FEBRUARY 2021
MANUFACTURE • TECHNOLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION
EMBRACING THE TREE Timber history honoured
TIMBER FRAME WIN Seven star result
ROOM WITH A VIEW AT THE ZOO AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS
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NEWS
Much-needed bushfire recovery cash arrives L
bushfire recovery funding of $10.4 million will prove vital for Indi-based timber processing companies to innovate and protect jobs, according to Indi MP Helen Haines. Dr Haines said Wangaratta’s Alpine MDF, Benalla firms D&R Henderson and Ryan & McNulty and Wodonga’s XLam have shared more than a quarter of the $40 million national Forestry Recovery Development Fund to build competitiveness, invest in new technologies and lower energy costs following the Black Summer bushfires last year. “The fires at Shelley in the Upper Murray and at Abbeyard near Myrtleford burned almost 6400 hectares of plantation timber and had a major impact on softwood supply,” Dr Haines said. “The industry worked very quickly to put together a comprehensive, fully-costed support package and liaise with my office so I could raise it directly with Agriculture and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud, who saw the plantation damage with me in the Upper Murray 11 months ago. “I also made the case to Assistant Minister for Forests Jonno Duniam for urgent action and, with the industry and Bushfire Recovery Victoria, briefed National Bushfire Recovery Agency deputy coordinator Major-General Andrew Hocking on the ground at Ovens in March, last year,” she said. ONG-AWAITED
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Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines with Alpine MDF operations manager Brett Forrest and Alpine MDF managing director Graham Church. “Forestry and timber processing provide 900 jobs in Indi, with about 550 people working in mills and manufacturing and another 340 managing softwood plantations. “So it’s a really welcome vote of confidence that more than a quarter of these competitive grants are flowing to Indi businesses to help fund new processes and product lines, technology investment
and support vital jobs in our communities.” The Fund provides D&R Henderson with $3.294 million for a new heat plant that will use waste products as a fuel source to power kilns, saving energy costs and reducing the amount of waste to landfill. Ryan & McNulty was awarded $1.188 million for new technology to process smaller, lower-grade sawlogs
and produce a quality, valueadded product suitable for structural beams and furniture manufacturing. Alpine MDF Industries will use $4.379 million for remanufacturing, using new plant and equipment to innovate and increase capability for the production of primed mouldings and painted flat panels. XLam has received $1.529 million to update equipment,
reduce production costs and improve competitiveness. Recipients are required to match 50 per cent of the project costs. “I thank the government for acting,” Dr Haines said. “It’s very welcome after months of work with the timber industry last year to get the government to publish the Fund’s guidelines and open applications for this publicprivate investment program.” FEBRUARY 2021
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Our new look
H ER E are some exciting changes
coming to Australasian Timber this year which will improve the look and feel of the magazine for readers and advertisers. Our first major step is to switch to digital printing. This exciting move will allow for a significant increase in production speed and quality. And it will mean faster delivery to our readers. There is also an almost imperceptible
change in size in the magazine with the introduction of improved paper quality and brighter colours that will be noticeably more vibrant, with richer and deeper tones. These changes are part of Ryan Media’s ongoing commitment to deliver high-quality publications, grow our audience and advertiser base, and better service the industry. We hope you like the new look Australasian Timber.
MANUFACTURE • TECHN OLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION
EMBRACING THE TREE Timber history honoure
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TIMBER FRAME WIN Seven star result
AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS
TD_4c 80 x 230 Australien_eng
www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
ROOM WITH A VIEW AT THE ZOO
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NEWS
australasian
FEBRUARY 2021 Issue 1 – Volume 29
Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman. Established 1977.
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News
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Timber Design Awards Timber flooring
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Woodchat
14 16-18
Associations
The award-winning Marrickville Library, overall winner at the 2020 Australian Timber Design Awards, during construction.
Front Cover: The interior of Taronga Zoo’s latest attraction - the Wildlife Retreat - which was a winner at this year’s Timber Design Awards. Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Robyn Haworth Editor: Bruce Mitchell b.mitchelll@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9512 Advertising: Gavin de Almeida g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9517 Publication Design: Jarren Gallway Timber classifieds: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9517 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9522 Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 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 2262, 442 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122 Phone: (03) 9810 3262 Website www.timberbiz.com.au Printed by Lane Print, Adelaide, SA
Conditions
The opinions expressed in Australasian Timber Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated. All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. All material in Australasian Timber Magazine copyright 2021 © Ryan Media. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.
MEDIA
INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED
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Webinars to focus on mass construction projects
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S the trend to sustainability gathers pace, Frame Australia is launching a unique series of CPD-accredited Webinars featuring innovative timber and mass wood construction projects. The use of offsite timber and mass wood building construction in Australia has doubled in just two years. This trend is being driven by the financial and environmental benefits delivered by timber and mass wood buildings. Demonstrably proven faster construction times, higher build quality, less site labour, less waste, less disruption and lower environmental impact mean lower project costs overall. Innovative materials and
related digital technologies will drive costs lower and mounting environmental pressures due to climate change will only accelerate this trend. Frame Australia’s one hour webinar series focuses on real projects, real challenges and real solutions, with monthly webinars commencing in February, featuring: From concept to completion - the only webinars that cover the entire design and build process, Presenters include developers, architects, engineers, builders, and key suppliers, Learn from the successes
(and challenges) of the pioneers, A wide range of innovative timber and mass wood projects, Discussion focus on ‘real’ challenges and ‘real’ solutions with interactive Q&A. The first webinar broadcasts on Wednesday 17 February at 11.00 AEDT to discuss the Marrickville Library, overall winner at the Australian Timber Design 2020 Awards. Presenters will include the project architects BVN, builder CD Construction Group, and timber supplier Rubner Holzbau from Italy. Timber products used in the Library included Glulam columns, mullions and transoms, plywood, blackbutt acoustic baffling, Tasmanian
oak acoustic panel ceilings, batten balustrading and screens. The panel will discuss technological and logistic skills crucial in the supply and erection of the 54 tall cylindrical columns with pre-assembled metal components, with a core of steel and a wrapping in Glulam. These significant components were prefabricated by Rubner Holzbau in Italy and shipped to Sydney ready for erection on site. Registration is only $85 + GST and to register for the event visit www.frameaustralia.com Nationally CPD accredited for 1.5 Points by the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) – plus AIB members qualify for a 20% discount.
