Australasian Timber - September 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016

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NEWS

Timber industry body issues challenge to local councils

V

ICTORIA’SNORTH East councils have been challenged to adopt timber encouragement policies similar to those now in place in some Gippsland municipalities.

Speaking at a meeting of regional forests and timbers processing representatives in Wangaratta recently, Ric Sinclair (Managing Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia [FWPA]) said that local councils which had an interest in the local industry could influence the use of wood products by adopting similar initiatives.

This follows the announcement that East Gippsland Shire Council became the third local council in the state to adopt a timber encouragement or ‘timber first’ policy, following its adoption by Latrobe City Council and Wellington Shire.

Mr Sinclair said a timber (or wood) encouragement policy encouraged the use of wood as the preferred material for construction and fitout of council’s buildings where appropriate.

“The focus of the policy is to ensure wood is considered for the initial stages of projects,” he said.

The meeting followed visits to regional timber processing plants in Benalla, Wangaratta and Myrtleford ahead of the FWPA board meeting.

FWPA has a policy of holding some of its board meetings in regional timber growing and processing centres.

Mr Sinclair also spoke about the FWPA’s role as the service company working with industry stakeholders and government to sustainably grow the market for forests and wood products.

¢ (L-r) Justin Tonks (D&R Henderson), Steve Dadd (Boral Timber), John Simon (chair FWPA), Jim Henneberry (FWPA) and Ross Barlow (CHH Myrtleford).

“We want to see increased productivity across the value chain and ensure positive environmental and social outcomes,”’ he said.

“Some of FWPA’s recent achievements include a change to the National Construction Code to allow mid-rise timber buildings and a successful TV promotion in conjunction with Planet Ark to promote the benefits of wood products and carbon retention,’’ he added.

FWPA chairman John Simon welcomed Cathy McGowan, the board, executives and North East regional processors attending.

He said that new multi-storey timber construction represented an exciting period ahead for wood.

“I want to also thank the government for its commitment to matching funding to grow R&D and wood marketing,” he said.

¢ Tim Johnston (CEO VAFI), John Simon (chair FWPA), Cathy McGowan ( Member for Indi), Greg McNulty (Ryan and McNulty, Benalla), Ron Janas (Mayor Alpine Shire), and Ric Sinclair (MD FWPA).

Massive Masters sell-off begins

M

ORE THAN half a billion dollars of discount hardware will be offloaded in a massive fire sale after Woolworths set a closing date for its failed home improvement chain Masters.

The supermarket giant drew a line under its disastrous experiment with hardware on 24 August, announcing the sale of its Home Timber and Hardware chain to Mitre 10’s owner, Metcash, and the sale of its Masters Home Improvement stores.

Masters stores will close their doors for good on or before December 11, Woolworths said. It first flagged its exit from the business in January.

Everything from paint, timber, barbecues, vacuum cleaners and all other Masters stock, worth between $600 million and $700 million, will be sold off in a fire sale.

Woolworths expects to net $500 million from the discount sale.

The company has appointed the Great American Group, part of one of the world’s largest inventory divestment specialists, to manage the sell-off, with the support of Master staff.

Woolworths said it would honour customer gift cards, warranties, returns and laybys, and would complete any contracted installation projects.

“Since the sale process began, our 7700 staff in the Home Improvement businesses have worked extremely hard in an uncertain environment and we sincerely thank them for their commitment,” Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said.

“We will work hard to find Masters employees jobs within the group or pay full redundancy where suitable roles are not available.”

Since 2009, Woolworths and its joint venture partner, US hardware giant Lowe’s, invested $3.48 billion in the home improvement project, including Masters and the profitable Home Timber and Hardware business.

Woolworths announced it was exiting hardware in January, after it racked up losses of more than $600 million in the four years prior.

Home Consortium, whose owners include the families behind the Chemist Warehouse and Spotlight, will buy the joint venture vehicle, Hydrox

Lowe’s opts for court action while Woolies says ‘transactions proceeding’ US RETAILER Lowe’s has begun Federal Court action against Woolworths over the failed Masters hardware chain accusing Woolworths of wrongfully attempting to terminate the joint venture (JV) formed by the www.timberbiz.com.au

pair in 2009, and is asking the court to appoint a liquidator to oversee the wind-up of Masters.

“Woolworths has engaged in oppressive conduct, including by invalidly and in bad faith attempting

Holdings, for about $800 million including debt.

Home Consortium said it was already in negotiation with retailers including Anaconda, JB Hi-FI, Super Amart, BBQs Galore, Woolworths Supermarkets and Dan Murphy’s to take over the 61 properties.

Bunnings confirmed it planned to take over 15 Masters sites. Eleven of those would replace existing stores.

Woolworths will net $165 million by selling Home Timber and Hardware to Metcash, allowing it to merge with Mitre 10 and create a new $2 billion player in the sector.

Woolworths said it would make gross proceeds of $1.5 billion by selling out of its hardware assets.

The latest key points in Woolworths home improvement exit (as at 24 August) were: • Woolworths Limited (Woolworths) has agreed three separate contracts to facilitate its exit from Home Improvement for estimated gross proceeds of $1.5 billion to terminate the JV,” a statement from Lowe’s said on 29 August. Lowe’s owns one-third of the company it created with Woolworths, called Hydrox Holdings.

It also accused Woolworths of seeking to exclude Lowe’s from the management of Hydrox.

Woolworths announced that it will shut all Masters stores by December 11.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

• Masters will cease trading at all stores on or before 11 December 2016 • Woolworths will work hard to find Masters employees jobs within the Group, or will pay full redundancy where suitable roles are not available • Woolworths will honour all customer gift cards, product warranties, returns, lay-bys and contracted home improvement projects and will work constructively with all suppliers 1. Metcash to acquire Home Timber & Hardware Group (HTHG) for a headline purchase price of $165 million, with the business continuing to trade Continued on next page The Woolworths Group confirmed (29 August) it became aware of an ex parte application filed by Lowe’s in relation to the home improvement joint venture company, Hydrox Holdings Pty Ltd. The transactions relating to the Home Timber and Hardware sale and Masters inventory clearance

by GA Australia are proceeding as announced.

