Australian Forests & Timber - August 2021

AUGUST 2021

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In the news

Changes to Victorian timber code welcomed but ‘overdue’ Philip Hopkins

T

he native forest industry, the Opposition and manufacturing union have welcomed the Andrews Government’s move to overhaul the timber code of practice but say it still does not go far enough to secure wood production.

The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced a review of the Code of Practice for Timber Production to provide “much needed certainty” for conservationists, the forest industry and the Conservation Regulator. The code plays a crucial role in regulating Victoria’s native timber industry.

The review improves and addresses the code’s deficiencies, aiming to set out a clear, internationally recognised definition of the ‘Precautionary Principle’ that “everyone can understand and apply”, Ms D’Ambrosio said. Ambiguities in the definition have sparked actions in the Supreme Court and Federal Court by green groups that have closed dozens of coupes in Gippsland.

Clockwise from above: Victorian • Forest Products Association CEO Deb Kerr; Shadow Minister for Forestry Gary Blackwood; The CFMEU’s Michael O’Connor

Ms D’Ambrosio said the Key Points proposed code change meant that the Precautionary Principle would apply Review being “when there is any threat of undertaken to provide serious or irreversible envi“much needed certainty ronmental damage”. “It will for conservationists, be mandatory to apply this the forestry industry test before timber harvestand the Conservation ing,” she said, so that harRegulator”. vesting avoids and protects Overhaul may be too critical habitat. late as sawmills are Initial code changes will beginning to run out of be followed by a compresupply. hensive code review by December 2023. Cutbacks Review an opportunity in the native forest indusfor the Victorian try are scheduled to begin Government to fix the in 2024 under the GovernCode and put an end ment’s forestry plan, which to green litigation in will close the industry by Victoria that has held 2030. up supplies of native The chief executive of the timber.

Victorian Forest Products Association, Deb Kerr, said the review gave the Gov“It seems these issues ernment the opportunity to may not be dealt with unend the green litigation that til a more comprehensive had held up supplies of na- review in December 2023. tive timber, especially when supply shortages were hitting housing construction.

Complaints to the Office of the Conservation Regulator were either unfounded or based on a small number of technical findings unrelated to endangered species protection, she said.

•

• •

Given the Andrews Labor Government’s track record on meeting dates, the new December 2023 deadline will give no certainty in the short term, as it will encourage third party litigation through the courts,” he said.

Mr Blackwood said the industry needed assurance that the Minister for the Environment would not change her mind. “It would be a disaster for industry if the Minister reversed her support for the recommendations of her own review,” he said.

The national secretary of CFMEU Manufacturing, Michael O’Connor, said the reworked ‘precautionary principle’ framework provided “some certainty” for industry. It would be harder for judges to decide that VicForests was not complying with Victorian law, he said.

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Cutbacks in the native forest industry are scheduled to begin in 2024 under the Government’s forestry plan, which will close the industry by 2030.

The Shadow Minister for Forestry and Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood, said the review was well overdue but may be even too late as sawmills were beginning to run out of supply.

Ms D’Ambrosio had stalled the review’s recommendations, completed more than 18 months ago, despite knowing that VicForests www.timberbiz.com.au

However, Mr O’Connor said further code amendments were needed to stop technical loopholes still exploited by industry opponents in the courts. These would ensure contractors and their crews were better protected from workplace invasions and that timber harvesting was safe.

Mr O’Connor said the union would continue to oppose the Government’s “despicable” forest plan, which would close the native forest industry without regard for workers, families and communities.

“The Government still has not provided any evidence of its contention that the industry is not sustainable from 2030. We will continue to push for transparency of the resource data informing their 2019 decision to test whether it stacks up,” he said.

could not meet supply commitments, he said.

Mr Blackwood said there were still outstanding issues that the recommendations did not address, such as road buffers and fire management. Also, the comprehensive review flagged by December 2023 would drag out uncertainty for an already ‘on-edge’ industry.

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Front Cover: Forestry Corporation’s Silviculture Supervisor Bill Klower on the job at Bathurst.

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Water allocation plan research paper goes to Minister

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he Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub has presented its preliminary water research findings to Water and Environment Minister David Speirs as it prepares for the review of the region’s Water Allocation Plan in 2023.

Working in collaboration with UniSA, the University of Melbourne and Esk Mapping, the Hub has undertaken extensive research over the past 12 months to better understand plantation water use to support government in its resource management decision making.

GTFIH chair Ian McDonnell said the Hub was grateful that Mr Speirs shared his time to understand the work which looks at various groundwater issues, such as reviewing the groundwater management boundaries.

“Extensive time and resources have been spent on this important work as we look to work with the government and other irrigators to put the latest scientific research on the table for consideration in this review,” Mr McDonnell said.

“Whilst the existing policy has largely relied on forestry rules to be based on a matter of judgement, these water experts are undertaking this comprehensive research to develop more

Key Points orking in • Wcollaboration with

UniSA, the University of Melbourne and Esk Mapping, the Hub has undertaken extensive research over the past 12 months to better understand plantation water use.

experts • Wareater undertaking

comprehensive research to develop more accurate methods for consideration.

esearchers have • Rdeveloped a simple

empirical model of plantation water use which will be finessed over the coming months to better represent actual plantation extraction data.

Green Triangle Forest • Industries Hub chairman Ian McDonnell.

accurate methods for consideration.”

The Hub’s research includes simplifying management zones into as little as six distinct geo regions to aid water trading, aligning zones to resource needs to encourage the best use of available water. Work includes the measurement of sandstone and limestone unconfined aquifer porosity to test the specific yield assumptions and investigating groundwater recharge which illustrated recharge can occur under plantations.

Researchers have developed a simple empirical model of plantation water use which will be finessed over the coming months to better represent actual plantation1 extraction data, which may result in more groundwater resource avail-

ability than previously assumed.

Furthermore, work has explored the perceived impact of plantation forests on wetlands using plantation growth as an indicator showing a single prescription basis for setbacks can be replaced with a new method.

Mr McDonnell said further work would continue this year to strengthen the preliminary findings.

“These early results are illustrating that we can improve the current management system and ensure more equitable use of the resource for primary producers across the region.

We look forward to working with government alongside other irrigators so we can understand how we can all share in this important resource to realise our industry targets whilst providing for environmental needs,” he said.

Green Triangle’s inequitable water policies must be sorted

T

he Green Triangle region is blessed with a regular supply of rain. Mount Gambier, for example, gets around 660 mm (around 26 inches) of rain falls annually.

So it seems somewhat contradictory that the timber industry in the Green Triangle has a water problem.

And not just a water problem, but a long-standing water problem.

It all goes back to the Millennium Drought which lasted from 2001 to 2009.

In the Green Triangle drought was a word rarely used, and even more rarely experienced.

The result was inequitable water policies of successive state governments written, perhaps, in a sense of panic.

In terms of forestry, the issue at the time was the amount of water trees took from the aquifer.

To make the problem worse, the forestry industry largely did not take part in the negotiations over the water policies. A review was clearly needed.

The Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub presented its preliminary water research findings to Water and En-

vironment Minister David Speirs as it prepares for the review of the region’s Water Allocation Plan in 2023.

Working in collaboration with UniSA, the University of Melbourne and Esk Mapping, the Hub has undertaken extensive research over the past 12 months to better understand plantation water use to support government in its resource management decision making.

GTFIH chair Ian McDonnell said that while the existing policy had largely relied on forestry rules to be based on a matter of judgement, these water experts are undertaking this com-

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

prehensive research to develop more accurate methods for consideration.

That has to be the first step.

The industry needs to have accurate data on exactly how much water a plantation uses in its lifetime.

Researchers have developed a simple empirical model of plantation water use which will be finessed over the coming months to better represent actual plantation extraction data, which may result in more groundwater resource availability than previously assumed.

The industry must have that data to successfully state its case. www.timberbiz.com.au

Forest Protests

Government beefs up fight against forest protests

But is it too little too late for an industry fed up with protesters’ actions Philip Hopkins

T

he Andrews Government says it has beefed up its resources to combat illegal invasions of native forest coupes amidst the unrelenting financial and emotional impact caused by protesters’ actions.

The Government has added more ‘authorised officers’ and specialised equipment to help them respond to the “illegal disruption of timber harvesting activities”. There are now 22 authorised officers, with 19 based in the regions.

A spokeswoman for Agriculture and Regional Development Minister, Mary-Anne Thomas said the specialised equipment included thermal imaging equipment, a dedicated support trailer for use in support of Victoria Police search and rescue operations, and access to drone technology.

According to the Government, there are current maximum fines (adjusted annually for inflation) under the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004.

These are 20 penalty units ($3317.60) for refusing or failing to leave a native forest coupe when directed by an Authorised Officer; 20 penalty units ($3317.60) for failing to stop or move a vehicle in a coupe; and 60

www.timberbiz.com.au

Key Points fines under • Mtheaximum Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004

hese are 20 penalty • Tunits ($3317.60) for

refusing or failing to leave a native forest coupe when directed by an Authorised Officer.

0 penalty units • 2($3317.60) for failing to stop or move a vehicle in a coupe.

0 penalty units • 6($9952.80) for breaking down, damaging or destroying a fence erected in a coupe.

penalty units ($9952.80) for breaking down, damaging or destroying a fence erected in a coupe.

The spokeswoman said since January 1 last year, most protests had been resolved on the day they began, except for protests requiring specialist rescue teams. Since the same date, authorised officers had issued 100 penalty infringement notices to forest protesters, including 31 penalty infringement notices issued since 1 January this year This year, seven protestors had been charged with an offence to hinder, obstruct or interfere with timber harvesting operations and

• Protestors at a logging site at Bendoc in East Gippsland earlier this year. were due to appear in court, she said.

The Opposition Minister for Forestry, Gary Blackwood, said these measures were the very least that hardworking forest workers deserved from the Andrews Government. Mr Blackwood, the Member for Narracan, said the native forest industry was promised access to coupes at the same level of harvesting until 2024-25, with a gradual reduction in access to production forest through to 2030.

“This has been completely disrupted by feral green activists taking over coupes and endangering the lives of forest workers and themselves,” he said.

One contractor, who declined to be identified for fear protesters would target him, said coupe invasions created enormous emotional turmoil for contractors and their workers.

For example, one worker felled a tree that contained a sleeping bag that he had not seen. “For an instant, he

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

thought he had killed someone. A felled tree could fall on a hidden protester. You have to second-guess yourself when on a coupe. Am I going to work and kill someone today? Who can put up with that?” he said.

Steel spikes were recently found driven into a road in the East Gippsland forest that is used by forest workers and the public, an act described as “eco-terrorContinued on page 6

5

Forest Protests

RAW taking mental health to forest floor and into the mills R

ural Alive and Well Inc. (RAW) Tasmania is assisting Tasmanians in the timber sector to better understand the importance of looking after our mental health and wellbeing, this year launching its ‘Cutting Through’ program to complement its comprehensive toolbox of initiatives.

Officially registered in 2009, RAW was established following the assembly of a committee in 2007 that consisted of community representatives who came together to explore issues around suicide and to look at ways to educate the broader community on suicide prevention, with the aim to help farmers and rural community members impacted by drought.

“The impact mental health challenges have on a business can change the trajectory towards either success or failure,” RAW CEO, Barb Walters said.

“It can greatly affect the workplace but also spread to the home and into the community as well, which is why RAW aims to help workplac-

Cutting Through • coordinator, Dave Milne

es become a community of resilient, supportive and prepared people.”

Ms Walters said she’s particularly proud of RAW’s industry programs, which are tailored with specialised support and activities, as well as people who really understand the nuances of the sector.

“Our new Cutting Through program is designed to provide support for employers and employees in the timber industry by offering real conversations aimed at reducing the barriers to help and breaking down stigma around mental health and wellbeing, providing referral pathways, one-on-one support, employer support and accreditation programs,” Ms Walters said.

Cutting Through coordinator, Dave Milne—who himself boasts 30 years’ experience working in the industry—said mental health

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believes mental health and wellbeing is one of the greatest challenges faced by the timber industry.

and wellbeing is one of the greatest challenges faced by the industry.

“This issue really does affect workers in the Tassie timber industry, and their families. It also has a major impact on workplace success and safety,” he said.

Mr Milne has built a career in the timber industry as a saw doctor over three decades and believes his

experience navigating and working through major industry downturns has provided him real and tangible insight into what people in the sector must deal with.

“I have always had a passion for the timber industry and supporting my peers, because I understand firsthand how critical managing mental health and wellbeing is,” he said.

Hailing from northeast Tasmania, Dave Milne, who was taught that mateship and community is the greatest resource we have for building mental health and resilience, discovered a passion for the industry while working at French’s Sawmill at Scottsdale after leaving school. He now owns and operates his own business, Cutting & Wear Solutions.

Government beefs up fight against forest protests Continued from page 5

ism” by the State Opposition.

VicForests chief executive, Monique Dawson, told a recent Senate hearing that VicForests lost coupes almost on a weekly basis through protest action.

These coupes were eventually harvested.

“But we have to stand down crews who are not able to operate because of the kinds of conduct of protesters,” she said.

This included ‘black wallaby’, where protesters hid in undergrowth and leapt out. Ms Dawson said this happened at a coupe near Bendoc in April.

“Protesters in that coupe hid in undergrowth and leapt out in front of an active timber harvester and attached themselves to the head of the harvester,” she said.

“Not only is that incredibly

frightening for our harvesters, but those protesters who attached themselves to the head of a hydraulic machine was cooling, and when hydraulics are cooling, they actually operate by themselves.

“One of the protesters put himself under the harvester head. We were telling them they were at risk of being crushed …. And their position was to laugh it off and to suggest that we were saying that because we wanted them to unattach. But it was a very dangerous situation, compounded by there being a child of about two years old who was taken along to the couple by her parents.”

Queried by Labor Senator Raff Ciccone, Ms Dawson said a child was wandering around without supervision near the incident, near where people were attached to the harvester.

“It was, frankly, a terrifying situation,” she said.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

Mr Blackwood said the protesters’ action had forced VicForests to move to other harvest areas, which had caused lost time for contractors and their employees.