We are, at least, all in this together
2
0 2 1 seems to have got off to a reasonably good start with plans announced for a pellet plant on Kangaroo Island, a briquette plant at the Eden export facility and funding for Gippsland’s fire damaged road system. But the China problem just won’t go away. It’s China’s refusal to even answer the phone or reply to polite enquiries that must have those from the Federal Government who are seeking answers tearing their hair out in frustration. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said his depart-
australasian
magazine
ment had formally written to Chinese authorities on two occasions seeking further information about detections of bark beetle and proposing a range of measures to give assurance that Australian log exports meet Chinese biosecurity requirements. To date there has been no response from China. AFPA CEO Ross Hampton was reported in The Austral-
ian as saying the industry had responded as far as it practically could on the bark beetle issue, and the ball was now in China’s court. Clearly China has no intention hitting the ball back. Not for a while anyway. It has been suggested China will simply let Australia swing for a while and then make some conciliatory gesture and reopen the doors to trade albeit on its terms. Make that reduced terms. The China cash-cow has pretty much gone forever. In the meantime multiple options – countries – have been put forward as option
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
trading partners for our timber. At the top of the list is India, along with Malaysia and Vietnam. But it is doubtful any, or all, of them would be interested in the quantities we have to offer. And, of course, they would be offering fire sale prices. But regardless of that, such deals take time to negotiate, and that’s something the Australian timber industry in so many ways doesn’t have. To borrow a phrase from the early days of the pandemic, at least we are all in this together. www.timberbiz.com.au
NEWS
Building boom not tipped to last N
EW Home Sales reached remarkable heights in December, nearly doubling compared to the number of sales recorded in November, according to HIA economist, Angela Lillicrap. The surge in sales has been attributed to HomeBuilder as households finalised contracts to build a new home before the 31 December 2020 deadline to access the $25,000 grant. The same level of purchases is not expected in January. The HIA New Home Sales report – a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states – is a leading indicator of future detached home construction. “This is the second strongest month of New Home Sales in the 20 year history of the survey, only exceeded by March 2001,” Ms Lillicrap said. She said the extension of the timeframe to commence building from three months to six, which was announced in November, played a sig-
nificant role in December’s results. New Home Sales in 2020 increased by 32.5 per cent compared with 2019. “This is an exceptional result given the nature of the pandemic and the effect that it has had on the broader economy,” Ms Lillicrap said. “It is not expected that this remarkable volume of sales will continue into January. The extension of HomeBuilder to allow contracts to be signed before March 2021 with a grant of $15,000 will support the sales of new homes into 2021, but not at this elevated level. “Low interest rates, improved lending assessment and growth in the price of
established homes will also support demand for new homes in 2021.” The monthly increase in sales has been broad-based across the states with the exception of Western Australia which declined by 9.5 per cent. “Western Australia has been the strongest performing state since the announcement of HomeBuilder and the state government’s Build
Bonus grant in June,” Ms Lillicrap said. “Despite the underperformance relative to other jurisdictions, the December results are still elevated compared to previous years, with sales in the December 2020 quarter double the same time last year. “The strength of New Home Sales is a positive sign that home building will support
jobs on the ground throughout 2021.” Across the country, new home sales in the December quarter were higher in all regions when compared with the same period in 2019: South Australia (188.3 per cent), Victoria (103.1 per cent), Queensland (99.9 per cent), Western Australia (99.2 per cent), and New South Wales (61.7 per cent).
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
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AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS
Room with a view at Taronga Zoo retreat shines at awards
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Architect: COX Architecture Engineer: Taylor Thomson Whitting Builder: Taylor Fabricator: Strongbuild and Binderholzx Photographers: Mike Chorley, Ethan Rohloff Location: Sydney, New South Wales
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E SCR IB E D as a lush
bushland oasis just a stone’s throw away from the Sydney CBD, Taronga’s newest attraction, the Wildlife Retreat, combines earthy Australian luxury with an up-close overnight experience starring the animals which call Taronga home. Located in the Australian Habitat section, the retreat consists of 62 luxury rooms and suites, a guest lodge entry pavilion and separate restaurant building that links the retreat to the existing Taronga Centre function spaces. The pods encircle and overlook an open and accessible animal exhibit showcasing native Australian species. Owned and operated by Taronga Conservation Society, the five-star eco-retreat has more than doubled the space for Australian wildlife by reclaiming unused land, allowing overnight visitors up-close encounters with native animals in their natural habitat. Nestled by the function centre, the lodges feature Responsible Wood certified blackbutt timbers and Sydney sandstone, centred around a pool where platypus and freshwater eels will swim.
Designed by Cox Architecture and featuring structural engineer Taylor Thomson Whitting the award-winning Wildlife Retreat was recently announced as winners of the Australian Certified Timber award announced as part of the 21st Australian Timber Design Awards. Nick Tyrrell, Cox Architecture director, explains: “The built outcome celebrates the principle of strong engagement and interaction between architecture and nature, landscape and native wildlife.” The project aims to become one of Australia’s first 5-star Greenstar Hotel environments, creating an iconic, adventurous, and interactive experience involving direct contact between animals and guests. Part of the approach to achieve a 5-Star Greenstar outcome for the Retreat was for the accommodation pods to rely primarily on PEFC certified Binderholz cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for both the floor and wall structures. The internal CLT surfaces for the floors, ceilings and walls were then lined to achieve acoustic and fire ratings. In addition, the retreat combines a rich tapestry of timbers with Responsible
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
Wood certified ASH (Australian Sustainable Hardwoods) and Warringah Timbers featured extensively throughout the project. The accommodation pods include native planted ‘green screens’ that cover the northern facades and roofs to camouflage the buildings, while preserving magnificent views of Sydney harbour, the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and CBD skyline beyond. These green screens also shelter the open-air access walkways that connect to rooms and lead guests’ eyes to the central wildlife exhibits below. The shared public components of the retreat include the reception guest lodge and dining facility, which includes a function space on the second story. These buildings respond to the circular form of the existing Taronga Centre and can be opened in appropriate weather conditions to provide open air gathering spaces for guests. The award-winning ecoretreat, which opened in October 2019 is one of several overnight experiences at the zoo, which also includes Roar & Snore in Sydney and the Zoofari Lodge, Billabong Camp and Savannah Cabins at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. www.timberbiz.com.au
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ENGINEERED WOOD
Australia’s first CLT/GLT plant for Green Triangle
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decision to build its new $59 million state-of-the-art Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) manufacturing facility at Tarpeena in South Australia has been widely welcomed. The facility - the first plant in Australia to produce both types of timber product - will built next to its existing mill which currently employees more than 200 people and contributes $150m to the local economy. A significant number of additional jobs will be also be created during the construction phase. The location of the $59m project is supported by the commitment of the South Australian State Government’s $2m grant from the Regional Growth Fund. Construction is due to begin this year with a completion date of 2023. A site in Victoria was also considered for the project. Danis-based Kallesoe Machinery A/S has been selected as the manufacturing equipment supplier for the plant. Kallesoe will supply and commission a turnkey solution providing plant design, manufacturing equipIMBERLI N K’S
ment and installation, supported by a fully integrated manufacturing software platform. Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Ross Hampton said Timberlink’s investment showed just how much the company took innovation seriously and how committed the business was to Australia’s timber industry, and the regional communities it operates in. “This announcement from Timberlink is terrific news for Australia’s renewable forest industries during what has been a difficult and uncertain year,” he said. “The investment demonstrates confidence in our sector, creating 50 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs once the new plant reaches capacity. As well it will supply innovative new engineered wood products for Australia’s construction industry.” This positive news follows Timberlink’s announcement in 2018 of a
Develop our future workforce ForestWorks will shortly commence three new skills standards projects: •
Career paths to attract people to our industry
•
Developing our experienced workers and managers
•
Safety mindsets in remote operations
To register your interest or for more information contact forestworks@forestworks.com.au or 03 9321 3500. 8
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Timberlink’s Tarpeena plant in South Australia’s South East where the new CLT and GLT plant will be built.
