the National Parks and Wildlife Service Annual Reports, with the major increases in the national park estate since 1990, there is a corresponding increase in endangered/ extinct fauna and endangered/extinct flora. National Parks do not guarantee conservation of a species – the koala.

Tourists want to look at a koala up close and do not spend days wandering through a National Park hoping to see a koala that is generally reclusive anyway.

There is a wild breeding site being built now just outside Port Macquarie by Forestry Corporation on state forest land in collaboration with the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Tourists will be able to see them close up.

The loss of the native forest timber industry supplied

by NSW State forests on the North Coast supply area with high quality native forests centred on the greater Coffs Harbour region would lead to the loss of $570M in output, $224M in value adding and just over 1400 direct jobs. During COVID 19, the forest industry keep working and keeping people in jobs – the tourism sector was brought to a complete Maree McCaskill If you look at the graphs halt and will take years to created from the statistics recover.

koala habitat with more koalas than before Europeans arrived.

Chlamydiosis and overbrowsing are consequences of malnutrition and stress in dense populations. Collisions with vehicles and dog attacks are results of overcrowding rather than causes of decline. Dingoes, wild dogs, foxes and even carpet pythons have irrupted at various times/places in response to increasing koala populations. Erroneous evidence was provided to the Inquiry before, during and after the Black Summer fires.

The University’s assessment is risible. Massive waste of public monies is counted as economic output. Tourism and jobs have always declined in areas gifted with new National Parks, leaving a trail of ghost towns from Grevillia in the north to Mathoura in the south. Despite having koalas, people stopped visiting the red gum in droves when they were no longer allowed to have fun. After drawing lines on maps, the next step is always blocking access and restricting recreational activities.

est landscapes. The loss of regular low intensity fire, exposes all biodiversity to destruction by repeated high intensity bushfires and perversely, is driving even fire dependent flora to decline and extinction.

Vic Jurskis When I started working as a forester on NSW north coast in the late seventies, the bush was open and grassy, healthy and safe.

It was a delightful workplace. Koalas and hot fires were rare. When conditions were right, we burnt. Not with tankers and platoons of troops in overalls and smoke goggles, carrying drip torches. We didn’t need written orders and briefings. We did it as a routine part of our everyday work using commonsense and

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2021

matches. It was a pleasure.

One day sawmiller Greg Richards at Wyan Creek caught a koala. Because it was such a rarity, he took it to show the kids at the local one-teacher school. This is the same area where the Busby’s Flat fire exploded through dense scrub in Black Summer 2019. North East Forest Alliance reported that the fire threatened 700 koalas in the most important koala colony on the north coast.

A bit further north near Urbenville, Dr. J.H. Calaby of CSIRO had found the highest mammal diversity anywhere in Australia in the 1960s. Koalas were rare but healthy. He attributed the biodiversity to forestry and Continued on Page 18 13

In the news BRIEFS Amy signs on

FORMER Forest Practices Authority board member Amy Robertson has joined Forest & Wood Communities Australia which is expanding its advocacy work for people who work and live in forest management regions.

Amy, from Tasmania, fills the new Business Development Manager role to help build membership and presence in representing grassroots people within the forestry network.

Vale Cr Hole

WELLINGTON Shire Councillor Malcolm Hole has died from an illness at Central Gippsland Health. Cr Hole’s advocacy for timber communities and industries lead him to be involved with both Timber Towns Victoria and National Timber Councils Association where he enjoyed several terms as president of both organisations.

Levies approved

A PROPOSAL to increase forestry sector levies for research, development and extension (RD&E), and biosecurity, has been met with overwhelming approval by Australia’s forest growers.

A massive 90 per cent of all voters responded positively to a call by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) to show their support for a new RD&E levy component, an increased biosecurity levy component, and a 20,000 m3 exemption threshold.

Funding offered

TARGETED funding to help communities affected by changes to native timber harvesting manage the transition and seek new job opportunities is being offered by the Victorian Government.

Voucher applications are now open until 30 November 2021.

For more information about the support available visit vic.gov. au/forestry

Reconciliation plan

TASMANIA’S largest plantation forest manager, Forico, has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering respect and transparent engagement with Tasmania’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with the launch of its 2021-2022 Reconciliation Action Plan.

Developed in consultation with Reconciliation Tasmania, Forico’s Reflect RAP seeks to build, encourage and foster strong positive relationships and trust between Forico and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities throughout Tasmania.

14

Firehawk trials delivering real time fire detection • SFM’s David Wise says early detection of fires allows for an early response.

A

new camera-based fire detection system has been trialled in Tasmania for the first time by forest management company SFM. The Firehawk system provides real time fire detection allowing for a rapid aerial-based response to potentially threatening bushfire ignitions and has been used successfully this fire season on Lenah Estate (formally Norske Skog), a 18,000 Hectare softwood plantation, located in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley.

The technology delivers infrared heat detection across 360-degree views for a 30 kilometer radius from each fire tower located on Lenah Estate.

Every two minutes the camera system compares a new image with the previous image. If a change is detected, such as visible smoke, Firehawk will alert the person who is monitoring the system who will then initiate an immediate response.

“Early detection allows for an early response, meaning we have the best chance to keep fires small before they become big and possibly out of control. We can detect a minimal amount of smoke and respond early with both helicopter and ground-based firefighting resources,” said David Wise, Director, SFM. The new technology provides a way to see through

Key Points he new technology • Tprovides a way to see through smoke and locate fires.

he technology delivers • Tinfrared heat detection across 360-degree views for a 30 kilometer radius.

FM have also been • Srunning a successful smoke and locate fires, taking away the risk of manned towers and minimising error.

“One of the great things about this technology is it can see through smoke.

This is a really effective way to look for new ignitions, especially if conditions are similar to 2019 where there was a lot of smoke in the atmosphere and limited visibility,” said Mr Wise.

