Australian Forests & Timber - February 2015

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 FEBRUARY 2015 Issue 1 Vol. 24 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • E: m.dolphin@ryanmediapl.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au

New international investment in Australian wood products industry P

ERHAPS THE biggest international names in forest harvesting have already made the commitment to demonstrating their latest and greatest equipment at AUSTimber2016 when it is staged in Latrobe City, Victoria in April next year.

Ten of the planned 12 live demonstration sites have already been secured and allocated even before formal site works have begun.

Exhibitors were impressed with the site at HVP’s Flynn Creek plantation (about 17km South-East of Traralgon) given the eucalypt and pine demonstration blocks face each other making for a more compact operating site.

The in-field chipper demonstration site is being set up under the guidance of AFCA director Phil Dohnt drawing on his vast knowledge of chipping operations and the demonstration requirements of suppliers and prospective buyers.

Work will be carried out in the Autumn to clear trees to achieve the required safe operating distances, form the Forest Walk trail and complete the other earthworks

required to ensure the in-forest site is once again of world standard for exhibitors and visitors.

General Manager of the event, Laurie Martin is happy with progress to date and confident of AUSTimber2016 drawing important exhibitors, large numbers of visitors and conference participants from across the timber industry.

He is particularly keen to attract investors looking for opportunities in advanced manufacturing who can see the environmental and export potential offered by converting timber as an abundant raw material into higher value products refined by technology and design.

“The Latrobe City Council has formally adopted Australia’s first Wood Encouragement policy and is actively working with us to ensure AUSTimber2016 is a catalyst for real innovation in the Australian wood products sector,” Laurie said.

“They understand we need a lot more investment in planting production forests in this country to meet existing wood fibre needs but, if we are to realize the full economic potential of

this raw material, we also need a commitment in the industry to innovate and produce products of higher value than just logs and chips.

“This would be helped if Governments at all three levels ran policies that support this kind of innovation. I’m not talking about handouts but, rather, the sort of leadership Latrobe City has shown whereby they concluded that, by stipulating timber must be considered as the primary material in council-funded construction and infrastructure, they will encourage the development of new advanced manufacturing enterprises locally, better protect the environment and deliver results for the rate payers that will cost no more than ‘business as usual’ solutions.

“When I hear Trade Minister Andrew Robb talking about his quest for a Free Trade agreement with India citing that country’s pressing need for construction of housing as an exciting opportunity for Australian iron ore and coking coal I just shake my head in dismay.

What about the opportunity for

continued on page 4

$4.5 million for SA’s SE forest industry projects THE SOUTH Australian Government will inject $4.5 million into the South East forestry industry to generate more investment and jobs.

Forests Minister Leon Bignell visited the South East to make the announcement and said the funding was being offered to four companies through Phase Two of the South East Forestry Partnerships Program, and would contribute to projects worth more than $20 million.

n South Australian Forests Minister Leon Bignell.

Inside:

“The program was created to help the forest and forest products industry to recovery by encouraging further investment in new and existing businesses,” he said.

“Phase One of the program saw the joint investment of $34 million in the forest processing sector in the South East, with $15.38 million in State Government grants awarded to successful applicants.

“The four Phase Two grants are consistent with the recommendations outlined in the Stage Two report from the Cellulose Fibre Value Chain Study, and will support further value adding along the timber supply chain.

“It will also support innovation and the introduction of new technologies.”

The successful Phase Two applicants are required to enter into a funding agreement with the State Government. They had to match Government funding on a dollar-for-dollar basis, payable upon achievement of key milestones as

• KOALA PLAN MAKES WORKERS ENDANGERED SPECIES

defined in the funding agreement.

However, most will be contributing to projects at a higher rate than just matching the State Government’s contribution.

Minister Bignell said a further $7.1 million was available to fund similar projects, and a third phase of SEFPP grants would open around March.

“It is imperative taxpayers’ money is spent on projects that will make a real difference for the South East projects that maintain jobs and allow the forestry industry to grow,” he said.

“The further $7.1 million funding will support projects that meet the criteria of the Cellulose Fibre Value Chain Study, and an industry seminar will take place soon to help the industry prepare viable proposals in a subsequent call for new projects.”

Minister Bignell said the South East forestry region was a world-class timber resource and the forest and wood products continued on page 4

• FOCUS ON • WATER STEEP SLOPE LICENCING HARVESTING DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR PLANTATIONS

n Exhibitors impressed with the site at HVP’s Flynn Creek plantation (about 17km South-East of Traralgon) given the eucalypt and pine demonstration blocks face each other making for a more compact operating site.

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Koala plan makes forestry workers the endangered species T

HE NSW forestry industry has warned Luke Foley’s pledge to create Australia’s first “koala national park” risks wiping out as many as 3000 timber jobs on the north coast and damaging local towns.

They said the Foley plan made forestry workers the endangered species.

Australian Forest Products Association chief executive officer Ross Hampton and NSW Forest Products Association general manager Maree McCaskill joined forestry workers in a condemnation of the plan.

However, the Wilderness Society hailed the proposal as “a visionary plan” that is a “big step forward” for nature conservation in NSW. Foley, MLC and Leader of the Opposition, promised that if elected in March Labor would create a 315,000 hectare Great Koala National Park inland from Coffs Harbour to protect the endangered local population and open up tourism possibilities.

The plan would add 170,000 hectares of State forest – some of which are available

for logging – to the local national park estate to protect 4500 koalas – or 20% of those remaining in NSW. Hampton described it a “thought bubble of a policy” announced without any consultation with the industry.

“This looks to us like about 3000 direct and indirect jobs that would go if this plan ever saw the light of day,” he said.

McCaskill said the NSW timber industry operated under the highest regulations anywhere in the world.

“To remove more of the dwindling resources of the timber industry and put it into national park largely means you impact an area where unemployment [is] about 9.6%,” she said. Towns including Grafton, Kyogle, Casino and Kempsey would suffer.

Foley has said Labor would consider buying back native forest allotments from the industry.

Premier Mike Baird said he couldn’t take any policy seriously until “they tell us how they’re going to fund some of it”.

n Maree McCaskill (NSWFPA), Nick Cameron (IFA) and North Coast timber workers speak to the media at Sydney’s Parliament House.

Photo: Ross Hampton.

Tasmania’s investment ambassador optimistic about future TASMANIA’S FIRST CoordinatorGeneral John Perry has started the job of aggressively pursuing investment and jobs in Tasmania. He is the investment ambassador for Tasmania, chasing investment locally, interstate and overseas, and facilitating projects across the State.

Perry, a Tasmanian who was based in New York, is a highly experienced international business executive who is extremely well qualified to take the lead on behalf of Tasmania in pursuing and delivering investment in our state.

“As a proud Tasmanian I’m very excited by this opportunity to help the state attract much needed investment.

I’m looking forward to moving home to Tasmania and taking up the role,” Perry said.

John grew up in Launceston and is very passionate about Tasmania, and optimistic about Tasmania’s future development prospects.

His specific professional experience includes: • Commercial Lead, Atlantic Joint Business, New York – a multi-billion dollar Joint Venture between American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair.

• Europe Business Planning Manager, American Airlines, London.

• Senior commercial transactions lawyer with top Londonheadquartered international law firm, Simmons & Simmons.

• Youngest National Partner of Australasian law firm, Hunt & Hunt.

• Head of Innovation and Enterprise, London Metropolitan University.

• Chair of London’s multimillion pound Emerald PreCommercial Fund.

• Extensive non-executive experience in the not-for-profit sector.

• Commercial start-up experience.

• Inaugural Chair of Tasmanian Leaders Inc. • Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

• Supporting this experience, educational achievements have included: • MBA from Judge Business School at Cambridge University, UK. • Commerce and Law Degrees, University of Tasmania.

• Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Melbourne.

• Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Securities Institute of Australia • Diploma of Project Management, University of New England.

A TasInvest summit late last year saw more than 275 business delegates in Tasmania to look at specific investment opportunities, then 30 Tasmanian businesses met individually with a group of over 50 Chinese delegates on the final day of TasInvest. The structured

Accused of torching forestry equipment A 20-year-old Millicent man has been charged with arson and theft, after he allegedly set a piece of forestry equipment on fire.

Source: ABC Police allege the man deliberately lit the fire in a

log forwarder in a forest near Kalangadoo. The machine was destroyed, causing about $100,000 damage. Police allege the man also stole fire communications equipment from the machine, before setting it on fire.

New-look leading forest and timber publications N LINE with current publishing trends and customer feedback, the Australasian Timber and Australian Forests & Timber News will be resized to standard tabloid formats commencing with the April 2015 issues.

The slight decrease in size has two significant benefits for readers: it makes for easier handling of the print product and ensures an efficient delivery service based on mail preparation time-savings.

“While we aim to satisfy our readers with timely information via online channels, our surveys indicate that print is still the

‘business to business’ matching session allowed Tasmanian business with investment proposals and products for export to meet one-on-one with Chinese delegates in their sector. Professional and volunteer interpreters from the Tasmania Chinese Business Association were on hand to assist in early stage discussions.

These relationships will continue to be developed by both Tasmanian businesses and the Government through the Office of the Coordinator-General.

preferred medium for receiving industry information. This change of format will ensure there is minimal time delay between the production of the magazines and their delivery,” says publisher Hartley Higgins.

“With this change readers can be assured that Ryan Media will continue to offer a high level of editorial quality and cover a comprehensive range of news, products and industry information.”

For feedback and any inquiries, contact editor John Hudswell on 08 8369 9555 or via email j.hudswell@ ryanmediapl.com.au.

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4 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

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

February 2015

New international investment in Australian wood products industry continued from page 1 prefabricated timber construction using timber sourced from our certified, sustainably managed forests that would not only add more manufacturing jobs in Australia but also yield a higher overall economic return for the country and a win for the environment?”

Laurie said there would be a focus at AUSTimber2016 on prefabricated construction using panelized timber and work was currently under way to attract inbound trade missions with a view to securing investment in advanced manufacturing operations in the local region.

“We’ve been really pleased by the positive involvement of a number of industry associations and major players in looking to leverage AUSTimber2016 to help advance the overall fortunes of the wood products industry.

“With the current exchange rate being a huge improvement for exporters and a real commitment to practical support of the industry by Government at the local level, I believe AUSTimber2016 will provide entrepreneurs and purveyors of productive technology a great opportunity to create and build high quality manufacturing operations.”

n Laurie Martin.

Forestry Corporation's mobile app wins fans at ForestTECH. Read more on page 11.

Features Opinion 13-14 Safety 15 New Products 16-17 The Essentials 18 Edgers 20 Fire Prevention 21-23 Skidders 24-25 Bio 26-29

MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED

Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editor: John Hudswell Advertising: Michael Dolphin Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 Production: Maria Baker Advertising: m.dolphin@ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Trader classified: m.dolphin @ryanmediapl.com.au Melbourne Office (03) 9888 4834 Editorial: j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9512 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9555 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Melbourne Office: Suite 103, 486 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, 3127, phone (03) 9888 4822 Conditions: Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor/publishers; information is published in good faith and we do not accept responsibility for damage which may arise from any possible inaccuracies. All rights reserved, none of the contents may be used in any other media without prior consent from then publishers. Published by Ryan Media Pty Ltd. Print Post No. PP 767324/00002 ISSN 1444-5824

n The in-field chipper demonstration site is being set up under the guidance of AFCA director Phil Dohnt (right).

$4.5 million for SA’s SE forest industry projects continued from page 1 industry was an integral part of South Australia’s economy.

“The four projects will maintain or increase employment, as well as retain or expand regional timber processing in the South East of South Australia,” he said.

Grants have been approved for the following projects: Circa Group Pty Ltd – $1,450,000 for the construction of a cellulose refinery plant using Circa Group Pty Ltd’s Furacell process to produce cellulose based bio-chemical products. This involves utilising about 30,000 tonnes of sawdust to produce Levoglucosenone and its

derivative, the biosolvent Cyrene.

Carter Holt Harvey Pinepanels Pty Ltd – $1,500,000 for the installation of modern Low Pressure Melamine technology at Carter Holt Harvey’s operations in Mount Gambier to produce White Particleboard and Decorative Colour panels and to provide the ability to grow the Decorative Colour Low Pressure Melamine product range.

McDonnell Industries Pty Ltd – $1,000,000 for the installation of equipment at their Mount Gambier sawmill, to enable processing of up to an additional 100,000 m3 of small diameter logs a year. This

VAFI’s new media coordinator NATALIE KIMBER is the new Media and Communications Coordinator for the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI).

Natalie has eight years experience working as a media and communications professional in the public and private sector.

In 2008 she was communications officer at the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) where she gained valuable insight into the industry. Following a position at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Natalie moved to Melbourne in 2014 working as a consultant for a local PR agency.

Natalie will be assisting with media inquiries,

communications and public affairs issues, and will be particularly focused on VAFI’s branding and online ‘voice’.

adds value to smaller diameter logs that would otherwise be exported, but now can be utilised to produce a wider range of high-value timber and related products.

Roundwood Solutions Pty Ltd – $557,000 for the installation of a Precision Rounder Machine at Yahl (near Mount Gambier) to increase production of rounded outdoor bollards, posts and rails. Small logs that would otherwise be exported are transformed into higher-value products.

The funding has been termed “welcome news” by the AFPA, Australia’s major organisation

representing forestry, timber and paper products.

Australian Forest Products Association chief executive officer Mr Hampton said plantation, wood and paper products industries had played a pivotal role in generating jobs and underpinning economic vitality in the South East of South Australia.

“In an increasingly globally competitive economy, it is important that we continue to innovate and transform this industry to lower costs and take advantage of the growing demand for forest products.

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6 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

What will 2015 bring?

By Ross Hampton CEO Australian Forest Products Association THE FORESTRY and forest products industries of Australia have a great deal riding on the next 12 months.

In 2014 a new Federal Government was settling into its traces. To some extent our industry was also finding a new shape. Large plantation and asset sales were executed. The wounds from the global financial crisis were still raw. The high dollar stayed stubbornly buoyant for too long courtesy of a distinctly non-interventionist Reserve Bank.

January 2015 finds us off our knees but still groggy.

The dollar is heading in the right direction for now. But it needs to continue to fall to the level referenced by Reserve Bank Governor Glen Stevens of US75¢, and remain there, if we are to see real improvement in long term export contracts.

Housing starts have indeed improved, but most forecasters suggest that they are close to the peak of their cycle and are likely to fall back to more normal levels during 2015.

So some things are going better. But we are by no means out of the woods.