KEY POINTS ■ Timberlink’s new $59 million state-of-the-art CLT and GLT manufacturing facility will be the first plant in Australia to produce both types of timber product. ■ It has been supported by the commitment of the South Australian State Government’s $2m grant from the Regional Growth Fund. ■ Construction is due to begin this year with a completion date of 2023.
$100 million investment in its Australian sawmills, including upgrades at its facilities at Tarpeena and at Bell Bay in Tasmania. The Australasian timber products manufacturing business is owned by investment funds managed by New Forests and has sawmills at Bell Bay (Tasmania), Blenheim (New Zealand) and Tarpeena that manufacture plantation structural pine products. It also has a manufacturing facility in the Melbourne suburb of Knoxfield and sales and distribution teams based in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. “Most of the product will be supplied into large buildings in capital cities so we could have built the plant closer to those cities,’’ Timberlink’s Chief Executive Officer, Ian Tyson, said. Mr Tyson said that with the facility being constructed at Tarpeena there were benefits with being located on the same site as the company’s existing saw mill. “We’re delighted to be able secure this commitment from the South Australian Government and the District Council of Grant,’’ he said. Executive general manager for sales, marketing and corporate affairs David Oliver said support from the South Australian Government, District Council of Grant, and local members of parliament was “very strong”. “We’ve been really quite impressed at the level of excitement from the local community,” he said. Mr Oliver said a key reason for the decision was that the new production
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
facility would be co-located with the company’s current sawmill. “There are a lot of skilled people in the region who actually know about timber processing.” Mr Oliver said Timberlink Australia’s expectation was to primarily service the Australian market. “The plant will certainly have the capacity to replace the vast majority of imports at today’s level,” he said. “Our aim is very much to grow the market and replace imports that primarily come from Europe today.” Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub chair Ian McDonnell said the development would further diversify the region’s supply chain, strengthening the role of the Green Triangle as the powerhouse of the Australian softwood industry. “This is just one of many multimillion-dollar investments earmarked for this region in the short term,” he said. “Timberlink’s commitment further cements the objectives of the Hub’s strategic plan which has identified the need to futureproof local processing and manufacturing, investing in new innovations to increase productivity and create further downstream investment. “We want to ensure our sector is playing a valuable contribution in our community, and indeed the nation, for generations to come.” Grant Mayor Richard Sage lobbied hard for the plant to be built in the South East and said Timberlink and the council had an excellent working relationship. “Timberlink and the District Council of Grant share an excellent working relationship, we welcome Timberlink’s announcement to expand operations in Tarpeena which brings new employment and demonstrates continued confidence in our local economy and timber industry,” Mr Sage said. Chief Executive Officer of SAFPA, Nathan Paine said “This is great news for the Tarpeena community and a vote of confidence in the investment environment in South Australia. The SA government and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Forests David Basham MP should be congratulated on supporting the investment by committing $2 million in grant funding to the project.” Page 14: Tasmania’s new CLT plant snares top timber man. www.timberbiz.com.au
FRAME & TRUSS
Seven-star rating for timber frame project
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N EW timber framed
demonstration home in Western Australia has achieved a seven-star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) valuation, exceeding industry standards. WA Housing Minister Peter Tinley announced the achievement of the Kiara home, designed by the Department of Communities and built by Dale Alcock, which highlights the many benefits of a timber frame home. Mr Tinley said the timber frame demonstration home was not only affordable, but environmentally sustainable. “Timber is a renewable resource and a natural carbon store, making it an ideal environmentally friendly building material,” Mr Tinley said. “It is more resilient and has the added bonus of producing less waste than brick construction, which means less material ending up in landfill.”
www.timberbiz.com.au
KEY POINTS ■ New timber-framed demonstration home has achieved a sevenstar energy rating. ■ The home was not only affordable, but also environmentally sustainable. ■ The use of timber as a preferred material is also outlined in the WA State Governmentadopted Wood Encouragement Policy
The Sugargum Rise property is a four-bedroom, twobathroom open plan home. Reaffirming the fact that timber frame homes are faster to build, the walls and roof trusses of the home were prefabricated off-site, with the walls taking just two days to erect. It also serves as an example of how narrow timber framing
can maximise internal floor space (compared to brick), creating a more adaptable home which can be easily adjusted to suit various living requirements. Forest Industries Federation of WA Executive Director Melissa Haslam congratulated those involved with the design and building of the innovative home and hoped it would inspire others to consider timber framing. The use of timber as a preferred material is also outlined in the State Government adopted Wood Encouragement Policy, which is designed to encourage the use of responsibly-sourced wood in the construction and fit-out of buildings or other structures, on its own or in combination with other materials. “Local renewable timber is an excellent choice in construction, so it is really exciting to see such an innovative, affordable and sustainable home demonstrating those benefits,” Mrs Haslam said.
■ The award winning house in Western Australia. “Building with renewable timber is building for a better future and that is what our industry is focused on, which is why regeneration is such a critical component. “That is why we need to ensure we are prepared for the ongoing demand for timber, by expanding and developing our plantation estate. FIFWA
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
keenly awaits the outcome of the State Government’s Market-led Proposal initiative, announced in August, seeking private investment to expand the plantation estate. “We thank the State Government for continuing to support the industry and recognising what a valuable resource our local timber is.”
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TIMBER DESIGN
New LaTrobe build embracing the tree Timber industry history embraced for $38.5m project PHILIP HOPKINS
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RCHITECT Paul Katsieris had been developing a strong interest in timber and trees for years. Thus, his firm Katsieris-Origami, in partnership with Jackson Architects, was in a prime position to win the competition to design the LaTrobe Valley’s new $38.5 million LaTrobe Creative Precinct in Traralgon. The history and culture of the timber industry in Gippsland was a key design theme of the building. “The tree has been figuring a lot in our work, in different scale and modes - something that has been occupying me for some time. When the competition came along, I was ready,” said Paul, who is the design director for the project. His architectural team started with an ambition. “Could we use engineered timber construction in a way that would dovetail with a certain history of that area in mass timber
that has been forgotten?” he said. They started to research historic photos of the area – the broad LaTrobe Valley and surrounding areas of Gippsland. “We came up with tonnes of old photos of immense, giant heroic timber structures - giant timber bridges, aqueducts - uses in gold mining, the milling of large logs. They were extraordinary structures – most have disappeared,” he said. “Remnants of these structures dot this landscape. Some were lost in bushfires, some were blown up, or used for target practice by the army in ‘60s and ‘70s. Others have fallen into disrepair back into forest. They were forgotten.” These were giant, massive trees. “We are no longer talking about that; we are talking about making up giant pieces of timber columns and beams using smaller sections of sustainably harvested timber – some-
■ Architect Paul Katsieris
KEY POINTS ■ Timber industry in Gippsland a key design theme of new Latrobe Creative Precinct in Traralgon. ■ Project concentrated on forestry’s ultimate embodiment – the tree. ■ Gulam was cost-effective and on a par with steel in terms of cost.