3

NEWS

Massive Masters sell-off begins • Woolworths will take assignment of three residual HTHG leases • Transaction approved by Lowe’s and Hydrox Holdings Pty Ltd (Hydrox), the joint venture company owned by Woolworths and WDR Delaware Corporation (WDR), a subsidiary of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (Lowe’s) 2. GA Australia has provided an underwritten recovery for the value of the Masters Home Improvement (Masters) inventory and has been appointed to manage the sell-down of Masters inventory. The underwritten recovery is subject to certain adjustments and is estimated to deliver gross proceeds of approximately $500 million • Sell-down of Masters inventory to be conducted over the coming months 3. Subject to Lowe’s consent, Home Consortium (Aurrum Group, Spotlight Group and Chemist Warehouse) has proposed to purchase the Masters properties through acquistion of 100% of the shares in Hydrox. The transaction will include 40 Masters freehold trading sites, 21 Masters freehold development sites and 21 Masters leasehold sites. Home Consortium plans to repurpose the former Masters sites into multi-tenant large format centres • Woolworths will acquire three Masters freehold sites and take assignment of 12 leases to facilitate a complete exit of Hydrox • Estimated gross proceeds of $1.5 billion from the collective sale contracts • Estimated net proceeds of approximately $500 million[1] are expected after wind-down costs and prior to any shareholder payments Woolworths said today that, following a seven month sale process, it has agreed three transactions to sell its Home Improvement business, Hydrox, to a collective bidder group of GA Australia, Metcash and Home Consortium.

Home Consortium is comprised of the investors behind three major Australian privately owned companies - Aurrum Group, Spotlight Group and Chemist Warehouse Group.

After estimated wind-down costs, Woolworths expects to receive proceeds of approximately $500 million[2] prior to any shareholder payments, following Lowe’s consent to the Home Consortium transaction.

“When I was appointed CEO in February, I said exiting the Home Improvement business was a top priority. Today’s announcement delivers on that commitment. These agreements are the result of an intensive seven month process of reviewing all possible options for exit and extensive negiotations. This decision means management can focus

on driving the momentum in our core businesses,” Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci said today.

“The agreements provide certainty to our Masters team, suppliers and customers. It is the right resolution for our shareholders. The Home Consortium transaction remains subject to Lowe’s consent.

“Woolworths’ top priority remains to do the right thing by our employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders. We will provide a certain and transparent timetable to all our stakeholders during the exit process.

“Since the sale process began, our 7,700 staff in the Home Improvement businesses have worked extremely hard in an uncertain environment and we sincerely thank them for their commitment.” Mr Banducci said.

The three transactions: Home Timber & Hardware Group HTHG will continue to trade and service independent hardware customers throughout the country, providing access to leading domestic and global brands and products as well as leverage ongoing relationships with suppliers.

Metcash will acquire 100% of the shares in Danks Holdings Pty Limited, the holding company for HTHG, for a headline purchase price of $165 million. Metcash has indicated that it intends to exit two company-owned stores (Gungahlin and Launceston (Dowling St)) and one distribution centre (South Dandenong).

Woolworths will take assignment of the leases for these sites. Woolworths will work to find staff affected by these closures, jobs within the Group and offer full redundancy where jobs

australasian

magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.

September Vol.24, No.6 Established 1977 4

Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Peter Muscet Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office: (08) 7127 6370

Continued from last page

are not available within the Group.

A detailed transition plan has been prepared.

On 21 July this year, the ACCC said it would not oppose a bid from Metcash to acquire HTHG from Woolworths after accepting a court-enforceable undertaking from Metcash. The details of that undertaking are publicly available.

Masters Property

Masters Inventory GA Australia has provided an underwritten recovery for the value of the Masters inventory and has been appointed to manage the sale of the inventory. The underwritten recovery is subject to certain adjustments and is estimated to deliver gross proceeds of approximately $500 million.

GA Australia is part of the Great American Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of B.Riley Financial Inc., one of the world’s largest inventory divestment specialists.

Masters stores will cease trading on or before 11 December 2016. Until then, Masters staff will support GA Australia to manage the sale of Masters inventory.

“We will work hard to find Masters employees jobs within the Group, or pay full redundancy where suitable roles are not available,” Mr Banducci said.

Woolworths will begin discussions with Masters’ suppliers immediately about the transition timetable to minimise the impact on trade suppliers.

Woolworths will honour all customer gift cards, product warranties, returns and lay-bys, and the completion of any contracted installation projects such as kitchens, bathrooms and floor coverings. Gift cards can be used at other Woolworths Group stores and at Masters up until closure.

Advertising: J ohn Burton j.burton@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Timber classified: j.burton@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Production: Luke Westle

Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide: (08) 8369 9555 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501

Home Consortium have agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Hydrox.

Woolworths has granted an exclusive call option over its two-third share in Hydrox to Home Consortium on economic terms consistent with Home Consortium’s proposal.

The Home Consortium will seek to implement plans to repurpose the existing Masters sites into multi-tenant, large format centres anchored by a selection of Australia’s leading home, hardware, family and lifestyle retailers (subject to landlord and authority consents where required).

Joint venture update On 18 January 2016, each of Woolworths and Lowe’s announced their intention to exit their Home Improvement joint venture following Lowe’s notice to exercise its put option under the JVA. On 16 February 2016, Woolworth’s exercised its call option under the JVA to acquire Lowe’s shareholding in Hydrox in accordance with the option mechanism in the JVA. As of the date of this release Lowe’s currently owns 33% of Hydrox and Woolworths owns 67% of Hydrox.

Woolworths has exercised its right to terminate the JVA with Lowe’s and WDR, and the associated option contracts arising under the JVA, as a result of a dispute about the process to value Lowe’s shareholding under the option mechanism in the JVA. The confidentiality provisions in the JVA survive termination of the JVA and accordingly no further comment will be made about any dispute between the shareholders.

Citi is acting as financial advisor to Woolworths. King & Wood Mallesons is acting as legal advisor to Woolworths.

MEDIA

INDEPENDENT & AUSTRALIAN OWNED FRONT PAGE PHOTO: The third National Cabinet Maker and Design Association Awards highlighted a premium level of craftsmanship. See more pn pages 18-19

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 © 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 published will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

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NEWS

Biligom International launches revolutionary new structural timber product

Y

OUNG MOIST eucalyptus timber has not previously been successfully finger-jointed, treated and certified for structural applications without drying, however, a new process has removed the time and capital expenses related in kiln drying, greatly improving cash flow for saw milling operations.

Currently, eucalyptus grandis and grandis x cameldulensis species are in production and research is under way with other species native to Australia as this exciting technology expands.

For over two years, Biligom has successfully supplied the roof truss manufacturing market using superior mechanical qualities to out-compete construction pine at the same price.

Using Biligom in a roofing structure requires approximately 50% less gang nails and 28% less wood by volume in a 12 x 20 metre or larger building as truss and baton spacing can be significantly increased, cord and web sizes decreased, while retaining load capacity and rigidity.

Paul Roberts of Biligom reports there has been tremendous positive feedback from the start. Clients have re-ordered and demand has steadily grown as the product has become known, more widely used and trusted.

Mitek Industries assisted Biligom development and completed extensive independent testing using moist (40% MC) and dry Biligom in 9 metre span test-trusses designed and manufactured to globally recognized standards.