Other pressures are building which are going to make this year as challenging for our businesses as the last. Input costs are ratcheting up and up. Forward gas prices, a very large expense item for any manufacturer using timber or fibre, are surging so fast they are leaving vapour trails. At the same time there appears to be no let up in the constant pressure to

further restrict access to native forest resources. Investment in new plantations has completely dried up and the plantation resource is receding, with many harvested plantations being returned to agricultural land-use. We run a real risk of soon not even being able to produce enough softwood sawlog to meet rising domestic consumption (according to ABARES).

That’s like running short of coal in Newcastle!

All these things mean we can’t be complacent. It is myopic to simply think that once the economy rights itself all will be good again. No, there is a lot of heavy lifting required here and it needs the development of sound policy and political intervention.

It is always true that in an open, globally exposed, free market economy such as ours, an enormous amount of our success rides on the ambition, smarts, and plain hard work of those in our forest industry businesses. But there is an important role for public policy here as well. Public policy which either addresses market failure for a public good, or which has a view about the sort of things we value as a nation (and which we are good at) and which therefore we actively encourage.

As an example, nowhere in the world are large-scale tree plantings happening without some Government policy lever being pulled. The return on capital is too slow. And yet our forests and plantations also provide a wide range of community and environmental goods which go completely unrewarded (in economic terms). That’s classic market failure

Australia’s living skin bared in stunning three dimensions

A

USTRALIA’S VAST and complex land surface has been exposed in new ways thanks to the most comprehtensive nation-wide digital maps of our soils and landscapes yet produced. The entire country is now represented as a digital grid with two billion ‘pixels’ that are about 90 by 90 metres, down to a depth of two metres below the surface.

The Soil and Landscape Grid of Australia, launched at the National Soil Science Conference in Melbourne, is the result of a partnership between CSIRO, the University of Sydney, several federal, state and territory government agencies and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN).

The Grid draws information from the partner agency databases weaving together both historical and current data generated from sampling, laboratory sensing, modelling and remote sensing.

The Grid also includes estimates

of reliability and is designed to integrate new data in the future — even data generated by technology that has not yet been invented.

Soil and landscape attributes such as soil water, nutrients and clay, affect the sustainability of Australia’s natural resources and the profitability of sectors such as agriculture, mining and infrastructure.

CSIRO Research Director Mike Grundy said the Grid had already woven together hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of past soil and landscape science into a new ‘digital tapestry’.

“The research community has known we need better ways to make this diverse information available; new science and technology has let us make the most of the rich data we have,” Mr Grundy said.

“From exploring new land use options, to making the most of water, to finding habitats for endangered native species, this technology has applications we are only just beginning to imagine.”

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The Grid will be beneficial to a wide range of applications and users including urban and regional planners, land managers, farming groups, scientists and engineers.

Alexandra Gartmann, CEO at Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and former CEO of Birchip Cropping Group, has worked with rural industries for almost two decades. Ms Gartmann said she was excited by the new technology.

“Knowledge is power, and our agricultural industries have a very narrow margin for error these days, so the more knowledge to reduce poor decisions, the better,” Ms Gartmann said.

“Agribusiness will benefit from this technology, both at the farm scale — with data to inform production models and risk management decisions — and industry scale, as it draws together many years of past research and knowledge for future investment decisions.

“The Soil and Landscape Grid is a huge leap forward. With its national datasets and consistent and comparable data, it has huge potential for regional development, informing planning and decisionmaking.”

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which demands some policy action. If you want me to be more explicit, the 1997 Plantations Vision 2020 with its goal of 3 million hectares is effectively ancient history. We only made it to 2.1 million. Where is our Vision 2030?

Or consider this: we have a whole Department in Canberra dedicated to supporting and growing rural towns and communities (its called the Department of Regional Development). Yet there is no real acknowledgement via supportive policies that one of the largest contributors to the success or failure in many parts of country Australia are forest or forest fibre industry enterprises. Where are the infrastructure plans to free up key forestry road and ports bottlenecks? Where are the export goals incentivizing this vital part of the agriculture portfolio? Where is the research and development into new technologies to support the adoption of cross laminated timber, or development of bio-fuels and bioplastics? We are told industry can do more in all these areas and that is true. But there used to be far greater partnership with public institutions when public policy makers were more persuaded about our crucial role in the national fabric. We must regain those days!

AFPA has been crying out for a National Fibre and Forestry Plan for this nation for two years. Thanks to the work of the Forestry Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Richard Colbeck, such a plan does appear to be finally in the oven, being cooked up by the Government’s Forest Industry Advisory Council. It will be up to all of us to ensure that plan ‘makes it real’ in 2015.

Water licencing in South Australia is a dangerous precedent for plantations “THE LICENCING of plantations for their use of ground water in south east South Australia is a dangerous precedent,” says Rob de Fégely, President of the Institute of Foresters of Australia following an IFA seminar in Mt Gambier last month.

The comments were made in response to the South Australian Government’s amendments to the SA Natural Resources Management Act which, when implemented in the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan, requires water licensing of existing and new plantations for recharge interception and where applicable ground water extraction. There will also be a SA Government levy of approximately $2.70 per mega litre per year applied to forest water licenses. Scaled up across all forest growers this will be an annual cost of just under $1m.

In several water management areas the licences issued will not cover the deemed water use by plantations, therefore there will be no replanting of the unlicensed areas unless additional water licences are purchased, if available.

“While I understand why plantations are being charged for the deemed water they consume and I am pleased that forestry is working alongside other agricultural industries on this matter,” said Rob., “I am concerned that the baseline is not correct.”

According to the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, approximately 13% of the Australian landscape has been cleared since European settlement, which represents around 100 million hectares. It is not known how much of this was forest and woodland but is estimated at around 70 million hectares.

“Even if we allow for the different stocking rates between plantations and natural forest and woodlands it is very hard to conclude that we have re-planted any more than 10% of this loss,” he said. “In the South East of South Australia, the majority of pine plantations were initially planted directly on cleared native forest sites more than 50 years ago. Therefore it makes little sense, when the rights of other water users have not been affected, that plantations on such sites are also required to be licenced.”

Seminar participants learned how the first drains were dug in the wetlands of the south east of South Australia in the 1860s and the first ground water recording did not start until the 1890s at Blue Lake. However, much of the current analysis is based on recordings from the 1970s so it is difficult to know what the original water levels were like.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr Ashley Webb from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, pointed out that water-use licencing of plantations was going against a world-wide trend where plantation and forests are rewarded for value provided such as improved water quality, soil stabilization, increased bio-diversity and carbon sequestration.

“I am concerned that licencing could favour short-term crops and water market speculators. If this was the case the southeast of South Australia could end up becoming deforested just like parts of New Zealand as a result of the dairy boom. That would be a great pity at a time when we need to be expanding one of Australia’s most sustainable resources,” Rob warned.

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8 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

ForestWorks 7th Annual Industry Development Conference L

EADERS WORKING in the forest, wood, paper and timber products industry will have the opportunity to further expand their industry knowledge and networks this March at the ForestWorks 7th Annual Industry Development Conference.

The industry’s annual flagship event will be held in the National Convention Centre, Canberra, on 25 March. Participants can also take advantage of their time in Canberra with two associated Innovation Forums being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the 24 March.

Registrations are now open and ForestWorks, is encouraging early sign up. (see link below)

“In previous years, we focused on how we could move from the idea of innovation to practical and meaningful implementation and why we need to innovate. This year we will explore how we are becoming more innovative, embracing change and lifting productivity,” ForestWorks Chief Executive Officer Michael Hartman said.

“Last year’s event generated significant national media attention and attendance from the highest levels of industry and government, and we hope to achieve the same at this year’s conference,” he said.

The theme of the conference is Innovation in Action: skills and practices that work. Participants can take part in a

number of forums that look at the different areas of innovation that are unique to this industry: Due to the fantastic success of last year’s event, another Industry Gala Dinner, – cohosted by ForestWorks and the Australian Forest Products Association - will be held at Parliament House on 25 March.

Last year’s dinner attracted 600 industry leaders and MPs and an address was given

by Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Interested participants are advised to contact their State or industry association for dinner tickets in the first instance.

To register, visit www.forestworks.com. au/2015IDC

n ForestWorks Chief Executive Officer Michael Hartman.

Megafires, wildlife, carbon, products, and people: managing forests across the landscape

n Professor Rod Keenan.

FORESTS AND trees provide many benefits: water, biodiversity, scenic values, timber and firewood, land and

soil conservation and jobs in timber production or tourism.

Events in forests, like the recent fires in southern Australia, also present risks to people and assets.

We all share a common interest in the good management of our forest resources. With more active management across the landscape, we can do better at meeting the many expectations that the community holds for our forests and trees.

The 2015 conference of the Australian and New Zealand Institutes of Foresters will explore the need to go ‘beyond tenure’ to consider how to better manage all our forests for multiple values.

The conference, to be opened

by Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to

the Minister for Agriculture, will be held from 13-15 April in Creswick, Victoria. It is the largest gathering of forest management and research professionals in Australasia in the last four years.

Keynote addresses will include Professor Ross Garnaut, speaking on development and population in a century of climate change, Professor Kerry Arabena on the future of forest management in Australia, an indigenous perspective and Dr Tint Lwin Thaung on developments in forest management in the Asia Pacific region.

“I’m very excited about the range of speakers and breadth of forest management issues we are covering at the conference,” said Professor Rod Keenan, of

the University of Melbourne and Chair of the Conference Organising Committee.

“We are privileged to have visiting speakers such as US forest fire expert, Jerry Williams from the Brookings Institute, to talk about how we re-direct bushfire protection through better forest management and Professor Eric Hanson, from Oregon State, to lead discussion on innovation in forest products and processing.”

Experts from Australia and New Zealand will also be featured in sessions on carbon forestry, forest products and the supply chain, indigenous forest management, urban forestry, conserving forest biodiversity and integrating forests with agriculture.

“I encourage all those with an interest in the future of Australasian forests to participate in the conference and be part of the discussion,” said Professor Keenan, “and for younger forest and environmental professionals this is your opportunity to mix with forest management leaders and be part of the discussion about future forest management.”

Major sponsors of the conference include the Australian Government Department of Agriculture; the Victorian Government Department of Land, Water and Planning; Forest and Wood Products Australia; and ForestWorks Industry Skills Council.

Information on the conference program can be found at http:// www.forestryconference.org.au/.

Forestry adds festive feature The 7th Annual Industry Development Conference and Industry Gala Dinner is fast approaching, with less than 2 months to go.

Register now!

Don’t miss the industry’s flagship event and premier national networking opportunity

www.forestworks.com.au/2015IDC

This program has been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Industry ABN 39 946 785 543 ACN 130 528 291

A THREE-metre tall radiata pine from Sunny Corner State Forest made a 180-kilometre journey across the Great Divide to take pride of place in the drawing room of Vaucluse House Museum, the 19th-century home of William Charles Wentworth in Sydney’s eastern suburbs during festive season.

Forestry Corporation of NSW donated the tree to Sydney Living Museums, which manages Vaucluse House, to display as a Christmas tree.

Forestry Corporation’s Bathurst-based Fire & Stewardship Supervisor Martin Kong said the pine brought a touch of the Central West to the iconic house museum in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“Vaucluse House Museum has been open to the community for almost a century and we were pleased to be able to help the iconic House celebrate the festive season with a Central West radiata pine,” Martin said.

Forestry Corporation is the largest producer of radiata pine in Australia, producing enough timber to construct about a quarter of the houses built in Australia each year.

“While radiata pine is generally used as structural timber and pulp and paper products, and is not your traditional Christmas tree species, we are pleased to donate trees from our Central West plantations to support public buildings and community groups.”

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 9

NSW EPA recycling rebates open for business S

MALL BUSINESSES looking to reduce their waste costs can take advantage of up to $25,000 in Government rebates being offered through NSW EPA. Businesses can apply for a rebate for up to half the value of small scale recycling equipment such as compressors, organics processors, shredders, grinders and dehydrators, worth between $4,000 and $50,000. The rebates apply until 2016.

It s great to see that NSW EPA is committed to helping businesses manage their waste more effectively and reduce the cost burden for waste management, said Shaun Scallan, Business Development Manager Planet Ark.

supported by Promotion Partners Zero Waste South Australia and MobileMuster, the Australian mobile phone industry’s official product stewardship program.

The site is also supported by the BusinessRecycling Hotline on 1300 763 768.

1

Recycling Revolutions Report, Planet Ark 2013, based on figures from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities.

n Cardboard baler.

n Pallets pile.

SP 591 LX n Shaun Scallan, Business Development Manager Planet Ark

To qualify, businesses must undertake a free BinTrim audit prior to applying for a rebate. The project is supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the state waste levy.

Given that Australian businesses are generating an average of 1.7 tonnes of waste per employee yet only recycling half that amount1, incentives such as the NSW EPA rebates are an important tool for encouraging businesses to minimise waste and recover resources.

A growing number of businesses are telling of their recycling success stories, from councils and employment services to shopping centres, hotels and even hair salons.

Planet Ark s BusinessRecycling. com.au is an online directory and hotline specifically designed to make it easy for Australian businesses to find local recycling services for more than 90 different materials.

It also hosts details on the BinTrim program: http://businessrecycling. com.au/research/bintrim.cfm The Recycling Equipment Catalogue, available at http:// businessrecycling.com.au / equipment, contains information on a wide range of machinery to help businesses make fully informed decisions when choosing their recycling equipment.

Suppliers of recycling equipment are encouraged to list their products on the site, which has been designed for direct entry by suppliers and allows on-line editing, modification and additions to be made by each supplier for their respective equipment listings.

New suppliers can register at http://businessrecycling.com.au/ equipmentsupplier B u s i n e s s R e c ycl i n g.c o m . a u is made possible through the support of Foundation Partner, the NSW Environment Protection Authority, and Major Partner, the Victorian Government. It is also

Purpose built for harvesting and debarking of plantation grown eucalyptus.

The SP 591 LX is purpose built for harvesting and debarking of plantation grown eucalyptus.

It offers an unrivalled productivity, feed speed and debarking efficiency. Together with the over all super duty design that guarantees also maximum reliability and uptime the SP 591 LX truly offers all you need for a profitable harvesting operation.

Head Office Victoria Randalls Equipment Company 8 Wallace Avenue, Point Cook, Melbourne VIC Contact: Peter Randalls Ph: 03 9369 8988

Randalls Equipment Company Pty Ltd

Email. randalls@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au

Western Australia (NEW) Randalls Equipment Company 9B Charles Street, Albany WA

Contact: Adam Bremmer Ph: 0437 059 477

10 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

Dates for 2015 6-27 February 2015 International Online Conference on the Economics of Climate Change Mitigation Options in the Forestry Sector Location: Global (Online). http://www.fao.org/forestry/ cc-mitigation-economics/en/

15 - 20 February 2015 Gottstein Forest Science Course, Creswick, Victoria.