David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science at the University of Tasmania, said that rapid attack is a critical approach to preventing bushfires from becoming uncontrollable and destructive.

“Using ground-based sensor technology is a massive improvement from the older methods of having people based in fire lookout towers,” said Professor Bowman.

“As the fire season lengthens due to climate change, we need to improve and adapt. The Firehawk is a

Firehawk trial in the Green Triangle

irehawk trials • Fdelivering real time fire detection

fantastic example of using new technologies to improve fire suppression capacity.”

Fire detection information can then be shared with the Tasmanian Fire Service, Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) and Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services.

STT said that enhancing fire detection and management strategies is a shared priority for the industry.

“Tasmania’s forest managers are investing in smart technology for the future and SFM’s recent undertaking to trial innovative fire detection and suppression technology is a notable and valuable example. We are watching SFM’s trials and adoption of new methods with great interest and support,” said STT.

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

A secondary benefit of the technology is faster and more accurate weather reporting. SFM have erected their own weather stations to use alongside the Bureau of Meteorology to help calculate fire danger ratings for various areas within the estate.

“Automation of weather reporting that has traditionally been done by the manned towers will provide us with a faster and safer access to more complete data set, as towers are only manned on high fire danger days”.

Firehawk technology could provide Tasmania with a more cost-effective and efficient fire detection and mitigation methodology.

Lenah Estate is owned

by Australian-based international forestry investor New Forests, on behalf of its Australian New Zealand Forest Fund 3, who appointed SFM to manage Lenah Estates’ timber plantation assets in 2020. SFM have a strong track record of successfully implementing technology advancements in the forestry sector having implemented the first underwater harvesting operation in Australia – Hydrowood.

SFM have also been running a successful Firehawk trial in the Green Triangle (Mt Gambier region) and is hoping to expand the trial over the next two years. www.timberbiz.com.au

Kilns

$16 million Jubilee Mill upgrade – more timber using less energy O

neFortyOne (OFO) has strengthened its commitment to the Green Triangle region with a $16 million dollar capital investment at the Jubilee Sawmill.

The first of two new Continuous Drying Kilns (CDK) replaces the old batch kilns with more efficient and environmentally conscious biomass fuelled system.

OneFortyOne Jubilee Sawmill General Manager Paul Hartung said the kilns will produce higher grade timber, with less energy and less downtime.

“As the name suggests, the Continuous Drying Kilns operate nonstop, moving product through continuously and maintaining and ideal temperature,” he said.

“The efficient design is powered by biomass, using sawdust and wood waste, and shares heat between two chambers with no need to turn the kiln off.

“There’s no cooling down and reheating like in the old batch kilns – meaning more product processed with less energy.”

The first of two Continuous Drying Kilns (CDK) officially opened on 30 March 2021. The $16 million dollar project has the capacity to dry 240,000 cubic metres of timber per year non-stop per CDK. The second kiln will double this capacity.

The retired batch kilns operated for 10 years, with a total drying time of 332,000 hours and produced four

million cubic metres of dried timber.

The new kilns work more efficiently and will dry 30% more timber using 25% less energy.

The new CDK is 81 metres long, 7.7 metres high and 10.3 metres wide. The CDKs are energy neutral as they are fuelled by biomass, sawdust and wood waste.

As a guide each piece of timber will take about 27 hours inside the kiln.

The launch of the new CDK coincided with a massive milestone for kilns manager Roger Davis, who celebrated 50 years of service at the Jubilee site. Starting out as a timber stacker back in 1971, Mr Davis has held several positions from machinist and forklift driver, through to shift leader and drymill supervisor. He wanted to see the first CDK completed and online before retiring.

Mr Hartung said the old batch kilns on site are regarded as some of the highest performing batch kilns that Windsor Engineering installed around the world, which is a credit to Mr Davis’ leadership.

“I’m thrilled that Roger

The OneFortyOne team in • front of the new Continuous Drying Kilns.

Kiln manager Roger Davis and his wife Carol officially • open the new CDK. was able to do the honours of launching the new CDK,” Mr Hartung said. “Roger’s commitment and dedication is unparalleled, and I

wish to thank him for all he has contributed to this mill and to his colleagues.”

The second continuous drying kiln is currently un-

der construction and on track for completion by Christmas 2021.

In March 2020, the New Zealand based project team had been on-site at the Jubilee Sawmill preparing for construction, but the introduction of travel restrictions meant the team had to abruptly pack up and return home.

Hasslacher invests in TC continuous kilns

H

asslacher Group, one of the world’s leading producers of glulam and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), has invested in TC continuous kilns from Valutec.

The deal means the wellknown timber industry group becomes the first in Austria to own the groundbreaking lumber kiln. This is also a new prestigious order for Valutec, which strengthens its position as a global leader within the www.timberbiz.com.au

field of continuous kilns.

The investment in TC continuous kilns is the third order where Valutec has earned the confidence of family owned and lead Hasslacher Group.

Five years ago Hasslacher Group became the first company in Austria to use Valutec’s OTC continuous

kiln technology, when they invested in two OTC continuous kilns for their sawmill in Sachsenburg. The following year, yet another order for the same type of continuous kiln for their sawmill followed.

With its investment in the TC kilns, HASSLACHER Group follows a clear trend in the sawmill industry.

During the past year, the new generation of TC kilns from Valutec have been sold to sawmills around the

world and the company has reached new markets.

The TC continuous kilns for delivery to Hasslacher Group have eight drying zones and will solely be used to dry siding boards. The maximum annual capacity is approximately 75,000 cubic meters (31,783 MBF) per kiln. The kilns are built from stainless steel and are equipped with pressure frames for minimal deformation of the up-

Australian Forests & Timber News April 2021

permost layer of lumber, heat recovery system and the Valmatics 4.0 control system.

Together with the investment, two batch kilns in Preding are being upgraded with Valmatics 4.0.