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Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, pictured with ASH Managing Director Vince Hurley, said the high-tech timber trees will create a truly memorable public space as part of the Latrobe Creative Precinct.
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thing the engineered timber industry is becoming expert at,” said Paul. “We wanted to see – could we construct a substantial building that demonstrated a growing expertise in mass timber fabrication and construction in the LaTrobe area – perhaps an emerging micro-economy?” Enter Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield, a little north-east of the LaTrobe Valley, which is 150160 kilometres east of Melbourne. “I had heard of ASH but not worked with them. The stars aligned; as we started research into Glulam (glue-laminated beams) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), ASH came further into a view. We were committed to using local companies where we could,” he said. “We were lucky; our project coincided
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
with ASH developing MAASLAM with its new machinery, the Hundegger, from Germany. The deal was made to construct. “ MAASLAM is ASH’s name for its engineered wooden Glulam beams and columns, some up to 12 metres in length, made with Victorian Ash from local Gippsland forest. They are as strong as steel. Paul’s fascination for timber resulted in the project concentrating on forestry’s ultimate embodiment – the tree. His design, structurally engineered by JB Design, envisaged 10 engineered “trees”, 8.5 metres high and each weighing more than three tonnes, that would act as structural columns in the main foyer and create a memorable public space. To make the “trees”, ASH managing director Vince Hurley said the Hundegger machine used a digital 3D model of the project and translated the actions required to the machine, which automatically selects the correct tools to complete the work. “Each ‘tree’ takes roughly 16 hours to create and is then sanded, polished, joined together and capped with timber plugs,” he said. The parts are then assembled into the final product by TGA Engineering, which is based at Hallam in eastern Melbourne. Paul said in the early design, the building’s main timber component also had a CLT roof with dramatic skylights. “But we needed a bigger budget for that. However, Glulam was incredibly cost-effective and on a par with steel in terms of cost,” he said. The beauty of the timber was an added bonus. “Steel would have needed finer work to make it architectural steel, or we would have had to clad them. We went through a big learning curve, using a massive timber beam to it limits in terms of what it can do.” Paul said timber was too often seen as a finish and occasionally a structure; now it was being seen as both. Paul said the more he learnt about trees, the more he was astonished at what they could do. “They have physical beauty and a practical use. They are complex things, incredibly strong and tough,” he said. www.timberbiz.com.au
PREFABRICATION
Prefab now part of contemporary Australian design
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ROM a single prefab-
ricated widow system to an intricate prefabricated building module, almost all contemporary building integrate prefabrication in their designs to some degree. At the epicentre of these modular components is the clear opportunity for those in the AEC (architectureengineering-construction) industry to more fully familiarise themselves with the various categories and examples of prefabricated modular components. Although many in the allied building professions already use one or several of these components, the greater the share d awareness of what two dimensional and three dimensional modules are available will translate to better outcomes for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of a building project. A functional explanation of modular components and 2D prefab can be described as pre-cut, pre-sized, premoulded or pre-shaped components that are assembled or installed on site. They often arrive as flat-packed panels or non-volumetric systems and are ready for assembly. They might form the building envelope, stair cores, internal load bearing walls or lighter partitions. They might be open or closed panel systems, precast concrete panels or other panel types. Two dimensional prefab is easier to transport, lends itself to mass customisation and has infinite construction options when combined with speed of assembly. Three dimensional prefab systems comprise threedimensional structural units that are combined at site with other units or systems, or might comprise an entire small building. They include pods, which are generally not structural modules, such as bathroom or kitchen pods. They are a fast way to build, as they can be manufactured in conjunction with site preparation. 3D prefab systems can be joined together to create larger spaces and they are increasingly demonstrating their ability to go multi-level. The elements of 3D prefab may be structural elements, architectural elements or services elements, or they www.timberbiz.com.au
BRIEFS TIMBER SHORTAGES
A shortage in pressuretreated lumber is causing delays and higher costs for home renovation projects, a situation one industry group says is unlikely to improve for months. Western Retail Lumber Association president Liz Kovach says there is less forest to harvest due to the mountain pine beetle and fires, combined with lumber mills having to shut down due to the pandemic, with an ongoing transportation backlog adding to delays.
WOODEN SATELLITES
Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University have joined forces to develop what they hope will be the world’s first satellites made out of wood by 2023. At this point the ambitious program is still in a conceptual phase with scientists exploring which varieties of wood might endure the harsh conditions of space, which include violent temperature fluctuations and radiation bombardment.
MACHINERY SHORTAGES An insulated prefabricated floor cassette during installation.
may be a hybrid of these. There are a range of terms which have been used for modular components but fundamentally they can be reduced to five main categories that capture the core descriptions. 1. PANELISED SYSTEMS – 2 DIMENSIONAL Also regarded as “nonvolumetric pre-assembly”. These are either classified as ‘open’ or ‘closed’ with open panels normally being noninsulated and closed panels being insulated. Enhanced panels are also referred to and these panelised systems have been enhanced beyond the closed state to include windows and doors, services (electrical or plumbing) or other finishes such as external cladding or internal lining.
2. MODULAR OR VOLUMETRIC SYSTEMS – 3 DIMENSIONAL This term is used to describe units prefabricated in a factory that enclose usable space that are typically fully finished internally, such as toilet/bathroom pods and plant rooms, which are then installed within or onto a building or structure. Additionally this can include “complete buildings” where the completed useable space forms part of the completed building or structure finished internally (lined) and externally (clad). These are up to 80–95 per cent complete when they leave the factory.3. SUBASSEMBLIES AND COMPONENTS – 2D OR 3D. This covers manufactured components that fall short of being fully offsite manufactured systems. Typically, the term refers to simplified components like stairs, doors and windows that are manufactured in factories. They require more joints and
connections, and require more careful alignments and infiltration checks. 4. HYBRID SYSTEM – 2D + 3D A hybrid system is a combination of more than one system or approach and is normally a combination of both volumetric and panelised systems. 5. UNITISED WHOLE BUILDINGS: Whole buildings are standardised building units prefabricated to the highest degree of finish as compared to components, panels, modules, and hybrids. More work is done under a controlled factory environment (with larger building structures), providing the opportunity for the manufacturer to take control of the quality and speed of completion of the final product. However, sometimes their bulk size and weight presents difficulties in transportation from the factory to the building site. www.builtoffsite.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
Stock shortages are again tipped to drive a national machinery hire boom in 2021. Leading machinery platform, Machines4U. com.au, hosted more than 154,000 machinery sale listings last financial year and saw a sharp 96.2% increase in enquiries over the initial COVID-19 outbreak period. CEO Steve Krebs tips demand to be even stronger in 2021. Mr Krebbs said Interest in woodworking and metalworking machines has grown by more than 80% and cleaning machinery is up by 60% since last financial year and the demand will continue well into the year.