MiTek concluded Biligom can be used in the wet state for manufacturing trusses and allowed to dry in place in a roof. Mike Newham Pr Eng of MiTek, stated: “We believe in Biligom and back it. The strength exceeded our expectations and calculations, and we had the gang nail plates failing across the joint at characteristic strength.’ (when testing to destruction).”

MiTek has adapted their software to cater to Biligom and can provide comparable (Pine v Biligom) material and cost projections for roofing

¢ Project in Western Cape using Biligom structural grade timber.

projects which allows clients to compare relative material costs. Using Biligom can offer upwards of 30% saving on a roofing project in many cases.

Recognized bodies have endorsed Biligom’s market entrance. Fred Wagner, Executive Officer of the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA), which regulates the structural timber industry and plays a pivotal role in the final sign-off of engineered roofing and building, has backed Biligom and stated, “it’s great to see companies like Biligom thinking innovatively and taking the initiative to introduce

new products into the market’”.

Roy Southey Executive Director of Sawmilling South Africa confirmed Biligom was a viable option to supplement the looming pine shortages of the future.

Biligom says raw material costs are more affordable and available than pine. Since the process does not require a dry mill or kiln, start-up and operating costs are dramatically lower. Capital start-up costs for an existing saw milling operator are reasonable. Industrial development funds were used to commission of the first licenced Biligom operation.

The most significant feature of

¢ Close-up of Biligom finger-joint.

6

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

Biligom, is that logs can be loaded in a plantation, processed and ready for dispatch as structural timber the evening of the same day.

Trees are harvested at a five to eight year rotation, debarked in-field using the standing rip stripe method and left for approximately six weeks bringing down moisture content to 40% or lower.

Tree lengths are pole graded, sorted by diameter and length, and transported to saw milling operations.

Boards are then processed in the Biligom finger joint plant which transforms cut moist Eucalypts boards into high quality construction lumber suitable and certified for use in the roof truss and framing market.

The boards are first cross-cut to remove defects and supply high quality short lengths of approximately 800mm for finger jointing.

The finger joint process squares the ends and cuts finger joint profiles, then an air activated polyurethane epoxy is applied. Planks are assembled, cross-cut to production length and hydraulically pressed to correct compression in an automated process. Curing takes approximately three hours.

Cured production planks are planed in a single pass on 4-sides and have end nail plates inserted. 100% of production is tested to grade 7 in a stress grader incorporated into the production process. (Certification to grade 8 is currently in the approval process, which will make Biligom 3 grades stronger than retail construction pine.)

Finally, production stacks are treated with copper azole wood preservative Tanalith E, Ecospecifier to SANS 1288 H2 in a vacuum/ www.timberbiz.com.au

NEWS

¢ Stress grader

¢ Bundling.

pressure/vacuum cycle, treating to refusal according to Arch Wood Protection procedures.

Biligom International was developed by father and son team, Spencer and Frederick Drake. The Drake family established eucalyptus plantations in Georges Valley in the 1960s and Diggers Rest Saw Mill in 1974. For over 40 years Diggers Rest Saw Mill has worked principally with pine supplying building material and (chromate copper arsenate / creosote) treated poles. The potential of eucalyptus had always intrigued the Drakes who devoted years and significant capital investment to develop and refine a process which excluded the need to dry, yet would allow Eucalypt cut lumber to retain form and provide the required strength to complete with pine.

Spencer enlisted the South African Technical Auditing Society (SATAS) to develop an industry recognized and accredited process which adheres to SABS / SANS and globally recognized standards. SATAS has endorsed Biligom and administers an ongoing auditing program at the original plant and the first licenced Biligom operation in nearby Politsi.

Extensive academic research was performed at Stellenbosch University, Department of Forest and Wood Science. http://scholar.sun.ac.za/ handle/10019.1/80072 Biligom should be of particular interest to Australian saw milling operators who are running at less than 100% capacity due to the growing gulf between supplies of domestically produced softwoods and raising consumer demand in www.timberbiz.com.au

¢ Bundles pre Tan E Treatment.

Australia. Estimates show a softwood construction lumber shortfall will reach 1.8 million m3 by 2035.

Eastern Australia has established Eucalypts (Grandis, Nitens, Calmaldulensis) production and much of it is supplying the pulp and paper and bio-energy market.

An opportunity now exists for enterprising Australian saw millers, to progress beyond the supply gap related to pine.

Paul Roberts of Biligom stated: “Now that a truss product can be efficiently made from material previous used for pulp, chip, and bio-energy, several issues can be addressed to the economic benefit of all involved.”

“This should not be seen as a step-backward to earlier times of hardwood framing, as Biligom construction lumber competes directly in the softwood market at the same wholesale rate.

“Adding value to Eucalypts currently going to pulp and bioenergy makes a lot of sense,” said Paul.

The Biligom development promotes a wider range of more affordable and accessible timber products which is in the interests all, and in-turn will benefit related industries including truss manufacturers and contractors as well as consumers.

More information about Biligom is available from Paul.Biligom@Outlook. com or visit www.Biligom.co.za. ¢ Production.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

7

NEWS

FWPA to help upskill industry supply chain through new online WoodSolutions Campus

F

OLLOWING A successful pilot program with industryleading companies, Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is launching WoodSolutions Campus, a free, online education and skills development platform, to increase the product knowledge of people in the wood and wood products supply chain.

Sales opportunities increase when staff have up-to-the minute knowledge about the nature and performance of timber and wood products – especially in the light of recent changes to the National Construction Code (NCC). These skills can also lead to greater customer satisfaction and confidence in the range of options and expert advice made available.

FWPA, in collaboration with the University of Tasmania’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood, has developed WoodSolutions Campus. It is the first free-access online educational platform that provides people who work in Australia’s timber and wood products supply chain with both the fundamental and work-based knowledge they need to improve their skills.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” University of Tasmania’s Associate Professor Greg Nolan said. “For the first time, timber producers and suppliers around Australia have ready access to resources designed to develop staff skill and confidence in how timber and wood products are made, used and perform.”

The site’s content is designed to help staff choose or specify the most

¢ Eileen Newbury.

¢ Associate Professor Greg Nolan (centre).

appropriate timber or wood product for a range of applications in building.

“The courses are grounded in industry practice and, where possible, show operations in businesses,” Associate Professor Nolan said.

Five vendor-neutral WoodSolutions courses are available focusing on key concepts and best practices in timber handling and design. The courses are: C ourse 1 - I ntroduction to Building Regulations and Standards Course 2 - Design for Durability Course 3 - Design for Bushfire C ourse 4 - M anaging Timber’s Moisture Content Course 5 - T imber and Wood Properties These self-paced, online courses cover standards and building regulations, and the properties of timber and wood products, including durability ratings, moisture content and resistance to fire. Further courses

will be added on an ongoing basis.