Contact Silvia Pongracic 0418 764 954 or www.gottsteintrust. org

19-22 February 2015 Legno & Edilizia. Fiera de Verona. Legno & Edilizia (Wood&Building) is a trade fair aimed at everyone in the wood construction supply chain, from architects through to building trades.

The show includes technical meetings, conferences, and practical demonstrations of woodworking machinery. i n fo@piem met ispa.com. htt p://w w w.legnoeedilizia. com.

23-27 February 2015 Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Capacity-building Workshop for South America.

Lima, Peru. http://www.cbd. int/doc/?meeting=5406

27 February - 1 March 2015 Nepal Wood International Expo.

Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall Kathmandu.

A leading architecture, construction, building materials, engineering, innovation, interiors and design trade event. Email: info@futurextrade.com. http:// nepalwood.in/index1.html

3-4 March 2015 FIEA’s Forest Industry Safety Summit conference Distinction Hotel Rotorua. http://forestsafety2015.com

3-5 March 2015 Ecobuild 2015.

ExCel London. Annual exhibition for sustainability in the built environment. http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/

10-11 March 2015 FIEA’s Forest Industry Safety Summit conference Bayview Eden Hotel in Melbourne. http:// forestsafety2015.com

15 - 20 March 2015 DANA 6-day China Wood Products Tour - log and lumber import ports, sawmills, veneer/plywood mills, furniture factories and a major construction site. Shanghai Region, China. Contact Julie Bell at admin@dana.co.nz.

HarvestTECH 2015 to focus on steep slope harvesting F

ORESTTECH 2013 sold out three weeks before the event ran. More than 430 forestry managers, forest owners, harvest planners and harvesting contractors from throughout New Zealand, Australia, Chile and North America attended the region’s first Steep Slope Wood Harvesting conference that ran in Rotorua, New Zealand. It ran in conjunction with the very popular and first Forest Industry Safety Summit. It was the largest gathering of its type seen in the region.

Analysis by Future Forests Research indicates that the proportion of the forest harvest from steep hill country in New Zealand (over 20 degrees slope) is currently 44% of the total wood harvest. This is forecast to rise to 53% by 2016 and to over 60% by 2025. Nationally over the next 12 years there is a requirement for a new cable harvesting crew every four weeks.

Harvesting on steeper slopes though presents a range of new challenges. Choosing the right equipment requires careful consideration by harvesting contractors. In addition to the very real issue of improving safety and communications for contractors working on this steeper terrain, new technology developments, cost, productivity and the environmental impacts of working on this country needs to be carefully weighed up.

New Zealand companies are leading the development of some of this new equipment and practices to extract wood off steeper slopes.

Some of the innovation is coming from the larger equipment suppliers working with those on the ground. However, much of the innovation is coming from contractors working together with local engineering companies.

n The first - world first - remote felling trial.

Because of the speed of change and range of innovations developed over the past two years (grapple-equipped hauler carriages, tethered “winch assist” machines, new wheeled harvesters, remote controlled mechanical tree felling and robotics, automation and image processing that’s being integrated into new machinery), HarvestTECH 2015 will again be run in Rotorua for Southern hemisphere forestry companies and contractors.

Like the inaugural and sold out event

in November 2013, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) will be building in the very latest developments out of the US, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Australia, Europe and South Africa – where keen interest is been shown on what’s already been achieved by innovative equipment suppliers and local contracting companies.

Further details on HarvestTECH 2015 can be found on the event website, www.harvesttech. events

Steep terrain and large stems at Forest Romania 2015 ELMIA AND DLG are starting a joint venture to establish a forestry fair in Romania. To be called Forest Romania, the fair will exhibit machines and technology in operation and will be held for the first time 16 – 18 September 2015. Elmia in Jönköping organises the world’s leading forestry fair, Elmia Wood. DLG in Germany organises the world’s leading agricultural fair, Agritechnica, plus other agricultural fairs in several countries.

“We want to establish this meeting place to help international manufacturers gain a strong foothold in this interesting market when the mechanisation of forestry operations really takes off,” said Torbjörn Johnsen of Elmia. “But of course it will also be an important gathering place for everyone who works in the Romanian forest industry.”

Romania is the largest forestry nation in southeast Europe but some of its neighbours such as Ukraine also have sizeable forest resources. The region as a whole has high timber values but a low level of mechanisation.

The workforce is still inexpensive and felling is currently done using chain saws, simple tractors and skidders. Significant volumes are even skidded out with horses. Although a lot of the standing timber is still owned by the central and municipal governments, all logging work is now done by private independent contractors or timber buyers.

The annual permitted felling volume is about 18 million cubic metres.

The fair will be located in the heart of Romania’s most densely forested region, near the city of Braşov in Transylvania. The forest administration in Tărlungeni (Ocolul Silvic Ciucaş RA) is providing a good site which is equipped with excellent logistics and features forest conditions that well ref lect those of Romania as a whole.

“This must be the European country with the toughest logging conditions you can

n The site of Forest Romania 2015 is typical of Romania, with steep terrain and large stems. Alexandru Jica from the forest administration in Ciucaş, Oividu Ionescu from Transilvania University of Braş ov, Bogdan Eftimie from the forest administration, Torbjörn Johnsen of Elmia, Corina Mares of DLG InterMarketing and Eugen Comş a from the forest administration are planning Romania’s first demo fair out in the forest.

imagine,” says Reiner Hofmann of DLG. “Steep terrain, large stems and a sparse network of forest roads place tough demands on technology and machines.

“Forest Romania will not be a fair for the broad mass of products and companies but rather only for companies that can offer solutions which work here,” he adds, mentioning as examples harvesters and

forwarders suitable for steep terrain and modern skidders and cable systems.

The fair will be a joint venture between Elmia and DLG in which DLG’s Romanian subsidiary DLG InterMarketing will take care of the local arrangements whilst Elmia’s and DLG’s forestry specialists are responsible for the concept and contents.

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 11

Forestry Corporation’s mobile app wins fans at ForestTECH T

HE FCMAP mobile mapping application for iPads and iPhones developed by Forestry Corporation of NSW received an enthusiastic reception at ForestTECH conferences in Rotorua and Melbourne in November 2014, where the system was unveiled for the first time.

Manager of Forest Information and Planning Mike Sutton, who presented at the conferences, said the application was already revolutionising planning and forest management processes for Forestry Corporation’s staff.

“This is not just an electronic map. We have custom built a system that links our GIS data with all our other planning and information systems, and allows the field capture of spatially-related data such as threatened species records, sitebased planning information in softwood plantations and fire planning and management details,” Mike said.

“What this means in practice, is that field staff can, for example, collect data or complete a survey in the field and capture this information directly using the app. Importantly the app works in “off-line” mode and does not need 3G or wifi connectivity to collect data. Once coverage is available, records can be instantly synchronised in both the application and the corporate spatial database.

“This is making significant savings in field data capture and planning time. Not only does the system remove the need to manually record data and transcribe it into multiple systems, but it also means several staff can complete simultaneous surveys and access each other’s data in the field in real time.

Importantly, it also improves accuracy by reducing the risk of transcription errors and using the GPS location of each record.

“As the app can also be used to display current location, using the inbuilt GPS on devices, the FCMap app is also winning fans at the other end of the process where harvesting contractors have been trialling the app during active operations, showing the location of their machinery in relation to electronic versions of harvest plan maps.

“Improved computer power, telecommunications networks, mobile devices, lower costs and easier access to high resolution imagery have all come together to make many of

n Manager of Forest Information and Planning Mike Sutton.

the technologies that have seen rapid development over the past few years practical to implement – and our map app is just one example of how we’re starting to see positive results.”

Forestry Corporation also organised a workshop at the Melbourne ForestTECH conference on the operational implementation of remote sensing and also coordinated a workshop run by Martin Isenburg, developer of LAStools LiDAR processing software.

“ForestTECH was a great forum for the exchange of information and ideas. There was a general spirit of collaboration among organisations using these technologies and the workshops were ideal forums for the exchange of ideas and challenges. We came out of ForestTECH expecting great things in the development and application of technology for forestry management in the coming years.”

12 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

Southern brown bandicoot continues to thrive in Eden’s State forests S

EASONAL MONITORING using remote cameras shows a population of endangered southern brown bandicoots is continuing to thrive in State forests near Eden with the aid of a permanent pest animal baiting program.

Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Eden-based Senior Field Ecologist Peter Kambouris said the bandicoots were being detected at more sites every time surveys were conducted.

“Any farmer will be able to tell you the problems pest animals such as foxes and wild dogs cause livestock, but monitoring over the years has shown they’re also the major threat to forest wildlife,” Peter said.

“Before changing our seasonal baiting program to a permanent predator control program, we had only detected the southern brown bandicoot at one site following a 15,000 survey-night effort in the region’s State forests six years ago.

“Since we installed permanent baits in Nadgee, East Boyd, Yambulla, Timbillica and Bruces Creek State Forests we’ve seen a remarkable turnaround in the endangered southern brown bandicoot population and the most recent survey has shown once again the population is thriving.

“We’ve now detected them at 38 of the 40 monitoring sites

since monitoring commenced, and up to 25 different sites across the vast state forests south of Eden.

“We complete regular surveys over an area of around 100,000 hectares using 120 remote cameras to monitor size and health of wildlife populations within the habitats they occupy. Our latest data indicates once again that the forests are in great health and native wildlife is thriving.

“Southern brown bandicoots are just one of the endangered species we carefully monitor to ensure our forest and pest management programs are appropriate and effective.

“The threatened Long-nosed Potoroo was one of the first species to respond positively to the changed baiting program and is now also regularly detected at many of our monitoring sites.

“The success of the potoroo’s response has allowed us to establish a partnership with Environment Australia who wanted to reintroduce the species into Booderee National Park near Jervis Bay where it once occurred.

“We trapped 24 potoroo from various locations in our State forests in October and, working with staff from Environment Australia, Australian National University and Taronga Zoo, the tiny mammals were relocated to Booderee

First flooding declared a success with 26 billion litre boost to forest fish THE KOONDROOK–Perricoota Flood Enhancement Works have passed their first major test, with more than 26 billion litres of water passing through the Koondrook–Perricoota forest since late August.

Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Project Manager Linda Broekman said the environmental watering event was the first time the significant new infrastructure had been used.

“This first watering event has been four years in the making and we are thrilled to report that it has been a success. All of the structures performed extremely well during the event and early indications suggest the forest vegetation and wildlife have responded brilliantly,” Ms Broekman said.

“The Koondrook–Perricoota Flood Enhancement Works were constructed to mimic natural flooding events and saw an estimated 4,500 hectares of priority wetlands, creeks, bird and fish breeding sites and forested areas inundated with water during the late winter–spring period.

“This environmental watering event was designed to replenish the forest’s extensive network of creeks and semi-permanent wetlands, restoring wetland habitats and providing critical water for native fish populations that rely on deep pools within the forest.

“So far the vegetation within the forest has responded outstandingly, with flood-dependent understorey and wetland plants taking advantage

of the flows, and native fish, macro invertebrates and tadpoles appear to be responding well to the nutrient-rich water.

“Importantly, oxygen levels have remained high in the Wakool River and Murray River systems throughout the flooding event.

“While initial indications are pleasing, work will continue for some time to assess the full impact of the event and will include aerial surveys of birdlife, sampling of fish and vegetation monitoring. This monitoring will help us make any alterations needed to ensure we continue to improve the environmental outcomes during future flooding events.

“We have been working closely with the local community throughout the planning and commissioning of this event and thank them for their ongoing contribution to this project. Any impacts to landholders or others were minimised due to this planning and were managed in close consultation with landholders.”

The works were constructed by State Water Corporation and delivered through The Living Murray initiative, which is funded by the Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Commonwealth governments, and coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The program delivers recovered water to selected icon sites to protect and preserve habitat.

National Park to re-establish a resident population. Animals are being radio tracked and appear to be doing well in their new home.”

n Kelly Rowley, Peter Kambouris and Jess Peterie.

Image Parks Australia. Photo Andrew Tatnell

Timber Queensland elects new Chair SEAN GRIBBLE, National Operations Manager, Agora Timbers, is the new Chair of Timber Queensland, the peak body representing the State’s $2.4 billion per annum forest and timber industry.

Timber Queensland CEO Rod McInnes said Timber Queensland benefits considerably from having a stable Board that represents the complete supply chain of Queensland’s forest and timber industry.

“Our Directors understand all facets of the industry and how they interplay and impact,” he said.

Other Directors elected at the AGM included: • Chris Hay, GM Northside Truss & Frame: representing Timber Fabrication • Skene Finlayson, MD, Finlayson Timber & Hardware: representing Timber Merchants • James Hyne, Production Manager, Hyne Timber: representing Plantation Sawmilling • Robert Tapiolas, Director, Parkside Group: representing Hardwood Sawmilling • Curly Tatnell, Chairman, DTM

Timber: representing Hardwood Sawmilling • Doug Simms, MD, Simms Group: representing Plantation Sawmilling • Brian Farmer, CEO HQPlantations: representing Forest Growing & Management • Paul Bidwell, Deputy Executive Director, Master Builders; representing Technical Subscriber members Rod acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Chair Chris Hay, General Manager Northside Truss & Frame, who stepped down as Chair after two years in the position.

Rapid-growth plantations eyed for water management

By Rob Payne ScienceNetwork WA UTILISING RAPID-growth tree plantations could support water management in dryland farming systems while producing feedstock for bioenergy, new research contends.

Murdoch University Professor Richard Harper says phasefarming with trees (PFT) combats rising water tables and soil salinisation.

“In dryland systems, widespread replacement of deep-rooted native vegetation with shallow-rooted annual plants for agriculture causes excess water to build up over time,” Prof Harper says.

“Annual crops often don’t use all rainfall, and as a consequence, water builds up in the soil.

“Salts stored in the soil then rise to the surface, causing problems for agricultural production, water resources and biodiversity.”

Prof Harper says a potential solution is using fast-growing, deep-rooting native trees for a short period, and then returning to agriculture. These trees would dry the soil out to depths of several metres.

To test the idea, he and his colleagues conducted a five-year field experiment near Corrigin in the Wheatbelt to see how different species and planting

densities might help lower the water table.

Three species (Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus occidentalis and Pinus radiata) were planted at four densities (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 stems per hectare) and in three landscape locations.