This is the only control system for lumber drying combining simulator technology with adaptive control, and allows for simultaneous optimization of capacity, quality and energy consumption.

15

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In the news

Blatantly wrong cattlemen want to stop logging in Victoria ountain Cattlemen’s • MAssociation president

Bruce McCormack said his organization had always supported the timber industry.

T

HE Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria has hit back at claims it’s members want to see logging cease in Eastern Victoria’s High Country.

“Claims that the MCAV have joined forces with two environmental groups calling for VicForests to surrender their right to log out of areas near Dinner Plain are blatantly incorrect,” MCAV president, Bruce McCormack, said.

“We are aware that some members of a grazing family are being quoted as supporting this move, but would like to make it clear that those in question do not represent the views of

The response comes after it was reported in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald that the Gippsland Environment Group and Environment East Gippsland had joined forces with “local graziers” to halt planned coupes along the Little Dargo River, claiming some 200-year-old trees in the area would be lost.

However, VicForests has confirmed that old-growth assessments are completed at every coupe with identified species excluded from harvesting. Furthermore, the Mountain Cattlemen’s the coupes currently in question have not yet been Association.

“They are not members scheduled for harvesting.

“It is understood that and haven’t been for quite genuine old-growth forests some time.”

are excluded from harvesting and the MCAV supports that policy,” Mr McCormack said.

“So this feels like little more than a beat up story, with romantic opening sentences that are designed to grab attention rather than relay in facts. ‘’Timber harvesting as conducted in Victoria is fully sustainable while supplying vital resources for the needs of Victorians.”

Already some involved with the MCAV, which has a large membership base spread across the country, have called for those involved to be expelled.

However, Mr McCormack said it was not relevant.

“These family members quoted are not part of the MCAV, and have not been for years,” he said.

“I am surprised by the move, given that these same two environmental groups are calling for grazing licenses to be voluntary rescinded and are supportive of other closures of public land – but I respect those involved as individuals, and they are allowed to have their own opinions – however, it is not the opinion of myself or the MCAV. “Sustainable public land management has always been the cornerstone of the MCAV policy and this will not change, and this includes timber harvesting.”

In a statement on Monday the MCAV noted it believed that: • That native forest and plantation harvesting should continue in environmentally sound

quantities, and that those quantities should be decided by a panel of credible and knowledgeable bush users, including from within the logging industry • That additional State Government investment needs to be made to further promote and encourage new participation in the Victorian Farm Forestry sector • That those within the forest industry continue to be actively recruited for their help in fighting bush fires • That jobs within the timber industry be retained through the continuation of native timber, farm forestry and plantation harvesting; and • That all timber that can be harvested locally, should be.

The MCAV does not agree that: • That native forest logging should be phased out unnecessarily • That Blue Gum plantations are a suitable replacement for plantation hardwood • That plantation timber is a suitable replacement for appearance grade timber, as preferred by the construction industry • That now-mature trees planted as part of farm forestry be left unharvested • That Australia’s demand for construction and appearance grade timber should be sourced from Asia where environmental regulations are far less stringent.

healthy forests and an ecosystem that will support a huge variety of native animals and plants, good active and adaptive forest management as practiced under the forest science banner, is required across all tenures. Much of the forested area on the east coast of Australia did not exist or was constantly cleared by the First Nationals people over thousands of years.

Our forests are now dens-

er and thicker than in the past so careful management is required and that will produce the timber for Australian consumption in building and construction, a variety of fibre uses, heating and energy production and of course paper and cardboard.

We can have biodiversity, protected fauna and flora and an industry working in the forests. One does not exclude the other.

Round Table continued from Page 13

grazing. After the greens stole our matches, scrub choked out the delicate herbs and grasses which had sustained a diversity of macropods. Koalas, psyllids and bellbirds irrupted. It became the ‘dieback’ capital of Australia.

Australia’s famous list of small mammal extinctions has nothing to with forestry. They were mainly in the outback. Their diverse foods and habitats were 18

obliterated by the Great Central Scrub after Aboriginal burning was disrupted.

Around Sydney, the endangered broad-headed snake is now extinct in Ku-rin-gai Chase National Park and disappearing from Morton National Park because scrub has shaded out its basking areas.

Our Lock It Up and Let It Burn conservation ethic is stupid. Forests need people to maintain them.

Maree McCaskill There is total environmental accountability required by law of state forests in NSW but not in National Parks. The detailed records kept on a wide variety of species of flora and fauna are comprehensive on state forests and patchy or non-existent on national park. Biodiversity and good conservation doesn’t recognise tenures and in order to ensure

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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For your safety, use appropriate safety gear in the working environment.

AIN

IE

H

P

SHINDAIWA 731SX. THE FINEST JAPANESE FELLING SAW WITH THE WORLD’S BEST CHAIN, SETTING A NEW STANDARD.

™

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WE R C U O

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The Shindaiwa engineering team understands that to create a superior performing saw, they needed to find the world’s best chain. They found the perfect match in Oregon’s 70 Series EXL chain, Oregon’s sharpest chain ever. The powerhouse Shindaiwa 731SX felling saw, setting a new standard in saws.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SHINDAIWA-AUSTRALIA.COM.AU

Chainsaws

The best chainsaws deserve the best hardware

O

regon Products started from humble beginnings in 1947 as the Oregon Saw Chain Company.

Logger and inventor Joseph Buford Cox became an early adopter of bio-

also supply a range of guide bars, sprocket noses, rim and spur sprockets, and other forestry related products.

Their latest innovation is the new PowerCut ™ 70-Series full chisel EXL chain.

Using Oregon proprietary cutter technology, the new EXL series chain is their sharpest chain ever out of the box, with a highly durable cutting edge that provides long lasting cutting performance. Designed to reduce the effort required to power through timber, the 70 Series EXL chains feature a reshaped cutter for improved speed and precision.