WoodSolutions Campus users can also have their participation recognised as part of formal training or education. WoodSolutions has been working with Registered Training Organisations to map current and future materials against training units and courses.

“We believe there are significant new opportunities for increasing timber sales as a result of the NCC change. WoodSolutions Campus will enable merchants to be wellinformed about the wood products they should recommend and make the most of these opportunities,” said Eileen Newbury, FWPA’s National Marketing and Communications Manager. “An online platform makes learning convenient and accessible from any internet-ready device,” she said.

Each course is based on 6 or more

video modules. Each can typically be completed in 3 to 5 minutes. Printable technical guides support the videos and provide additional content.

Accompanying assessments enhance the self-paced learning experience.

These measure the level of knowledge gained, and can result in Starter, Intermediate and Advanced Certificate being awarded. Additional resources are also available for further learning.

“We are already working on a new course to educate specifiers about the building code change and make the most of the new opportunities for wood in medium rise multi-residential developments,” Ms Newbury said.

WoodSolutions Campus is available on-demand via www.campus. woodsolutions.com.au

Another Council embraces for wood first policy EAST GIPPSLAND Shire Council is the latest to adopt a Wood Encouragement Policy (WEP).

Two regional and seven local councils have now adopted a WEP in Australia, and Rotorua Lakes Council has done some ground-breaking work in New Zealand.

A WEP generally requires responsibly sourced wood to be considered, where feasible, as the primary construction material in council building and fit out projects.

Among the policy aims council wanted to ‘lead the way through encouraging sustainable adoption and sourcing of timber as a building material’, and to ‘promote the industry as a renewable and sustainable resource along with the advantages of timber based products in the design and construction phase of council projects’.

Victoria’s peak body for the forest and wood products industry, the, has welcomed the announcement that East Gippsland Shire Council have become the third local council in the state to adopt a timber encouragement policy.

Tim Johnston, CEO of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries [VAFI], said it was great to see support for timber was continuing to grow and that the renewable resource was 8

getting recognition for the role it played in sustainable economic development.

The forest and wood products industry is an important economic contributor in Victoria, generating more than $6 billion of sales and service income annually, and provides opportunities for encouraging growth, population diversity and maintaining a sustainable local industry. Much of the income generated by the industry remains in local communities, particularly so in regional areas.

The industry also creates and supports a significant number of jobs, directly employing around 21,000 people across Victoria and indirectly supporting another 40,000 to 50,000 jobs through flow on economic activity.

“The local forest and wood products industry is well positioned to assist with the growing demand for timber, both for traditional construction and engineered wood products,” Mr Johnston said.

“Victoria is already home to landmark timber buildings. Having the support of local councils is vital to seeing more investment and growth in this sector.”

In December 2014 Latrobe City Council became the first in Australia to adopt a wood AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

encouragement policy (WEP) for public buildings.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) both passed resolutions to adopt Wood Encouragement Policies in May and June 2015 respectively. Specifically, ALGA approved the following motion; “That this National Assembly support the use and promotion of timber products

by Local Government across Australia, using a policy similar to the Wood Encouragement Policy developed by Latrobe City Council.”

Throughout 2015 Wellington Shire in Victoria, Wattle Ranges in South Australia and Kyogle and Tumbarumba in New South Wales all adopted WEPs. In January this year Nannup became the first council in Western Australia to adopt a policy.

Planet Ark is encouraging more councils to adopt WEPs. The adoption of similar policies around the world is growing steadily, including Canada, Japan, France, Finland, Netherlands and the UK, who are all encouraging the use of natural timberbased products in construction

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AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Australian Timber Design Awards winners announced 15 September

W

inners in the 17th Annual Australian Timber Design Awards, Australia’s most recognised stamp of excellence in timber design, will be announced this month. This much-vaunted national competition is open to architects, landscape architects, building and interior designers, and engineers. There is an array of categories to cover all types of timber projects and use of timber products.

Winners will be announced on 15 September at a dinner/awards night at Luna Park, Milson Point , Sydney. See Sydney by Ferris Wheel from 6-7 then enjoy pre-dinner drinks and canapés from6.30pm to 7pm, with the dinner and awards to start at 7pm.

Tickets are $165 for entrants and $185 for guests.

As part of the lead-up to the prestigious event, Australasian Timber has been featuring some of the best architects in the business and we continue this tribute in this edition.

Finalists 2016 ATDA Residential Class 1 - New Buildings Sponsor - VAFI & Timber NSW CLT House Forest & Beach House Main Ridge House Ridge House Salamander Bay Residence Split House

Ecobuild Design Troppo Architects Noxon Giffen Sparks Architects MJW Architecture BKK Architects

West End House - Winner

Richard Kirk Architect

Residential Class 1 Alteration or Addition Highlight House Rhythm House Sofia & Otto’s Playground Waterloo Terrace Whyte House Multi Residential

Sponsor - Boral ssd studio Delia Teschendorff Architecture Gaetano Palmese Architects David Mitchell Architects buck and simple

JAWSARCHITECTS Morrison & Breytenbach Architects in Associtaion with Circa Morris-Nunn

West Beach Townhouses

Grant Amon Architects P/L

Public or Commercial

Interior Fitout - Residential

Donovan Payne Architects Y2Architecture Timber Imagineering Timber Imagineering Law Architects Sponsor - Hurford Wholesale Sparks Architects Fergus Scott Architects LAVA Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

Tower House - Interior Fit out

Austin Maynard Architects

106 Flinders Street Lot 1, Sydney Makan Place NORD Coffee Novartis, Interior Fitout

Furniture and Joinery

Sponsor - Design Pine Studio Workshop Rebekah Araullo Sync Design Sponsor - Hurford Hardwood

Play Pods The Pieman Collection

Silvester Fuller Hydrowood

West End House

Richard Kirk Architect

Landscape Canada Bay Residence Henley Square Redevelopment Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga Woodlea Park and Entry Boulevard Timber Fabrication Bold Park Aquatic Centre RMIT Bundoora Timber Hub Woodleigh School Homestead Redevelopment Sustainability Bold Park Aquatic CLT House Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre Mosman Bay House University Of Tasmania Inveresk Residences Rising Star 106 Flinders Street Bold Park Aquatic Whyte House Waterloo Terrace Small Budget 106 Flinders Street Cut-away Roof House High Point Pop Up Park Play Pods Ptolemi Australian Certified Timber Bold Park Aquatic Novartis Woodleigh School Homestead Redevelopment

Sponsor - Design pine CplusC Architectural Workshop TCL - Taylor Cullity Lethlean TCL - Taylor Cullity Lethlean MDG Landscape Architects

Sponsor - Timber Imagineering Donovan Payne Architects Timber Imagineering Law Architects