PLYWOOD FRAUD
FSC has suspended and terminated several FSC certificates in the plywood supply chain. This move comes after systematic violations of FSC certification requirements were uncovered in an extensive investigation by ASI and FSC into plywood supply chains using tropical face veneers. The violations were made by companies that were trading non-certified plywood products as certified. 11
TIMBER FLOORING
BRIEFS LABELLING INACCURACIES
An Australian-first national DNA testing program used to verify the species and origin of imported timber sold at retail outlets has released its first round of results, confirming more than 60 per cent of the species’ labels were accurate. Timber samples were purchased from major hardware stores, timber suppliers and furniture stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The products came from various countries and were sold as oak, merbau, meranti, acacia, eucalyptus, pine, rosewood, mahogany and teak varieties.
BRIQUETTE PLANT
A planned briquette plant at the Eden export facility is expected to add value to the wood by-products and residues generated at the site. Pentarch Forestry’s briquette plant will compress, and package low value wood residues from processing and produce around 8000 tons per annum of high-quality briquettes for domestic consumption. Branded as FIREBRIQS, this product is planned to be rolled out by mid-year. The briquette plant will be developed at the Allied Natural Wood Exports Eden site on the South-coast of NSW and will complement the new multimillion dollar timber processing and optimisation hub.
KI PELLET MILL
A $5.5 million bushfire recovery grant will support establishment of a biomass pellet mill plant on Kangaroo Island capable of processing fire-damaged timber. Over the past 12 months, KIPT has worked to secure diversified markets for dry product, that is, logs produced from forests damaged by bushfire, beyond the tolerance of traditional export markets. The $5.5 million grant will support development of a biomass pellet plant on Kangaroo Island, capable of accepting the fire-damaged logs and any other logs that cannot be sold into export markets.
12
Heritage homes built on Tassie timber I F you walk into any one
of Tasmania or Victoria’s heritage homes, chances are Tasmanian Oak floorboards will be underfoot. Sturdily withstanding the wear and tear of generations, there’s a reason why this timber has been the flooring of choice in Tasmania and beyond for over a century. Seeing a trend in Australian specifiers to use local and sustainably sourced Tasmanian Oak in homes across the country, timber expert Michael Lee, until recently from the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood at the University of Tasmania, offers his insights behind this beloved flooring choice. Frequently used by architects and builders, Lee explains that Tasmanian Oak has been used for flooring for over a century because of its stability and reliability. “In the flooring market during the 1970’s, 90% of Victoria was floored in Tasmanian Oak- and it’s still there,” he said. “The exposed floors you’re now seeing in these renovated houses are Tas Oak. It’s perfect for that marketplace because of its stability. “We look at a lot of Tasmanian Oak floors, many of them in commercial applications. If issues in the floor ever arise, it’s very rarely the timber product that’s the issue, with the problem likely caused by an external factor. “The stability of Tas Oak really makes it a premium product and places the material in the upper echelons of the flooring market.” Hobart City Hall recently received an upgrade to its floor that was first laid in Tasmanian Oak in the 1940’s. Lee says this floor is a beautiful example of Tasmanian Oak and its durability. “The Hobart City Hall job was a unique project that required flooring that was extra thick and an odd size of timber. The timber was able to be supplied at these custom requirements and is the most magnificent floor you’ve ever seen. It’s an exquisite example of Tasmanian Oak.” With the Hobart City Hall project serving as a prime example of what can be done with Tasmanian Oak flooring,
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Tassie timber is perfrect for flooring in modern Australian homes. Pictures: Adam Gibson
Lee explains hardwood is not the only option. “There’s several types of flooring coming out of the Tasmanian market. Several of Tasmania’s suppliers offer a range of engineered flooring that come in several different colours and styles. “There’s also standard engineered flooring and overlay flooring for direct stick over concrete. And of course, solid structural flooring which is available in standard sizes but like the Hobart City Hall project, custom sizes can be accommodated upon request.” Often surrounding the flooring conversation is the Janka hardness scale but Lee says stability is a far more important consideration than hardness where flooring is concerned. “Stability is definitely more important than hardness,” says Lee. “If specifiers are still concerned with hardness, they need to be aware that Janka ratings can also be deceptive.” Because Tasmanian Oak
is made up of a combination of species including E. Obliqua, E. Delegatensis and E. Regnans, Lee explains the rating of Tasmanian Oak is not an accurate indicator of hardness for the species. When you look at a Tas Oak floor, some groups would give the floor a Janka rating of 4.9 because it is measured by the lowest possible density in the species mix. Only a very small percentage of Tas Oak is made up of E. Reg-
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
nans, which is a much softer wood than the E. Obliqua and E. Delegatensis. “The bulk of the Tas Oak mix is now E. Obliqua which would actually sit somewhere between a 6 and a 7 on the Janka scale, which is quite a good commercial grade of hardness.” “In my opinion, Tasmanian Oak is as good of a product as any, especially in a residential or sensibly detailed commercial environment.”
www.timberbiz.com.au
NEWS
WA drives timber-first education policy T
HE timber industry is urging architects, designers and builders involved in the construction process of new education projects to consider WA timber as their preferred building material. The State Government is investing $492.2 million in schools across the State as part of the WA Recovery Plan, assisting the State’s economic recovery. The advantages of building with timber have long being recognised, but there have been an increasing number of striking and modern architectural designs choosing timber for its structural, aesthetic, and health and wellbeing advantages. Wood is a renewable and sustainable product that is
CASE STUDY ■ Building: Corpus Christi College Theatre, Bateman, WA (completed 2019) ■ Architect: eiw Architects ■ Builder: McCorkell Constructions ■ Photographer: Silvertone Photography ■ Awards: Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards 2019 - Best Education Building $5 - $10 million (joint winner).
strong and carbon-storing, as outlined in the State Government adopted Wood Encouragement Policy, which is designed to encourage the
use of responsibly sourced wood in the construction and fit-out of buildings or other structures, on its own or in combination with other materials. Forest Industries Federation of WA Executive Director Melissa Haslam said timber featured in many school and universities around WA, as its use was thought to have benefits beyond structural, contributing to learning outcomes by providing a calm, stress-free learning environment. “There are many fantastic examples of timber being used in education buildings in WA and we are happy to provide examples for those seeking for more information,” Mrs Haslam said. “Research done by Planet
■
Corpus Christi College Theatre, Bateman, in WA. Picture: Silvertone Photography Ark shows that biophilic design, the connection of humans to nature via building design, has clear physiological and psychological benefits, simulating the effects of spending time in nature. This can reduce stress and have a calming effect, even increasing positive social interactions. “Timber is a renewable material that stores carbon for life so by building with timber, we’re building a
better future by helping to combat climate change.” Mrs Haslam said using timber sourced from local businesses in these construction projects would further stimulate the economy. “The forestry industry is already an important economic driver in WA and is a key player in the State’s economic recovery, contributing $1.4 billion to the local economy and creating about 6000 jobs,” she said.