PowerCut ™ 70-Series EXL of a timber beetle larva. chain is available to suit bar Since that time, Oregon lengths between 16” and 36” Products have continued to and in 0.50” 0.58” and 0.63” deliver innovative products gauge.

The new 731SX professionthat perform to the highest al felling saw is Shindaiwa’s mimicry when he designed standard.

Now the world’s #1 saw first new saw in the 70cc the first Cox Chipper Chain, based on the C-shaped jaws chain, Oregon Products class in almost 30 years. Re-

placing the legendary 757, the 731SX shares the same Japanese build quality and reliability as its predecessor. It stands to reason that when Shindaiwa were looking for the best chain to fit to their new 731SX, they went to Oregon Products and the new EXL chain.

The 731XS professional grade 73.5cc 2 stroke engine provides massive torque and is complimented by the fast cutting and reduced effort of the Oregon EXL chain. The 731XS is compatible with bar sizes from 20” to 28” and the Oregon D009 bar mount pattern is used.

Oregon and Shindaiwa products are proudly distributed in Australia by Briggs & Stratton Australia.

For further information visit www.oregonproducts. com/en or www.shindaiwaaustralia.com.au/

USE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS Getting up early and doing a good day of work is a way of life for you, and it’s our way of life too. That’s why we make high-quality, durable products you can depend on every day.

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20

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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Milestone

Roger Davis reflects on his life at the mill Roger Davis started working at the Jubilee Sawmill site in 1971. This year, after a long and dedicated career, Roger will transition into a well-earned retirement. He shared a little bit of his story…

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Award for Ponsse

THE new Future Cabin included in the Ponsse Scorpion launched in February has won a product design award in the internationally acclaimed Red Dot design competition.

The award in question was the Best of the Best award in the Product Design category, granted for the cabin’s innovative design.

This was the highest recognition that could be achieved in the competition, granted to the best products of the various award categories.

Grinder protection

MORBARK has introduced a new patent-pending Vtection system option for their 3000, 3400, and 6400 series Wood Hog Horizontal Grinders. The Vtection system monitors rotor vibration to reduce damage from contact with un-shreddable objects or other causes of damaging vibration like an out-of-balance rotor, broken insert, defective bearing, or extremely hardwood.

I

started at the mill as a timber stacker on the 16th of March 1971.

I was 15 and it was only two weeks after arriving from England with my family.

My first pay packet was $16.

These days safety is the highest priority, but back then health and safety was almost non-existent.

There were no inductions or mandatory protection like eye and ear protection.

Timber stacking and wrapping was all done by hand, even logs were manually rolled onto the log deck.

The first stress grader was fed manually, obviously at much slower feed speeds that the current high-speed line.

My father and brother both worked here when I started, and my late father was Kilns Manager in the early 70s. I often helped out on weekends at the kilns.

There were many families that worked at the mill Mum, Dad and often their children, including a lot of migrant families and so many different cultures.

I worked my way up from timber stacker to forklift driver then machinist operating any moulder/planer or machines in both mill A and B. I was promoted to leading hand in late 70s and worked in all areas of the dry mill.

Also in the late 70s the mill had a cricket team in the local competition made from players from all sections – some had never played before. We ended up with two teams in C and D grade, and I was lucky enough to captain the side to a C grade premiership.

BRIEFS

Profit plan

• Roger and his wife Carol (centre) with their children Craig and Nicole.

In 1983, Dry Mill B was transformed into a highspeed moulding line when the Waco moulder and associated equipment was installed, I was the appointed shift team leader and later shift supervisor.

At the time, the Waco moulder was one of the most efficient high-speed moulders in Australia, able to run at speeds up to 180 metres per minute and pro-

ducing high quality profiles such as match lining, flooring and decking products.

In the 90s I managed Dry mill A and B at different times, then in late 1990 I was offered the position as kilns manager, so I worked over Easter that year to do a crash course in kiln drying.

At the time we still had old limestone kilns from the late 50,s and 4 newly installed high temp Windsor kilns.

In 2009, four new Windsor High temp kilns were installed. These kilns could dry more than the 22 older kilns and were much safer to operate. All old kilns were demolished making way for pack storage from Green Mill.

The four Windsor kilns have proven to be the most efficient batch kilns Winsor have in Australia and have dried over 4 million cubic meters of timber for our dry mills to process.

Now it’s exciting to see the new CDK operational and already producing quality kiln dried timber.

I have seen many changes to equipment and technology over the years.

I’ve worked with so many good people over the years and would like to thank them for their friendship and support, that without I would not have made it to 50 years.

– Roger Davis, Kilns Manager

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

JAPANESE equipment maker Komatsu hopes to generate 140 billion yen (US$1.27 billion) in revenue from forest machinery after four years, which would mark a 40% increase, due to robust housing and material demand.

Komatsu intends to fulfill its goal by offering a stronger lineup of equipment such as feller bunchers and forwarders for the North American market.

The US has the fourth largest distribution of forests in the world, in terms of area.

Tree lift

FORESTRY England has completed an unusual felling operation involving a specialist helicopter team to fell trees at Whinlatter Forest, within the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, which were affected by the tree disease Phytophthora ramorum. The two-day operation involved an 18-strong Forestry England team and a contract harvesting teamworking alongside Swiss and Scottish operators, brought in for their expertise in helicopter felling – a forestry technique common in Switzerland but used only once before by the same team in the UK. 21

Software & Technology

Trimble Forestry solving business challenges

• AKD Softwoods is using LIMS to manage its extensive forestry operations across Australia.

W

ith more than 300 employees around the globe, offices in eight countries, and 50 million log transactions managed with our solutions annually, Trimble Forestry is no stranger to the challenges forestry businesses face each day.

Trimble’s Connected Forest suite of products support nearly all aspects of the industry: growing, harvesting, transporting and processing.