The team found E. occidentalis planted at 4000 stems per hectare was the most effective wateruser, extracting 443–771mm more water by four years of age than would normally occur.

Prof Harper says this result could allow for three-to-fouryear tree rotations followed by 11–20 years of agriculture.

E. occidentalis also showed the

best biomass yield at 4000 stems per hectare on lower slope sites.

Overall, results were highly variable, with drought deaths found to be common in upper slope plots by age three, and at mid-slope plots by age five, suggesting the need for selective planning.

“The marked variation in soil water depletion between different species and with planting density indicates that the amount of soil water depletion can be managed by manipulating these factors,” Prof Harper says.

“Carefully matching species to site conditions will be an important component of

deploying the phase-farming with trees system.”

Prof Harper says the results contrast the belief that biomass production always has negative consequences for agriculture.

He adds that apart from PPT, this large, presently un-utilised source of water could be used by other crops, if their rooting systems could extend to depths of several metres.

The project involved Murdoch University, the Forest Products Commission, The University of Western Australia and funding from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Land was provided

by Lawrie and Jenny Pitman.

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 13

OPINION

Push to close Australia’s native timber industry to ‘save’ forest carbon based on flawed science

By Mark Poynter as reported in the Online Opinion website. [This was posted at the end of November and, unfortunately, not in time for our last publication for the year. However, despite the time lapse Mark’s viewpoint remains highly relevant.]

IN A media release, the Australian National University (ANU) announced that “in partnership with information and communication technologists at Fujitsu Laboratories in Japan”, its researchers had found that “protecting native forests by ending logging could double the amount of carbon stored in trees”, and that “avoiding emissions from logging native forests is important to help fight climate change”.

The ANU media release went on to explain that the findings were drawn from research undertaken in the mountain ash forests of Victoria’s Central Highlands in which a new national park – the Great Forests National Park – has been proposed by ‘the community’.

Furthermore, it announced that two research papers proposing new strategies to manage native forests would be presented at the IUCN’s World Parks Congress due to start the following day in Sydney.

On the same day, a media release from Fujitsu Laboratories about this new research explained how the Japanese company applied its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technology “to quantitively assess changes in the forest’s carbon stock”.

According to Fujitsu, “the new research has found innovative new methods of sustainably managing native forests ... that keeps volumes of atmospheric CO2 in check and that work for the protection of endangered species” Fujitsu went on to explain that it had simulated and analysed changes to the forest carbon stock caused by natural wildfires compared to human use for wood production. Their media release included two diagrams - one purporting to show carbon f low associated with wood production; and the other comparing carbon stock volume under natural wildfire and wood production scenarios.

These two diagrams exhibit critical errors that stem from an earlier research paper by ANU conservation scientists – Keith et al , published in June 2014: Managing temperate forests for carbon storage: impacts of logging versus forest protection on carbon stocks, by Keith,

Lindenmayer, Mackey, Blair, Carter, MacBurney, Okada, Konishi-Nagano, published by Ecosphere, ESA Online Journals Vol 5 Issue 6 Article 75.

That paper’s lead author, Dr Heather Keith, is also named on the ANU media release as the contact for media interviews on this new joint ANU/Fujitsu research. This confirms that the errors contained in her paper, Keith et al (2014), are being repeated in this new joint research. They include: • A misconception that only 40% of the merchantable biomass of a clear-felled mountain ash forest in Victoria’s Central Highlands is removed off-site (as usable logs).

• This is an avoidable error which has arisen from the misquoting of a cited source reference. It is serious because it creates a false contention which becomes the basis for further errors.

Keith et al cited Raison and Squire (2007) as the source of this misconception. However, Table 4 (p.23) of Raison and Squire shows that in “Moist, high quality forests” clearfell harvested for saw-log and pulpwood, 40% of the ‘harvested above-ground tree biomass’ remains on-site as slash residue.

Therefore 60% (not 40%) is being removed off-site as usable logs.

Further to this, the Raison and Squire (2007) figure is an Australia-wide figure for a range of wet forest types and ages.

However, in the Victorian Central Highlands ash forests studied by Keith et al , timber harvesting occurs almost exclusively in 75-year old advanced re-growth forests. According to the state’s commercial forestry agency, VicForests, this harvesting produces substantially higher log recovery than that cited

by Raison and Squire (2007), with off-site log removals often comprising 80 – 85% of the above-ground tree biomass.

Keith et al’s substantial understating of the proportion of merchantable biomass removed off-site as logs has significantly adverse ramifications for its carbon accounting calculations.

They have been based on significantly under-stated carbon storage in wood products, and substantially over-stated carbon emissions during slash residue burns.

A f lawed determination that just 27% of the harvested log volume produced from these forests is saw-log used to produce sawn timber.

Keith et al have determined this figure from just one year’s harvest sales records for the

whole of Victoria, including from the full suite of forest types.

Using the same methodology, VicForests’ sales records over the past three-years show sawlog comprising a significantly higher average of 37% of statewide log production.

Furthermore, this state-wide figure doesn’t ref lect the greater proportional saw-log production from the higher quality ash regrowth forests of the Central Highlands’ study area.

According to VicForests, the saw-log proportion of all logs harvested from the study area’s ash re-growth forests typically varies from 35 – 40%, but can be as high as 50%, depending on the forest quality in the particular harvesting coupe.

This error significantly

carbon accounting on 20,600 ha of forest being harvested over the five years from 2011 – 16. This is around three times greater than the reality. Part of this period has already passed and the actually harvested areas for the first three years total 4,200 ha – in 2010/11 – 1600ha; 2011/12 – 1300ha; and 2012/2013 – 1300ha.

This error also has significant ramifications for the paper’s findings because the estimated carbon stock has been modelled on a grossly inf lated area.

Collectively, these quite fundamental errors have contributed to a highly f lawed carbon accounting calculations that enabled Keith et al (2014) to grossly over-state the impact of timber production on supposedly exacerbating carbon emissions.

"fundamental errors have contributed to a highly flawed carbon accounting calculations" understates how much harvested wood is actually made into solid timber products capable of long-term carbon storage; an erroneous conclusion that sawn timber ultimately comprises only 4% of the total merchantable above-ground tree biomass of the harvested forest.

This is a consequence of the first two mistakes and grossly understates the reality.

If these mistakes are corrected to ref lect the real situation, the sawn timber component is actually likely to be three or more times greater than the 4% figure used by Keith et al in their carbon accounting calculations.

A critically wrong assumption that mountain ash forests being used for wood production in Victoria’s Central Highlands are being managed on a 50-year cycle of harvest and regeneration, rather than the reality of 80 years.

While Victoria’s Timber Industry Strategy (2009) was cited as the source of this claim, a search of this document found that it contained no reference to a 50-year harvest rotation. In fact, it is well-known that VicForests are planning an 80-year rotation length for that proportion of Central Highlands mountain ash forests which is available for future use.

This is another significant error because it assumes that forest waste from future timber harvesting will be burnt and emit carbon at nearly twice the actual planned frequency.

Major over-stating of the area of Central Highlands’ ash forest that is being annually harvested and regenerated.

Keith et al (2014) has based its

That these errors are being repeated in the new research undertaken by many of the same ANU researchers in conjunction with Fujitsu Laboratories, is evident in the two diagrams contained in the Fujitsu media

release. One of these diagrams is a reproduction of Figure 8 from Keith et al, 2014 which contains the first three errors; with the other two incorporated in the second diagram.

A further potential misconception f lagged in the Fujitsu media release is that all forest burnt by wildfire is presumed to be salvage logged when, in reality, the limitations of contractor capability and time before timber degrade ensures that the majority is not. This also has considerable potential to skew carbon accounting calculations.

Unfortunately over the past year, the factual errors outlined above have become part of the anti-logging lexicon by dint of being repeated by ANU ecologist David Lindenmayer (a co-author of Keith et al) on ABC Radio, in several newspaper articles, and at a Greens-sponsored ‘extinction emergency’ forum.

In addition, they have been used in promotional material for a forests and climate change forum organised and sponsored by a number of forest and climate ENGOs, and used to support the push for a Great Forests continued on page 14

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14 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

OPINION

The VET merry-go-round

By David McElvenny (CEO of Workspace Training) THE TIMBER industry is used to upheaval and uncertainty, and those of us who work in the industry’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector are just as exhausted by it as everyone else.

2014 was a turbulent year for training providers.

Various Government bodies were abolished – including the National Skills Standards Council (which oversaw the standards for the VET system) and the Workplace English Language and Literacy Program (which has funded many training programs and resource development projects over the last few years). Other funding programs were also cut, including the National Workforce Development Fund and many state-based programs.

The new Standards for Registered Training Organisations (2015) came into force on 1 January this year. Many RTOs said they were just getting used to the previous standards, called the National VET Regulator (NVR) Standards, which only lasted a couple of years.

But the minister in charge, Ian McFarlane, had said that the new standards were essential because the VET system was ‘so close to broken that we have regular meetings now with people who say, “for god’s sake just fix this”’.

While not everyone shared Mr McFarlane’s optimism that the Government’s new policies would fix everything, there was a lot of support from training providers for the

VET Reform Taskforce, which held consultation meetings and forums throughout the year. Several initiatives grew out of this review, which were to be implemented in 2015.

These included a new model for developing and managing training packages, and an overhaul of the way Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) operate.

But on 23 December, after most training providers had knocked off for the year hoping that the worst was behind them and that the new year would be more about consolidation and stability, the VET sector copped another change out of the blue. As a result of a ministerial reshuffle, the sector got shunted sideways and ended up in a new department with a new minister.

The minister in charge is now Christopher Pyne, and his department is now called the Department of Education and Training (DET). What this might mean for Mr McFarlane’s intended plans is anyone’s guess. The VET Reform website now carries the new department’s emblem, so we’ll have to wait and see whether My Pyne accepts the recommendations that have been made so far, or cherry picks the bits and pieces he likes, or decides to throw the whole thing out the window and start again.

In the last handful of years, the VET sector has been administered by a succession of Government departments, from DEST, to DEEWR, DIISRTE, DICCSRTE, and up until a few weeks ago, the Department of Industry.

Throughout this time there has been a procession of

policy changes, resulting in the creation of new agencies, merging or abolition of other agencies, followed by the merging or abolition of the new agencies, and so on.

However, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Unscrupulous training providers are still managing to exploit loopholes in the regulatory system, as a few high profile cases in recent months have demonstrated, and honest providers are still trying to keep up with continual changes in administrative requirements, funding arrangements and operating conditions.

At the end of last year, the Senate approved another inquiry into the VET system, with the terms of reference being negotiated between Labor and the Greens. This inquiry will look into rorts occurring with VET Fee-help, RTO access to public funding, regulatory requirements, and other issues bedevilling the VET system.

It is ironic that the Government is now funding the delivery of innovation skills programs for the VET sector. Training providers, in the timber industry at least, have been learning innovation skills at the school of hard knocks for the last decade, and have had no choice but to either graduate with flying colours or go out of business.

At a public service level, the funding may have been better spent schooling policy makers in the skills needed to create and maintain a stable and consolidated system.

Closure push based on flawed science continued from page 13 National Park in Victoria’s Central Highlands being mooted

by ENGOs as the saviour of the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.

The errors in Keith et al (2014) raise important questions about the academic standards governing the ANU’s forests conservation research program, including peer review and the public dissemination of research findings.

Peer review may be vaunted by the academic community as an unimpeachable guarantee that scientific evidence has been through a process of unbiased testing, but contrary to this idealistic expectation it can be readily biased by who the reviewers are and their professional, personal or political agendas; and/or the extent to which they actually know the topic and its wider context.

As Keith et al (2014) shows, it is folly to automatically accept peer review as a guarantee that the factual and conceptual accuracy of a research paper is beyond reproach. Clearly, it was reviewed by person/s unfamiliar

with the paper’s Victorian study area and the basic forestry data associated with it, and this is at the core of the paper’s f laws.

It is noteworthy that ANU forests conservation research papers are being increasingly published in international online journals where peer review may not be as rigorous as was traditionally expected. Indeed, ESA Journals, which published Keith et al (2014), enables submitting authors to suggest their own peer reviewers from an international database of potential reviewers.

This may be an attraction of publishing in international online journals whereby peer review is more likely to be undertaken by scientists lacking sufficient background knowledge of the Australian context to meaningfully challenge the researchers’ work. Sadly, this is a recipe for highly f lawed science.

The major concern of how research findings with implications for the future of Australian forestry are being disseminated through the media is arguably of greater significance because of its potential to mislead the widert community and shape political decisions.

Keith et al (2014) and other forest conservation research papers produced by much the same cabal of ANU scientists since 2008, have created considerable consternation amongst forest scientists and forestry practitioners about a pre-conceived academic agenda.

This has been inf lamed by perceptions of inappropriate collusion between ENGOs and researchers zealously promoting draft findings at anti-forestry campaign events and through the media in support of ENGO agendas.

The power of sensational media headlines has long been recognised by environmental activists, and this seems to have been impressed upon some ANU conservation scientists to such a degree that loudly promoting their findings in a carefullytimed media blitz may be taking precedence over the integrity of their research. This may be due to a realisation that, even if the veracity of their research is questionable, by the time this is detected their findings have already been heavily promoted through the media and appropriated for use in ENGO campaigns and are shaping

public opinion and political decision-making.

That the f lawed findings drawn from Keith et al (2014) are underpinning the new joint ANU/Fujitsu Laboratories forest carbon research to be released with much fanfare to an international audience at the World Parks Congress, should be acutely embarrassing for both the ANU and Fujitsu. The Japanese company has every right to feel aggrieved as it partnered with the ANU researchers in good faith only to be let down by their lack of academic rigour.

In conclusion, advocating the closure of local timber industries to ‘save’ forests for carbon is inappropriate without any consideration of the implications of having to then replace Australian-grown hardwood with substitutes – either imported hardwoods, or non-wood materials such as steel or concrete – whose supply embodies substantially greater greenhouse emissions. These unintended consequences are yet to be considered by the ANU’s various forest carbon papers.

It is also worth remembering that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in

its 4th Assessment Report in 2007, acknowledged that: “In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained (carbon) mitigation benefit.”

Victoria’s Central Highlands’ ash forests – seemingly the epicentre of ANU forest carbon research – already meets this ideal with around 70% of its area contained in parks and reserves that are growing carbon and conserving environmental values; while the other 30% hosts renewable timber and fibre production while also supporting carbon sequestration and conservation values.

Mark Poynter is a professional forester with 30 years experience.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and acts for it in a voluntary capacity as a media spokesperson.