“On top of this, greens’ court action has removed around 60 per cent of coupes on the Timber Release Plan. We now have a situation where sawmills are running out of supply and may well have to stand down their employees for some months until deliveries can resume,” he said.

“The Andrews Government must honour the promises they made in their Forestry Plan and if this means locking up feral activists and shutting down third party litigation, it has to be a priority. The lives and livelihood of legitimate forest workers should never be compromised, they must be protected by the Andrews Government.” www.timberbiz.com.au

Forest Protests

Calculating the costs no easy task at Grafton F

chronicled the day, date and details – including photographs – of the protestors.

The company has hardwood harvest contracts for northern NSW with Forest Corp, around six hardwood logging crews, about 43 trucks, softwood harvesting crews, some private property harvesting crews and in all about 90 people work for the company.

“As for the cost to the industry it is a modest assessment that an average crew costs around $5000 a day to run,’ she said.

“When production is stopped the costs are still at that amount as we al-

or Grafton-based logging company Greensill Bros the financial cost of months and months of illegal protest action is easy to calculate.

“But the mental stress is something that we cannot quantify,” Greensill’s office manager Cherie Brown said.

Staff mental well-being has always been important to the company.

“We’re not trained to take on these situations,” Ms Brown said. “We have a really good working relationship with WorkSafe and we report all of this to them.’’

Ms Brown has a “protests” folder. In it she has

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ways pay the crew an al- of wood coming into the lowance to cover their loss mills.”

There is the costs of havof production (being piece workers they are payed on ing search and rescue emergency services travel a production award.)

“In addition to the daily four hours each way to recosts incurred there is also move a person from a mathe cost of loss of work for chine or tree who could trucks (which have over- have removed themselves.

Greensill Bros has also heads such as loan repayments and wages), loss had to put on security

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guards to protect machinery at night, a cost which was met by the NSW Forestry Corporation.

Ms Brown said that local police were still around two hours each way from the harvest sites so it was also their time and resources taken away from people who may need them.

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Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

2/03/2021 1:46:44 PM

7

Round table

Q&A Panel

Forest invasions by protesters are costly, in more ways than one. There’s the financial and the emotional. And then there the policing, or lack of it. In this Round Table we sought the views of industry representatives in three States for their take on the situation.

Q

tainty of income is, a big factor, not just on on the person in the bush, but on the spouse or the kids. And then there is the thought of the areas being locked up or the industry being shut down. Well, there’s a massive stress on people who work in the bush and their families and the towns. Nobody wants to feel guilty for trying to supply natural wood products. And that’s what’s happening; they might feel guilty for providing a service to society.

Donna Layton Financially,

it’s

been

I s enough being done by authorities to control forest protests?

Justin Law The authorities themselves are doing what they can within the laws. But, the regulators, such as WorkSafe, are not.

The police have been very good at getting to coupes and making arrests. However, when you look at issues such as workplace safety, 8

Donna Layton is General Manager at J Notaras & Sons Coffs Harbour and a Timber NSW board member

hat are the financial and emotional costs W associated with forest invasions?

Justin Law For contractors It can cost hundreds if not 1000s of dollars a day. We don’t have exact figures on what each protest would cost. Obviously, there’s a lot of variables involved. But a truck driver sitting in a queue of trucks because all a blockade is losing $600 to $700 each day.

Then the contractors have to stop work often for days, if not weeks, waiting for authorities to come in and do something. And then there’s the emotional toll.

Foresters don’t want to talk about their emotions too much. But the uncer-

Q

Justin Law is Managing director, Forest & Wood Communities Australia

it’s incumbent on every contractor in the bush to make their workplace safe. And then when you get protesters attaching themselves to equipment and bringing kids into the coupe, then they have no chance of doing that.

This is a WorkSafe issue and the penalties on the

Nick Steel is chief executive of Tasmanian Forest Products Association

ferent attitude. Everyone was, was here, everyone was working, but it just changed. And all of a sudden, I had a few jokes hard. Last year, we worked again, and people were a four days per week for the little bit light hearted. So whole year, with a mixture there’s obviously it was reof fires and COVID. And ally getting them down and then when we got back the they were concerned finanlogging, we had all the pro- cially tests happening. So financially, it was pretty devas- Nick Steele There has been some estating for us. Emotionally, it’s been really tough as of timate numbers. In the 12 our fellows. We’re strug- months, from March 2020 gling to get keep our logs to March 21, there was going even this year, be- some 22 illegal workplace invasion on forest sites in cause of the protest.

I could just tell the dif- Tasmania alone. So that ference last year when we was that was predominatewere working four days, ly by the Bob Brown Founand then after Christmas dation. And that resulted in Krishna, going onto five at least 47 arrests of those days, there was just a dif- activists across those 22

workplace invasions. The figures that came up was in excess of a $250,000. So when you look at blocking coupes, that’s around $10,000 a day lost. There were certainly two private businesses targeted, and those alone they lost in $50,000 to $60,000.

It just adds up so quickly.

In terms of mental stress, that’s the unknown.

That’s the big unknown.

And that’s something that the protesters don’t even think about. It’s the stress of those workers potentially coming to work, and not knowing if there’s going to be a protest there. And it unknown if potentially, by turning on machine, something awful could actually happen.

attention, and when the media stops, they move.

In the meantime, the fellows in the crew and in the bush haven’t been working.

Nobody’s been getting logs.

So the harvesting just stops.

So, not enough is being done. There’s no policing Donna Layton No. From what I can gath- and they get away with it. er, the protesters turn up, everyone has to stop work, Nick Steel That’s a tough one. Obviand then they might even move areas just so to get ously, there’s trespass and away. You know, nothing work health and safety laws. gets done. They just seem So continually they get broto walk away. The protesters ken. And that’s what I supgo in, they get their media pose the business of the

Bob Brown Foundation is.

They’ve got a pattern of law breaking, including trespassing and obstruction.

And also in terms of workplace safety, they don’t take any regard for that at all. So the Tasmanian government tried to put up a Bill earlier this year, in terms of protection of lawful business activities. And unfortunately that didn’t get up in the Upper House. But following the State election, the state government has said it will be looking to put that Bill up again.

worksite are enormous.

However, WorkSafe in Tasmania, when we try to draw these barriers to their attention, we get excuses like your email was lost in the mail.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

Round table Eco terrorism continues in East Gippsland with road spiked

Q

Philip Hopkins

o you think should first D workers be given some authority or power to remove protesters?

Justin Law I don’t believe so. It’s not their job to deal situations which are often quite volatile. They have their own strategies for managing such situations which is to record everything. And we encourage anybody who works in the bush, if they’re not already doing so, to record every single thing that that they see on their phones. Because that is what the authorities need.

It’s the job of the authorities to remove people from the bush. And I think it would create the potential for litigation and would just be too onerous.

S

and children. You can imagine if they grabbed the woman or something, well, then that would be sexual harassment and all the other things that go with it. So I think that would be very dangerous.

Nick Steel That’s a tough one, because obviously, the activities are happening on public and private land. So on private land that’s going to be very hard to monitor and actually police. So, I wouldn’t have thought you’d want that power to put on an employer or on their staff. If

Last year, we worked four days per week for the whole year, with a mixture of fires and COVID. And then when we got back the logging, we had all the protests happening. So financially, it was pretty devastating for us.

Donna Layton I don’t think it’s up to individual people. You would get something go wrong. I think it needs to be people with authority to remove people. I think that would be very dangerous for the actual workers.

I think things could backfire. And the forestry workers could then be held responsible, personally, which I think is too tough on them anyway. They don’t want the responsibility of trying to handle people. A lot of times they’re women www.timberbiz.com.au

something gets out of control, they could be liable.

On public land it’s going to be hard again. There has to be further legislation in terms of trying to protect coupes or those areas that have public forests to minimize the protest activity. But, I don’t think you want to expland the powers too far in terms of policing powers.

And that’s why we’ve got a police force. Because if something goes wrong, first person is going to be blamed is the employer.

teel spikes have been found driven into a road in the East Gippsland forest that is used by forest workers and the public, an act described as “eco-terrorism” by the State Opposition.

In March, VicForests was notified about two steel spikes that had been driven into Playgrounds Road in the Bonang State Forest, creating an extremely dangerous hazard on the road, which is used by the forest industry and the public.

The site was made as safe as possible, including painting the spikes yellow and blocking access to where the spikes were until they were removed.

The incident was reported to Victoria Police.

A VicForests spokesperson said the government agency was extremely disappointed and concerned that someone could have been injured or worse because they were unaware that dangerous spikes had been driven into the road.

“We take people’s safety very seriously and these potentially life-threatening activities are always reported to Victoria Police,” the spokesperson said.

The Opposition spokesman on forestry, Gary Blackwood, said this action by a small number of radical greens amounted to eco-terrorism. “It endangers the lives of so many local residents, timber workers and VicForests employees,” he said.

The radicals had no respect for the rule of law.

“They are targeting the timber industry despite numerous court decisions ruling timber harvesting is being conducted legally and in accord with RFAs and harvesting codes and prescriptions,” he said. “It is a sad day when forest protestors stoop to this level, targeting honest, hardworking forest workers.”

Mr Blackwood, who is the member for Narracan in Gippsland, said the radicals should stop these “gutless acts of eco terrorism” and instead engage the Government in a constructive policy discussion.

The Member for East Gippsland, Tim Bull, said those responsible for putting spikes in the ground could be described

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

• Steel spikes on a road in East Gippsland. as “the lowest of the low”.

“They live behind this fantasy that they can justify it, when in fact all they are doing is putting people at risk,” he said.

“They really are ‘lowlifes’ with no morals whatsoever who need to think of the potential repercussions on fellow humans.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said the Government respected the right to protect but would not tolerate illegal or dangerous behaviour. “The Government has dedicated additional resources to minimise disruption to the forestry industry in response to illegal protest activity,” she said.

Last year in Tasmania, a number of long metal spikes were driven into trees about to be harvested. The concealed spikes were discovered just before the logs went through a sawmill.

The chief executive of the Australian Forest Products Association, Ross Hampton, said had the spikes been run through a saw, spinning at enormous speed, it could have meant death or serious injury for plant operators nearby.

Mr Hampton said for this reason, AFPA had supported reforms to charities regulations that could strip extremist groups of their charitable status if they committed or incited criminal activities.

“Forestry operations are regular targets for these illegal activities, costing the industry millions of dollars a year in disruptions and distress to forestry workers, who are often intimidated, threatened and harassed by protestors,” he said.

The Victorian Government maintains that timber harvest-

ing operations are dangerous and the coupes in which they occur are strictly controlled workplaces. The following rules apply: Timber harvesting safety zones (THSZs) are established for the purpose of maintaining public safety. This includes preventing death or serious injury to workers, authorised persons and the public while timber harvesting operations are active.

Once declared, only authorised persons are allowed to enter THSZs or remain in them, fines can be issued by Authorised Officers or Victoria Police to those illegally entering them.

VicForests reports illegal protests to authorities and attends coupes to facilitate entry and exit by responding officers.

The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions funds and manages the statewide deployment of Authorised Officers. These Authorised Officers are empowered to direct protesters to leave coupes and issue on the spot fines.

Victoria Police attends illegal protests where more serious offences are suspected and/or protesters have locked on to equipment and/ or erected tree sits. Victoria Police officers can arrest and charge protesters.

Under the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 (Vic) maximum fines include: 20 penalty units for refusing or failing to leave a THSZ when directed by an Authorised Officer; 20 penalty units for failing to stop or move a vehicle in a THSZ as directed by an Authorised Officer; and 60 penalty units for breaking down, damaging or destroying a fence erected in a THSZ. 9

Forest Protests Charity laws welcomed by industry

N

ew regulations that will expand the types of offences for which charities could be deregistered have been widely welcomed by the timber industry.

The changes to the regulation will empower the Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission (ACNC) to investigate charities engaging in or promoting serious unlawful acts of trespass, vandalism, theft or assault and threatening behaviour.

Forest & Wood Communities Australia chairman Steve Dobbyns said forest communities were sick and tired of being targeted by corporate activism’s unlawful conduct.

“We hope this announcement will lead to real action,” he said.

“Legitimate forestry operations are routinely subjected to action by activist groups who abuse the right to protest and their charity status for financial and political gain.

“They raise their profiles to attract donations by wilfully and illegally invading workplaces, abusing forest workers, and making false claims about the impacts of forestry in Australia.

“We just hope there is more to this announcement than Government posturing, as there are existing regulations governing charities which, from what we have seen, are not being enforced.”

Mr Dobbyns said FWCA fully supports the right to protest and encourages freedom of speech, but was concerned that current intimidation of forestry workers by militant protesters had gone way beyond environmental concern.

“The men and women who work in forestry operations are constantly dismayed by the level of irrational vitriol they are subjected to on an almost a daily basis,” he said.

“It is the result of corporate activist organisations using the 10s of millions of dollars it attracts from deceiving the public into donating money and the concessions they receive under the Charities Act to fund professional marketing spin.

“Make no mistake that corporate activism is big business in Australia and the Charities Act is being exploited.”

10

Governments must protect timber workers or pay compensation Michael O’Connor. National Secretary of the CFMEU Manufacturing Division.

T

he targeting of forestry contractors and crews in their workplaces in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania recently has highlighted how the tactics of these “protestors” are akin to tactics of big business, which targets and dehumanises vulnerable workers.

The right to protest is fundamental in a democratic society and must be protected.

But when protesters fail to achieve their objectives and resort to vilifying workers and putting their physical safety and mental wellbeing at risk, then governments must step in to protect the most vulnerable.

As a union official of many decades, I have organised and joined many protests myself. I know too well that the goal of protest and resistance is to hold powerful institutions to account and to seek justice for the

most vulnerable. When forest activists target the most economically vulnerable people in the industry – the workers - they are no longer merely protestors. They are inflicting harm to the least powerful, and they must be stopped.

These workplace invaders have prevented contractors and crews from working in a forest that has been allocated for timber production by government, through blockades and “locking on” to their machinery. Ultimately, the sinister intent of blockades and “locking on” is to undermine the already strained economic security of contractors, their crews, their families, and their communities and cripple wood supply relied on by working people in mills.

When workplace invaders stand beside contractors and their crews with signs saying: “logging is criminal” and share these photos on social media, they are doing more than trying to disrupt harvesting or make a point.