Sponsor - Make it Wood Donovan Payne Architects Ecobuild Design Y2Architecture iredale pedersen hook architects Morrison & Breytenbach Architects in Associtaion with Circa Morris-Nunn

Sponsor - Australian Sustainable Hardwoods Bates Smart Enter Projects PNEU Architects Studio Workshop HDR / Rice Daubney

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Engineered Timber

Bates Smart Donovan Payne Architects buck and simple David Mitchell Architects Sponsor - TDA Bates Smart Scale Architecture Pty Ltd ASPECT Studios Silvester Fuller Rebekah Araullo Sponsor - Australian Forestry Standard Donovan Payne Architects HDR / Rice Daubney Law Architects

Sponsor - Xlam Australia Pty Ltd

Bold Park Aquatic Donovan Payne Architects University Of Tasmania Inveresk Morrison & Breytenbach Residences Architects in Associtaion with Circa Morris-Nunn RMIT Bundoora Timber Hub Timber Imagineering Fitout featuring Decorative Sliced Veneer Dowell House John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School Lilly’s Espresso e Cucina Suttons UGG Timber Cladding Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility Inlet House Light House Little Hartley House Main Ridge House

Timber Flooring

Sponsor - Hurford Hardwood

Abbotsleigh Multi-Purpose Allen Jack+Cottier Assembly & Sports Hall & Sports Field Slack Melbourne Office Breathe Architecture Three Capes Track Cabins JAWSARCHITECTS Recycled Timber

Sponsor - Kennedy’s Timbers

Makan Place The Farm West End House

PNEU Architects Fergus Scott Architects Richard Kirk Architect

Timber Panels

Sponsor - EWPAA

Bento Box Play Pods The Gipson Commons, St Michael’s Grammar School

Cumulus Studio Silvester Fuller

Timber Veneers Jemena Melbourne Workplace Lot 1, Sydney The Gipson Commons, St Michael’s Grammar School Timber Windows and Doors Forest and Beach House Sofia & Otto’s Playground The Farm

Architectus Sponsor - Timber Veneer Association of Australia Woods Bagot Enter Projects Architectus Sponsor - WADIC Troppo Architects Gaetano Palmese Architects Fergus Scott Architects

australasian

Sponsor - TDA

Sponsor - rothoblaas

Ridge House - Interior Fitout The Farm Tivoli Terrace

Interior Fitout - Commercial

CONDEV Reception Space Ptolemi The Coffee Box

Sponsor - VAFI & Timber NSW

Three Capes Track Cabins University of Tasmania Inveresk Residences

Bold Park Aquatic Marist College Bendigo Montagne Centre RMIT Bundoora Timber Hub St Joseph’s School Woodleigh School Homestead Redevelopment

Standalone Structure

Sponsor - Briggs Veneers fmd architects p/l Brooking Design Architects Zanazan Architecture Studio Rptecture Architects Sponsor - Weatertex k20 Architecture Seeley Architects ARKit Ruth Kealy Noxon Giffen

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

magazine

Timber Design Awards media partner

LEADING TIMBER products publication Australasian Timber Magazine published by Ryan Media is a supporting sponsor and media partner for the Australian Timber Design Awards.

Australasian Timber, which circulates in Australia and New Zealand, has been providing a package of timber design marketing and media services promoting the Awards and showcasing category winners and their designs to the industry and end users.

Ros Hunter, Timber Development Association Office Administrator said the partnership with Ryan Media further enhanced the status of the Awards.

Australasian Timber continues to publish regular Awards winner’s designs to promote timber as the preferred sustainable, aesthetic, design orientated and cost effective building material.

Hartley Higgins, publisher of Australasian Timber, said the magazine increased timber design coverage by having a closer supporting and promotional involvement with the Awards and supporting sponsors.

“This will involve publishing regular timber design stories each edition in a publishing schedule of eight editions annually,” he said.

“The design content will be scheduled around the Awards for a given year to focus on category winners, plus additional stories to better promote the Awards and highlight timber design in construction,” he added.

Ros said that ongoing support by the sponsors of the Awards was vital and additional media coverage would further cement their involvement.

“Sponsors appreciate additional benefits to participate with the Awards and this will add value to their sponsorship commitment,” she said.

Beside print and online versions of Australasian Timber, Ryan Media also publishes Australian Forests and Timber News and online enewsletter Daily Timber News. For further details contact Ros Hunter 02 8920 0446 9

AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Architecture nourishes people’s lives Suzanne Hunt Architect 2015 Australian Timber Design Interior Fitout Residential Award winner and shortlisted in the Timber Veneer category for Bedfordale House.

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STABLISHED IN Perth in 2004 Suzanne Hunt Architect is a boutique architectural and interior design practice specialising in contemporary high end residential architecture and interior heritage and hospitality projects. “We have completed work in the Perth Metropolitan area, and country WA, and we are currently working with a client in NSW as well,” says Suzie.

“My ethos for the practice is that great architecture nourishes people’s lives not only physically but spiritually and emotionally. I want the houses we design to express harmony warmth and a calm simplicity. This is very important to me.

“Along with my practice commitments I have also sat on The Heritage Council’s Development Committee, and was Heritage Advisor to the Department of Justice (Prisons), City of Subiaco and Town of Cottesloe.

Currently I sit on the Rottnest Island Board, the AIA Chapter Council and the City of Melville’s Architectural and Urban Design Advisory Panel Suzie’s architectural career has been varied “which is exactly how I like it”.

After graduating with Honours from Curtin University in 1986 she worked in London as a Design Architect for four years before heading back to Perth in 1991.

Working for the State Government agency BMW Suzie was a Project

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Architect on a number of heritage projects in particular the Fremantle Prison and for a time was seconded to the Department of Justice touring Australia looking at court house lock ups.

She left government in 1996 to have the first of her four children. Suzie continued working on small projects from home and in 1999 with her then partner, established Wilson Hunt Design Consultants. “We specialised in hospitality completing a number of award winning projects.

“I registered in the UK in 1989 and in WA in 1994.” Suzie was recently made

a Fellow of the Institute of Architects -one of only six female architects.

The first clients of Suzanne Hunt Architect were Tricia and Denis Horgan, owners of Leeuwin Estate Winery in Margaret River. “They are now my friends and biggest cheerleaders. I often send potential clients to visit their home and after a beautiful glass of Leeuwin Chardonnay with Denis and Tricia they are won over….hopefully they like the architecture as well! The practice continues to work with the family. I feel very lucky to have Denis and Tricia as supporters,” says Suzie with pride.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

“I started SHA with one staff member, my colleague now Associate Catherine Lee with whom I had worked with in my previous practice.

We both had small children aged 2 to 7 and I was recently divorced so we worked from my loft bedroom part time around day care hours and school holidays. It was tough but we never lost our enthusiasm for great design and our sense of humour.