His book Saving Australia’s Forests and its Implications was published in 2007. www. o n l i n e o p i n i o n .c o m . a u / v i e w. asp?article=16859

The premier forest and timber industry web portal Latest industry news

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Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 15

SAFETY

International safety specialists to focus on forestry T

HE FOREST Industry Engineering Association’s flagship Forest Industry Safety Summit conference series will be extended to include Australia this March. The event sold out in November 2013 so is being doubled in size. It will run at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua on 3-4 March and at the Bayview Eden Hotel in Melbourne on 10-11 March.

“We are pleased to have secured the services of four internationally recognised forest safety specialists for the 2015 Safety Summit series,” said FIEA spokesman John Stulen. “Each one of our keynote speakers brings a different set of specialist skills vital to making positive safety change for people in forest industries across Australia and New Zealand.”

Reynold Hert, CEO, BC Forest Safety, British Columbia, Canada His organisation has an excellent track record in facilitating safety improvement. He joined the BC Forest Safety Council as Chief Executive Officer in March 2009. Reynold brings to the Council a firm belief that safe businesses are the best businesses. He believes forestry operations that integrate safety as a way of doing business can see improved results including fewer injuries, lower costs, higher productivity and better worker morale.

Wiremu Lee Edmonds, Safety Champion, Tuakiri Wiremu Lee Edmonds ancestral bloodlines link him to various tribes within the North Island of New Zealand and extend into England and Sweden. In 2010 Wiremu became a leading facilitator of the Safety Culture Tree to forest principles, contractors and logging crews throughout NZ. Wiremu has a powerful message on forest safety and is actively involved throughout New Zealand delivering keynote speeches, developing and facilitating leadership initiatives in the cooperate sector.

Ivan Pupulidy, Director of the Office of Learning, US Forest Service, USA In 1995, Ivan became a US Forest Service Lead Plane Pilot for wild land fire operations and later became a Regional Aviation Safety Manager. Ivan completed several internationally recognized courses in safety program management and accident investigation and completed a Master’s of Science Degree in Human Factors and Systems Safety at Lund University, Sweden. He will deliver a unique presentation from his focus on safety in forest fire-fighting in the US. Steven Falk, Founder and President,

Switchback Systems, British Columbia, CANADA Switchback’s secret strength is its commitment to team. Steven has had the privilege to give leadership to this growing innovative team since 2010. Steven says,”We believe people can change and that true, sustainable success is found in the power of team. Our Switchback Foundation leads participants through the fascinating process of understanding how our stored memories form our core values and how our core values direct our thoughts that ultimately produce the actions by which we are judged.“ Previous to Switchback, Steve operated a successful counselling and private consulting practice on Vancouver Island in Canada for 21 years.

The four keynote speakers will be complemented by a series of local industry speakers and safety specialists to keep a focus on the real needs of local forest companies and contractors. The conference content is deliberately directed at offering real value to logging contractor owners and their crew leaders. Senior forest managers and supervisors are also a key part of the target audience.

Full details of the conference programs and registration details can be found here: http:// forestsafety2015.com

n Reynold Hert.

n Steven Falk.

About Forest Industry Contractors Association (FIEA) Our group is completely focused on hosting technical conference programmes for people from all shapes and sizes of forest and wood products companies. We provide conference attendance and participation for people working in both New Zealand and Australian operations. We offer an independent forum to allow people across companies to evaluate new tools, techniques and technologies for business improvement.

With the extent of our industry coverage the networking and learning opportunities with at our conferences with leading local and international technology providers is also a significant benefit to leaders, managers supervisors and workers alike. FIEA is well recognised as providing one of the most effective vehicles for technology transfer for forest products companies.

n Wiremu Lee Edmonds.

Head and face protection for forestry industry WHEN IT comes to protection ... use your head! 3M’s new Peltor™ Lumberjack System combines head, face and hearing protection and is specifically created for the logging and gardening industries.

The uniquely designed front visor shield helps eliminate sawdust and rain from falling between the mesh screen and hard cap. The metal mesh visor and Peltor™ Class 5 earmuffs can be swivelled up or down. A rain guard protects the wearer’s neck from debris and rain.

The Lumberjack System features the recently launched Peltor™ G-2000 Hard Hat with an innovative design that offers a smooth ratchet suspension, and easily accommodates earmuffs, a visor and other accessories.

The helmet also boasts the Peltor™ Uvicator™ Sensor that changes colour when the hard hat is exposed to UV light. This feature helps alert the wearer when it’s time to replace the hard hat.

n Ivan Pupulidy.

Primary industry sector on verge of a technological revolution WHILE FARMERS and other rural industries have always been innovators and pioneers, many city dwellers still think of them as tough, hardworking people who do without ‘modern’ technologies such as smart phones, tablets and big screen TVs. Times have changed. The reality is something quite different. These and an array of new and innovative technologies are now a vital component of most rural businesses.

City dwellers can use their latest mobile gadget as they make their way into work. Modern farmers would rather use their latest UAV (drone) for a spin around the property or set up their new driverless tractor for the day’s operations - all while tracking everything via their tablets using GPS and wireless networks.

Precision agriculture has been an integral part of the industry for decades. However, new technologies like UAVs, robotics and automation are dramatically changing what can be done out on the farm, orchard, forest or on the water. UAVs are monitoring farm conditions in realtime and feed back precise data to improve productivity. Automated harvesters are using GPS and localised sensor monitoring to plot directions and operate without a driver. Robotic milking systems have also been designed to automate the whole process and increase productivity.

A recent report by Research and Markets forecasts the global precision agriculture to become a US$6.34 billion industry by 2022.

They state that “the convergence of modern technologies and IT with agriculture is future pushing the demand of precision farming techniques in the market”.

Lux Research estimates that the market for commercial UAVs (drones) will reach US$1.7 billion in 2025.

Much of this growth will be driven by the use of UAVs in agricultural and other rural industries. The report notes that “drones as a service” will emerge as a preferred model, where local businesses can use the technology without any expensive investment in systems.

Another report by BI Intelligence goes further and estimates that US$11.7 billion will be spent on commercial UAVs over the next decade.

Just this month the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise released a report highlighting the potential for New Zealand’s combined agritechnology exports to grow to $1.2 billion annually. While New Zealand are leaders in agricultural technology, currently Israel, a small desert country, exports nearly 10 times more agritechnologies than New Zealand.

In Australia, an estimate from the Australian Certified UAV Operators organisation has up to 12,000 people using drones in the country, with more than 1,000 using them for commercial operations. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is reporting close to 200 approved UAV operators in Australia, doubling the amount approved at the start of 2014.

There is a wealth of opportunity for the rural sector to capitalise on the technologies that are coming out right now. In April, MobileTECH 2015, a New Zealand and Australian technology series, will be run showcasing the latest UAVs, robotics and automation technologies for the primary sector. Local and international experts will discuss where the technology is taking us and how to best integrate this to boost productively in our businesses.

MobileTECH 2015 will be held on 21-22 April 2015 on the Gold Coast, Australia and again in Auckland, New Zealand on 29-30 April 2015.

Registrations are now open and further information on this event can be found at www.mobiletech.events.

16 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

NEW PRODUCTS

Komatsu’s XT-3 Series Evolution T

HERE’S SOMETHING special about the start of a New Year. It offers not only new hope and new beginnings but this year it sees the release of Komatsu’s next generation XT-3 Series Track Feller-Bunchers and Harvesters which offer significant improvements in operator comfort, ease of operation, productivity, reliability and durability.

“These represent the most dramatic changes to-date in the evolution of the XT-3 Series machines,” says Komatsu Forest Msrketing Manager, Mike Jones.

Among the many XT-3 improvements, the Komatsu XT-3 Forestry Cab stands out as being the most impressive. Having been designed and engineered with a total focus on “attention to the details”, the new cab delivers ergonomics, technology, and fit and finish to place the XT-3 cab design at the top of its class.

The XT-3 cab is equipped with the latest IQAN-MD4 programmable digital control system --a “first in the forest” for track forest machines.

“The new XT-3 cab layout is more ergonomically efficient and spacious, and quieter. Its sloped roofline increases headroom above and forward of the seat,” says Mike .

“Larger front, side and skylight windows provide superior visibility and a commanding work view. Eleven (11) brilliant white LED lights provide 2-3 times more illumination across a larger area,” said Mike.

The new XT-430-3, XT430L-3, XT445L-3 and XT460L-3 models all have the latest Komatsu undercarriage and hydraulic improvements for greater reliability and durability. The XT460L-3, with larger boom and arm cylinders, has 37% greater lift capacity at full reach compared to the prior XT450L-2.

HYDRAULICS & UNDERCARRIAGE •

XT460L-3 model: Larger hydraulic boom arm cylinders increase lift capacity by 37%

•

Continuous chain guide profile to minimize “snaking”; reduces roller thrust load and chain impact at roller cut-outs

•

Upgraded Implement Pump bearings for longer service life

•

Lengthened chain guide profile at idler & sprocket to reduce track chain twisting

•

1-2 additional bottom rollers (depending on model) for improved track chain support and roller load distribution

•

Redesigned track shoe supports to reduce track chain twisting.

• •

•

Upgraded chain guide (rock guard) material for improved service life XT445L/XT460L track roller guards are now removable to allow easy access to large capacity rollers Improved track chain alignment with:

OPERATOR COMFORT • •

Six (6) multi-level fully adjustable vents provide full AC/Heat cabin airflow Cab is pressurized with fresh air flow from all six (6) vents in AC/Heat mode

n Superb visibility ... full floor-to-c and has no window bars.

•

Dash-mounted AC/Heat controls now reachable from a seated position

•

AM/FM/Weather Band Stereo Radio w/iPod/ MP3 input relocated from ceiling to the operator’s left side

EXTERIOR UPDATES •

Modern, sleek styling is common with Komatsu Log Loaders

•

Forestry cab is Oregon OSHA ROPS/

•

FOPS/TOPS/FOG/OPS/WBC certified

•

Sloped roof design provides more headroom, reduces debris build-up, and lowers machine transport height below 14’6” (4.42 m)

•

VISI •

• • •

•

Robust new service doors are a triple-hinged design with new lever latches

n Komatsu’s next generation XT-3 Series Track Feller-Bunchers and Harvesters offer significant improvements in operator comfort, ease of operation, productivity, reliability and durability. A new XT430-3 was delivered to Caboolture-based Minglerose as this edition went to print.

n Komatsu XT-3 forestry cab offe

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 17

FROM KOMATSU

ceiling 1.25” (32 mm) thick polycarbonate front window is 10% larger for a commanding view

IBILITY

•

Full floor-to-ceiling 1.25” (32 mm) thick polycarbonate front window is 10% larger for a commanding view and has no window bars

Komatsu is “first in the forest” to offer the stateof-the-art technology IQAN-MD4 digital control system

•

Boomside window is larger and has no window bars

IQAN-MD4 display provides the operator with a true “Command Central” control system

•

Rugged 7” (18 cm) LED color touchscreen monitor provides the operator with sensitive touch response even when wearing gloves

Right-side window is larger; lower door handle position further improves operator’s view Skylight window is 60% larger providing a clear upward view from the seated position; retractable sunshade is standard Eleven (11) exterior LED lights provide 2-3 times more brilliant work area illumination IQAN-MD4 DIGITAL CONTROL

ers all technology and creature comforts.

n IQAN-MD4 display provides the operator with a true “Command Central” control system.

The screen provides excellent viewing in all lighting conditions with a 170° wide viewing angle,” said Brett, “and all former gauges are now integrated into the new IQAN-MD4 display screen, and all switches are now located forward of the seatback.”gine “STOP” button has been added. The “Highly intuitive” Komatsu programming makes operation and system navigation easy.

n Among the many XT-3 improvements, the Komatsu XT-3 Forestry Cab stands out as being the most impressive.

18 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

THE ESSENTIALS

Tips for loggers from Caterpillar and Cat dealers

Lower Your Operating Costs with Scheduled Oil Sampling

By David Sikorsky, Technical Representative, Caterpillar Forest Products

W

ith the cost of major component overhaul and replacement, along with the expense of extended downtime, heavy equipment owners should do all they can to get as much value out of their investment as possible.

Oil sampling on a regular basis is literally the cheapest insurance you can buy today.

Many owners manage their planned costs by purchasing extended warranties, often for at least 80% of the time they plan on keeping that particular unit. It is in making that new equipment acquisition along with the extended warranty that the customer often gets his first exposure to scheduled oil sampling.Many extended warranty plans require, or at least recommend, that customers take oil samples from all machine compartments at specific intervals.

Obviously, this is done to limit the company’s exposure to repair costs during the warranty period. But it is a great example to follow and a good time to get in the oil sample habit to limit your own exposure to

repair costs beyond the warranty period.

Regular oil sampling provides many benefits. It sets a baseline for what is normal wear for a specific component and what may be an indicator of a coming catastrophic failure or shorter wear out period.

It may also provide indications of injection of contaminants or seal failure between components.

With improvements in lubricants, it may also provide for allowed extended drain intervals, reducing routine maintenance costs.

Many manufacturers approve increased engine, transmission and hydraulics oil change intervals with scheduled oil sampling.

Additionally, it provides another opportunity for a customer to inspect his machine while taking an oil sample.

Perhaps the most value provided by oil sampling is when it prevents a machine failure or significantly reduces the cost of a major repair.

Many processing labs strive for same day turnaround, so the information can be shared with the dealer and customer for quick response to any changes in the sample content.

For example, an engine oil sample that has higher silica

content than the previous samples would be flagged for possible dirt ingestion. A differential sample with high iron content may indicate a need to at least drain the oilcan and re-sample before the next regular interval. Bronze or non-metallic material in a power shift transmission could indicate that a seal failed and is causing clutch slippage. Increased iron in a hydraulic oil sample could be an indicator of a loose cylinder piston.

High brass might be the beginning of a pump failure.

In my long career, I have seen many examples of catastrophic failures that required total (and very expensive) rebuilds of components because there was no oil sampling and the unit was simply run until it stopped moving. With the increased use of scheduled oil sampling, I have seen many documented reductions in repair costs, such as minor engine overhauls needed in the case of dirt ingestion instead of expensive major overhauls, or a simple bearing roll-in required when antifreeze was found in an oil sample, rather than a crankshaft and block replacement.

Get in the habit of regular oil sampling. It pays in the long run.

Plenty pass with flying colours UPG, LOCAL Trimble distributor, has had more than 120 students attend and pass their CASA certified f light school for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

The five day course - the quickest of its kind in the country - takes customers through a theory and a practical component to gain their Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS) certificate which is essential to operate a UAV to undertake air work.