They are deliberately and callously dehumanising these workers, a tactic stolen directly from the playbook of big capital in their struggle against workers’ rights for hundreds of years.

The intent is clear, to vilify working people, demonise them and dehumanise them so the public do not care about them and therefore it does not matter if they are hindered, attacked, abused, their jobs and livelihoods destroyed, and are left on the scrap heap.

This dehumanisation tactic not only destroys the possibility of constructive dialogue between parties but assists workplace invaders to justify to themselves and their audience the escalation of their harassment of working people. And if the escalation provokes a response, all the better as far as they are concerned, because it reinforces “a good versus evil” narrative central to the dehumanisation campaign.

Verbal abuse is often di-

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

rected at small crews of two or three workers by scores of workplace invaders. Individuals involved in the timber industry are shadowed in their community. These tactics of intimidation and provocation are becoming more widespread. We have seen this verbal abuse descend into emotional abuse, with workplace invaders threatening violence and self-harm.

We have seen shocking tactics where workplace invaders hide in undergrowth and leap out in front of operating machinery, endangering not just themselves but the machine operator.

This is a tactic which aims to inflict psychological damage on working people.

Disturbingly, workplace invaders have also brought children into coupes – which are dangerous places for trained contractors, let alone innocent children.

There have been examples of steel spikes recklessly erected on forestry roads which has brought back horrible recollections of the willingness for antitimber groups to engage in “tree spiking”, which threatens the lives of fallers using chainsaws.

Workplace invaders are not targeting those in power, where decision making and responsibility lies, but those least equipped to handle their abuse and harassment, and the most harmed by the economic impact of their activities.

To level the playing field and protect working people our union wants to see governments act to empower and protect them.

We are asking state governments to vest powers of authorised officers in elected and accredited Workplace Health and Safety Representatives from harvesting crews. These powers should include the authority to direct a trespasser to leave a coupe, ask a person suspected of breaking the law to state their name and direct a person responsible for an obstruction to remove it. www.timberbiz.com.au

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Milestones

One man, 100 million seedlings

W

ith Forestry Corporation gearing up to replant nearly 3000 hectares of Bathurst State forests this year, Silviculture Supervisor Bill Klower is looking forward to seeing the start of another forestry cycle.

Bill started work in the forestry industry in 1963 in Oberon; a decision that led to him to enjoy nearly six decades working in the forestry industry and overseeing around 100 million seedlings planted in the Bathurst region in the past 30 years.

Over this time he has seen three seedling-to-sawlog rotations, delivering timber essential to building Australia’s homes and houses.

He started as a chainman working for a surveyor on 18 February 1963,

nently, but most of us would head home again for the weekend.

“At the start of the workday, we’d be bundled into the back of a truck and driven to the worksite. There weren’t many vehicles around at the time, so the truck would leave and come back at the end of the day to pick us up.”

Over nearly six decades, Bill has seen great change in the industry.

“The biggest change is safety; there was virtually no attention to safety when I started, and now it is the key principle of what we do.

“There is also a bit more paperwork,” Bill jokes.

“There was only one form when I started - the sick form.”

Some things don’t change though,

Those trees planted under Bill’s watch 33 years ago are reaching maturity now and being harvested for structural timber to build homes. at a time when a lot of work was needed to locate forest boundaries.

“The State forests had no boundary fences back in the day, so there was a lot work to be done to establish where forests actually started and finished,” Mr Klower said.

“I was 16 years old at the time and had just left school, so the surveying work was a good opportunity.

“We’d leave home on Monday mornings and stay at one of the forest camps for the week. Some of the single workers lived there perma12

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

with seedlings still hand planted to ensure they are given the best chance to survive. Since 1988 Bill has worked as a planting supervisor, overseeing around 3 million seedlings hand-planted each year since in the Oberon and Bathurst areas.

Those trees planted under Bill’s watch 33 years ago are reaching maturity now and being harvested for structural timber to build homes.

“Of course these plantations will be planted with seedlings again to grow timber for the future,” said Bill. www.timberbiz.com.au

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In the news

AUSTimber a chance for industry to get back together A

USTimber 2020/21 will be an opportunity for the industry to once again come together.

“People are excited people and want a reason to come together and to feel good about the industry and to see what’s happening because of course, its still moving on.,” AUSTimber coordinator, Dionne Olsen said.

What was envisaged for early last year – and again late last year - will go ahead as planned in November.

AUSTimber will run from November 10 to 13 with the welcome dinner - with special guest speaker Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - scheduled for November 11.

“I think most people are at the point, and even from exhibitors, want something to look forward to,” Ms Olsen said.

“They want that opportunity to come together.”

Everybody loves to come and see the big machines, and see them operating.

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“They just want to feel some positivity around the forest industry again. This is about bringing the industry together.

“Everybody loves to come and see the big machines, and see them operating,” she said.

“But Austimber also represents an excellent opportunity for those small and medium sized businesses to have Australia come to them.

“They don’t have the marketing teams to be getting out now so AUSTimber their chance to make connections with other businesses and other opportunities that they would not normally have the opportunity to do.”

Even the bigger companies, with the lockdowns and restrictions, haven’t had the opportunity to get around the country and do the selling that they would normally do.

“Everybody loves to get together. It gets you excited, about what can be done,” Ms Olsen said “It’s everybody’s chance to check in and find out a lot of things, maybe they just weren’t aware of, or didn’t have an opportunity to follow up on.

“It’s, it’s also our chance to take a step back and reflect on everything and look at what’s coming in the future and look at what’s happened.”

Missing this year will be the conference and there will be no need for extra exhibitor space off-site as there was in 2016.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

However the popular field trips will still be on.

The first day of tours – November 10 - will include trips to the AKD Softwoods mill at Yarram which produces outdoor garden products, Alberton Timber and Treatment Plant which provide treated and structural timbers, and a visit to the Gelliondale Nursery (HVP Plantations).

A mill, fabricating and In-forest tour will start with the Heyfield timber mill supplying Australian sustainable hardwoods, Kennedy Trailers to see some of their custom trailer solutions, and finish at flat pine and bluegum coupes.

Other tours will include examining the practicality of creating a farmergrown hardwood saw log resource in the Strzelecki Ranges as well as visiting the Radial Timber sawmill in Yarram, and various demonstrations of small-scale harvesting operations including a visit to a Heartwood Plantations site.

The second day of tours will include a visit DJM Fabrications’ modern workshop with state of the art equipment, regenerated ash and mixed species harvesting coupes, steep country harvesting from thinnings, to clearfall to an ash plantation.

Tickets are available online at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ austimber202021-the-largesttimber-show-in-australasia-tickets-79476451205 www.timberbiz.com.au

In the news

Timber Towns seeking clarity on code of practice T

imber Towns Victoria wants the Victorian Government to provide clarity and certainty for the timber industry, workers and communities following a recently announced Government review of the Timber Code of Practice.

“We have known for a long time that the Timber Code of Practice was problematic,” Timber Towns President and Deputy Mayor of Glenelg Shire, Cr Karen Stephens said.

“We trust this review will close existing loopholes and give thousands of workers the certainty they need for their jobs, families and communities.”

Timber Towns Victoria has previously called on the State Government to recon-

sider its plan to shut down the State’s native timber industry by 2030.

“It is not clear why the Government is phasing out the native timber industry. We have not seen any economic or environmental data to support this,” Cr Stephens said.

“Most people are unaware that 94 per cent of native forests in Victoria are unavailable or unsuitable for harvesting. This means the native timber industry can

only harvest four out of every 10,000 native trees.

“By law every tree harvested must be replanted, and Old Growth Forests cannot be touched.”

Cr Stephens said the native timber industry was regulated, and is sustainable.

“We cannot say the same of overseas timber markets.

It’s worth considering where timber will be sourced to feed our ever-hungry construction and furniture manufacturing industries if the native industry shuts down,” she said.

“We need a genuine plan to guarantee adequate timber supply, protect regional economies and jobs, and provide certainty for native timber communities across Victoria.”

• Timber Towns President Cr Karen Stephens.

It is not clear why the Government is phasing out the native timber industry. We have not seen any economic or environmental data to support this.

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Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

15

Haulage

It all started with LOGGING IS IN OUR DNA the ‘Grey Ghost’ Reliable, durable and purpose-built, the Kenworth name has been synonymous with the logging industry for decades. Our extensive model range and choice of options gives you the flexibility to specify the truck to suit your requirements, whatever they may be.

Kenworth celebrates 50 years of manufacturing trucks in Australia

Wherever the road leads, whatever the load, Kenworth has the power to deliver.

����� �� ���� �ocal Kenworth ������ �� ����� KENWORTH.COM.AU Images for illustrative purposes only.

of George Blomfield and Ed Cameron) hit our shores in the early 1960s. Post Second World War had been an important time for the development of long-haul trucking in Australia.

Rail was proving inefficient, made worse by significant rail strikes in the mid-1940s, but Australia faced a shortage of suitable trucks to fill the gap.

Lightweight prime movers and rigids couldn’t handle the rigours of the pot-holed Hume Highway, and European trucks couldn’t take the extreme temperatures.

T

hey called it the “Grey Ghost.” The year was 1971 and the first all Australian made Kenworth rolled off the production line in the quiet, outereastern Melbourne suburb of Bayswater.

The search ends and the story begins It was the cab-over K125CR and its launch was the first step in what was to become a famous Australian manufacturing success story.

The name Kenworth has been synonymous with quality in trucking since

1923, when two major shareholders, H.W. Kent and E.K. Worthington, combined their names to create the badge we know today.

The first trucks to be imported into Australia from the United States (courtesy

Seven years later the first Kenworth arrived on our shores, the beginning of the Kenworth story in Australia.

In 1970 Kenworth’s Australian manufacturing base was built at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges in Bayswater. Growing sales of imported trucks encouraged investment in the $1 million, 50,000 square feet plant. After only two years the Bayswater plant was exporting fully built trucks overseas to right-hand drive countries such as New Zealand and Zambia.

A major milestone was reached in 1975 with the launch of the W900SAR, the first Kenworth conceptualised in Australia, specifically for Australian conditions.

The truck was an immediate hit. The angled bonnet was a head-turner, but it was the technical capabilities that really sold it. It could take a high horsepower engine while still getting maximum payload within existing length limits. There was still much fondness for the previous model, the W900AR, nicknamed the “long nose” and after several customer enquiries and a relaxation of length limits, the truck was reintroduced in 1977.

In 1955 Blomfield and Cameron made a trip to America to seek out trucks that would stand up to the tough, Australian condiThings get serious tions, and found exactly In 1978 the plant was exwhat they needed at the Kenworth plant in Seattle. panded to double its origi-

How Kenworth evolved, model by model

K100CR Introduced in 1971 The K100CR was the first Kenworth model produced in Australia. The K125CR was part of the K100CR range and was fully assembled at Bayswater from component parts. The first K125CR came off the assembly line on 2 March 1971. It was powered by a Detroit 8V7IN engine with a Fuller transmission and Rockwell front and rear axles.

16

W900SAR – Introduced in 1975 An iconic truck and arguably the most famous model built by Kenworth in Australia, the SAR was the first truck conceptualised in Australia to offer the best attributes of cab-overs and conventionals. Its BBC and sloping bonnet allowed the use of more powerful engines and longer trailers becoming increasingly favoured

by Australian operators of the time. The release of the SAR marked the first steps towards independence in design from the US, establishing Kenworth Australia’s blueprint in offering uncompromised Australian design dedicated to the local market.

T600 – Introduced in 1987 Kenworth’s T600 was the world’s first aerodynamic truck. Its radical design challenged the purists but took aerodynamic efficiency to a totally new level.

Designed in response to rocketing oil prices, the T600 delivered outstanding fuel savings, delivering up to ten per cent reduction in fuel consumption. The Australian designed and built version of the T600 had a wind cheating aerodynamic hood, guards, side skirts and airdam bumper. Due to its distinctive sloping bonnet, Its appearance saw it famously dubbed the ‘Anteater’ on the highways around Australia.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

Haulage nal size, creating an additional 300 positions. More and more skilled engineering graduates were coming to work for Kenworth, which was just as well, because a significant order was just around the corner.

While big fleet orders weren’t unusual, the order for 13 new Kenworth cab-overs placed by Ansett Freight Express (AFE) took the tally of trucks built in Australia by Kenworth to 3000. But it was a $3 million order for 31 prime movers placed by Finemores Transport Pty Ltd that really set tongues wagging.

Finemores had specific requirements in terms of standardisation of components across its diverse fleet, and Kenworth was well-known for its versatility in tailoring trucks to customers’ individual specs.

Finemores’ mass order was one of the biggest ever placed by a private company in Australia at that time.

1980 saw the first Australian managing director take the reins, with the appointment of Andrew Wright.

Kenworth was now structurally a division of PACCAR Australia Ltd, and $35 million worth of investment in Australia saw the development of the Kenworth C500AR. The C500 was a tough, off-highway

If their past is anything to go by, the next chapter of the Kenworth story is sure to be a page-turner. truck, falling somewhere between a heavy dumper and Kenworth’s W-Series. It proved invaluable for Australia’s rugged conditions, particularly for the logging and mining industries. It wasn’t all work and no play, though. One of the proudest moments in Kenworth Australia’s history came in 1983 when a Kenworth prime mover was chosen to carry the winning America’s Cup yacht, Australia II, through the streets of Melbourne in a homecoming parade.

Arrival of the Anteater The biggest new truck launch the company had ever seen came in 1987 when the revolutionary T600 was unveiled. The “Anteater”, so-called because of its sloping nose, was most notable for its extraordinary fuel economy, due in no small part to its

aerodynamically shaped nose. The design was aesthetically polarising, but once the impressive fuel figures came in, demand for the Anteater went through the roof. The same year also saw the introduction of the great all-rounder, the T650, as well as the latest cabover, the K100E. The milestones kept ticking over in 1988 when Kenworth celebrated its 10,000th truck built in Australia (a T600 for Cleveland Freightliners). The C500T was launched the same year, completing an exciting run of new models. New computer technology came to the fore in the late 1980s and early 1990s as CAD drawing replaced traditional drawing boards. Despite the country being in a deep recession, Kenworth rolled out the T900 in 1991 and by the end of the 1990s more than 1140 trucks had come off the assembly line and domestic sales had topped $200 million.