“I feel very privileged to have had a colleague and friend who I totally trust and is an equal and integral member of the leadership team. In the last 12 years we have grown the

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AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

business while always maintaining the practice’s ethos of great design, actively trying to maintain a work life balance whilst enjoying ourselves,” she says.

The practice now numbers seven with a combination of full and part time architects, graduates and interior designers.

“I am very careful about not taking on too much work ensuring that our clients have the personalised attention that we promise. We have recently moved into a new office in Nedlands which we refurbished and share with another architect. Sitting in our very cool office filled with plants and retro furniture Cat and I feel like we have finally grown up…a bit like our kids now feel as they leave school!”

When asked about the practice concentrating on timber use, Suzie’s reply was ... “I love honest, robust and earth materials, beautiful detailing and creating a feeling of sensuality and elegance. I want our homes to seamlessly fit into the landscape and suit our climate so timber is pretty much a staple ingredient for all our projects. We are continually looking for new timber products that are both

sustainable and beautiful and creating new opportunities to use them. We are also so lucky to have brilliant expertise in Perth with our joiner Abbotsolutely Timbers and our main timber supplier Austim in our office pretty much every week!”

Which brings us to the brief for the 2015 award winning Bedfordale House Interior Fitout ...

“We wanted to create a home that would be suitable for this time in our lives, but also one we could live in forever. It needed to be tranquil, feel spacious and beautiful but most importantly we wanted a comfortable home.” That was how a Bedfordale House Client discussed their brief.

“Serenity, tranquillity, sustainability, flexibility and a dynamic connection with context were the key design drivers for our engaged, retired clients. Located in the Perth hills, Bedfordale House is our client’s sanctuary reflecting their love of Japanese aesthetics, robust materiality and nature. The elegance and scale of the single level pavilions with uncluttered interiors and minimal furnishings convey a sense of calm, a retreat from the world’s demands

allowing the buildings bones, the interior architecture to become the decoration.”

The interior design, integral to the connection with nature, is reflected in the robust, durable and honest materiality selections of local basalt, rammed earth, solid timber, timber veneer and earth-toned travertine.

Nature is encouraged to gently enter and retreat as pavilion’s open up transforming exterior spaces into ‘roofless rooms’. Gardens at the edge of rooms draw the eye outward and reflected light from ponds bounce off exposed timber ceilings and travertine floors, creating a subtle warm hue.

Frameless timber windows capture views of the valley like art-pieces.

Traditional separation of internal spaces is replaced by designed timber cabinetry, sliding shoji screen walls and detailed timber ceilings. This very personal house has been designed with flexibility to enable it to transition with the owners now in their late 60’s.

Ultimately Bedfordale House “touches the earth lightly” on many levels”.

SHA were absolutely thrilled to win the 2015 Timber Design Interior Fitout - Residential Award and be shortlisted

Platinum Sponsor

in the Timber Veneer category for Bedfordale House.

“This project has won a number of awards, however, personally, this was the most important as timber was an integral part of the design and the award recognised the level of detail of design we accomplished with our builders. We had a ball at the awards event and were lucky enough to be sitting with the sponsor of our awards Hurford Timber.”

Suzie said the awards were a wonderful acknowledgement to the team and provided a sense of achievement and encouragement.

“We have new and exciting work on the board in a tough market so I believe the Timber Design Award expanded our reach and helped grow our business.

“In the long term, I hope as a business we have the opportunity to continue working with amazing people and creating beautiful work,” said Suzie.

Photographs by Rob Frith from Acorn.

Bronze Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

www.timberawards.com.au Media Partner www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

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AUSTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Site-specific design strategy ticks the all-important boxes Alma Park Reserve Pavilion, St Kilda, Victoria

Completion date: 2016 Architects: k20 Architecture (Australian Timber Design Awards winner in 2014 and again in 2015)

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OCATED IN the inner city suburb of St Kilda East, Alma Park is an area of both cultural and heritage significance. The bitumen pathway that runs in front of the building is heritage listed and the trees that surround the area are all established.

The scale, massing and siting of the two pavilions engage with the surrounding environment while at the same time protect the neighbourhood character of the park.

In order to incorporate the specific components of the brief and minimise impact to the surrounding environment,

k20 Architecture divided the program into two separate pavilions. With the assistance of an arborist, the tree protection zone was clearly defined and maintained throughout the design and construction in an effort to retain all existing trees on site. The siting of the pavilions were guided by a design process that involved a series of mapping exercises that overlayed the tree protection zone and the park area to create the shape of the building without disrupting the heritage pathway, adjacent railway or the tree protection zone. The resulting curve of the building

emanated from the alignment with the tree protection zone.

The use of a reflective cladding finish on the portion of the building which is shaped by the tree’s protection zone serves to highlight the curvature of the building as well as reflect the light, colour and movement of the surrounding environment. A typical approach could have resulted in a rectangular design response which would have led to the removal of a number of the mature Elm trees. k20 Architecture maintained that retaining mature and healthy trees is important for bio-diversity which retains

News Briefs Ply-high CLT helps bridge the gap

Residents in Precinct 16, Putrajaya, can expect a quicker way to Precinct 1 when a pedestrian bridge connecting the two is completed in December.

Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) has teamed up with Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) to build the Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam) pedestrian bridge, estimated to cost RM1.8mil. At 47m long and 3m wide, the bridge will be made of local timber.

Abdul Rahim said the project would strengthen MTC’s effort to encourage and promote the use of timber, as well as share the advent of technology in timber engineering.

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tribute to actor

While Thalaivar Rajinikanth’s new film Kabali was being released Rajini fans all over India and elsewhere are trying to out do each other with creative tribute strategies.. The latest to join the list is from Trichy where a 65 feet Rajini plywood cutout that has been placed by fans. According to fans from Trichy, the height of the cutout is based on the age of the superstar himself. Karnan, a huge fan of Rajini and one of those involved in bringing this creativity to life said, “Ten years back there were cutouts being made for every film, but that has long gone. Now, we wanted to show tribute to Rajini sir and for his age and thus have set this 65 feet cutout.”

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

Combining forces

Combining machinery with tooling engineering talent has resulted in Leitz and Holz-Her receiving Challengers Award finalist status for the 2016 International Woodworking Fair.

Leitz QuattroForm tooling, as part of the HOLZ-HER MultiTool System, utilizes an innovative tool body gear system, allowing multiple edgebanding profiles to be machined by a single tool. The profile is selected at the machine control, and the changeover is completed in seconds. Numerically-controlled servos assure 100% accuracy and repeatability. The new QuattroForm system will help manufacturers meet the demands of mass customization and shortrun production.

SEPTEMBER 2016

the cultural significance of place and of Alma Park.