Franz Building Supplies harnessed the power of our numbers and found true Independence. Why did you join HBT? We joined to ensure we remain competitive. We knew there was more that we could do with our suppliers and joining HBT was a way to fast-track that plan and gain access to suppliers that we may not have been aware of.
What has a HBT membership done for your business? By utilising the combined knowledge of the HBT buying team, and the other HBT members around the country, we’re able to source practically any product our clients need. The network of other stores around the country who have always been willing to lend a hand has helped us grow our business through some very challenging times.
For more information and membership applications call 1300 428 477 I hbt.net.au
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
13
WOODCHAT
Monitoring Tassie species a devil of a job
T
HE latest episode of
WoodChat, the Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) podcast series, takes a look at a new research project that is monitoring the impact of forestry activities on a number of iconic at-risk Tasmanian species. While much is already being done to manage and protect the biodiversity of Australian forests, this research will assess the effectiveness of existing measures. During the episode, the hosts speak to Dr Amy Koch, Biodiversity Research Manager at the Forest Practices Authority (FPA) which is leading the initiative. “The public is concerned about high-profile species such as wedge-tailed eagles, masked owls, giant freshwater crayfish and Tasmanian
devils, and members of the forestry industry are as keen as everyone else to make sure their operations don’t have a negative impact,” said Dr Koch. The project includes four separate studies, each monitoring one of the species mentioned by Dr Koch. The initiative will observe the movements and habitat requirements of each species using a variety of innovative tracking and detection techniques. Results will be used to improve understanding of the effectiveness of current
protocols that guide forest management practices where these species are known to be found. This knowledge will help determine whether new or adapted approaches could better protect animals, and minimise the impact on forestry operations. Dr Koch noted existing restrictions can come at a cost to industry, not only by prohibiting harvesting and other activities in certain areas, but also through the expense of the equipment needed for monitoring. “It’s hoped greater knowl-
edge about the species’ habits will allow for the development of more finelytuned, species-specific management practices that will benefit wildlife and foresters at the same time,” Koch explained. Listeners will also hear from various members of the research team, who describe their work ‘on the ground’ and the techniques they use. This episode is the latest in the WoodChat podcast series, and follows topics including work with Indigenous communities in the NT
to create a sustainable forestry industry, new business models to inspire investment in trees on farms, and building safely with timber in bushfire-prone areas. WoodChat represents FWPA’s ongoing commitment to engaging ways of communicating news and innovations to the industry and beyond. Each episode includes in-depth conversations with experts on recent discoveries and current initiatives. You can listen to WoodChat on SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify.
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M
ICH A E L Lee, one of Australia’s foremost experts in timber and widely regarded as the technical expert on Tasmanian timber, has joined CLTP Tasmania’s ranks as their Operations Manager. With 35 years’ experience, having spent 50% of his career in industry and 50% of his time in academia, Michael is a unique blend of both technical and practical aspects of Tasmanian timbers. Having spent the last 10 years as the Technical Officer for the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood in the School of Architecture & Design at the University of Tasmania, he is well positioned to steer the plant to successful production. Familiar to many architects and builders around the country, he has operated the Expert Timber Helpline and the Tasmanian Timber Quality Assurance Program while continuing to carry out research with a team of PhD students into plantation grown timber. Inspired by the vision and determination of the founder, Ron Goldslager, to create a product that maximises the value from our countries existing resources to offset a massive trade deficit in timber, Michael says he is looking forward to seeing the vision come to fruition.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
“The products we’re producing are really exciting and the philosophy of the business really positions it to help transform the future of the built environment in Australia,” says Michael. “We want to maintain a very flexible and agile approach to the Mass timber market in Australia that we believe is not in existence today.” CLTP Tasmania has developed a partnership with Dayne Davis, founder and CEO of Timber Design Studio. Dayne and his team of international experts are globally experienced in Mass timber projects and are currently working on some of the largest timber projects across Europe and Australia. Dayne and his team push the limits with innovative designs and construction methodologies to deliver a design which not only meets the architectural and structural requirements on the project but is also ready for fabrication and installation on site. See: https://www.cltptasmania.com/ www.timberbiz.com.au
TECH TALK
Change in laws to benefit fabricators ADAM DAWSON TECHNICAL MANAGER, PRYDA
F
O R this month’s Tech Talk I’m
zooming out from the details and looking at changes in the laws that govern who can provide technical advice and how it is communicated. Fundamentally this is great news for fabricators and will further highlight the value we add by solving problems and managing risk before the framing is even on site. From July 1, Victoria and NSW will join Queensland in requiring engineers to be registered if they are to perform work for those states. Major stakeholders like Engineers Australia are pushing hard for this to be expanded to the remaining states, and with compulsory registration now inked into law up and down the East Coast it’s not hard to see the remaining dominos toppling in the next few years. It’s easy to think of new regulations as an obstacle; more hoops to jump through, more forms to fill out, more fees to pay and so on. For fabricators, however, these new laws are an opportunity to double down on how we pitch the value of shifting work off site and into your yards. I’ll get to that, but first of all it’s important that you know what this means to you, as there are some longstanding ways of doing things that will come under scrutiny and could get you in hot water. The critical thing to understand is when someone is deemed to be acting in the capacity of an engineer. The law allows non-engineers to work within the limits of “prescriptive standards”, and specifically calls out AS1684 as an example. As soon as you go outside these limits and need to use detailed calculations and/or engineering judgement to come up with a solution you’re operating as an engineer. This means you either need to be registered or closely supervised by someone who is and can approve the work. As a practical example, I know may detailers have useful rectification details pinned to a corkboard or stuck to the wall ready to go the next time a similar situation comes up. The key question is: who is making the decision about whether that www.timberbiz.com.au
previous detail is suitable for a different job? Significant fines and jail time are possible if a detailer makes a judgement call that the detail can be re-used and they are found to have been working as an engineer under the definitions in the legislation. This applies both to them and to their employer. That’s the stick; now for the carrot I promised. For starters, we have some very clever software in this industry that absorbs a significant amount of the engineering and compliance responsibility. The chain of paperwork and approvals from detailer training through to a job’s Producer Statement provides clear traceability back to the requirements of the NCC and the Australian Standards, giving certifiers confidence that their risk is managed when they give offsite-manufactured frames and trusses the tick of approval. The nature of prefabrication also forces a lot of problems to be solved before any timber is even cut. This is the fundamental value of building off site. We apply our collective smarts to the front end of the project and greatly reduce the decisions that need to be made during construction. Once again there is full traceability for the certifier back to either the software output or the formal advice of a registered engineer. If you’re not already in the habit of getting everything in a written format that clearly shows the credentials and registration status of the design engineer, now is the time to have that conversation with your nailplate company. It’s also an opportune time to think about investing some upfront effort in standardised engineering details that can be re-used within some clear parameters rather than working job to job. You may find it’s a smarter way of working for detailers and engineers, as well as a neat way of managing compliance with the new legislation. We can also continue to shift decisions and labour from the site to the yard. Pre-installed connections and supplying ancillaries reduce the chances of products being installed
incorrectly or a non-engineer making an illegal judgement call to swap out a product or change a detail. With certifiers under increasing scrutiny and facing rising insurance premiums they are looking for certainty and - here’s that word again - traceability. Being able to quickly match what’s on site to what’s on the project documentation promotes confidence in the prefabricated components and underlines their value compared to the stick-built alternative.