Looking to the future The T604 “Technology Truck” was launched in 2000 and boasted futuristic safety features such as a collision avoidance system, GPS and infrared night imaging sensors. Much of this innovative technology

found its way into Kenworth production trucks over the next few years as it was refined and proven in Australian conditions and applications. Four years later the T404SAR would go on to become one of Kenworth’s most iconic trucks, combining the manoeuvrability, visibility and minimum overall length you would expect to see in a cab-over, with the traditional hallmarks of a conventional. Flexible engineering meant trucks could always be customised for specific requirements, and design options were almost endless.

In 2011, Kenworth celebrated 40 years of production in Australia. The limited edition Legend 950 was released in 2015, with original iconic stylings and a Cummins ISXe5 engine.

The 75 trucks sold out within 48 hours, underpinning the loyalty, prestige and enthusiasm that the Kenworth name inspires. With the trucks still proudly manufactured in Melbourne, the future is bright for Kenworth’s Australian customers. If their past is anything to go by, the next chapter of the Kenworth story is sure to be a page-turner.

T900 – Introduced in 1991 With the T600’s aerodynamics having a strong influence on truck design from the late 80s, fans of the legendary W model were not disappointed when Bayswater introduced the T900 a few years later to provide an all Australian, long-bonneted, classically-styled Kenworth. Designed and engineered in Australia, the T900 blended the famous flat bonnet and set forward axle design of the W900 with the latest generation cab of the T600.

K104 – Introduced in 1999 / K104B – Introduced in 2006 The K104 was Australia’s first cab-over with 600 horsepower capability. The main visual difference between the K104 and its predecessor, the K100G, was a curved windscreen.

This gave the truck a cleaner, more modern appearance, while also improving visibility. The unparalleled performance upgrades incorporated in the K104, combined with the advantages of the set forward steer axle and the proven durability of the K100 over almost three decades of production, further strengthened the cab-over’s status as the “Truck of Choice” for the expanding network of high productivity applications in both Australia and New Zealand.

The K104B represented another step in the development of one of Australia’s best-selling heavy-duty trucks, with new ergonomic features emphasising driver comfort. Improvements to cab access took into account OH&S requirements, such as more evenly spaced steps extending lower to the ground. The driver’s field of vision was also improved, while a new instrument dash clustered warning devices and signals in one area. www.timberbiz.com.au

T610 – Introduced in 2016 Aerodynamic, fuel efficient and with more internal space than ever before, the T610 blends classic and new-generation styling. The 2.1-metre-wide cab is 300mm wider than its predecessor and sets a benchmark for future models.

The wide-opening doors and panoramic windscreen are two of many new features in a cab boasting full-height standing room. Built for Australian conditions, the T610 matches exceptional ergonomics with outstanding hauling power up to maximum payload in 26m B-Double configurations.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

17

Haulage cal government road managers to deliver as many as 1,000 assessments on local government road assets including bridges, roads and culverts, bringing critical attention to local infrastructure, which will in turn provide industry with the confidence it needs to grow and continue to deliver for Australia.

“This funding will support a second phase of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) SLGAAP, with an initial first phase having already supported road managers to make informed assessments of he heavy vehicle vehicles have safe and reli- dustry continues to grow, more than 200 bridge, road industry has wel- able access to high-quality we must make sure that and culvert assets thanks to comed a $12.1 mil- road networks as they travel proper assessment is car- a grant of $8 million from ried out on our roads, par- our Government.” lion Federal Government across the country.

Assistant Minister for funding boost, aimed at de“This program is vital ticularly across rural and Local Government Kevin livering better assessment for helping road managers regional Australia.

“This is not just about ac- Hogan said the additional of road assets across rural better understand their loand regional Australia as cal infrastructure capacity, tivating the transport indus- funding reflects the Australpart of the Strategic Local bringing opportunities for tries that keep our country ian Government’s commitGovernment Asset Assess- new heavy vehicle networks moving, this is about en- ment to the safety of regionment Project (SLGAAP). to move freight efficiently suring that everyone, from al and rural communities Assistant Minister for – which will in turn bring truck drivers to members of and the industries that rely Road Safety and Freight significant boosts for local our regional communities, on them.

“With this additional Transport Scott Buchholz economies,” Assistant Min- will be safe on our roads no funding commitment, we matter where they live. said the funding would sup- ister Buchholz said.

“The funding will allow lo- can provide greater support efforts to ensure heavy “As the heavy vehicle in-

$12.1M funding boost

T

port to local governments and assist them with their infrastructure assessment needs,” Assistant Minister Hogan said.

“The work of local governments is essential for maintaining local road infrastructure, and the Australian Government is committed to our shared goal of creating safer and more efficient road networks for all.”

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto welcomed the additional funding, noting the tangible value already provided by the SLGAAP. “This funding builds on the critical work already rolling out across our regions, supporting industry and making our communities safer,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“It also means that as decisions are made on upgrading or allowing access to increased road assets, drivers will gain expanded access to local communities and townships, providing them more places to rest in comfort and boosting local economies.”

LOGGING IS IN OUR DNA Reliable, durable and purpose-built, the Kenworth name has been synonymous with the logging industry for decades. Our extensive model range and choice of options gives you the flexibility to specify the truck to suit your requirements, whatever they may be.

Wherever the road leads, whatever the load, Kenworth has the power to deliver. ����� �� ���� �ocal Kenworth ������ �� ����� KENWORTH.COM.AU Images for illustrative purposes only.

18

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

Haulage

Good Practice Guide for selecting safetycritical parts A

new ‘Good Practice Guide for Supply of Replacement Parts for use on Heavy Vehicles’ has been issued by the ARTSA-institute which aims to boost safety for heavy vehicle drivers and all road users.

Released at the Brisbane Truck Show, the ARTSA Institute (ARTSA-i) says the Guide aims to raise awareness of suppliers, purchasers and installers of safetycritical replacement parts about supply practices.

The Guide describes actions that suppliers should take to ensure parts are suitably certified, that records are kept and installation information is provided.

The Guide does not favour

original equipment parts over after-market parts. Nor does it favour bricks and mortar retailers over online suppliers. It provides common-sense actions that all part suppliers should take, but often don’t.

“We aim to reduce the risk of workshops fitting poor quality or inadequately rated safety-critical parts as well as providing an understanding of the different types of replacement parts available in the market,” says Dr Peter Hart, Executive Member at ARSTA-i and a certified vehicle engineer.

“For many types of replacement parts there are no requirements to meet a standard. For safety-critical parts such as braking, steer-

ing and suspension, the supply, selection and fitment of sub-standard replacement parts could compromise the safety of truck drivers and all other road users. A casual glance at the part may not reveal any inherent unsuitability for the intended task, due to inappropriate materials used or short-cuts taken during manufacturing. Just because the part may appear to fit, does not necessarily mean it is suitable or safe. It is the supplier’s responsibility to correctly describe the status of the part to the market.

“ARSTA-i has devised this Guide in association with its members as well as outside experts to offer clarity to everyone in the replace-

Inspecting safety critical • replacement parts prior to fitment. ment parts chain, regarding the suitability and safety of parts with acceptable quality that may be sourced by an operator or workshop,” Dr Hart says.

“Price is an easy to understand variable, but quality and suitability are harder to determine, and in some cases there is no linear relationship between price and quality. It is when things go

wrong that the supplier’s quality controls and record keeping become critical.”

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law those who are involved in heavy vehicle transport have a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities, including to ensure their vehicles comply with vehicle standards and are appropriately maintained.

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Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

19

Silviculture Australian Forestry increasing its impact

N

ewly released analytics show that the impact of Australian Forestry, the journal of The Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA), rose significantly last year, highlighting the journal’s important role in the evidence-based approach to forest management.

The journal’s impact factor increased from 1.370 in 2019 to 1.900 in 2020, while the journal’s ranking also improved, moving from 42/68 (Quartile 3) to 32/67 (Quartile 2) in the global “Forestry” category.

The new data was produced

by Clarivate Analytics, a company that provides widely used analytics on scientific journals worldwide.

Australian Forestry publishes new and significant scientific and technical papers with implications for Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and globally on topics related to forest research, management, policy, products and services.

“Australian Forestry has published peer-reviewed research since 1936, and it has always had a strong commitment to the rational and rigorous examination of all aspects of forests and forest science,” said the journal’s managing editor, Alastair Sarre.

“The latest analytics show that Australian Forestry is having a substantial impact on forest science in Australia and more widely in the region.

Good science and practice is crucial for a sustainable forest sector, which, in turn provides solutions such as protecting the environment, maintaining biodiversity, producing “green” products and generating good-quality jobs.

IFA/AFG President Bob Gordon welcomed the findings, paying tribute to all involved in the journal’s improvement over the past years.

“This is an excellent result, and testament to the hard work of authors, editor, the journal’s editorial board and associate editors, as well as the IFA/AFG membership more broadly,” Mr Gordon said.

“Ultimately, it shows that the journal is publishing highquality science, at a time when it is needed more than ever.”

Australian Forestry is owned and produced by the IFA/AFG.

20

Sustaining forest productivity: A 30-year study A 30-year experimental monitoring of forest ecosystem nutrient levels and forest productivity over a complete rotation has been completed by Scion researchers.

The results show that soil nutrient levels and forest productivity can be maintained with site-specific management – specifically through the retention of forest harvest residues and the forest floor at low-fertility sites.

Around 15 percent of New Zealand’s planted radiata pine forests are now in their third or fourth rotation. A consistent supply of nutrients is essential to ensure the long-term productivity, health and sustainability of these forests. This is not a new issue, with concern being raised more than 40 years ago.

Effects of removing harvesting residues Harvesting a forest includes removing the main stem but can also include removal of harvest residues (slash) and even the forest floor, a scenario which is becoming increasingly more plausible as biomass for bioenergy and biofuels are emerging as ways to diminish our reliance on fossil fuels. Understanding the consequences of these practices from one rotation to the next is necessary to ensure our forests stay productive into the future.

New Zealand is part of a global network of “Long Term Site Productivity” trials investigating the sustainability of intensive forest management harvesting practices and the pressures placed on soil resources.

The first whole-of-rotation results have now been reported for forests around New Zealand.

Six experiments were planted between 1986 and 1994 throughout New Zealand. Harvesting treatments included removing the stem only, removing all forest

Key Points ix experiments were • Splanted between 1986 and 1994 throughout New Zealand.

arvesting treatments • Hincluded removing the stem only, removing all forest residues (or the whole tree) and removing the whole tree and the forest floor.

work supports • Tthehepathway to a more

sustainable forest industry as the global demand for wood and fibre places greater pressure on forest soils.

residues (or the whole tree) and removing the whole tree and the forest floor.

Soil samples were taken at all the sites before harvest and mid rotation. However, forests at Burnham and Kinleith were cleared at mid rotation for dairy conversion and the Golden Downs site was abandoned due to severe wind damage. Forests at Woodhill, Tarawera and Berwick all reached harvest age and soil samples were taken once again.

Most of the nutrients at the sites were held in the soil, but the amount varied considerably from site to site. For example, the sandy soil at Woodhill contained 1,000 N kg/ha while the fertile soils at Berwick contained 12,000 N kg/ha down to 1 m soil depth. At sites like Woodhill, low soil nitrogen levels meant a much greater percentage of the total nitrogen was present in the forest floor litter and therefore the effect of disrupting forest floor was likely to be greater.

As expected, more carbon and nutrients were removed when the forest floor was

disturbed, which can happen during harvesting and preparation for planting.

However, by the end of the rotation, the forest floor had recovered. The one exception was forest floor removal at the Woodhill site where the soil is sandy and low in nutrients. There, removing the forest floor had a longterm impact on soil carbon and nitrogen. However, the removal of large amounts of nutrients in harvest residues and forest floor had no effect on wood quality.

These results suggest the soils and forest floor were generally able to supply adequate amounts of nutrients and, with time, the nutrient stocks were replenished.

Effect of adding fertiliser Fertiliser application was also part of the trial, with the intention of removing any nutrient limitations caused by the harvesting treatments. Consequently, very large amounts of nitrogen were applied over many years. This contrasts with the typical practice of applying no fertiliser, or up to 200 N kg/ha if trees are considered short on nitrogen.

Adding fertiliser increased early rotation productivity, mitigating the effect of removing the whole tree and whole tree plus forest floor.

Fertiliser was especially effective at sites like Woodhill and Tarawera where carbon and nitrogen stocks were initially low. Although the added nitrogen could be used to counteract the negative effects of forest floor removal, further research is required to ascertain the amount required to offset forest floor removal.

Predicting nutrient levels The nutrient balance model, NuBalM, was developed as a part of this work.

NuBalM can predict nutrient levels over multiple rotations and is being used to support precision nutrient management and improve productivity and underpin sustainable forest manage-

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

ment. The model also has wider application. For example, it can also be used to predict nitrogen that could then be leached under new land use scenarios, and this approach supports a pathway to engage with the OverseerFM land use model (the principle agricultural modelling system).

Forest floor sampling is undertaken to understand nutrient cycling. Alexa Byers is using secateurs to cut around a 0.5 m square. She will lift off the top layer, bag it, oven dry it and measure it as dry matter.

Applying what we have learnt The results from this work are already being used by the forestry industry to develop and implement sitespecific nutrient management plans. Understanding the potential effects of forwww.timberbiz.com.au

Silviculture

estry residue removal on some sensitive sites allows for site specific harvesting (and preparation) plans that ensure residues are retained and evenly spread.

NuBalM is also being used to predict the cumulative effects of repeated harvest removals and to calculate how precision nutrition could be used to maintain or increase productivity. Some companies have also begun soil sampling and installing fertiliser trials.

NuBalM can be used to identify sites with greater fertility and that have the capacity to cope with intense harvest residue removal and sites where harvest residues should be retained.

Knowing where forestry residues are available for use is vital for planning new forests and new processing plants in New Zealand to utilise forestry biomass in www.timberbiz.com.au

Around 15 percent of New Zealand’s planted radiata pine forests are now in their third or fourth rotation.

A consistent supply of nutrients is essential to ensure the longterm productivity, health and sustainability of these forests. the move towards a carbonneutral bioeconomy.