Trimble Forestry is on a mission to help the forest industry move from fragmented and manual to optimized and automated workflows from harvest through delivery.

The Connected Forest strategy is focused on making its portfolio of solutions interoperable where possible, integrating cuttingedge geo-spatial technology, and facilitating access to key metrics from office to field.

Trimble Forestry is guided by the vision of a coordinated, optimized, flexible and connected ecosystem of supply chain partners.

22

Key Points key component of • ATrimble’s Connected

Forest Business portfolio is LIMS, a Log Inventory and Management System.

The software is designed to meet forest businesses operational, contractual, administrative, accounting, planning and reporting needs.

Implementing both solutions has allowed AKD to have end-to-end visibility into its supply chain.

•

•

Data Visibility, Mobile Ticketing, and Timber Security The company is making great strides in Australia.

A key component of its Connected Forest Business portfolio is LIMS, a Log Inventory and Management System. The software is

designed to meet forest businesses operational, contractual, administrative, accounting, planning and reporting needs. Trimble recently announced that LIMS is now fully compatible with its Connected Forest Xchange (CFX) solution.

The integration allows load ticket information from LIMS to sync to the cloudbased CFX portal, which can be accessed from any device, any place.

With CFX’s flexibility, easy-to-view dashboards, and mobile accessibility, key operational data, such as electronic tickets, fiber source GPS coordinates, and detailed supply chain records can also be shared in near real-time, at the user’s discretion, with supply chain partners, such as harvesters, haulers, and scale sites.

“The level of data sharing enabled by our LIMS/ CFX integration is key to increasing efficiency within forestry supply chains,” said Kevin Toohill, General Manager of Trimble Forestry.

“Visibility and shared data increases timber security and facilitates real-time, da-

ta-based decision-making, as well as easier records reconciliation and faster payments.”

Furthermore, LIMS/CFX users can utilise one of Trimbles CFLogistics offerings to add electronic load ticketing using a mobile device with an added mobile subscription. The CFX mobile subscription allows haulers and scale site operators to use reference data, such as source, destination, and species, synced from LIMS/CFX. The synched drop-down menus help reduce errors, greatly increase timber security and accountability, and make it much easier and faster to reconcile load tickets exchanged between harvest and delivery. The higher fidelity of tracking loads from forest to delivery allows companies to better support certification requirements. Every load that leaves the woods can be reconciled to a weight scale load coming in the gate.

process company based in Colac, Victoria in Australia is using LIMS to manage its extensive forestry operations across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. With an added CFX subscription, load and scale information can be viewed on mobile phones, tablets, or via a web browser, providing visibility into key metrics and improved timber security throughout AKD’s integrated businesses and supply chain partners.

“Introducing Trimble Forestry’s cloud-based log accounting system, LIMS, is consistent with AKD’s commitment to leveraging polished and proven technology in an increasingly complex and exciting industry,” said Karen Johns, Forestry Solutions Analyst, AKD Softwoods.

Implementing both solutions has allowed AKD to have end-to-end visibility into its supply chain. LIMS manages the settlement process for accounts payable and receivable transactions. Together the solutions provide faster settlements, greater timber security, and a more efficient operation.

Request a LIMS/CFX Demonstration

LIMS provides management control over all phases of timberland, woodland, yard, and mill operations.

It combines the features of a log or timber accounting system with features for silviculture, harvesting, contractor payables, wood or fiber procurement, wood trading or sales, consumption, and comprehensive reporting and planning. CFX aggregates fiber supply data in easy-to-view and share dashboards, enabling better supply chain coordination and efficiency.

To learn more about Trimble’s Connected Forest solution and to request a demonstration of our LIMS/CFX solution, visit forestry.trimAKD Softwoods Using LIMS/ ble.com, email forestryCFX sales@trimble.com or call AKD Softwoods, an inte- our office in Rotorua, New grated forestry and timber Zealand at +64 7348 0308.

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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CONNECTED TM FOREST BUSINESS

Forestry software for Wood Procurement and Contracting

Trimble Forestry’s CFBusiness portfolio includes LIMS, a widely used Log Accounting and Contracting System. LIMS provides management control over all phases of timberland, woodland, yard and mill operations.

LIMS can be implemented to includes WeighWiz, LabWiz and ScaleWiz. In addition, LIMS can be integrated with CFX (Connected Forest Xchange) to provide visibility into key operational data, such as electronic tickets, fiber source GPS coordinates, and detailed supply chain records, which can be viewed in real-time.

The CFX platform includes cloud-based dashboards and mobile-ticketing applications seamlessly interfacing to provide real-time visibility to electronic load tickets from harvesters, haulers, and scaling sites.

To learn more about Trimble’s Connected Forest solution and to request a demonstration of our LIMS/CFX solution, visit forestry.trimble.com, email forestrysales@trimble.com or call our office in Rotorua, New Zealand at +64 7348 0308.

forestry.trimble.com

Harvester heads

New larger Komatsu harvester head – Komatsu C164 K

omatsu Forest Australia has sold 28 Komatsu 951 Harvesters which have been fitted with either the C144 or S172 heads at 1,400kgs and 1700kgs respectively.

The C144 has been the most popular due to the generally preferred “carry style” frame and four feed roller system.

The 951 has ample capacity to carry a much larger head then the C144 with several markets demanding a larger version which led to the KF AB Sweden developing three “C164” prototypes in 2018. The three prototypes were sent to Sweden, German and Australian markets for testing with Paul Rosin from Tumut was chosen for the Australian trials. Unfortunately, Paul’s trials were cut short when the test machine was totally destroyed in the 2019/20 bush fires, but much data was obtained from the nine month trial and passed onto the factory.

The three trials resulted in an updated production model C164 which was released early this year. Brett Jones believes this new head at 1,700kgs will become the standard for most future

Komatsu 951 Harvesters as it will provide un-paralleled performance especially in T2 operations.