In addition to the site-specific design strategy, the project was designed to encourage female participation in sport with the incorporation of separate toilets and separate shower cubicles. The project provides for sporting change rooms and a community kitchen, which serves as a multi-purpose space with the ability to cater for a variety of functions including sporting and community events. The project has gathered support from local council and sporting clubs, with its unisex change rooms allowing for increased participation of women in sport.

From a sustainability perspective, the project was designed to minimise energy consumption across all avenues of the project from the specification of materials to day-to-day use of the buildings. Natural day lighting is maximised through the use of skylights with all artificial lighting controlled via motion and day lighting sensors. A water collection system was incorporated for water reuse in the amenities and very high water efficient fixtures can be found throughout the pavilions. A driving objective for the material selection was to provide a low-maintenance finish to withstand public use. Concrete within the project includes a highly recycled content to reduce the embodied energy within the material. In addition, the structural slab system was selected as a minimal impact solution to adjacent old growth trees.

The greatest challenge for the project was incorporating the program within a highly contextual response and the outcome is that of a series of buildings which are reflective of their environment. This is highlighted by the use of a reflective cladding finish for the portion of the building which is shaped based on the tree protection zone and the remaining facades clad in sustainably sourced recycled timber cladding iron bark. These elements combine to heighten the connection and relationship of the project within the cultural significance of Alma Park.

Catering to a growing appetite

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has hosted seminars for importers, traders and end users of American hardwoods in India. The seminars, in Jodhpur and Delhi, helped attendees obtain a better understanding of the physical properties, grades and the potential for applications offered by the different species of American hardwoods, and reflect AHEC’s renewed commitment to cater to and expand further in India, which has demonstrated a growing appetite for US hardwoods for a number of years.

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEW KOMATSU FORKLIFT LINE OFFERS COST-SAVING INNOVATIONS & FEATURES >> Superior fuel economy due to

common rail turbocharged diesel engine, electronically-controlled hydrostatic transmission & variable displacement pump with clss

>> Durability and reliability from passed down from field proven earthmoving technology

>> Controllability & safety with

features such as ramp control, factory speed limiting, no low speed creep & smooth directional changes without releasing accelerator pedal

>> Fitted with Komtrax machine management system

ALL ENQUIRIES:1300 814 769 WWW.KOMATSUFORKLIFT.COM.AU

MATERIALS HANDLING

Lifting their way to a whole new level!

K

OMATSU’S NEW range of 4-5 ton Hydrostatic forklifts has raised the operational bar to a whole new

level.

“These mid to large size forklifts are built with the underlying philosophies of quality, reliability and lower cost of ownership which makes them ideally suited to demanding industries such as timber construction, recycling and steel,” said Jack Socratous, National Product Support, Training & Marketing Manager, Komatsu Forklift Australia.

Jack said the new range of 4-5 ton Hydrostatic forklifts was no exception and added: “In fact, it raises the bar to a whole new level.”

Komatsu has long been known as premium manufacturer of heavy duty equipment built to withstand the harshest work environments.

The new hydrostatic drive FH series diesel powered pneumatic tyre forklift features many of the innovations introduced on Komatsu’s class-leading construction equipment – with the potential to greatly reduce owning and operating costs.

Available in 4, 4.5 and 5 tonnes, the new FH series forklifts feature Komatsu’s exclusive HST hydrostatic drive system, advanced CLSS closedcentre load sensing hydraulic system and the KOMTRAX remote monitoring and tracking system.

Power comes from a Komatsu SAA4D95LE-5 turbocharged common rail diesel rated at 50.8 kW, that is Interim Tier 4 and EU Stage 3A emissions certified, without sacrificing power or productivity.

According to Jack, the FH series has been designed around the highly reliable, field-proven drive and control components used for many years in Komatsu construction equipment.

“The FH series’ electronically controlled HST drive system has a proven record of quality and reliability over years of use in Komatsu construction equipment including wheel loaders and dozers,” he said.

“And the hydraulic system uses Komatsu’s CLSS variable displacement pump technology, again a proven and highly efficient hydraulic system, used in Komatsu’s hydraulic excavators, graders and other equipment.”

All FH Series models are powered by a Komatsu designed and manufactured diesel engine, featuring advanced engine technologies to achieve superior fuel economy, reduced environmental impact, and outstanding controllability.

“Combined, all these new features on our new FH series forklifts will dramatically reduce overall operational costs,” said Jack.

“The HST and CLSS systems, together with the Komatsu SAA4D95LE-5 diesel

¢ Komatsu Forklift Australia is the Australian distributor of Baumann Sideloaders. Baumann’s range has been specifically designed to handle long loads and use minimal aisle space.

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work in harmony to achieve significant fuel economy, especially in tough, high-cycle operations where fast-paced loading, unloading, and directional changes are demanded by operators.”

Other features of Komatsu’s new FH series forklifts include: • Spacious operator compartment with full suspension seat • Tilting and telescoping steering console with a small diameter steering wheel and spinner knob • Fully hydrostatic power steering • Airtight wet disc brake system, for exceptional overall durability and low operational costs • Adjustable auto engine shutdown system, eliminating needless idling – saving fuel and operational costs • Adjustable ‘Turtle’ control switch with four different control speed settings for precise speed control in tight working situations.

“Komatsu’s new FH series offers a

¢ The new FH series forklifts feature Komatsu’s exclusive HST hydrostatic drive system, advanced CLSS closed-centre load sensing hydraulic system and the KOMTRAX remote monitoring and tracking system.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

perfect blend of power, performance, efficiency and operator comforts, allowing the operator to handle the toughest applications while maximising efficiency and productivity,” Jack said.

“With excellent controllability and handling ease, we believe the FH series forklift is the best possible choice for the most difficult and demanding applications.

“And the tougher the application, the greater the cost savings generated by the efficiency and operational excellence of this new line.

“It offers the potential to have a dramatic effect for users looking to reduce their overall operational costs,” he said.

Baumann Sideloaders Komatsu Forklift Australia is also the Australian distributor of Baumann Sideloaders. Baumann’s range has been specifically designed to handle long loads minimise aisles. Their four-wheel design and patented self-levelling deck makes them the most stable sideloader on the market. For many years Baumann has been a popular choice in the Australian timber, steel, aluminium and other manufacturing industries.

Baumann’s recently patented Archimedes outreach system is the most important innovation in Sideloader design in 40 years. This exceptional innovation saw Baumann being a finalist for the 2016 FLTA Innovation Award.

The new Baumann GX Sideloader Series utilises a direct drive Archimedes screw and sliding blocks to extend the fork carriage, while preventing transverse movements and eliminating unnecessary stresses. This patented Archimedes screw, or worm gear outreach system, enhances equipment that has remained fundamentally unchanged for almost 50 years. The whole worm gear system and rollers can work only in combination, which means ideal results each time, and the maximum working speeds - results never before reached. The system is low in maintenance and simple in design, with a high level of engineering and durability to ensure greater safety, smoother control and perfectly synchronised outreach for highly accurate and efficient load control.