Your nailplate company will be working in the background on making sure their engineering advice is in line with these new requirements, so let’s all make sure that builders also understand that changes are coming. It’s a perfect opportunity to double down on the safety, speed, quality and confidence of using prefabricated timber framing by showing builders that we are the ideal partner to navigate increasingly strict compliance requirements.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
15
ASSOCIATIONS FRAME & TRUSS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
FTMA Australia is an independent, national organisation representing fabricators of and suppliers to the timber prefabricated truss and wall frame industry in all Australian states & territories providing a unified voice, to protect and advance our multi-billion dollar industry.
FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit: www.ftmanews.com.au 16
We were all one until the Pandemic hit
I
N 1987 Bruce Woodley of the Seekers and Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers wrote I am Australian, which has become to many a song that sums up our country. The song states: “We are one, but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come We’ll share a dream and sing with one voice I am, you are, we are Australian” That is of course, until the COVID-19 Pandemic hit and after a brief demonstration of collaboration within the National Cabinet, it seems we are no longer one and I fear this is the breaking down of our Federation as each State and Territory creates their own rules and processes to tackle this world wide pandemic. The Australia Day lamb advertisement, Make Lamb – Not Walls, has highlighted how ridiculous things have become in Australia with border closures and states fighting over the best way to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Cabinet, which was created by the Prime Minister on the 13th March 2020, began with gusto, with all leaders working together to protect our country. Ten months on however, and it seems the collaboration has stopped with leaders attacking each other and each state and territory introducing their own rules as part of their political point scoring. We need collaboration from our leaders now more than ever. We need unity and a streamlined process that gives individuals and businesses confidence in the system and furthermore it should be a national system that is rolled out in every state and territory. The best processes such as
“We support you!”
KERSTEN GENTLE Executive Officer FTMA Australia
contract tracing should be adopted at National Cabinet and introduced in all states, the easiest QR code should be used, the same rules in relation to recognition of hot spots should be accepted by all the states and we should have the same border permit system in place for the whole country. Instead, we have families being locked out of their own homes due to rule changes happening with little to no warning which is causing individuals and businesses a lot of unnecessary heartbreak. It is time to stop the political point scoring and think of us as Australians, not as Victorians, Queenslanders, or South Australians etc, we need to be recognised as one again! IT’S NOT HARD TO BE KIND Everyone has been affected in one way or another from this pandemic however the level of impact varies. This is the time we need to come together, to support one another as 2021 is going to be another tough year. Unlike National Cabinet, the industry Associations are working together to ensure we support everyone within the timber supply chain but again there are different jobs in the industry where the impact has been harder. Jobs such as sales representatives have changed dramatically from cold calling in person to trying to cold call on the phone or talk via zoom. I don’t envy their task at all as the pandemic has made their jobs extremely hard.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
Think of your own sales reps and the difficulty they have faced communicating with builders and developers. You’d want your builders to give your sales reps 10 minutes to talk up your products and that’s all we are asking from you. FTMA Australia has always encouraged fabricators to support those who support your industry and all we ask, especially as we continue to navigate through the new normal of COVID-19 life, is to give the sponsors sales representatives 10 minutes when they next cold call you. To remind you of our the amazing FTMA Australia Sponsors as we have a few new ones, they are: Gold: MiTek, Multinail & Pryda Silver: AB Phillips, AKD, Australian Panel Products (formerly Borgs), Meyer Timber, Timberlink and Vekta Automation Bronze: Daw Trading, CombiLift, Dindas, Hundegger, Hyne, IHG, McCormack Hardwood Sales, OneFortyOne Wood Products, Programmed Timber Supplies, Roadpod, Simpson Strong-Tie, StoraEnso, Tilling, VIDA, VTW and Wurth There is no doubt 2021 will be another difficult year with the pandemic, however, with strong housing markets continuing throughout the country, we hope fabricators have a good year and as usual, FTMA Australia will be right there with you ensuring you are kept updated on all work related COVID-19 issues. www.timberbiz.com.au
ASSOCIATIONS australasian
Looking Back 2020
Legislation seeking reforms to casual employment T HE Fair Work Amend-
ment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 entered Parliament on Wednesday, 9 December. As part of the proposed federal government legislation, changes to casual employment are intended to provide more certainty for businesses in the future. Key aspects of the proposed reform are as follows: CASUAL EMPLOYEES According to the Bill’s explanatory memorandum, the Bill will introduce a statutory definition of a casual employee that focuses on the offer and acceptance of employment and draws on common law principles. The measure is aimed at preventing unfair outcomes in situations where employers have to pay an employee twice for the same entitlement. A statutory obligation will be introduced for employers to offer regular casual employees a conversion to full or part-time employment, unless there are reasonable business grounds not to do so. Under the entitlement, employers will be required to offer an eligible casual employee conversion to full or part time employment after 12 months of employment. AWARD FLEXIBILITIES The Bill will also address award complexity by extending existing JobKeeper flexibilities in the Fair Work www.timberbiz.com.au
BRIAN BEECROFT Executive Officer FTMA Australia
Act concerning duties and location of work to employers and employees to whom identified modern awards apply. The flexibilities will be available for a period of two years following the passage of the bill through Parliament. Part-time flexibility provisions will also be made available across identified modern awards, enabling employers and employees to work together to agree additional hours of work to part-time employees who already work at least 16 hours per week, to be paid at ordinary rates of pay. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT The Bill introduces a new criminal offence for dishonest and systematic wage underpayments and increases the value and scope of civil penalties and orders that can be imposed for non-compliance.