When harvesting in rough forests, an operator can face several challenges. For example, trees that need to be cut from two directions, root flares that are too wide for the saw bar or rough limbs that need to be processed several times. The C164 is a brand-new model in the range of C heads and a perfect match for the Komatsu 951 harvester. The robust head is specially designed to handle large trees, big root flares and rough limbs. Still, it has a design that makes it smooth and easy to handle. The C164 design is inspired by the features of other C models, but it is a completely new head where many parts are optimised for the size and application of the head.

Constant Cut, the saw motor control that ensures that the head has a constant and efficient saw motor speed throughout the complete cutting cycle, is further developed for C164 to handle long saw bars and broad

Komatsu C164

Key Performance Specifications :

Weight

1,691kg

Delimb Knives

5

Feed Rollers

4

Feed Motors/ Force

934cc / 35.4kN

Feed Speed

0-5.0 m/sec

Paul Rosin’s C164 Prototype Trial in Tumut area • (Disguised in C144 markings). stems. The saw bar position is designed for optimal felling performance and the position of the saw bar is new compared to other C heads. This gives a better felling cut in the direction of the head, which in turn gives the saw bar better longevity whilst also reducing

the risk of log splitting. For increased durability and service life the chain tensioning of the saw bar has been improved, the saw bar mount has a more robust design, stronger saw bar clamp and increased bolt dimension to hold the saw bar.

•

The C164 is a brand-new larger C model head perfect match for the Komatsu 951.

24

1,848mm

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

The rotator has a stronger and more robust design as well as a new hydraulic motor and bigger slew bearings to cope with this type of demanding logging operations.

To make the head more fuel efficient, the C164 also has a new type of hydraulic control valve that can handle a high flow, which reduces energy losses.

The C164 is a “carry style” head where the stem is carried by the feed wheels and the delimbing knives are mainly used for delimbing the stem. The head’s feed system allows good contact between head and stem, which reduces the clamping pressure and makes the feeding procedure energy efficient. Komatsu C164 comes with the option of two different feed roller motors. The bigger motor is standard and gives a high traction force which improves the productivity of the head. The smaller motor is optional and gives a more aggressive feeding start, but with less force than with the bigger motor.

Upon customer request, the Komatsu C164 has a completely new tilt lock function, i.e., the ability to lock the tilt link at the desired angle, which facilitates access to difficult branches of tree forks. The Find End function makes it possible to reset length measuring without needing to make a first cut and lump a part of the log. This reduces forest residues and minimises value loss.

It is particularly useful when processing pre-felled trees.

The head has several features designed to minimise unplanned downtime and thereby improve productivity. The frame is designed and verified to stand the force from heavy operations. Components like the head unit are well protected under the hood.

Cast iron is used for strategic components and ORFS couplings on hoses. Overall, the head with all its features, in combination with the Komatsu 951 harvester, is a useful tool for demanding operations. www.timberbiz.com.au

The future of training and certification for forest contractors.

Leaders of NSW forest contractors businesses currently piloting the ForestFit training program for anticipated national rollout.

www.forestfit.com.au

Skidders

Tigercat H-series skidders designed for superior operator comfort

T

igercat’s advanced, efficient and refined skidders just got a whole lot better with a completely redesigned operator station and numerous advancements to boost productivity and minimise downtime.

The new H-series incorporate the 620H, 630H and 632H four-wheel models, and the 625H and 635H sixwheel models.

Tough, Professional Tools Australia-wide delivery!

Haglof Forest Measurement Haglof Tree Calipers

Strong, lightweight Swedish made aluminium tree calipers

New Vertex V Vertex Laser Geo

Spencer Logging Tapes

Clinos/Height Meters

Tough US made logging tapes 15m, 25m length tapes and 30m+diameter

Diameter/Girth Tapes Large range of steel & fibreglass diameter tapes from $22

Suunto Tandem Nikon Compass/Clino Forestry Pro II

Pro-Pruner

Swedish made Pottiputki tree planters Models 45/55/63/75

Over 2000 products at

New Zealand made lopper designed for lift pruning of pine & eucalypts.

Also Razorback, Bahco, Felco & Barnel

www.forestrytools.com.au or call for our 2021 catalogue

26

the drive command for the operator.

All H-series skidders feature load-sensing hydraulics with larger, more efficient valves. Hydraulic tank capacity has increased 20% for improved steep slope performance, along with improved level detection and more robust mounting. Horsepower has increased on the 620H, 630H, 632H, and 635H models. The 620H and 630H are now equipped with larger arch and boom cylinders.

The 625H is equipped with larger arch and boom cylinders, along with larger steer and dozer cylinders – all to maximise productivity.

Engine enclosure doors have been reinforced to resist impacts. T-style compression latches ensure they stay securely closed.

Belly doors now use pivot bolts to effortlessly swing open and a new smaller door makes accessing the fluid drain plugs a breeze.

When tilting the cab is necessary, new ‘quarter turn’ locking pins, adjustable sweep brackets, and a larger tilt cylinder make the job much simpler. Batteries, drain hoses and fill hoses are now easily accessible within the left side step. A robust tire pressure monitoring system now comes standard on all models.

It is safe to say the new H-series skidder redesign presents an impressive list of improvements and refinements. Contact your local Tigercat dealer Onetrak to experience the new Hseries for yourself. Call 1300 727 520 or email contact@ onetrak.com.au.

Huge range of tree planting, pruning and measuring equipment!

Tree Planting Equipment

Kidney trays, planting belts, spades & Hamilton planters

Key refinements include a redesigned larger cab with better visibility, improved serviceability, reliability, and efficiency.

The redesigned operator station provides 20% more cab space than the previous E-series design. Window area has increased by 19% offering superior forward and rear visibility. Additional low side windows allow for better sightlines to all tires.