Microbial communities These trials also provided the framework that supported several novel explorations of the soil microbial community present in New Zealand planted forests, and how their activity might influence tree health and productivity. Site treatments of removing the forest floor, and adding fertilisers at

country to complete and report on a full rotation of the Long Term Site Productivity harvest removal experiments, largely due to the rate at which radiata pine grows in this country. The work supports the pathway to a more sustainable forest industry as the global demand for wood and fibre places greater pressure on forest soils.

The ground-breaking sites low in nutrients, were work has added to our unseen to reduce microbe di- derstanding of how forest versity. These findings have ecosystem nutrient pools contributed to expanding change over a rotation and the scope of research ex- over many rotations. The ploring the potential to use forest floor has been conthe microbiome – microbes firmed as an important intimately connected with store and source of nutritrees – to increase the resil- ents, particularly on low nuience of planted forests to trient sites, where retaining disease, drought and other the forest floor is essential to maintain longterm nutristresses. ent supply. The monitoring Sustainable future forests strategies developed and New Zealand is the first deployed (NuBalM) give the

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

industry new capability to predict critical soil fertility thresholds before they are reached and also to develop site specific management practices to preserve soil fertility and maintain forest productivity.

This work also demonstrates the sustainability of planted forestry in New Zealand, which is essential for public acceptance of commercial forestry, and to meet the requirements of external bodies such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

Funders include the Forest Growers Levy Trust, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association with historical input from the New Zealand Forest Service and numerous forest companies at the time of establishing and early management of the experiments.

21

Plantation Management Plantations top carbon storage

A

NEW international study in a global scientific journal has recognised plantation trees as the best source for storing carbon and providing climate change mitigation in comparison to other types of tree plantings.

The peer-reviewed Nature Communications journal has published a study that plantation trees deliver almost three times more carbon abatement over 100 years than environmental plantings, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Ross Hampton said.

“This study confirms that trees planted for harvesting will deliver more benefits for the environment than trees planted for environmental purposes. The climate implications are significant, up to 269% more carbon is captured by plantation trees and 17% more than achieved by leaving a newly planted fast-growing conifer forest unharvested.

“There are programs that provide incentives for farmers to plant biodiversity plantings for carbon purposes but no programs that incentivise farmers to plant plantation trees. This must be rectified, the biggest asset to Australia’s storage of carbon is being left on the sidelines,” he said.

“We already know that when trees are manufactured, they continue to store carbon, now we also know that as plantation trees grow, they store more carbon than any other type of planting. Plantation trees are necessary to fight climate change and move towards net-zero by 2050.

“The finding that plantation trees store more carbon than environment trees is a win for all. Plantation trees can store carbon and when ready they can be harvested, this gives both the environment and the grower an additional incentive over environmental plantings.”

“Australia has never needed to plant more trees than right now; it is experiencing a serious supply constraint for timber framing off the back of the current building boom. We need to be doing all we can to ensure that more plantation trees are planted to allow us to build homes that will house future generations of Australians,” Mr Hampton said.

See the study at https:// www.nature.com/articles/ s41467-021-24084-x

24

Scholarships awarded for IFA/AFG conference

Scholarship recipient • Sam, from RMIT University.

T

wenty-one Future Foresters and forestry professionals have been awarded scholarships to attend the Institute of Foresters of Australia and Australian Forest Growers National Conference in Launceston from 11 - 14 October 2021.

IFA/AFG President Bob Gordon said the scholarship recipients represented a broad cross-section of the sector and pointed to a bright future for forestry in Australia.

“The recipients of the scholarship are all under 35 years old, from right across the nation, and represent a range of organisations including: DELWP, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Sustainable Timber Tasmania and VicForests as well as Midway, HVP Plantations, OneFortyOne Plantations

and Timberlands Pacific,” he said.

“To have such a broad cross section of the sector represented by up-andcoming forest professionals is a great sign for Australia’s forests, which judging by the quality of applications received are in good hands.”

Students from the University of Tasmania, The University of Melbourne, Southern Cross University and Australian National University also received scholarships.

Excitement for the October conference is already building among the scholarship recipients, who said they were looking forward to learning from and shar-

ing knowledge with industry peers.

“I am thrilled to receive this scholarship to attend the IFA/AFG National Conference this year in Tasmania. I am looking forward to engaging with cutting edge science and learning from a diverse group of forest scientists and land management practitioners,” scholarship recipient Sam, from RMIT University, said.

“I’m excited to be part of the IFA/AFG community and to be able to attend the conference. I have benefitted from many educational field trips hosted by the IFA/ AFG when I was a student,” Jia Yi, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, said.

“As an IFA/AFG member with a strategic communications qualification, I am delighted to have received this scholarship to improve my forest industry knowledge and network, and understand the opportunities which exist to share the forestry story and better engage with the media, our audiences and stakeholders,” Jenna, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, said.

“I’m very excited to be attending the conference this year! I am especially looking forward to hearing about recent advances in the sector and gaining insight into how Tasmania’s forest are managed,” said Bella from OneFortyOne. IFA/AFG CEO Jacquie Martin said the theme of this year’s conference, Your Forests, Our Future aimed to foster an understanding that all Australians benefit from the nation’s forests.

“Your Forests, our Future highlights that Australia’s forests are for the benefit of everyone. The conference themes include Forests in the face of change: risks and opportunities; Optimising and balancing multiple forest values and People and forests,” Ms Martin said.

“As part of the call for abstracts process which began in February, the IFA/AFG received over 120 abstracts and expressions of interest from field foresters, researchers, students, farmers, communication and technology experts and we have finalised a list of accepted submissions.

“The Conference Committee is now finalising the conference program, which will be released in the coming weeks.”

Jim Wilson, IFA/AFG Conference Convenor said the conference was shaping up to be one of the best yet.

“The calibre of abstracts received has been exceptional, which will translate into a high quality, exciting and stimulating conference program for a broad range of conference participants, whatever their field of interest” he said.

“Keynote speakers we’re particularly looking forward to hearing from include Dr. Victor Steffensen, co-founder of Firesticks Alliance and the National Indigenous Fire Workshop, and Prof. Annette Cowie, Senior Principal Research Scientist from NSW DPI and Adjunct Professor, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England.”

Stanton award for forestry excellence open

R

Richard • Stanton

esponsible Wood is calling for nominations for this year’s coveted Richard Stanton Memorial Award for Excellence in Forest Management or Chain of Custody.

This is the seventh year of the award which pays tribute to a man who devoted his life to sustainable forest management in Australia and internationally.

Richard Stanton was CEO and national secretary of

Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (now Responsible Wood), and had a number of key roles with the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council, the Australian Paper Industry Council, Plantation Timber Association of Australia, National Association of Forest Industries, and State Forests NSW. Nominations for the award are open to individuals who have contributed

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

significantly to either forest management or chain-ofcustody certification under the Responsible Wood certification program. The award nominees will be those who have contributed to sustainable forest management under AS4708 or chain of custody under AS4707.

The award is open to, but not restricted to, forest owners and managers; chain-ofcustody certificate holders; www.timberbiz.com.au

Plantation Management

New plantations in Victoria attracting investors Philip Hopkins

S

ix potential investors are in the Andrews Government’s $110 million program to invest in new plantations in Victoria, according to senior government executive Nathan Trushell.

Mr Trushell, Executive Director, Forest and Fibre in the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, said the program aimed to leverage private investment so that investors could achieve a typical rate of return. The process would finish by the end of the year, he said.

Mr Trushell, a former chief executive of VicForests, was speaking at a webinar, ‘Victorian Production Forests – a way forward’, organised by the Institute of Foresters/ Australian Forest Growers.

The seminar looked at Victorian forestry’s future, with an emphasis on Gippsland, in the light of the Andrews Government’s decision to close native forestry by 2030.

Mr Trushell said the Government strongly supported Opal Australian Paper in the Latrobe Valley. Its owner, Nippon Paper, had recently bought a packaging

Nathan • Trushell business for $1.7 billion. “I am not speaking on Opal’s behalf,” he said, but Opal had a strong focus on growing its package business.

Globally, white paper was in decline, and had been hit by the Covid virus. In the strategic long-term, Opal would be more focussed on packaging business. “This is partly why we are working through the program to get the right species – it will be pine focussed,” he said.

Mr Trushell said the Government’s long-term forestry plan had committed funding until 2032. Apart from the $110 million, there was a $120 million support package for workers, busi-

staff of certification bodment or Excellence in ies; forest scientists and Forest Management or researchers; and designers Chain of Custody Certifiof products manufactured cation. from sustainable timber.

• A strong commitment to The award also carries a the Responsible Wood $2000 bursary prize.

Certification Scheme and Applicants for the award Sustainable Forest Manwill have demonstrated exagement. cellence in the following • Innovation and Improveareas: ment in the promotion • A significant and valuable and marketing of Recontribution to Sustainsponsible Wood Certified ability.

Products • Innovation, ImproveThe selection of the sucwww.timberbiz.com.au

Mr Trushell said 26 businesses to date had taken up forest business transition vouchers, while seven timber innovation grants had gone to businesses in Gippsland. nesses and local communities.

For business, there were business transition support vouchers, the Victorian Timber Innovation Fund and the Victorian Forest Plan Transition Fund, he said. Worker support included redundancy top-ups, retraining and career transition support, and mental health and wellbeing help.

Support for communities included local development

cessful applicant will be made by the Responsible Wood Marketing Committee and announced at the Annual General Meeting later this year.

Nominations for the award close at Friday 5pm (AEST) October 1 2021.

Nominations can be forwarded to: Responsible Wood, PO Box 786, New Farm, Qld 4005. Email sdor r ies@responsiblewood.org.au

strategies and money from the Victorian Forest Plan Transition Fund.

Mr Trushell said 26 businesses to date had taken up forest business transition vouchers, while seven timber innovation grants had gone to businesses in Gippsland. These were $1.6 million to Australian Sustainable Hardwoods in Heyfield to install a new manufacturing line to produce engineered flooring made

from plantation shining gum and radiata pine plywood; $397,000 for Radial Timber in Yarram to introduce a small log line and experiment with processing plantation timber; $246,000 for Longwarry Sawmill to use recycled and reclaimed timber to make new timber products; and $40,000 for Brunt’s Harvesting in Orbost to do a feasibility study for transition to plantation harvesting.

Previous Stanton Award winners 015: Dr Marie Yee, Senior • 2Conservation Planner, Sustainable Timber Tasmania.

016: Mark Leech, a driving • 2force behind Fine Timber Tasmania.

017: Lou Coutts, External • 2Relations Manager, HVP Plantations, based at Shelley, Victoria.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

018: Liliane Kao, Digital • 2Marketing Specialist, Hyne Timber.

019: Nick Clarke and • 2Thirukumaran Jallendran formerly of the Sydney Metro Northwest project Sustainability Team.

020: Simon Cook, • 2Sustainability Manager for Forico.

25

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Obituary Review into illegal logging

Paul standing in front • of the Rosin RD 980

mounted on a Timbco. It was one of his very early harvesting heads.

T

he Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has begun a review of Australia’s illegal logging laws and is seeking stakeholder input via haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/ illegal-logging-sunsettingreview.

The review will assess if the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 continues to be fit-for-purpose.

This is standard practice for many pieces of Commonwealth legislation of a similar nature.

The review will also consider potential reforms to strengthen Australia’s illegal logging laws more broadly, which may require changes to both the Regulation and the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012.

Australia was among the first countries globally to introduce illegal logging laws. The review is an opportunity to learn from nearly 10 years of experience here and overseas.

The potential reforms aim to ensure that the laws are effective at protecting the Australian market from illegally logged timber, and efficient in minimising burdens on regulated businesses from the law’s operation.

Some of the improvements being considered as part of the review include: • receiving key information before regulated goods arrive at the border • ensuring officials are empowered to deal with compliance risks at the border • reducing the need to repeat due diligence • simplifying requirements for low-risk products.

These potential reforms stem from recommendations made by the 2018 Statutory Review.

Anyone with an interest in our illegal logging laws is encouraged to provide their feedback on the review.

Consultation is open until 31 August 2021.

Please visit haveyoursay. awe.gov.au/illegal-loggingsunsetting-review to find out more and participate in the review, including through upcoming information sessions, answering a short survey or uploading a written submission.

28

Industry pioneer farewelled I t was a great honour to know Paul, I certainly don’t need to tell anyone who knew him about his qualities. I would just like say a few words regarding Paul from an industry and product development point of view.

I first meet Paul back in 1990 when I delivered his very first harvester being a Valmet 901-wheel harvester.

Paul and Steven had just won their first harvesting contract with ANM paper in Albury and were based in Shelley.

Over the following years, I learnt Paul was an extraordinary person in many ways, unique certainly comes to mind.

He had such a great understanding of equipment which is what placed him at the top of the field in so many ways.

Whilst the 901 was a nice little harvester for its time, Paul had far bigger ideas which were to go to the next level.

So, during the mid-90’s Paul started to develop what would become the Rosin RD980 harvesting head.

This product soon developed into other models being the RD970 and the RD975 along with several other attachments.

These products were all sold in many different countries around the world and were a great success in their time.

Paul was always able to see an opportunity and had

Key Points umut-based Rosin • TDevelopments’ Paul

Rosin passed away on May 24, aged 56.

Gary Birtch and his son • service celebrating • APaul’s Greg with the last harvesting life was held head Paul built.

a very strong association with Valmet or KF as we know it today.

During these years Paul also formed a very strong relationship with the KF engineering team in Umea Sweden.

He also established a very strong relationship with the engineers and the owner of the Timbco factory in the US. I personally know that Paul was highly respected by these two factories, especially by the engineers who admired him.

In the mid 2000’s Paul continued to develop new products which is when the CF or KF felling heads were developed.

at the Tumut Lawn Cemetery on June 5.

following is • Tahe eulogy for Paul

prepared by Komatsu Forest Managing Director Brett Jones.

This product range has now become a leader in its field, to the extent other companies have now copied Paul’s design.

Due to the very strong relationship Paul had with KF, it was decided that Komatsu Ltd would acquire this product range.