Employees will be able to recover their entitlements by increasing the small claims cap from $20,000 to $50,000. The Federal Circuit Court and Magistrate’s courts will be able to refer small claims matters to the Fair Work Commission for conciliation and consent arbitration. Further, the Bill will prevent businesses from publishing job advertisements with pay rates below the minimum wage. MAKING AGREEMENTS The Bill will enhance these processes by reducing the level of prescription imposed by the Fair Work Act and providing greater flexibility as to the methods by which employees may be provided with a fair and reasonable opportunity to consider whether to approve an enterprise agreement prior to the vote. The Fair Work Commission will be required to listen to the views of the bargain-
ing parties in the approval process, and intervention by other persons before the FWC will be limited. In addition, the Commission will be required to approve agreements within 21 working days. The Bill will also enable franchisees to opt in to a current single-enterprise agreement that covers a larger group of employers that operate under the franchise. The measure ensures that industrial instruments do not transfer where an employee may transfer between associated employing entities at the employee’s initiative. AGREEMENTS ON MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS According to the Bill, the Fair Work Commission will be allowed to approve longer-term greenfields agreements made in relation to the construction of a major project, to specify a nominal expiry date of up to eight years after the day the agreement comes into operation. Where the greenfields agreement specifies a nominal expiry date more than four years after the day on which the Fair Work Commission approves the agreement, the agreement must include a term that provides for annual pay increases for the nominal life of the agreement. We will keep TTIA Members up to date on the progress of this proposed legislation.
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
PHYSICS says a skyscraper can be made of wood. There are also some good reasons it should be. Handled properly wood can be the most ethical and sustainable building material there is. And no, fire isn’t a deal breaker Standing side-by-side in Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct are two new office buildings that are part of an international architectural revolution. What makes them unique in Australia and uncommon around the world is that they are commercial buildings made almost entirely out of wood. Walls, floors, ceilings, roof, lift shafts and stairwells, all made of wood.
2016
MASS TIMBER construction is gathering momentum in Australia with an announcement by Lendlease that it would launch a prefabricated building materials factory in Western Sydney. Then the ante was raised when StrongBuild said it was CLT and offsite prefabrication capacity with a new 15,000 square metre facility at Baulkham Hills coming online early 2016, according to The Fifth Estate StrongBuild has several multi-storey residential developments that will use CLT ready to break ground in the new year, and according to architect Rod Pindar, a principal at Fitzpatrick+Partners.
2011
FROM THIS year, current and up-coming leaders and managers in Australia’s timber-related production, fabrication and construction industries can gain a qualification as the University of Tasmania launches a national-first graduate certificate course. The Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing and Building) will be offered at the School of Architecture & Design in Launceston. As it is an online course, it is accessible for students all over Australia. Associate Professor Gregory Nolan for the UTAS Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood said the course provides specialist study in manufacturing and using timber and wood products for building. 17
ASSOCIATIONS Award winners Kuon Omakase Japanese Restaurant in Sydney’s Darling Square and Springvale Library in Melbourne’s south east.
2021 - Are you ready?
F
EBRUARY already, and a New Year and
another year at MGA TMA where our members matter, their communities’ matter, their staff matter, their sustainability matters and their futures matter; not only to us, but to the Australian community in years to come. Following a 2020 year of drought, bush fires, floods and a pandemic - has sharpened our senses to what matters. 2020 was a transient year for the industry , the year of the Zoom, the year of discovery and leadership. New initiatives and innovations that will be announced during the months ahead are designed to assist MGA TMA members of all sizes and brands to pursue a sustainable future. A future where we can reduce our cost of doing business, a future where the consumer will choose an independent because of the values they embody, a future where our community supports are recognised and championed, not as marketing spin but as avenues to make a real difference in a thriving local community. At MGA TMA we are assisting members as we recover and move ahead during 2021. Are you ready? Are you Compliant? Are your staff ready? Workplace Legal & IR Employment and industrial relation lawyers available to help members maintain a productive and compliant workplace Workplace Safety Management System • Risk on site assessment service • Safety documentation and specific modules available to members • Industry webinars provide valuable insights into the requirements and importance of workplace safety management
Veneers shine again at timber design awards T
Training A wide range of industry training available during the year ahead – ensuring staff are trained; knowledgeable and equipped for better times ahead. For any enquiries regarding MGA TMA Timber Merchants Australia – contact Ann Sanfey – National Membership Manager | 0411 886 716 | ann.sanfey@mga.asn.au
H E Australian Timber Design Awards for 2020 were announced on December 2. The Awards are presented in a number of different categories. The Award sponsored by the Timber Veneer Association of Australia is for: The best aesthetic use of timber veneers in, for example, furniture, joinery or linings/coverings of any kind. In 2020 the outstanding entry in this category was the Springvale Library, part of Greater Dandenong’s new Springvale Community Hub. Lyons Architects utilised a complex pattern of Victorian ash veneered panels for the interior, stained in various colours.
Some 3500 panels in a variety of sizes and shapes drew from a palette of 21 colours, many perforated for acoustic benefit, and to provide a visual accent, while others were required to be fitted to curved walls. The grouping of colours to specific spaces helps to identify boundaries between areas within the library. The Victorian ash quarter-cut veneer selected for the panels is even-grained and light coloured, making it particularly well suited to staining. While the Springvale Library was the stand-out entry, there was a strong field with many other worthy entries.
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The tiny 11-seat Kuon Omakase Japanese restaurant, located in Sydney’s Darling Square, caught the judges’ eye. The restaurant features a light interior design in timber, structured according to Japanese minimalist traditions. Materials are few, but of high quality. Kuon’s architect Hyun Kyu Nam selected Tasmanian oak veneer for its light, natural colour, pointing out that natural materials are beneficial for the wellbeing of a building’s occupants as well as bringing a “timeless aesthetic to the design”. As always, the 2020 Awards brought to the fore the best of current architectural design showcasing outstanding uses of timber veneers.
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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
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Classifieds advertising has long been regarded as one of the best value for money forms of advertising — because it’s been proven to work, time and time again Now you can sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee through the new classified pages of Australasian Timber Magazine. Booking a classified advertisement in Australasian Timber Magazine is as easy as phoning or emailing Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au
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Contact Gavin de Almeida at (08) 8369 9517 or g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2021
19
DELIVERING PRECISION Vekta‘s Interior and Exterior StakPros are designed to increase your production and improve safety.Why have many hands lifting trusses when one operator can do the job by using only a remote control! Vekta‘s Interior StakPro is designed to suit your truss jig system. With heavy duty caster wheels and a guided rail mount you can put the StakPro where you need it! The Exterior StakPro has adjustable feet allowing the machine to adapt to your site and manufacturing processes. With the PRESS of a button the StakPro will LIFT the finished truss out of the jig and STACK it on a trolley. Clever!
info@vekta.com.au I vekta.com.au