The f light school, run by UPG’s inhouse CASA approved instructors, is open to both UPG customers as well as non-customers and has been held in multiple locations nationwide since launching in October 2013.

Paul Standen, Geospatial Segment Manager for UPG, says: “Launching this f light school last year was a huge milestone for us. After 125 years in the survey industry, we pride ourselves on the level of expertise, service and support we offer so, because the process to gain the necessary certification to f ly a UAV can be complicated, we wanted to make this much quicker and easier for people.

“We’re incredibly pleased with the feedback we’re getting and that we have been able to help so many people, in many different industries through the process.

Our low instructor to student ratio means students gain excellent experience during the f light school to pass their RPAS qualification. We continue to fill up our courses right through to the end of this year and into next.”

David Hobby, UPG’s Chief Pilot who runs the f light school admits there is a lot of misinformation out there about certification.

“There are three things that a company

needs to be able to f ly UAVs – a company Operators Certificate (OC), a qualified Chief Pilot (named on the OC) and individuals with RPAS Level One certification from CASA (in a smaller company it may only be one person who is Chief Pilot and is RPAS certified).

“By attending and passing UPG’s f light school and passing your Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency, you will receive your RPAS Level One certification. Once you have this, you are eligible to apply to be the Chief Pilot for your company for which an additional

n Blake Whitley, Geoff Hewitt, Rick Calvert-Jackson (Technical Consultant UPG), Christopher Drummond. The UAV being used is an eBee from senseFly.

interview with CASA is required,” David said.

UPG can also assist companies to go through the OC process with CASA.

n Christopher Drummond (University of NSW), Blake Whitley (Cardno Hard & Forester) and Geoftf Hewitt (Cardno Hard & Forester). The UAV being used is an eBee from senseFly.

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20 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

EDGERS

Leading with an edge A

GGRESSIVE INVESTING is not for the faint of heart, but it is proving a successful strategy for Western Forest Products. Knowing where its ‘sweet spot’ in the marketplace lies, this coastal forest products leader is taking advantage of its unique position to expand on its best prime products.

Western Forest Products has developed a capital investment plan that is seeing it retool a number of its operations on the coast of BC. One jewel in its holdings, Saltair Sawmill, is in the midst of a major retrofit that has included twin edger lines that are allowing this mill to expand on its best products, reduce the unit cost of production and position the company for a strong future in the process.

Western Forest Products (WFP) is a leading producer of specialty wood products, processing Hemlock, Western Red and Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir and Spruce.

Presently it is the fifth largest Canadian lumber company, by volume. Additionally, WFP is the largest cedar lumber manufacturer in North America. Though it was not impacted at all by the Mountain Pine Beetle that recently devastated pine forests in the BC interior, it did not escape the effects of the global economic slowdown. Now that those dark days are fading to a bad memory and markets are coming back, WFP is enjoying a resurgence of manufacturing activity and is investing aggressively to up its game in the marketplace. The company is implementing a $200 million capital plan with an eye to position itself as a leader in the global supply of timber products.

An early step in the plan involved a $38 million outlay for Western Forest Products’ Saltair Sawmill located at Ladysmith on BC’s Vancouver Island. Saltair was started in 1972 and produces a wide range of specialized products from its mid-sized coastal log supply. In 2013, following closely on the heels of investments to the trim/sort/ stacker area, the mill installed two identical USNR edger lines. With this upgrade, the Saltair mill earns its stripes as the largest single line sawmill on BC’s coast.

The company’s overall strategy for these capital investments was to expand its ability to provide a wide variety of products to a diverse customer base, helping it withstand the typically cyclical nature of the wood products industry. The new edger lines would also facilitate onsite production of prime product sizes for the growing Asian market, one that WFP recognizes as critical to its growth along with markets in Europe, Australia and North America.

Dan Bowes, manager of the Saltair mill, explained the details of the project, “We replaced two edger lines that were installed in the early 90’s and had outdated technology.”

Upstream is a quad bandmill and two gangs; the resulting heavy jacket boards and flitches feed the new edgers. Dan said that jacket boards up to 5-1/2” thick can be fed through the edgers as well.

WFP also invested time and resources in research before deciding on the USNR design for its new edger lines. The edgers they chose are identical machines. Each is designed with 7 shifting saws on a bottom arbor, and can process the material they are fed into 4” squares, 2x4s, 2x6s, and 2x8s. Dan commented, “We needed machines that could process material that can range in thickness anywhere from 1” all the way up to 5-1/2”. They need to be able to slice and dice the wood up into the variety of products that we make, at a very fast rate.”

The supply The infeed area for each line is based on USNR’s edger Maximizer configuration. Each line begins with a 6’ radius back unscrambler leading to an angled ending rollcase and table, where thick jacket boards and flitches are first singulated and then even ended to lumber line. A pass/turn/drop out gate then feeds the material to the Maximizer lug loader. A MillTrak™ lumber flow system is mounted above the flow at this location and controls the infeed area. The material travels through the transverse scanner and then proceeds on to the Maximizer positioning infeed table.

For this application, the MillExpert optimization system comprises a 20’ USNR scan frame fitted with 22 BioLuma 2900L HD laser profiling sensors, the fastest high density laser profiling sensors in the industry. The sensors feature 0.3” (8mm) profile density at 2500 Hz scan rate, and +/- 0.015” (.38mm) thickness accuracy. The sensors are mounted in line above and below the flow, providing differential measurements down the length of each piece.

The MillExpert edger optimizer offers a wide range of features, with some of the most significant as follows.

Full value, exhaustive fit 3D modelling – examination of all allowed combinations at all locations Full cosmetic evaluation balances edge wane and face wane, and centers the solution in the good wood Value optimization is dominant over cosmetic evaluation Sophisticated compound wane rules available - primary and secondary wane rules commonly implemented allowing precise control over how much wane is allowed in each location along the board True equivalent wane rule modeling is implemented to emulate the latest grading rules Programmable choice to run board-within-a-board logic or visible wane rules Mixed side-by-side board product evaluation for splitting at the planer is available User configurable saddle wane parameters Infinitely flexible, easy to use product set-up Multiple grades with individual wane rules and values, are easily programmed

The mill chose single, bottom arbor edger machines, each with 7 guided shifting saws. A clam Out to trim line

EDGER #1

In from quad and gangs EDGER #2 In from quad and gangs

n The two edger lines are identical and situated side-by-side in the mill.

shell opening on the front of the edgers provides easy access for maintenance and saw changes.

The machines accommodate up to 30” wide material and can process a wide range of product sizes at speeds up to 1000 ft./min.

The outfeed is USNR’s V-tailer design, often used in applications where space is limited. The tailer is covered with two ‘wings’, with shifters mounted underneath and connected via a torque tube. Boards drop down onto a center belt, while the edgings slide off the wings.

Dan explained, “The V-tailer offered the very specific ability to take a recovery board off the edges of a heavy jacket board, and take a 2x4 off each side of a 4” cant.

We didn’t see anything else in the industry that could do that.” WFP recognized that the V-tailer would afford the mill the product range and recovery they were looking to achieve. Dan said, “A lot of tailers like the one that we replaced, lose a lot of good material into the conveyors. The V-tailer design is a much more accurate system. It allows the good material to fall onto the belt, and just removes the tailings.”

Project challenges The mill’s main challenge was installing the new lines within the existing footprint. Dan commented, “These are bigger, more powerful and faster edgers.

We had some design work to get them to fit.”

Dan also said that WFP has a unique challenge in that it is a 4-species mill. Each species had its own unique material handling characteristics. From light-weight to heavy, from wide to narrow, each product line challenged both vendors and mill staff to get the mill to acceptance level. Dan commented, “All of our vendors, including USNR, had to go through that with us, and they stayed with us until it was done.” He continued, “We got those machines up and running in very good time. We are very happy with the service we’ve received from USNR.” Dan went on to explain that the upgrades done in 2013 started with the back of the mill – the stackers, sorter line and the edgers. This is phase one of a larger retrofit for the mill. “We are still planning to upgrade the sawmill infeed. We had a lot of process downtime for the old edgers to handle all the material that we were putting out,

n USNR’s Maximizer positioning table.

and now the new ones handle it quite easily, so we need to speed up the front end to put these edgers to work.”

Dan credits the following mill personnel who were instrumental in bringing this project to life: Terry Charlton, project manager; Rick Froehle, edger optimization and operations lead; Gary Frederickson, electrical and controls lead; and Al Irwin, mechanical and equipment lead.

Dan added, “The electrical and mechanical crews were also very supportive in the process. Worthy of note, the civil/mechanical contractor (Irwin Installation and KJ Electric) were also instrumental in the successful install. These people deserve all the credit with the successful startup of the mill!

Their dedication and working together with USNR put us in the position we are in today!”

Implementation benefits With the implementation of the new edger lines, production at the Saltair mill is humming right along. Benefits are two fold; a broader product mix with less remanufacturing, and increased production. Dan explained, “We break the material down more now.

Before we installed the new edgers we didn’t have enough saws, we didn’t have enough horsepower, we couldn’t put 4” lines or 4-1/2” cants through those edger machines. We now put them all through and break them down into smaller pieces of wood. What this really does is it reduces the cost for additional processing down the line.”

Dan went on to explain that, because Saltair is a 4-species sawmill, there is more or less of a

benefit depending on which species and product is being processed.

“Some cuts gain a lot from the expanded capability, with breaking the wood down into more products at this stage. Others gain through increased production. We are putting 20% more material through the mill now than we used to, and those machines aren’t pushed yet.

They can handle double what our old machines could do.”

An additional benefit that goes along with increased throughput relates to safety. These lines are highly automated, requiring a lot less operator intervention and equating to less chance for injury.

Dan went on to say that WFP’s philosophy when considering the benefits of the new edger lines, was to help reduce remanufacturing costs. Their goal was to get closer to the final product right out of the sawmill. The mill has achieved that goal and more. “It has allowed us to expand markets, particularly in Japan with squares which is our big commodity item there. We are better positioned to compete in that market because of the ability to expand our product base while keeping costs down. We’re now cutting products that we haven’t cut before.”

Dan also said that the mill processed 650,000m 3 of logs in 2013 and was expecting to process 850,000m 3 last year.

“This year we are going to increase it even more. Without the edgers we certainly couldn’t do that. This project is part of the whole synergy created with this capital investment plan, and it has made a significant impact on our business.”

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 21

FIRE PREVENTION

Mitigating the risk of fire in the forestry industry T

HE FORESTRY environment presents a wide variety of fire hazards that can create serious risks to people and property. The hazardous nature of the heavy vehicles, machinery and equipment used in the forestry industry and their remote locations, mean that extra vigilance is required to help prevent and prepare for fire.

Inadequate or improper fire protection can expose workers to extreme dangers, lead to potential loss of life and assets and result in extensive downtime and potential environmental impact.

Fire protection specialist Wormald encourages those managing forestry sites to be fully aware of the fire risks, aim to reduce these risks to an acceptable level and monitor and review these risks on an ongoing basis. It is also recommended that when planning a fire protection solution consideration should be given not only to the levels of fire protection required, but to compliance, usability, logistics and the financial investment involved.

Choosing a solution To identify the most appropriate fire protection solutions for a forestry operation, fire protection specialists should consult with a variety of personnel including plant operators, engineers, technical staff and senior management. This helps gain an understanding of the needs and fire hazards of the site and machinery, and develop the most appropriate fire protection solution to suit the subsequent risks. Different areas and machines may well require their own specialised fire protection solution.

For example, special attention should be paid to the vast number of heavy vehicles, plant and equipment being operated every day on site, and the processes used to load

and unload goods and transport materials. These heavy vehicles have significant ignition/heat sources such as energised wiring and turbochargers. With the potential for onboard goods to add to the fuel load, it’s clear that the risk of a fire while in operation can be high.

Specifically for heavy forestry vehicles, mobile plant and equipment, Wormald provides a formalised fire risk assessment process, in accordance with Australian Standard, AS5062-2006: Fire Protection for Mobile and Transportable Equipment. This assessment assists in identifying fire hazards and determining the level of fire risk in order to offer the most appropriate system for a particular vehicle in its operating environment.

When selecting fire protection solutions for a forestry site other considerations include: • What fire protection systems are already in place?

• What is the environmental impact of existing and new fire protection systems?

• What impact will a new fire protection system have on critical plant and equipment?

• Can the fire protection system be interfaced with centralised control systems to manage shutdowns or isolation of relevant machinery when necessary?

• What are the ongoing servicing and maintenance requirements of a new fire protection system?

• Can the fire protection system be expanded or upgraded?

Furthermore, based on a risk assessment, fire specialists can determine and recommend the most appropriate fire protection solution for the forestry site. This could encompass a combination of fire protection products/systems such as: Fire detection and occupant warning systems – advanced systems can integrate heat and smoke detectors with

specialised control panels.

Fire sprinkler systems - highly flexible in design and help meet each individual site/building requirements. Sprinkler systems work in conjunction with a detection system and can automatically detect a fire, transmit an alarm and help control a fire.

Water deluge systems - typically used in hazardous environments where fires may spread very quickly or where valuable equipment surrounding the fire needs to be rapidly cooled.

Gaseous fire suppression systems – Wormald’s Inergen® and SAPPHIRE™ systems are ideal for critical facilities or areas that house sensitive or highly flammable equipment or materials. Both systems have no harmful impact on the environment.

Portable fire equipment - including fire hose reels, fire blankets and a wide range of portable fire extinguishers to suit all classes of fire and fire risk.

Emergency rescue and respiratory protection equipment - breathing apparatus (BA), thermal imaging cameras, gas detection products and other specialised devices are an important part of a forestry industry fire protection regime. continued on page 22

Protecting People and Property Wormald® is an expert in forestry fire safety. Our knowledge, skills and advanced technologies are integral to the safety of forestry and timber sites across Australia, and backed by 125 years of experience.

We have a range of fire protection solutions for heavy vehicles that range from fire detection and suppression systems, to portable fire equipment, personal protection gear and staff fire training; our end-to-end tailored solutions help protect major forestry operations.

You can get on with the job, confident that your people, resources and machinery are protected by a leading fire protection company.

Call your Wormald Forestry Fire Specialist on 1300 556 015 or visit wormald.com.au/vehicles

22 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

FIRE PREVENTION

What do fire danger signs mean?

‘One person in five felt the signs didn’t apply to them; that they were for others, like smokers or campers or reckless people’

S

UMMERTIME AND the living is easy, fish are jumping and the fire danger is high. But what do the familiar roadside fire danger signs really mean?

Clear, colourful and simple, the signs’ message is not as obvious as it seems.