With the Turnaround System the operator can now rotate the seat 220°. The seat can be locked and unlocked with a simple pushbutton control to arrange the seat in any position and the operator can easily exit either side of the cab as needed.

Thanks to the 220° seat rotation operator visibility is

improved while neck strain is greatly reduced.

Furthermore, the heavy duty air ride suspension seat has heating and cooling to keep the operator comfortable all year round.

The reclining seat is fully adjustable with seat angle, seat extension adjustment, tilt up adjustable armrests, adjustable lumbar support and a secure five-point harness comes standard for improved safety.

A completely redesigned HVAC system provides more efficient cooling capacity, 50% more air vents, infinitely variable fan speed, and an automatic defrost option. The operator will have access to a ventilated cup holder with adjustable airflow keeping the drink hot or cold, storage locations are set aside with space for a lunch box, hooks for a hardhat and jacket, along with a sturdy cell phone holder and convenient charging port.

Inside the cab you will find a state-of-the-art LCD touchscreen display and interior walls and mats have been designed for higher durability while making cleaning easier.

Operator controls are now located on the armrests and include several new features. Independent differential lock buttons are easily accessible on the joystick with the ability to engage the front and rear separately. LED lights above the buttons illuminate making it crystal clear when they are active.

A cruise control button is also available to maintain

info@forestrytools.com.au 02 9417 7751

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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volvo log loaders

rise to the challenge

Make easy work of daily challenges such as working in confined spaces, reaching high log stacks and tackling adverse terrain, thanks to the purpose-made Volvo log loader. Adapted to thrive in forestry environments, these machines deliver the performance and reliability needed to get the job done. . The even weight distribution, logging counterweight and low ground pressure from wide low profile tyres provide outstanding stability, traction and tipping load.

MEET THE TEAM:

L110H

L120H

L150H

L180H

L220H

L260H

18,560 kg / 190 kW

19,640 kg / 203 kW

24,090 kg / 220 kW

27,060 kg / 245 kW

31,190 kg / 273 kW

39,000 kg / 309 kW

WANT TO PUT ONE TO THE TEST? CALL 1300 139 804 FOR A FREE DEMONSTRATION & QUOTE

BIG ENOUGH TO TRUST SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE www.cjd.com.au | 1300 139 804 | enquiries@cjd.com.au Facebook.com/cjdequipment

Linkedin.com/company/cjd-equipment

Instagram.com/cjd_equipment Images are for illustration purposes only.

Loaders Looking Back 2020 A REGIONAL forestry group has urged a review into why NSW fuel reduction burning (FRB) was reduced in about 2004, while strongly advocating for a minimum annual 5 per cent fuel reduction target.

The South-East Timber Association made these and many other recommendations in its submission to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

2016 FOREST OWNERS say the formal adoption of the Paris climate change agreement in New York will potentially have great benefits for both plantation and natural forests world-wide. New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett was in New York to sign the agreement along with representatives from 130 other countries.

Forest Owners Association president Peter Clark says getting signatures on the agreement is yet another step in a long journey. The agreement will come into force once it has been ratified by 55 countries – representing at least 55% of global emissions.

“This may take a few years, but in the meantime, New Zealand is able to continue with emissions reduction at home,” he says.

2011 WITH THE failure of some of the largest forestry-based MIS companies in recent times the plantation forestry sceptics are having a field day with negative talk about forestry investment. Whether it be investment in commercial forestry companies through either the share market or managed investment schemes, or farm forestry where landowners establish and manage their own “investment” in forestry the story is often the same; “too long to wait for the money”.

The Australian story seems to be one of generally negative sentiment about long term investment in timber crops for sawlogs and veneer that can take 25 to 35 years to reach harvest maturity.

28

Volvo’s log loaders are kings of the timber yard D

rawing on more than six decades of experience in building machines and attachments for the forestry industry, Volvo’s H-series wheel loaders are tailor made to cope with the intense demands of logging. They are configured to boost lifting and carrying capacity and durable enough to take on the toughest working environments in round-theclock shifts.

‘We understand the daily challenges associated with working in confined spaces, tackling adverse terrain and reaching high log stacks,’ says Lindsay Daniels, National Product Engineering and Training Manager for CJD Equipment, Volvo’s long-term Australian distribution partner.

‘Volvo’s purpose-made log loader has been adapted to thrive in forestry environments and deliver the performance and reli-

ability needed to get the job done. The even weight distribution, logging counterweight and low ground pressure from wide, low profile tyres provide outstanding stability, traction and tipping load,’ he said.

The Volvo patented Torque Parallel (TP) linkage system (L60H-L220H) combines the benefits of Z-bar and parallel linkages in one system, delivering good parallel movement, optimised lifting and high breakout and roll-out forces, even in top position.

These features allow op-

erators to stack heavy loads at high heights. The L350H, for example, can efficiently handle loads weighing up to 23 tonnes.

The H-series loaders are also agile, which means shorter cycle times and increased efficiency. The short overhang makes it the ideal machine to quickly and easily negotiate timber yards and confined areas.

‘Operators are integral on every job site, that’s why Volvo has always prioritised operator comfort.

And it’s no different with the H series,’ Daniels said.

Volvo log loaders provide excellent visibility, with optional light packages also available for low light working conditions. The Boom Suspensions System (BSS) reduces bouncing when travelling at high speed and the high-quality hydraulic system gives operators the control and responsiveness needed to perform at their best.

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

‘No two operations are the same and we always want to give our customers the opportunity to get the most out of the machines, which means they have to be versatile and capable of dealing with whatever challenges come their way,’ Daniels said.

Volvo’s special attachments give it the edge over its competitors. The full attachment range – log grapplers, log pusher and buckets – has been engineered to deliver outstanding durability in logging applications. With Volvo’s innovative attachment bracket, the operator can change between attachments on-the-go in a matter of seconds.