This product has now been rebranded under Komatsu Ltd Quadco brand with the following model numbers being QB2500,

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

QB3500, and QB4400. This sale was another feather in Pauls’ cap as it involved an ongoing royalty agreement.

In more recent years Paul decided to place a stronger focus on his harvesting business but this didn’t stop him from thinking of or creating a new concept on the spur of the moment.

In some cases, it was just about changing a design of another product, so it became a better product, I believe Paul saw this as his duty and responsibility to himself.

They say the ground support crew for Apollo 13 were a smart team when they were able to come up with a design where they joined a round filter to a square filter from within the spacecraft of Apollo 13, I think Paul managed many missions of this nature on a regular basis, his ability to solve a problem was amazing, he was a true pioneer when it came to the timber industry, many people could only wish to be at this level, he just seemed to always have another new idea.

To show my respect for Paul, I had an old favourite Valmet jacket that I was meant to stop wearing approximately 10 years ago when Komatsu Forest became our new company name, on the front of this jacket the words “Logging Pioneers” are embroidered, this Valmet jacket now rests with Paul, may he rest in peace. www.timberbiz.com.au

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Australia

Our View

National Park declaration is easy – management needs long-term thinking T he Victorian Government’s longdeferred decision to announce more National Parks in the West of Victoria last week dodges the real challenges of managing and conserving these forests. The Mt Cole – Pyrenees, Wombat, and Wellsford forests have all been re-assigned after an investigation by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) completed in June 2019.

Declaring National Parks is easy, but managing them - to maintain biodiversity, mitigate catastrophic fire and ensure that visitors respect them - is not. Western Victoria’s forests need a new vision that includes more holistic, integrated approaches based on active and adaptive management that is informed by science, practical experience and traditional ecological knowledge.

The shift to National or other types of park will not, in itself, reduce threats to biodiversity like feral animals, weeds, diseases or climate change. To genuinely support conservation, the Victorian Government needs to substantially increase base funding of Parks Victoria to ensure that staff have the resources to manage these new areas, not simply invest in capital works like visitor management facilities and walking tracks. Great work is currently being done by community groups and organisations who volunteer and fundraise to support our parks, but we can’t rely solely on their endeavours.

Leadership of Traditional Owners in managing these forests is vital. Traditional Owners have a deep understanding of country and how it can be better managed, particularly through use of cultural burning and other forms of cultural lore.

Funding is required to develop the skills of all future

30

OUR VIEW Dr Michelle Freeman Vice President, IFA/AFG David Dore IFA/AFG Member, Benalla

illegal logging from 1882, fronting the miners in the early dawn, having slept in the forest so that he could hear the sounds of the axes.

The first conservator of forests, George Perrin, initiated forest management and further protection of the public land estate. While land tenure has continued to change after assessments such as those commissioned by VEAC’s predecessor the Land Conservation Council, the need for sound forest management and stewardship has not.

Creating parks potentially removes management options, to reduce fire risk, improve habitat and produce firewood, an important heating source for many local people. It is therefore appropriate that a phased transition of land tenure occurs over several years to ensure that genuine strategy, long-term planning and resourcing is developed to support active and adaptive management to meet com-

Communities that live near these forests understand that eco-tourism and forest-based recreation is fully compatible with multiple-use management for timber and firewood - these two streams of activity have successfully co-existed for decades. forest managers to interpret forests and share knowledge through management experience, like past generations of foresters.

European experience of these forests started with gold mining. The first foresters and rangers (then called bailiffs) contended with wanton destruction as miners took what they needed without thought for the future. Early foresters such as John La Gerche combatted

munity and conservation needs.

La Gerche was amongst the first to recognise the importance of thinning forest regrowth as an active management approach after mining, and in 1887 he conducted an experiment to remove crooked trees from 100 acres and retain the healthy straight saplings.

In 2010, Parks Victoria repeated this work, showing the benefits of thinning for

habitat for native animals and plant diversity. This work was discontinued due to lack of resources and political commitment.

These forests need ongoing, judicious management to create the complexity that wildlife need and to ensure people who live in and near the forest and in nearby towns are protected from wildfire. Thinning (mainly for firewood) or single tree selection (sawlogs, posts and firewood), combined with stringent prescriptions for habitat tree retention, is very low impact harvesting.

It maintains a canopy cover and increases the structural diversity and niches for different animals and birds.

VEAC recommended a program of active ecological restoration, including thinning, but in their response the government has given only lukewarm support and committed no resources.

In these vegetation types, shifting to passive conservation management is likely to increase bushfire threats and miss the opportunity for active management to improve and maintain their conservation value.

Running through the Wellsford forest north-east of Bendigo is an experience that hundreds of orienteers regularly enjoy. You see folds of grey box and rises of majestic ironbarks, the versatile yellow gum blending them together, its flowers providing an important source of winter nectar for many birds, mammals and insects. Wind the clock back 130-160 years – almost all this forest was flattened or dug up to supply timber during the gold rush. With

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

careful and sustainable management by the Forests Commission and later agencies like DELWP and VicForests, the forest is flourishing. After many years of timber harvesting and management, VEAC says it is “one of the biggest and in best condition Box-Ironbark forests in Victoria”.

Communities that live near these forests understand that eco-tourism and forest-based recreation is fully compatible with multiple-use management for timber and firewood - these two streams of activity have successfully co-existed for decades. The amazing vision of the legislators and foresters created the public forest estate that Victorians now enjoy. Whatever their tenure, forests need ongoing management by people with intimate knowledge of their complex needs. We need to empower and equip these people with budgets and the authority to protect and maintain them. Weeds and pest animals need to be controlled. Rubbish dumping and soil erosion caused by illegal off-road vehicle use needs to be policed. Simply declaring Park status for our forests is not enough, and the Government must do more to make sure we can use and enjoy these forests and support biodiversity. In addition to trained foresters and rangers, Traditional Owners, knowledgeable bush users and community members who respect, and have a long tradition of interaction with this country can help protect and improve these forests for generations to come. www.timberbiz.com.au

Grinders

Clearing the way with Vermeer’s horizontal grinders I

f you’re looking for a horizontal grinder that can power through large materials like whole trees and large stumps, look no further than Vermeer’s HG6800TX horizontal grinder.

According to Vermeer Australia’s National Specialist Technical Advisor, Steve Batchelor, the HG6800TX is built for land-clearing and pipeline right-of-way operations and offers a highhorsepower engine on a tracked machine with a compact design.

“It’s a fairly powerful machine, and due to its functionality and features, it can handle both big and small materials,” Steve says.

“The low side walls on the grinder are well-suited for feeding whole trees and other large objects with less restriction, which reduces the need for operator interaction with the material, a great safety feature.”

The feed roller in the HG6800TX can climb up to 1.27 metres, helping the machine to crush logs or stumps that need to be rolled, and allowing operator flexibility with different material types.

Steve also says that one key thing that operators need to think about when using the HG6800TX is choosing which tips to use, as different types of material need different tip types.

“Vermeer Australia has a broad selection of grinder tips which allows you to choose the right tip to meet the demands of your specific job — processing waste faster and more efficiently.

“Wide block tips are the most common within the industry and can be used for a variety of applica-

tions such as general land clearing, regrind and green waste. And the best part is they can be flipped over and used on the other side, basically giving the tip double the lifespan,” Steve says.

“Wing tips on the other hand have quite a unique design, with an overlay of a carbide compound

that helps with processing large-diameter woody material, mostly over 2ft.

The narrow centre section helps the tip pierce the log, then the wings clean out the remainder.”

“A common configuration is wide block tips on the outside of the walls, then wing tips in the middle. If you

have green waste with a lot of chunky wood, it’s better to have wing tips to grind down the larger material more effectively.”

To find out more about Vermeer’s HG6800TX Horizontal Grinder, contact your local team on 1300 VERMEER or visit www.vermeeraustralia.com.au.

MORBARK 3400XT HORIZONTAL GRINDER Fitted with a pin and plate hammermill, 34’’ top feed roll, chain type feeder, Caterpillar C18 (765HP) engine and Caterpillar 320L tracks.

Easy change grate system and remote control allowing for monitoring and adjustment of the engine and other machine parameters from the safety of your loader or excavator.

2400XT, 3000XT and 6400XT models also available.

SALES

HIRE

SERVICE

PARTS

Free Call 1800 182 888 | www.lincom.com.au | sales@lincom.com.au OFFICE LOCATIONS | QLD | NSW | VIC | WA | NT | NZ

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Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

31

Forest Machines FEATURES AT A GLANCE ore comfort with • M+25% more space 50% improved • +operator visibility

ew car body increases • Nground clearance by 4” eavy-duty upper • Hand lower frames for widespread applications

urable forestry • Dguarding on side doors and hinges

ydraulic reversing fan • Hsystem 10% swing torque • +increase vs. F Series CAT excavators

6% larger diameter • +swing bearing

• Enlarged swing drive round-level access for • Geasier maintenance

Next generation Cat 538 forest machines H alf-a-century and counting; that’s how long Caterpillar has been in the game, supplying cutting-edge purpose-built forest machines.

And while our technology and equipment have advanced leaps and bounds since those early days, our commitment to delivering reliable, productive equipment with strong customer support has remained steadfast and true.

The arrival of the Next Generation Cat® 538 GF and LL Forest Machines mark a pivotal point in product development for trees-totruck forest equipment solutions. You can now log more hours with up to 10% more productivity with 10% increased swing torque, 12% faster travel speed and 15% higher ground clearance compared to previous Cat Forestry models.

the ground and upper body of the machine, the undercarriage bears the brunt of many stresses. It is why we put so much time and effort into them, starting with High Wide undercarriages to make traveling over stump-laden forests trouble-free.

CLEAR THE WAY FOR COMFORT & SAFETY

Jobsites where forest machines go are notoriously rugged, challenging and treacherous. Designed for comfort and to protect operators from fatigue, stresses, sounds and outside temperatures, the new cabs take the hard out of work with UNDERCARRIAGE safer and roomier cabs.

RELIABILITY AND The certified forestry DURABILITY ROPS cab is sound supIn addition to reinforced pressed, sealed and 25% booms and sticks, one huge larger than previous moddifferentiator in machine els with a wider and taller durability is the undercar- door. Larger windows and riage. As the link between lower front profile provide 32

• Ground-level access for easier maintenance

50% greater visibility. Cab risers are available for greater land clearing efficiency.

Like all Next Generation excavators, the 538 comes

with high-resolution touchscreen monitor, customizable joysticks saved with Operator ID and an easy keyless pushbutton that adds security.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

CUT MAINTENANCE COSTS With extended and synchronized service intervals, the 538 Forest Machines let you spend more time working and up to 15% less in maintenance costs than previous models based on 12,000 hours. You will experience extended maintenance intervals as the new Fuel & Hydraulic filters come with longer service life. The new high-efficiency hydraulic fan with programmable automatic reverse function to help keep core parts clean and consolidated filter locations and grease points reduce service time.

Now is an exciting time for the industry and Caterpillar as we continue to integrate Next Generation technology into the purpose-built forestry machine platform.

The Next Generation 538 builds on a reputation as a solid performer with rugged reliability by being more productive, more comfortable, and costing less to maintain so owners can spend their time moving more timber, loading more trucks, and maximizing their profit potential.

Contact our local Cat dealers to find out more about the Next Generation 538 machines and ask about our Customer Value Agreements (CVA) which gives a certainty over maintenance cost and uptime. www.timberbiz.com.au

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BIG ENOUGH TO TRUST SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE

Chippers BRIEFS Firefighters wanted The Victorian Government is advertising up to 300 Project Firefighters and Forest and Fire Operations Officer positions ahead of the upcoming bushfire season.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the positions with Forest Fire Management Victoria, which will be based across regional Victoria.

Successful recruits will undertake emergency response, conduct planned burns, manage roadside vegetation, maintain access to forest trails and roads and conduct pest and weed control.

For more information and to apply visit ffm.vic.gov.au or call 136 186.

New Forests acquisition New Forests has acquired the 156,000-acre (63,000 ha) Hilt-Siskiyou Forest, a mixed-conifer forest along the California and Oregon border, from the Fruit Growers Supply Company (“FGS”) alongside an institutional investor client.

The Hilt-Siskiyou Forest is the latest sustainable forestry investment by New Forests in the United States. New Forests’ investment strategy in the US is to acquire and manage forestry assets for sustainable timber production, environmental market exposures, and conservation, in order to generate higher returns than a timber-only management approach and to create climate change mitigation outcomes and positive community impact. The global forestry investment management firm seeks to deploy at least $500 million in capital for multiple clients in US forests over the next 24 months and is actively considering additional investments in the Pacific Northwest, Lake States, New England, and Appalachia.

New chipper goes off-road B ruks mobile chipper model 806.2 STC is a wood chipper to be used off road or at roadside for the production of fuel chips from forest residues. The chipper has a capacity to process fulllength trees and logs up to a diameter of 50 cm (Max. 40 cm for hardwood) as well as brushwood.

The drum chipper 806.2 is Bruks latest developed chipper in the 800 series of mobile drum chipper. A chipper with aggressive infeed, closed drum for best chip quality, chip output by a chip accelerator and chip tube.

A mounting frame section with integrated mounting brackets for chipper and engine installation. Springloaded brackets for the carrier vehicle chassis allow certain independent movement of the chipping unit and carrier frame. A folddown service platform is available for knife exchange and maintenance. A cage with a roof and hatches protects the diesel engine.

To enable full volume during operation and at the same time enable low transport height, the chip bin is equipped with hydraulically foldable side panels. There is a rubber containment curtain at the rear, that is elevated by the side panels.

Key Points

omplete installation • Cincludes side mounted

There are also notches for parking the crane into, or through the bin.

High lifting and side dumping dumping yokes with 80 cm lifting height gives a displacement of the chip bin laterally to facilitate dumping into another vehicle or container. When tipping onto the ground it facilitates dumping the chips away from the machine. The dumping yokes are equipped with pre-routed lubrication points.

A powerful stage IV engine with low fuel consumption. The engine is certified according to EU Stage IV. Complete installation includes side mounted ”side by side” radiator, transmission, starter batteries, fuel tank 350 L, AdBlue tank and exhaust system.