The Scion Rural Fire Research Group is working with NZ’s National Rural Fire Authority after a study found that many people are not sure what the danger ratings mean, or if they apply to them.

Lisa Langer, the fire scientist who led the work, explains: “We wanted to see if the fire danger warnings influenced people’s behaviour and encouraged safer fire practices.

“We interviewed locals, and New Zealand and international visitors in Canterbury and Northland and asked them what the fire danger signs meant to them.

“On the plus side, most people are aware of the signs.

But some of our results were surprising.

“Perhaps most worrying is that one person in five felt the signs didn’t apply to them; that they were for others, like smokers or campers or ‘reckless people’.

“And two thirds of people we talked to said that that the signs did not alert them to the possibility that that they might need to change their behaviour. People were also very uncertain as to what they should or shouldn’t do at each fire danger level, other than for low or extreme.

“We also found that the signs were not particularly effective for visitors. This is a specific concern in summer when people are moving around the country and the fire danger is often very high or extreme.

“The challenge is to get people to take notice of the fire danger signs; to make them aware of local conditions, and what they can do to prevent wildfires from starting.

“Rural Fire Authorities, led by the National Rural Fire Authority, have responded to these research findings by developing new TV advertising, YouTube clips, roadside signs and some FireSmart activities. The emphasis is now ‘Check it’s alright before you light’.”

Further work by the Rural Fire Research Group has focussed on how to communicate wildfire messages more effectively. “We considered who was using fire, what they needed to know about fire risk, restrictions and other actions to prevent fires, as well as being prepared for a fire if one should occur,” says Lisa.

“Most people are not fire users, but that can change on holiday. It is holidaymakers who do things like light campfires and set off fireworks that could start a wildfire.

And holidaymakers tend to be visitors to an area. One of the real communication challenges is to increase the awareness of visitors to the local fire danger in the area they are in.

Lisa’s advice for a safe summer is: Find out about current fire danger and fire restrictions in your area and areas you might be visiting by contacting your local Rural Fire Authority or council, or check out the National Rural Fire Authority’s website – www.nrfa.org.nz.

• Don’t park vehicles on dry flammable material like long grass. One in every six wildfires is started by a vehicle.

• Leave fireworks at home. Incendiary devices cause at least 6% of wildfires.

• Check whether you are able to use solid fuel barbecues, braziers or campfires. These are generally not allowed to be used during Restricted or Prohibited fire seasons.”

• Be careful with cigarettes, matches and lighters.

• Remember, if you are found to be responsible for starting a wildfire, you could have to pay the cost of putting it out and for any damage incurred.

• It’s also a very good idea to carry a fire extinguisher in your car or pack one with your camping gear.

• And if you have any doubt as to whether you should light a camp or beach fire – don’t!

If you see or start a wildfire, call 111 immediately, and make sure you and others are safe. Wildfires can spread very quickly, sometimes faster than people can run.

•

Wildfire in New Zealand Virtually all of the more than 3000 wildfires reported each year are started accidentally or deliberately by people. Natural causes like lightning account for less than 1% of wildfires.

A review of 15 years of New Zealand wildfire statistics

by Scion fire researchers found 20% of wildfires are the result of land clearing burns getting out of control, a further 17% are started by vehicles, 6% by fireworks and firearms, and 3% by recreational fires. The actual number of fires started by these causes is likely to be higher, as the cause of roughly half of all wildfires is classified as unknown or miscellaneous.

Wildfires burn close to 6000 ha of land each year on average, an area the size of greater Auckland. However, this can be much greater in very dry years.

The areas at the greatest risk from wildfires are the drier regions of the east coasts of both islands (Marlborough, Canterbury, central Otago, Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast) and Northland. Slightly more than half the area burned each year is grassland, scrubland makes up most of the rest, with forests accounting for just 6%.

More fires occur in the North Island, but a greater area of the South Island’s dry, grassy plains is burnt.

Mitigating the risk of fire in the forestry industry continued from page 21 Foam systems - used to bring volatile fuels under control. Wormald’s foam deployment devices include sub-surface injection systems, top-side foam chambers and remote controlled foam cannons.

Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems - The Wormald Foam Water Spray Vehicle Fire Suppression (VFS) System and the Ansul™ A-101Vehicle Powder System are both ActivFire listed to be compliant to AS 5062.

Essential fire safety training Workers at all levels need to maintain high skill levels in their emergency response capabilities. Comprehensive emergency response training reduces the number of serious fire incidents and injuries by both preventing fires in the first place and responding quickly if they do occur.

Operators of heavy vehicles and equipment must also be fully trained on how to manually activate the vehicle fire suppression systems when necessary and how to use any fire protection equipment located in their vehicles, such as portable fire extinguishers.

Wormald designs, installs, maintains and upgrades fire protection systems for the forestry industry as well as providing consulting, technical support, engineering advice, training and evacuation plans.

Wormald is also a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and offers a range of fire safety training programs including fire extinguisher training, confined space training, breathing apparatus (BA) training, lay flat hose training and first aid training.

Wormald is Australasia’s leading provider of fire protection solutions and has been protecting people and property since 1889.

Operating in nearly 40 locations throughout Australia, Wormald designs, manufactures, installs and services fire detection and protection equipment to a wide variety of industries including building and construction, mining, healthcare, military, oil & gas, leisure management, corporate, education and IT&T. Wormald also provides a comprehensive range of fire services from engineering advice to fire safety training. www.wormald.com.au Tyco Fire Protection Services, Asia

Pacific (TFPS APAC) is a business segment of Tyco International Ltd. Its major brands include Wormald, DBE, Thorn Security, Simplex Time Solutions, Exelgard and GAAM Emergency Products. Throughout

the Asia Pacific region, TFPS employs approximately 4,000 staff in nine countries and its products are used to prevent fires, safeguard firefighters and protect people and property.

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 23

FIRE PREVENTION

Forest fire fighting expert a keynote speaker at safety conference

U

S FOREST Service forest fire fighting expert Ivan Pupulidy has been confirmed as a keynote speaker for the FIEA’s flagship forest safety conference series in March. The summit will be at Rotorua’s Distinction Hotel on 3-4 March and the Bayview Eden Hotel in Melbourne on 10-11 March.

“Ivan’s expertise in fire fighting behaviours and root cause analysis is well-respected internationally, so we’re sure he will be well-received at our 2015 Safety Summit conferences,” says FIEA’s forestry spokesman John Stulen.

“Like all of our keynote speakers Ivan brings a unique set of specialist skills.

People like Ivan are instrumental in

helping our industry people understand safety better for our forest industries across Australia and New Zealand.”

Ivan Pupulidy is director of the Office of Learning, US Forest Service. In 1995, Ivan became a US Forest Service lead plane pilot for wild land fire operations and later became a regional aviation safety manager.

Ivan completed several internationally recognized courses in safety program management and accident investigation and completed a Master’s of Science Degree in Human Factors and Systems Safety at Lund University, Sweden.

He will deliver a unique presentation from his focus on safety in forest fire fighting in USA.

As the head of the US Forest Service Office of Learning, Pupulidy is tasked with explaining how risks play out in the workplace – especially in forestry and forest fire fighting work. His risk concepts and models are well-respected internationally in the forestry sector.

Pupulidy says: “Risk is defined in many ways. Each individual has his or her own sense of risk, and each may be substantively different than the one held by the organisation they work for. Rightly so, the risks that worry leaders are rarely those that kill workers. Risks and hazards are a naturally occurring phenomenon in the workplace.

“Individuals consciously and unconsciously assess hazards and make adjustments

based on their experience, perceived risk, accident potential, rewards and the individual’s propensity to take risk. This seems rather obvious, however, the concept is very important as these factors affect the balancing behaviour of the worker in complex ways. The worker is nearly constantly in the mode of optimising to achieve personal and organisational goals in the face of external and internal pressures.

“Optimisation efforts are bounded by too much risk on one side and too little risk on the other.”

Full details of upcoming Forest Industry Safety Summit conference programmes and registration details can be found at: http://forestsafety2015.com

WE TRY HARDER WITH YOUR FORESTRY EQUIPMENT FIRE SUPPRESSION AND PROTECTION

components, Recon Industries Australia is a family business operating in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

We service, install, maintain and repair most types of equipment, plus complete annual inspections.

Call: Email:

Cameron or James Gray on (02) 4953 4131 jgray@reconindustries.com.au

RECON INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA – Proudly Servicing the Timber Industry

24 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

SKIDDERS

Cat’s new D-series skidders continue reliability, durability and productivity traits THE NEW Cat® 545D gives Australian loggers what they have been looking for in a wheel skidder,” said Glen Slocombe, sales manager for Cat dealer William Adams Pty Ltd. “It has legendary Cat pulling power, an upgraded cooling system with reversing fan, tilt cab for easy servicing, plus we’ve maintained a Tier 3 emission compliant engine for our region.”

William Adams, located in Victoria and Tasmania, has sold the first 186 kW (250 hp) Cat 545D in Australia. The new look lineup also includes the 151 kW (203 hp) Cat 525D, 168 kW (225 hp) Cat 535D and the all-new larger model, the 205 kW (275 hp) Cat 555D. The D Series is equipped with the Cat C7.1 ACERT™ engine, which delivers more power than ever before. The engine in the 525D, 535D and 545D achieves emission levels equivalent to U.S. EPA Tier 3/EU Stage IIIA emission standards, and the engine in the 555D meets Tier 4 Final/Stage IV emission standards. The Tier 4 Final C7.1 engine delivers the power, while still achieving the highest levels of total fluid efficiency, reliability and durability.

“The D Series out pulls other skidders and cycle times are significantly faster. The operator can steer, back up and activate arch, boom and grapple functions at the same time. It is also more stable and nimble and gives a smoother ride,” Slocombe said.

The D series skidder has a six-speed transmission with gears more evenly distributed in the working zone to maximize efficiency on any terrain.

The torque converter

have demonstrated this in local production studies,” he added.

The D Series is easy to maneuver even in dense woods and slippery or steep conditions. In normal operation, all four wheels move independently. In poor ground conditions, the independent front and rear differential locks can be engaged separately for better pulling and maneuverability. The locks are hydraulically activated and can be engaged on the go.

“The 545D is equipped with a cooling system designed for the largest model. Having this high capacity system in the smaller models increases their fuel efficiency and productivity, a critical design element not lost on Australian loggers who work through long, hot summers,” Slocombe noted.

The oversized fan spins at a slower speed, only as fast as needed to maintain proper operating temperatures, and automatically reverses every 20 minutes of run time to blow out debris commonly found in local native harvesting.

The cross-flow configuration and compartmentalization of the engine and cooling system maximize efficiency and reduce debris collection. Cool

the cab. This significantly reduces dust in the cab and keeps the environment quiet and cool — something operators will really notice over the previous models,” Slocombe explained.

The Cat Comfort Seat comes standard in all models. It swivels 30° to the right so you can watch skidder and grapple operations. In addition to the usual adjustments for position, armrest and lumbar support, the seat can be adjusted to accommodate height and weight and ride firmness preferences to reduce fatigue. The grapple is controlled through the seatmounted joystick. “You can hold the grapple in your hand with your forearm supported on the armrest,” Slocombe said.

A clean three-piece front windshield and tall, wraparound rear windows give the operator a 360˚ view, including the corners of the blade and winch drum.

Tilt the cab for quick access to the hoses and harnesses crossing the centre hitch and to clean out debris around the transmission.

Bolt-on panels around the base of the cab and removable steps provide access to even more components, including the steering cylinders.

"A clean three-piece front windshield and tall, wraparound rear windows give the operator a 360˚ view, including the corners of the blade and winch drum." allows the machine to ease smoothly into a start when the skidder has a heavy load in the grapple, and then the proven lock-up clutch automatically engages and the transmission goes into direct drive for high efficiency hauling and up to 15% faster travel speeds in the same gear. “This gives us the best of both torque multiplication during takeoff and acceleration and then maximum horsepower to the ground while in direct drive when you have momentum on the longer snigs. This also reduces powertrain heat and fuel burn on the return run. We

ambient air is pulled in from the side — not from the engine compartment.

Air is exhausted out the opposite side. This prevents hot air from circulating and debris from collecting in the engine compartment.

The new D Series cab is roomy, much quieter and cooler with great visibility, especially out the back.

Controls for the grapple, blade and winch are electrohydraulic. “The cab is completely sealed. There are no more hydraulic pilot lines or harnesses entering the cab through large openings; everything is bulkheaded before entering

Bottom guards, including guarding on the rear axle, protect the underside. The increased rigidity of the lower frame provides extra support to the bottom guarding to prevent damage from riding over stumps and rocks. In the rear, where the structure has to stand up to heavy, swinging and twisting loads, box section construction was used in the frame. The enhanced center hitch features large dual tapered roller bearings in both the upper and lower hitch with 76mm (3 in.) diameter pins. The pin-mounted blade in the D

Series is more durable than the trunnion-mount style of the C Series. The bolton cutting edge is made of abrasion-resistant, heattreated steel.

“The new Cat D Series skidder builds on Caterpillar’s reputation for reliability, durability and productivity in the bush since 1971 when Cat skidders were first introduced, and we are really pleased to see many of the performance and comfort improvements our customers have asked for incorporated into the new models,” Slocombe concluded.

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 25

SKIDDERS

Designed with extreme conditions in mind T

IGERCAT OFFERS a full line of skidders powered by Tier 3 compliant engines for the Australian market. All of these machines are designed and built for extreme operating conditions with strength optimized frames, robust, well-protected cylinders and a strong centre section with large pins and tapered roller bearings.

Visibility is excellent with clear sight lines to all wheels as well as through the arch to the load. The cab is large and comfortable.

According to operators there are many advantages to Tigercat’s unique electronically controlled hydrostatic drive system including increased efficiency and performance and reduced operator fatigue.

The machine can achieve the same top speed whether driving blade-forward or grapple-forward.

The skidders operate at variable engine rpm, automatically increasing engine speed when additional horsepower is demanded.

The result is improved fuel economy and reduced engine noise.

No gear shifting is required. The operator commands infinitely variable speed control from zero to maximum simply by depressing the foot pedal. The operator does not have to continually shift to maintain the optimal gear for the terrain. Operator fatigue is significantly reduced.

"Smooth and continuous traction allows Tigercat skidders to operate with minimal wheel spin."

Because full torque is available at any engine speed, breakout performance is significantly better than conventional skidders. The wheels will maintain the speed commanded by the drive pedal, regardless of the traction or pulling torque required.

When maximum horsepower is reached, speed reduction occurs automatically.