With a relationship that stretches back over 25 years, the Volvo H-series wheel loaders are fully supported by CJD Equipment’s nationwide network of dealers and service centres. www.cjd.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au

Forwarders

New jib boom options for forwarders J

ohn Deere is launching redesigned jib boom options equipped with a hidden hose extension for forwarders with CF5, CF7 and CF7S booms.

The redesigned jib booms bring a clear improvement in usability, durability and serviceability.

The new XI-designated hidden hose extensions will be an available option for the 910G, 1010G, 1110G, 1210G and 1510G forwarders during spring 2021.

The new jib boom is more robust, the extension is stronger, and the routing of the hoses has been redesigned, taking better account of both the durability and changeability of the hoses as well as the usability of the boom.

The redesigned routing of the hoses between the lifting and jib boom and the inside the extension packs protect the hoses from damage.

The improved geometry and the more balanced ratio between the lifting and jib boom makes the boom’s trajectories and operation smoother, thereby improving productivity. With the new XI hidden hose extensions, the reach of the boom is 9.8 m.

Ninety per cent of the forwarders delivered are equipped with IBC. The machines equipped with IBC include an optional work light located under the jib boom for better visibility to the boom tip in the dark.

The improved hose routing inside the boom increases the durability of the hoses and makes hose replacement easier. The slide bearing at the rear end of the extension can now be lubricated without removing the covers.

Also the extension chain can be adjusted without disassembling parts and removing the covers.

The adjustable boom support is also new and makes for easier switching to the transport position.

In addition to the hidden hose extensions, a stronger Indexator GV12-2S link is also available. The base plate of the stronger link is now made from steel rather than cast iron.

World Leading Forestry Chains and Tracks

www.chaffeyschains.com.au

03 6491 1686

26 Claude Road, Sheffield TAS 7306 www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

29

Classifieds

Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee.

For rates and deadlines call Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or email: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au

CHAINBAR OILS FOR SALE 200L - $286 + FREIGHT 1000L Available

Delivering Australia wide Call for freight quote

Made from gear oils.

Hydraulic Oil also available from $1.32/L

Contact Dean on: PH: 0408 921 669 E: oilcleanwa@optusnet.com.au

(Samples can be supplied).

MK IMPIANTI

FIRST WITH INDUSTRY NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Get your digital edition today timberbiz.com.au/AFT/current

Onetrak CBI Magnum Force 604 Flail Debarker.

Valmet 425EXL Feller Buncher

$325,000 + GST

$69,500 + GST

Tigercat 635D Skidder

NEW Tigercat 480B Mulcher

$350,000 + GST

$895,000 +GST

Tigercat E625C Skidder $160,000 + GST

Timberjack 560D Skidder $55,000 + GST

Tigercat H855C Harvester $175,000 + GST

Hidromek HMK102B Alpha Backhoe Loader

Rotobec Forwarder Grapples POA

Tigercat H860C Harvester $190,000 + GST

NEW Rotobec RPA4570R RGP1300 Fits 25-35t carriers

Komatsu PC350LL

$125,000 + GST

RF continuous laminated timber press line (came out of door component factory)

Press very good for solid core door panels, table tops, and laminated panels utilizing offcuts.

Ideal for production line using PVA glue.

In good, sound condition $38,000

+ GST

Two Loser AA220 dowell cut off machines.

Plant capable of making 100,000 furniture dowell daily, eg 32mm x 8mm.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU

$4000 each or $6500 for the two

www.timberbiz.com.au

I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R

australasian

Contact: Ken Baker 0438 643 992 or ken.baker@dynagroup.com.au

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$149,500 +GST

NEW Dressta TD9S

NEW Fuchs MHL320F Timber Handler. POA.

$276,500 +GST

Two products utilising Laminated pine

Austral Timber Group

$65,050 +GST

1300 727 520 www.onetrak.com.au

magazine

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

All Prices exclude GST

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEW PRODUCT The new H219 for thinnings and small clearfell for tracked and wheeled carriers 15 to 25 ton.

Call Brendon for more information 0438 445 550

Waratah H219x

NEW ATTACHMENTS

Waratah FL85

Waratah 624C

Waratah 622B SIII

Waratah 616C SIII

With Install Kit Priced $59,000.00 +GST

Priced $287,866.85 +GST

Priced $217,052.00 +GST

Priced $148,600.00 +GST

Waratah 624C 4x4

Waratah 625C

Waratah 616C

Waratah 626

With H16 Cabin Kit Priced $153,000.00 +GST

Refurbished Unit with New Timber Cabin Kit $180,000.00 +GST

With TimberRite Cabin Kit Priced $34,000.00 +GST

Traded unit, just arrived in.

POA

Bar & Chains

Danfoss handle

Seal Kits and Rods WA108478 priced at $75.00

#T&Cs apply.

WA119031 - Danfoss Handle Left Promo price $950+ (Saving $225)

USED ATTACHMENTS

PARTS - New Ordering Site - partscatalog.waratah.com

Waratah Grapples

Purchase a Grapple and receive FREE road freight within Australia. *T&Cs apply.

For a limited time 10% off when you order online

*prices exclude GST and are valid for a limited period.

Tasmania South Australia Queensland Tas Auto Air Green Tranagle Mech.

Champion Contracting MR & JA Gray Mechanical SE Forest & Hydraulic Ctr

Victoria C.F.H Hydraulics

New South Wales AB Diesel R & D Forest Services

Western Australia Waratah Bunbury

Contact Waratah Foresty Equipment on 03 9747 4200 Terms and Conditions: * Free Road Freight applied to a single order that grapple has been order on, applies to both GR3010 and GR3020 purchase in the month of March. Other parts can be added to the order and will receive FIS road freight also. Limited stock, whilst stocks last. # To be eligible to receive 10% off your bar and chain order, order must be places order via our online portal - partscatalog.waratah.com

www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News May 2021

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