The hydraulic system is a load sensing type and is powered by a variable displacement pump. The infeed, lifting and dumping of the chip bin is controlled by proportional valves to enable exact operation. The chip accelerator is powered by a hydrostatic pump which enables the accelerator to run at a constant speed regardless of the engine rpm. The

”side by side” radiator, transmission, starter batteries, fuel tank 350 L, AdBlue tank and exhaust system.

hydraulic system • Tishea load sensing type

and is powered by a variable displacement pump.

he chipper and engine • Tfunctions are operated from the cabin

cooler fans are hydraulically powered with the possibility to reverse for cleaning the cooler. There is an electrical pump be used when operating hydraulic functions with the engine switched off, for example when changing knives during maintenance.

Complete electrical control and monitoring system for the chipper unit. The chipper and engine functions are operated from the cabin from where the operator can monitor engine water temperature, water level, oil pressure, hydraulic oil level, oil temperature and hydraulic filter clogging indication.

There are also monitoring equipment and automatics

for chipper safety functions such as anvil holder´s position and electronic infeed load control.

The system is monitored and controlled by a windows computer with color touch screen, control levers and sets of push-buttons for operating the chipper functions.

Emergency stop buttons are located and accessed from inside the cabin and on both sides of the chipping unit.

The 806.2 STC, our most successful mobile chipper concept, consists of a highly efficient chipper with its own engine, and chip bin.

The chipping unit sits on a frame to be installed on an off-road vehicle such as a forwarder with crane.

To ensure the most efficient chipping operation the chipping unit is electronically and hydraulically controlled, powered by its own diesel engine.

The 806.2 STC enables cost-efficient production of high-quality fuel chips from forest residue with just one operator and one machine.

The 806.2 STC solution gives the contractor ”SIMPLY THE BEST” when it comes to productivity, chip quality, reliability, performance, maintenance, friendliness and overall chipping economy.

Forest growers levy The Australian Forest Products Association has submitted a proposal to the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Senator Jonno Duniam for an increase to the forest growers levy rates and the introduction of a new threshold.

A massive 90% of all voters responded positively to a call by the AFPA to show their support for a new RD&E levy component, an increased biosecurity levy component, and a 20,000 m3 exemption threshold.

34

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

MOBILE CHIPPERS: HIGH CAPACITY WOOD CHIPPING WHEREVER YOU NEED IT Forty years of experience, combined with customer-driven technological developments, mean that Bruks Siwertell offers the most comprehensive portfolio of market-leading mobile chippers. These powerful, high capacity machines can be used off road, at the roadside or in terminals for the production of quality biofuel wood chips from forest residues.

All our models are tailor-made and designed to offer flexible operations, delivering impressive wood-processing capabilities in the field. The largest of our units can process full-length trees and logs up to a diameter of 60cm.

Bruks’ mobile drum chippers are well known for their robust design, reliability and long service lives. They can be maintained and serviced easily and safely. Time-tested technology means the chips flow smoothly through the chipper, minimizing wear and energy consumption, while maintaining extremely high chip quality.

Our mobile chipping units can be specified with their own engines, in truck driven machines or as tractor driven chippers.

Our heavy-duty mobile chippers are at the forefront of the industry, supplying facilities worldwide with high-capacities and quality wood chips.

We have combined the best of our technologies to deliver machines that match all needs.

BRUKS Mobile Chippers are distributed by: Scan Forestry & Engineering 196-200 Snowy Mountains Hwy, Tumut, NSW 2720, Australia +61 2 6976 5718

Excavators

Purpose built to tackle forestry and timber D

ble

rawing on more than six decades of experience in building machines and attachments for the forestry industry, Volvo’s offering of E-series excavators are extremely versatile, with the ECR145E no exception to excelling in tough working environments.

The Volvo ECR145E has the ability to adapt and thrive in forestry environments and deliver the performance and reliability to get the job done. The machine effortlessly rips into hard ground while the operator enjoys low noise and significant power from Volvo’s robust stage V engine (122hp) along with impressive visibility, space, comfort, and exceptionally well laid-out precise controls.

vo

power cleverly matches the system, improving controllability and response time.

The end result of this powerful combination is while a high amount of torque is produced, there is very low revolutions per minute, so the engine doesn’t have to be revved, thereby saving fuel and keeping noise pollution down.

The Volvo ECR145E tracked excavator has been designed with a durable undercarriage to ensure impressive tractive force, particularly on soft or rough ground, ideal for everyday earthwork jobs to heavier forestry mulching or rehabilitation work with minimal fuss.

*

Dig Assist Technology. The Dig Assist system allows operators to input job specifications, providing real-time guidance to ensure projects are completed quickly, more accurately and with improved site safety. Its human machine interface design, which streamlines all in cab features ergonomically to produce increased operator productivity, really sets it apart. The body-centric design is integrated into everything from joysticks, the 8” LCD screen to keypads and hot keys.

This short radius 14.5-tonne machine is an operators joy, apart from the creature comforts like improved legroom, spacious interior and ergonomic controls, its muscle feaPerfect for Forestry tures such as an advanced Volvo’s tracked excavahydraulic system has been tors set higher standards of optimised specifically for value and excellence in the this model, combining this Dig Assist forestry industry. A heavywith a fully electronic conThe ECR145E also comes duty, reinforced undercartrol system and advanced ECO mode, the engine with the option of the latest riage, with a robust boom

and arm that includes internal plates positioned to support pressure points, Volvo machines are specifically designed for the forestry industry. Volvo’s ROPS cab with a reinforced steel structure ensures the operator is protected, while also meeting the ISO standards for safety, these are the ultimate machines for even the toughest of jobs.

When you choose a Volvo you not only get world-class forestry equipment. You also get full support from CJD Equipment. Our welltrained team are at your service across Australia and you can choose from a range of additional services, specifically designed for our machines, allowing you to further increase your profitability.

New role for carbonator to help the vines

A

Tigercat carbonator has been used in an innovative new pilot project in Adelaide’s southern suburbs to remove feral olive trees from national parks and turning them into a product which is helping grow grapes at McLaren Vale vineyards.

The carbonator reduces wood debris volume by 90% through an environmentally friendly carbon recycling process. Logs, limbs, brush, stumps, yard waste, pallets and other clean wood debris can be reduced with no pre-processing required.

This is the first time in South

36

Australia that feral olive trees from Onkaparinga River National Park and Glenthorne National Park have been used to create biochar, a product which can help retain nutrients, improve soil structure, and increase water-holding capacity of soils.

Project partners include the Department for Environment and Water’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Biodiversity McLaren Vale, Koomilya Vineyard, Peats Soil & Garden Supplies, City

of Onkaparinga, City of Marion, Bio Gro, Green Adelaide and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.

The Tigercat 6050 was trucked to McLaren Vale from Queensland and was returned after the trial.

Biochar production is an environmentally friendly carbon recycling process which in this project is taking the olive trees, putting them in a Tigercat carbonator and burning the trees at temperatures of 500 degrees Celsius to create biochar.

The Biochar produced as part of the project processed and sold by the project’s commercial part-

ners including to local McLaren Vale vineyards. It’s expected that any funds raised will be able to go back into the project to fund further olive control and revegetation works.

“At the moment, we’re working through the exact science of the biochar and waiting on the test samples to come back after having been sent to a lab,” Tim Richardson, logistics manager at Peats Soil & Garden Supplies and BiobiN Technologies in Adelaide said.

Mr Richardson said a lot had been learnt from the demonstration and the trial itself was a great success.

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

The Tigercat 6050 Carbonator is the latest in the Material Processing line-up from the global forestry machinery company.

Renowned for making quality and productive harvesting equipment, Tigercat continue to expand their product range into the Materials Processing space having also released the Tigercat 6900 high-speed horizontal grinder. For more information on the Tigercat 6050 Carbonator or any other machines in the range, contact the national dealer Onetrak on 1300 727 520 and speak to your nearest branch for assistance. www.timberbiz.com.au

Harvester heads

Eco Log – all the way out to the crane-tip E

co Log now broadens its range by welcoming its very own series of harvester heads, consisting of four models, to the existing line-up.

This makes Eco Log a complete Forest Machine Manufacturer, offering machines and solutions for profitable and high-productive forestry all over the Globe.

The new series of Eco Log harvester heads is based on the solid and well-proven technique of SP Maskiner, a technique that has now been adjusted and optimized to make a perfect match for Eco Log harvesters. All models are designed according to the low-friction concept, where the combination of five different innovations result in harvester heads with impressive productivity, high durability, minimal maintenance, and fuel consumption. Also, Eco Log harvester heads have been equipped with Eco Log Saw Control, a patented system optimizing every crosscut regardless of conditions such as tree species and type of felling.

As the new harvester heads along with Eco Log Saw Control are now being launched, Mr Anders Gustafson, Eco Log CEO, states that the results exceed expectations.

“Our new harvester heads are working great and the reactions from customers who have tried them tells us that they are incredibly fast and have highly-dependable length measuring,” he said.

“The foundation of the design is the result of 40 years of development, quality and knowledge that have now

been customized and further developed to achieve highest efficiency in combination with Eco Log harvesters. We know from before that our harvesters are characterized by their high productivity. With our new series of harvester heads, we are now taking productivity to yet another level.”

During the past two years, Eco Log has been growing steadily and successively increased the range of har-

Harvester Heads Eco Log harvester head • series consists of four

different solutions developed to achieve maximum production, optimum fuel and energy consumption and minimal maintenance costs. The harvester head always delivers optimum pressure and carrying capacity in relation to the stem, resulting in high speed and minimal friction.

models:

vesters as well as forwarders – something that has resulted in one of the most comprehensive line-ups on the market. Now, the new series of harvester heads is the next step of a long-term development and growthstrategy.

“We believe a lot in our new harvester heads and it feels really great to present

them along with Eco Log Saw Control to the market, widening our range even more,” Mr Gustafson said.

“Naturally, we will also continue to offer Log Max harvester heads like before.

This gives customers who choose Eco Log access to a very wide range with a great variety of options – exactly as it should be.”

- Eco Log 461 LF – a versatile and rapid low-weight harvester head that easily handles thinning even in the most hard-to-reach areas.

- Eco Log 561 LF – a highly-productive allround harvester head that handles everything from thinning low-grade timber to basic final felling.

- Eco Log 661 LF – a strong and versatile high-performance harvester head for any kind of final felling.

- Eco Log 761 LF – a powerful and reliable harvester head that handles even the toughest final felling operations with high capacity and maximum performance.

Log Saw Control • E–coa patented system

ensuring that every cut is optimized regardless of external conditions. Thanks to feedback between the base machine and the harvester head, every cut is performed with highest efficiency without any need for manual adjustments in the settings from different tree species made by the operator. In mixed forests or tough final fellings, Eco Log Saw Control optimizes every cut for timeefficient and productive forestry.

ll models are designed • Aaccording to the Low

FIRST WITH INDUSTRY NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Friction concept (LF) consisting of five

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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

magazine

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Harvester heads BRIEFS Waratah Air tanker shared THE Victorian and Queensland Governments have secured a deal to share a Large Air Tanker to support aerial firefighting capacity in both states during their respective bushfire seasons.

The Bombardier Dash-8 Q400AT aircraft will operate in Queensland from September to December to cover their bushfire season and will operate in Victoria for the height of summer from December to February.

Sharing aerial firefighting resources provides both states with better value for money while ensuring the aircraft is available to support firefighting efforts on the ground when and where it is needed most.

The agreement covers the 2021 to 2024 bushfire seasons and the Large Air Tanker will remain in Victoria between bushfire seasons.

George goes harvesting GEORGE the Farmer has traded his tractor for a harvester in an effort to teach Australia’s next generation about the importance of plantation forestry.

The highly acclaimed children’s character joined key industry leaders in the Green Triangle to film the new six-minute video illustrating everything from tree planting and harvesting to the milling process, showcasing the wealth of products created by our local fibre.

The forestry video, which will air on the ABC, has been produced as part of the Federally-funded $5 million ‘Educating Kids About Agriculture’ project, in collaboration with Primary Producers SA and Australian Forest Products Association.

New radio system A NEW digital radio system is helping New Zealand’s City Forests to work more safely and efficiently while complying with COVID-19 work requirements.

Initially deployed to replace an outdated analogue radio network, the system from Motorola Solutions and communications partner Central Radio Services delivers many additional benefits.

Among them are contactfree communication and social distancing in the field, replacing the need for drivers to exchange paper job dockets with a digital docketing system.

38

Forestry Equipment unveils new harvester heads W aratah Forestry Equipment announced the new H425, H425HD and H425X – a trio of rugged harvester heads built for tough jobs.

With a powerful control valve and four roller feed arm geometry, each high-performance head is productive on wheeled or tracked carriers.

“These models are built for durability and performance,” said Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. “Among other updates, new hose protection and servicing enhancements make these great heads even better.”

The standard H425 (1360 kg or 2,998 lb.), H425HD (1390 kg or 3,064 lb.) and hefty H425X (1426 kg or 3,143 lb.) each offer increased reliability with new feed motor hosing routings and new covers. For quick and easy servicing, each head features a new hinged valve cover and improved access to greasing points.

feed motors and guarding to provide even more durability. With a powerful control valve and a top saw option, the high-performance head offers great productivity, especially for wheeled carrier applications.

For ease of maintenance, the H425HD now has easy filling of saw chain oil. Likewise, daily maintenance can be performed without changing the position of the harvester head. The valve block and grease points are also easily accessible.

The H425HD offers optional saw motor sizes,

standard (narrow stem) or buttress (wide stem) saw frames for challenging applications, and processing knives for picking stems from the ground or bunch piles.

H425X

The H425X features an extreme duty main saw box with heavier steel plating, extra feed motor component guarding, heavy-duty tilt frame, hose protection and increased drive arm durability for demanding applications in mixed stand harvesting. Its four roller feed arm geometry ensures rollers grip solidly in all diameters, improving responsiveness with unprecedented tree-processing performance – especially in large timber.

Purpose-built for tracked harvesters, the H425X offers options for many applications with multi-tree handling, an integrated top saw and processing knives for picking from piles or hardwood applications, and many feed wheel options to suit numerous applications.

“The H425, H425HD and H425X are reliable heads for heavy-duty applications,” Fisher said. “With each new head generation, we’re providing our customers the solutions they need to maximize productivity and uptime.”