Smooth and continuous traction allows Tigercat skidders to operate with minimal wheel spin. The result is reduced site disturbance, longer tire life, less driveline stress and improved performance in soft or steep terrain.

Because the machine ceases travel as the drive pedal is released, there is virtually no reliance on the secondary braking system.

Brake service is seldom required because secondary braking is rarely used. The operator can maintain excellent vehicle control on slopes.

Like Tigercat’s standard hydrostatic drive system, EHSTM (efficient high speed drive) consists of two variable displacement motors as inputs to the Tigercat transfer case. Front and rear output shafts are connected directly to the front and rear axles.

While the standard electronically controlled hydrostatic drive system performs exceptionally well, EHS is capable of providing the tractive effort of the deepest gear ratio offered in Tigercat’s standard transfer case as well as the top speed of the shallowest gear ratio offered in the standard transfer case.

This is accomplished with more sophisticated computer logic and the ability to take one of the drive motors offline when high tractive effort is not required. In this case all pump flow is directed to one hydraulic motor, increasing both travel speed and motor efficiency.

When operating conditions demand high tractive effort, both hydrostatic motors are

n Bluewood Industries Tigercat 630D.

working. When tractive effort requirements are reduced -- for instance, when traveling empty or loaded on flat terrain -- all of the pump flow is directed to one motor for higher travel speeds.

Tigercat is offering EHS as standard in the 610C and 615C. The line-up at a glance: • 604C cable skidder – Tier 3, Cummins, 142 kW (190 hp) • 610C skidder – Tier 3, Cummins, 142 kW (190 hp) • 615C skidder – Tier 3, Cummins, 164 kW (220 hp) • 620D – Tier 3, Cummins, 164 kW (220 hp) • 630D – Tier 3, Cummins, 194 kW (260 hp) • 635D – Tier 3, Cummins, 194 kW (260 hp) The 604C dedicated cable machine is well suited to selective native hardwood logging and steep terrain while the 610C is a versatile skidder well suited to a variety of clear fell, thinning applications and specialty selective felling applications.

The 615C is a quick, compact, six-wheel drive machine best suited to soft or steep terrain, selective felling, oversized logs and other challenging applications. When lower volumes cannot justify the massive production potential of the 635 series or tight spaces limit the productivity of a larger skidder, the 615C is an ideal fit. With the 615C, contractors can now have all the advantages of a six-wheel drive skidder – excellent traction, high performance in steep and soft terrain and a smoother ride – in a compact package with a lower initial purchase price.

The 620, 630 and 635 series are all available with the largest capacity grapples and widest tip-to-tip openings in their respective size classes. Suited to the vast majority of the world’s high production skidding applications, the 620D and

n Tigercat 635D.

630D are commonly used in clear fell and plantation thinning applications, steep ground and soft soil.

The six-wheel drive 635D with its long wheelbase, low-ground pressure and massive grapple is designed for long hauls, extremely heavy loads and very soft or steep terrain. The 635 series is also approved for use in demanding, high duty cycle ground scarification applications and is proving to be the ideal carrier for scarifying.

One of the most unique and innovative features of the skidders is TurnaroundTM. The rotating seat has a two-position mechanical lock and provides full rearfacing drive capability and control of all functions. An armrest-mounted joystick controls the steering function for improved ergonomics. Drive pedals are located at both the front and rear of the cab.

With Turnaround, forward and reverse

have become meaningless terminology.

The operator has control of all machine functions in either seating position and can drive comfortably with the full speed range available either blade-forward or grappleforward.

Combined with Tigercat’s hydrostatic driveline, Turnaround is an asset in many skidding applications where long reverses are necessary such as first thinning applications where the skidder must back down the thinning corridors. It is also an advantage in short haul skidding where the time and fuel required to turn the machine around has an adverse effect on productivity and increases costs. Turnaround is also useful for picking up double bunches, loading the grapple with roadside debris and angling and placing the load optimally for the processors at roadside as well as in-field chipping applications.

26 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

BIO

Stable policy direction crucial to bio success A

KEY theme throughout the Bioenergy Australia Conference (held in Adelaide in December) was the need for stable policy direction and support for an industry that presents Australia with so much potential on a number of levels not least the opportunities in bio energy but also bio materials and in the development of biochemicals.

There was much discussion of the potential for a future bio economy. The ability for those in the sector to identify dual bio products (for example bio energy and bio materials or bio energy

and a waste solution) was seen as a recipe for success. There was confirmation too from many of the role bioenergy has to play in the development of our regional economies with the development of local jobs and industries.

The Bioenergy Australia event, through local technical tours, was also able to showcase the skills and knowledge in the local workforce and the innovative use of biomass and bioenergy in South Australia. Further, the tour highlighted the leading research skills available in South Australia from which both the State and the wider country are able to benefit.

n Bojan Tamburic (Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow University of Technology Sydney)

n Mary O’Callaghan (Econnect Communication Pty Ltd)

n Abhishek Tiwary (University of Southampton)

n Zyggy Reinoga (Keith Walking Floor Australia Pty Ltd)

n Coffee Break

n Richard Day (Department of State Development) and Steve Brown (Environments by Design) n Doug McNicholl (Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd), Peter Harris (University of Southern Queensland) and Irene Sobotta (Meat & Livestock Australia)

n Puthiyaparambil Josekutty (Clonal Solutions Australia) and Joseph Tara (Clonal Solutions Australia)

n Kirsten Heimann (Director of the North Queensland Algal Identification/Culturing Facility at James Cook University)

n Dr Stephen Schuck (Manager Bioenergy Australia) and Garry Mulvay (Biofuels Association of Australia)

n Catherine Way (Industry Development Manager, Renewables SA - the SA Government’s investment and innovation support agency for the renewable energy industry)

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 27

BIO

n Daryl Scherger (Pyrenees Shire Council)

n Kendall Corbin (ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls) and Megan Hawley (Flinders University)

n Doug Wilson (Eco Guardians Pty Ltd) and Jayant Keskar (CRC Care)

n Wayne Brown (Environments by Design)

n Fiona Waterhouse (Utilitas Pty ltd) and Aaron Lee (Brisbane City Council)

n Christian Jirkowsky (Polytechnik Biomass Energy Pty Ltd) and Sohum Gandhi (Energence)

n Anthony Mann (Queensland University Technology)

n David Hall (Energy Developments & Resources) and Miles Mason (New Energy Corporation)

n William Ho (Senior Lecturer, Department of Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne)

n Meera Verma (Headland Vision) catching up on emails during a break in the conference.

n Mark Brown (University of Sunshine Coast)

28 – February 2015, Australian Forests & Timber News

BIO

n Griff Rose (Magma Pty Ltd and Chair Bioenergy Australia [Forum] Ltd) and David Halliday (Active Research Pty Ltd)

n Ros Buzza (Carbon Warrior Pty Ltd) and Graeme Ambrose (Ecodecisions)

n Don McGuire (Mount Gambier)

n Joshua Britton (Flinders University) and Chris Marquis (University of New South Wales)

n Charles Gaussier (AusAgave) and Don Chambers (Australian Agave Pty Ltd)

n Bo Dong (University of New South Wales)

n Dr Stephen Schuck (Manager, Bioenergy Australia, and Australia’s representative on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency’s Bioenergy program)

n Louis Wibberley (Leader of the Advanced Carbon Power Program in CSIRO Energy Technology)

n Nafty Vanderhoek (VTT) and Ian Suckling (Scion)

n Louise Vickery (ARENA)

n Marcel Vroege (Indufor Asia Pacific)

n Zhanying Zhang (Queensland University Technology)

n Paul Nutter (CST Industries Inc) and Jason Kennedy (CST Industries Inc)

n John Fleming (Gas Advisory Services Pty Ltd)

Australian Forests & Timber News, February 2015 – 29

BIO

Great potential for bioenergy industry

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MLC Kyam Maher (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries) is a firm believer that full utilisation of biomass is one of the keys to the future prosperity of Australia.

I

n an opening address to the fifteenth annual Bioenergy role in helping achieve this.

Australia Conference in Glenelg, Maher said using “As the nation’s leading recycler we are also keen to biomass and biomass waste more efficiently presented a explore how we can build upon our performance and fantastic opportunity for Australia to reduce its dependence extract more value from waste biomass. on fossil fuels and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

“Waste biomass is often disposed of as a waste liability, “It will also boost our already impressive results in the or as a residue with minimum value.” renewable energy sector because, while South Australia has He said South Australian industry had identified the seen significant investment in wind and solar, bioenergy is value and capitalised on opportunities in the past and still an emerging industry.” highlighted: He said South Australia continued to lead the nation in Tarac Industries has collected spent wine marc from large-scale renewable energy capacity per person installed Barossa wineries for decades to extract ethanol and fine since 2001, and in fostering new and profitable industries. chemicals, it also captures methane from its lagoons for [Several later speakers described SA as the ‘canary in the combustion. mine’ when it came to bio-development.]

In the South East sawmills have used residue sawdust, “This scenario also certainly presents great potential for chip and shavings to provide process steam for many years. the bioenergy industry.

Thomson Foods have a waste water treatment system “By unlocking the full potential of Australia’s natural using an anaerobic digestion process to capture methane resources, energy and renewable assets, we create a more as a process fuel. resilient, more regionalised and more circular economy “Clearly, accessible waste biomass offers immediate with improved employment prospects and environmental opportunities here in South Australia and the Government outcomes,” he said. wants to further capitalise on this.

“Many of you will be familiar with The Clean Energy “Through Zero Waste SA’s Industry Program, we are Council’s Bioenergy Roadmap which suggests that by 2020 undertaking a pioneering trial in the State’s South East… the contribution from biomass for electricity generation which involves designing a biomass waste ‘map’ to help alone could be over 10,000 Giga watt hours per year. identify potential business opportunities in this region..

“A more recent report by Deloitte Access Economics and with the objective of stimulating commercial investment Corelli Consulting indicates that a mature bio-based energy, in the sector. chemical and liquid “The South fuel bio-refinery “We have now started developing a Bioenergy East is the perfect industry will grow location for such a Roadmap for South Australia that will help us employment in trial and subsequent Queensland alone shape the future development of the industry com mercial by 6,640 FTEs by because in this State. And we see enormous potential.” application 2035. it is an intense “And there is producer of waste every reason that other States and Territories would expect biomass... and industry is already engaged. to be able to grow employment by similar proportions.

“It is estimated that the South East alone has about 5.5 “Here in South Australia, we are excited by the prospect million tonnes of non-forestry accessible organic waste of building a resilient economy that includes the use of and 1 million tonnes of forest debris every year. biomass.

“Simple energy conversions indicate that if even 50% “We have now started developing a Bioenergy Roadmap of this available waste were captured for either anaerobic for South Australia that will help us shape the future (wet waste) or thermal conversion (dry waste), under ideal development of the industry in this State. conditions this would produce enough electricity to supply “And we see enormous potential.”

Adelaide’s needs for a year.

The target for renewable energy generation was recently “These are substantial resources and it would be foolish increased to 50% by 2025, and the State Government is to let them go to waste,” he told the conference. confident that the bioenergy industry will play an important “Turning waste biomass into non-synthetic soil

Harnessing bioenergy makes good economic sense THE CLEAN Energy Finance Corporation is aiming to introduce commercially-proven bioenergy technologies to the Australian market, according to Ted Dow, chief investment officer.

Bioenergy currently provides about 10% of Australia’s renewable electricity, but it has significant potential to develop further with the right support in place, Dow told the Bioenergy Australia Conference in Adelaide.

“Harnessing bioenergy makes good economic sense while contributing to fuel security and regional development, but for a range of reasons Australia has generally lagged the rest of the world on large and small-scale bioenergy projects particularly in the waste-to-energy sector.

“CEFC finance is helping accelerate bioenergy projects that reduce energy costs, waste and carbon emissions across

sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, horticulture, utilities and local government.

“While our bioenergy investments to date have focused on waste-toenergy and biogas and make up about 10% or nearly $100 million of our current total portfolio, the corporation is looking to expand into other bioenergy technologies,” he said.

In related news the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will provide $2 million funding support to develop a solution for collecting renewable biomass from fast growing trees.

Biosystems Engineering will use the funds to further develop, build and test an innovative woody biomass harvester, Ivor Frischknecht ARENA chief executive said.

“Fast growing trees have the potential to offer an attractive renewable feedstock if a cost effective harvesting method were

developed,” he said.

“Biosystems Engineering plans to collect biomass from certain species of eucalyptus trees that can be harvested every three to five years.

“These species are complementary to food production and are already being used on Australian farms as wind screens and to tackle salinity and boost biodiversity.

“Using them as a renewable fuel may offer a win-win outcome for farmers and could potentially create a new model for community based biomass energy hubs in rural Australia,” Frischknecht said.

The $3.5 million project aims to collect 15,000 tonnes of chipped Mallee at a plantation near Casino in NSW during a 33 day harvester trial. This will be used to supplement feedstock to the 30MW bioenergy power plant at the Broadwater sugar mill in NSW. Source: EthicalInvestor

n South Australian MLC Kyam Maher (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries).

improvement products and clean energy is an immediate strategic focus for the State Government through Zero Waste SA. “We are committed to continuing to promote South Australia’s reputation as a zero waste, clean, premium and sustainable production region… and I have no doubt that building regional awareness and acceptance of waste biomass technologies will play an increasing role in this,” he said.

Stora Enso opens new biomaterials innovation centre STORA ENSO will concentrate its new biomaterials business development in an Innovation Centre in the Stockholm area in Sweden. The centre, which will open during the second quarter of 2015, will host research, application, business development, and strategic marketing.

The centre will boost innovation by identifying business opportunities in the renewable materials market and linking them with leading innovation and research centres in business and academia. The centre will be staffed with Stora Enso employees currently working in Sweden, Finland and Germany. It will initially employ a little less than 60 people and is estimated to employ around 75 people by the end this year.

“We are convinced that our access to biomass, in combination with our expertise in forestry

worldwide, will benefit our customers in new, innovative ways in the future. Our goal is to develop a competitive offering serving customers in multiple industries and markets, while adding value to our current cellulosic streams,” says Karl-Henrik Sundström, Chief Executive Officer of Stora Enso.

“We facilitate creative thinking and cross-functional interaction by consolidating R&D and business development under one roof. Additionally, it is important to create a close link to leading innovation and research centres in this field – both at academic and business levels,” says Dr. Antonio Batistini, Head of Innovation and Strategic Marketing, Stora Enso Biomaterials.

Stora Enso’s other R&D units are not affected by this change and will remain in their current locations.

30 – December 2014, Australian Forests & Timber News

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