The Waratah H425, H425HD and H425X are currently available to customers in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Africa, Asia, Brazil and Latin America.

H425 Optimizing performance, productivity and delimbing, the H425 excels in large diameter regeneration harvesting. A powerful control valve and feed-roller arm geometry ensure a solid grip and agile harvester head control for all diameter classes.

For increased uptime and lower daily operating costs, the H425 offers improved hose routing from boom to harvester head and from the valve to feed motors, keeping hoses well protected from limbs and understory interference.

The H425 offers optional saw motor sizes, standard (narrow stem) or buttress (wide stem) saw frames for challenging applications, and processing knives for picking stems from the ground or bunch piles.

H425HD Built to work on the toughest jobs, the H425HD features a heavy-duty tilt frame, Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

Mill Profile

Strategic skills needed for future Philip Hopkins

T

om Hooper was a chess champion at school. As manager of Mary Valley Sawmill, his strategic skills are needed to plot a path forward through the forces buffeting his hardwood business.

These could be the weather, resource security, the economy, market trends and politics – not all issues that a strategic games player can control. “We are always mindful of the future of the resource. It’s a bit of unknown, particularly with timber from the Crown. We have four years to run on our licence, and they talk of an extension for two years, with a big review and possible reduced volume,” he said. “It’s an unknown, not a given.”

However, the family hardwood timber business, dating from the 1920s and located in the pretty Mary Valley at Dagun, near Gympie in south-east Queensland, is well prepared, having just opened a new processing mill.

Tom works with his fatherin-law, Wayne Morris, who came to Queensland from Warburton in Victoria 33 years ago. Compared to Victoria, what struck him was the lack of environmental ‘aggro’. “The fact we don’t clear fall – a huge issue – is an advantage,” he said.

Another big difference was the resource; in Queensland, about two-thirds of the wood comes from private landowners and one third from the Crown. Not at Mary Valley Sawmill, however; Tom estimated up to 60 per cent of the timber is Crown and 40 per cent private. “The Crown allocation is very important to this business and the markets we have created.

We get 4150 cubic metres of compulsory wood, plus optional timber, depending on the quality of the bush.

They are quality sawlogs,” he said. This total could end up at 6000-7000m3, including salvage and low-quality wood after fires.

Private wood comes from contracts with individual landowners. All up, the mill processes on average up to 12,000m3 annually.

Tom said traditionally, sawmills were given licencwww.timberbiz.com.au

es for the dominant species in those areas. “You build a market on the area available to you We are in line with our species - blackbutt, ironbark, forest red gum, grey gum, tallow wood.

They’re the five main commercial species,” he said.

From the private sector, timber is predominantly spotted gum, although there is some ironbark and blue gum. “Ironbark is one of our main sought-after species, blackbutt also, for the markets we have built,” said Tom. Green sawn products predominate, although there is some drying, with light commercial jobs a big market, such as government tenders for outdoor structures. The company’s durable hardwoods are ideal for outdoor products.

The main thing is ‘Do the beautiful timber justice’.

“We control our quality.

Our high-end jobs include the Noosa boardwalk, the Sunshine Coast Plaza, Sunshine Coast University hospital, the big barracks in Townsville and Fraser Island boardwalks,” said Tom. Mary Valley Sawmill has about half a dozen private suppliers. The properties vary in size, from 20,000 acres to 4000, 6000 and 2500 acres, and even small blocks – more than 30,000 acres in total.

Ensuring supply is crucial.

“We convince all suppliers to log sustainably by cutting much lighter. It’s a selec-

tive logging process where a good-sized tree is left, but it will be big enough to harvest in 10 years,” said Wayne.

“You do the bush more damage if you do not thin out. You must take some bad with the good to improve silviculture and growth.

You look for retention and cut for the future and enhance growth while you do that,” said Tom, adding: “The private sector will be important for the long-term future of our business.”

Farmers have been frightened of the vegetation management laws, as changes of government have led to some locking up forests and a ban on tree cutting.

“If done properly, there is enough private and Crown wood in Queensland to keep us going forever. If they introduced law to stop farmers cutting, we are in the deep end,” said Wayne.

What infuriates Tom is the export of native hardwood. “It’s criminal what the Government is allowing. Opportunistic log contractors are selling the wood without permits, it’s going undetected,” he said. “Communities are do-

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

ing the hard yards and are dependent on these industries.”

Engineered wood for construction is a new frontier in Australia, but less so in Queensland due to the density and weight of local hardwood “For a beam like that you would need a 50-tonne crane to lift it into place!” said Wayne.

Mary Valley sells to wholesalers and has its own timber merchant yard on the Sunshine Coast. About 20 per cent of product goes to Victoria - a B-Double every week; veneer logs are sold in Tasmania, while blackbutt veneer is popular in the high-end architecture sector in Brisbane. There are two businesses on the 18-acre site at Dagun – the sawmill and a retail outlet for builders.

The business directly employs 26 but uses contractors and other bush operators. “We have the oldest and newest mill in this area.

We can keep both running, which allows a variation of products, but maybe the old won’t last the more we value-add,” said Wayne.

“We have put in a kiln. We need to look at what we can produce with a good drying process. The kiln has the space to expand. The future could include laminating.

The main thing is ‘Do the beautiful timber justice’.”

39

Mill profile Looking Back 2020 VICFORESTS has recorded zero logging truck rollovers in the 2019/20 financial year.

The turnaround is a boost from 2007/08 when it recorded 19 truck rollovers.

VicForests has a fleet in excess of 100 trucks and the dynamic nature of each trailerload of timber means log truck rollovers pose a major risk to its business with the potential for catastrophic consequences for truck drivers and other road users.

“Safety is our first priority at VicForests and we are pleased that our targeted approach ensures the protection of our workers,” VicForests CEO Monique Dawson said.

2016 HVP PLANTATIONS (HVP) has adopted FOLS as its required standard for the recording of training and skills verification for high risk forestry activities.

FOLS is a national industryled program, managed by ForestWorks, and supports the professionalism and safety of industry through an online system of recording and verifying the currency of operator skills.

John Dodson, Human Resources Manager at HVP, said the decision to adopt FOLS aligned with HVP’s strong commitment to workplace health and safety.

“FOLS helps to ensure workers are adequately trained, competent and safe to undertake their work activities.

“HVP’s initial emphasis will be in harvesting but in time will review the application of FOLS for silviculture, road construction and haulage activities,” he said.

2011 HEAT and energy produced from forest management residue could significantly benefit Tasmania, according to US biomass and forestry expert Dave Atkins who visited the State recently.

Atkins said Tasmania’s climate made it a good location for thermal energy production which could be achieved using wood pellets produced from Tasmania’s forestry industry by products.

He said forest management residues were substantial.

In eucalypt forests, prescribed burning for site preparation is required for regeneration.

40

Cypress stands tall in Gippsland Keith Smiley

L

ogging and milling 30 metre lengths of 100-year-old Cypress Macrocarpa trees is more than business to Phil Maddocks, who describes a love affair with the gilded timber.

During school holidays, Phil is supporting his aspiring AFL-playing son in the Interleague of Gippsland.

It was a win for all, just like the punt he took on a turnkey sawmilling operation near the Strzelecki ranges.

Maddocks Sawmill began in earnest when Phil’s dad made a bold switch from a career in cattle farming, to cutting cypress trees: “The Cypress Macrocarpa is an unattractive tree on the outside but beautiful inside,” says Phil. “The grain has so many different colours, and were used as a fence or wind break.” These slow growing trees offer so little shrinkage, they are easy to work with and versatile.

When Phil took over the family business 19 years ago, he would purchase the logs from logging companies for milling at his 140-acre farm which had formerly been a plantation. “We found more consistency by logging them ourselves,” said Phil. They milled onsite, later finding it better to cut the logs themselves, and use contractors to haul the logs to their property in Ranceby,

Top: A log goes under the • saw at the Lucas mill.

Above: Paula and Phil • Maddocks. halfway between Korumburra and Warragul in Victoria.

The logging trucks make about ninety runs a year, or $30,000 in total for transporting the logs, from catchments an hour away.

Much of the surrounding district had wind rows of Cypress, planted earlier by Italian settlers. Eventually the greater area became denuded of trees, with the advent of the railway department which ‘clear-felled’ these whoppers.

The Maddocks still use the same Lucas saw, with petrol-running costs averaging $20 a day, compared to their income of $3,000$4,000 of timber for the day.

The Cypress logs cost $70 per tonne, but if they mill

them, they can realise $700 to $1,000 per tonne. It is a tidy business, taking only an hour to mill each length.

Gippsland has a high rainfall which is ideal for these Cypress goddesses.

While there are other Cypress plantations in Victoria, none have the growth potential of the Ranceby variety and its invigorating climate.

Phil’s wife Paula is busy with the children, but keeps close tabs on quotes, estimates and deliveries. A lot of their timber goes interstate, especially to Adelaide.

“Some people want huge beams, 500-millimetrewide by 250 mm deep, and 6.5 metres long, rich for features,” says Phil. “We charge about $100 a metre, and they get a better timber than laminated beams.”

While he mills Monday to Thursday and logs Friday to Sunday, Phil manages to fit in time to look after 150 head of cattle and thirty sheep, while engaging his children’s interest. With three daughters and a son, the couple put every effort into their broader education. The lad is capable of unloading trucks, takes an interest in sawmilling and logging, while the girls turn their hands at tending the sheep and cattle.

They may store their timber in sheds, but Phil will keep milling rain or shine:

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

“I just plod along, cutting four tonnes a day. I’m doing this to buy more land for a larger herd of cattle, and land doesn’t get any cheaper.

“With such a shortage of timber, we have to reject about $20,000 to $30,000 a week of work. Covid caused me to lose staff, especially when Centrelink offered $800 a week for doing nothing. It takes time to teach; and you can’t send a kid to college to learn logging and cutting. Dan Andrews (Premier of Victoria) has locked down the industry, as Victoria closes down.”

Phil Maddock has a great desire to expand his operation despite the state government ‘screwing them over’. They have successfully rescued timber for many years, now the 38 year old believes it is almost time to retire from logging, with transitioning over the next five years, he believes it will be a game changer. ‘It’s a young man’s occupation’, he says.

For now – Phil wakes at dawn, finishing at 7pm, if he is lucky. The lights shine bright on the Lucas as Phil keeps going until the job is finished. The Maddocks are knit together by Paula’s ready sense of humour, as she helps keep the wheels turning, with four enthusiastic children, bound for a grand future. www.timberbiz.com.au

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

PROMOTE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN AUSTimber

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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.

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+ GST

Ryan Media is the official media sponsor of AUSTimber 2021.

If you are an exhibitor or a sponsor of AUSTimber, we recommend advertising in the event Preview we are running in the November edition of Australian Forests & Timber News.

Official sponsors and exhibitors in the feature are entitled to 20% off ads in the Preview. This also applies to the September edition and the December wrap.

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$4000 each or $6500 for the two

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Ryan Media is the dominant media source for the forestry industry in Australia and New Zealand.

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• 8,000 readers with Australian Forests and Timber, the sole print magazine for the Australian forestry sector, • 6,500 weekly subscribers to Daily Timber News e-newsletter.

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This cross-media coverage generates the greatest effective reach to the Australian forestry and timber sector.

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INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

Classifieds Establishment Forester & Silviculture Forester This high-profile organisation has a best practice culture, where employees can work flexibly, create pathways and share a genuine sense of belonging and purpose.

As a progressive sector leader, they understand that their people are the cornerstone to their success and are committed to creating a great place to work.

Two new opportunities have opened up for an Establishment Forester & Silviculture Forester to join their Estate Team in Mt Gambier, SA. As an experienced Establishment Forester holistic plantation management, primarily site preparation and planting across our 80,000 hectare estate. You will be coordinating employees and managing contractors to ensure that programs are completed to a level that enhances productivity and performance whilst maintaining the highest safety, environment, and efficiency standards.

You will work closely and collaboratively with other

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

• Join a High Performance team • Best Practice Workplace Culture • Two Forester Roles innovate & grow • Silviculture & Establishment technical specialists and provide business leadership in the science and management of plant productivity and competition control.

As an experienced Silviculture Forester you will lead a team & coordinate people and machinery resources while delivering a broad range of plantation management services (silviculture, environment, land and fire management activities) across their 80,000 hectare estate.

You will be a strong organiser with the ability to lead and execute programs to the highest standards while faced with multiple competing priorities.

Applicants should have a tertiary qualification in forestry or similar, be physically fit, enjoy working outdoors in all conditions and must have a current driver’s licence and be eligible to work in Australia. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Contact Susie Rogers in confidence on 0414 350 762 or email susie@rusherrogers.com.au

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

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As a progressive sector leader, they understand that their people are the cornerstone to their success and are committed to creating a great place to work.

A new opportunity has opened up for a Steam Plant Manager to join the innovative and progressive Wood Products Operations team, based in Mt Gambier, SA.

• Once in a career opportunity • Major Capital investment project planned • Sector Leader & Innovator • Best Practice Workplace Culture managing new development and expansion. You will bring strong management and people leadership skills, and possess the technical expertise to meet the varied and complex challenges of this exceptional position.

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Appropriate qualifications &/or experience are sought for this role. Salary is commensurate with experience.

This will be a once in a career opportunity to be a key member of an innovative team who will be central in realising an extraordinary capital investment project that will transform their operation. As such, we need a seasoned professional to not only lead and manage a specialised team and enable optimisation of their equipment, but play a significant role in project

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42

Australian Forests & Timber News August 2021

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

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Traded unit, just arrived in.

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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 August 2021

43

725D 745D 755D

Zero Tail Swing Komatsu Forest has expanded the TimberPro track range in Australia and New Zealand to include the new 'D' Series zero tail-swing levelling and non-levelling models.

They can be supplied with feller-buncher or harvester boom sets and feature many benefits for logging contractors: • New Larger Cab for operator comfort • Lohmann final drives for high tractive force • Market Leading levelling with 28 degrees forward / 24 degrees side • Cummins QSL 8.3 333hp Engine (Tier 3)

The Crawford history has led the way in forest track machines.

www.komatsuforest.com.au

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd. 11/4 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127 Australia T: +61 2 9647 3600 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com