Handling long loads demands specialised equipment solutions tailor made to improve safety and to efficiently utilise available space. Baumann offers a variety of side loaders to handle long and bulky goods. Available in LPG, diesel & electric from 3 – 45 tonnes www.timberbiz.com.au

RACKING

Meticulous business approach stacks up

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ECA Racking Solutions Australia’s depth of experience in design, development, and installation have established it as an industry leader, evidenced in its achievements and repeat business from many of its clients.

From low density storage system to the largest distribution centres, MECA’s systems have been -- and are still -- in strong in demand.

A meticulous business approach with the key parameter being the client is MECA’s key to its success.

As Manager John Harrison says: “ We deliver superior results through aligning ourselves with our client’s goals, being ‘on time and on budget’ to deliver the most efficient system to ensure the delivery to our client’s business is seamless and a positive transformation.”

And that’s not just a throwaway line, either, John is justifiably proud of MECA’s standing in a demanding industry. “ Our clients benefit from the very best expertise, innovation, and our indepth understanding of warehousing drivers, and how to add value,” he said.

“You will have one point of contact from the start to finish of your job.

The person you meet and brief on day one will be there at all stages of the project, from concept, to design and pricing, right through to installation to ensure the job is completed to your specification,” he says.

It’s smooth sailing from inquiry to commissioning.

“We assist in coordinating all required services including design and upfront cost planning/ estimating management. By adeptly managing the site construction teams and subcontractors, and with long term and daily management of all services, we direct installation and administer sequencing, quality assurance and documentation, while managing authority approvals. Our superior upfront planning and ongoing coordination results in the delivery of a quality product, often ahead of program.

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“Whilst our project teams are set up with highly experienced personnel, they value and draw from an even greater pool of experience in our global subject matter experts,” said John.

“Our detailed reviews of project complexities enable us to identify key project issues ahead of time and plan to avoid any impact they might cause.

“We understand the need to balance and consider cost constraints and the importance of minimising ongoing operational costs to our clients.”

The MECA systems that are applied to your warehouse or storage requirement prioritise the efficient working of your warehouse distribution or storage function.

Creating a more ordered and well-

organised warehouse area will allow your business to expand capacity and workflow function.

All MECA products are designed to withstand the heaviest of work cycles and is designed to the unique project requirements. All of MECA’s products are thoroughly tested for strength and safety.

MECA modular frames provide greatest flexibility allowing reconfiguration of your storage facility at any time and with great ease should your needs for warehouse solutions change or grow. The MECA systems have an extensive range of arm, shelf, and base combinations to suit all types of applications.

MECA prides itself on a 5-star quality product delivered to you on

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

brief, on budget and on time; from the initial 5-stages of paint treatment applied to each component of rack to the best practice service provided to you, MECA is synonymous with a quality offering.

MECA Racking is Australia’s No. 1 supplier of Cantilever Racking with products including: Cantilever Racking & Shelving Systems Long Span Shelving Mezzanine Shelving & Racking Systems Pallet Racking & Storage Pigeon Hole Racking Systems Rack Clad Warehouse Tyre Storage Racks Vertical Racks

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CLT

Oz’s biggest timber tower with CLT

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HE FIRST shipment of Cross Laminated Timber has arrived onsite for what will become Australia’s largest tall timber building at Campbelltown – ‘The Gardens’ – the largest affordable housing project to be delivered without any government funding.

The almost-3000 cubic metres of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in 78 shipping containers from Austria, will make it the largest CLT project in Australia by volume of timber and is being developed by Tier 1 affordable housing provider BlueCHP Limited.

The three-tower residential development consisting of 101 apartments is well under way.

BlueCHP’s Chief Executive Officer Charles Northcot was onsite when the first shipment arrived. “We are thrilled to see the CLT panels here in Australia and are very excited to watch the timber structure take shape,” he said.

The Gardens is a new development on the corner of Stowe Avenue, Kellicar Drive and Tailby Streets, and is set to become an urban landmark of the Macarthur region. The new complex will consist of a café/ community facility and beautifully designed one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The Gardens will comprised of 101 apartments over three towers namely Magnolia, Acacia and Camellia. All apartments focus on indoor easy living to suit today’s demands and high living standards. Units have been designed to maximise natural light and ventilation and will have a security system, the provision for high speed broadband and a parking facility for all occupants and visitors.

Price point 1 bed apartments are priced from $380,000 – $390,000 2 bed apartments are priced from $430,000 – $460,000

About CLT CLT is a relatively new method of timber construction to Australia but has been widely accepted as a preferred innovative, environment friendly building material for medium and midrise construction in Europe and the US for over 15 years. CLT brings a number of unique advantages to the table that present efficiencies without sacrificing structural integrity, design or build quality.

CLT is manufactured using layers of timber to create solid panels. As the name suggests each layer is arranged crosswise, alternating between longitudinal and transverse, glued and pressed together under tremendous pressure to create a structurally stable building material that has similar characteristics to concrete and steel yet is 30 per cent lighter than traditional structures and also offers better thermal performance and requires less energy to heat and cool.

Challenges of CLT

¢ The team were onsite to see the first panels land on site.(l-r) Charles Northcote (BlueCHP Limited), Adam Strong (Strongbuild), Marcelo Steimbeisser (BlueCHP Limited).

Maintaining their stringent quality requirements with a tight deadline and a limited construction budget was a challenge that BlueCHP Limited faced for this project, however, this was addressed when building contractor, Strongbuild, proposed a cost- effective build solution based on CLT rather than traditional concrete and steel.

“When Strongbuild presented this alternate construction method we were immediately enthused. The idea of being able to trim a substantial amount of time off the build while ultimately creating a softer, warmer, environmentally friendly living experience suited our company objectives perfectly,” Mr Northcote said.

“It is fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with a forward

thinking, innovative client like BlueCHP who shared our vision of using CLT for this landmark project,” said Adam Strong, Managing Director of Strongbuild.

“CLT is engineered and processed in a factory to be precise, making it fast and efficient to construct. This also translates into less waste, less on site construction resources and a safer, quieter, cleaner overall build site,” said Mr Strong.

“It offers benefits to both our client and our site teams whilst also having less impact on the local neighbourhood during construction.”

How can integrity be ensured?

Strongbuild teamed up with leading structural engineers AECOM to ensure the structural integrity and durability of the material met BlueCHP’s

expectations as a long term owner and landlord of the properties.

“The benefit of CLT is that it provides an effective alternative to concrete and steel but without any of the environmental impacts. Concrete has an energy intensive production process, creating a lot of greenhouse gases and contributing to the high carbon footprint of most buildings whereas, each cubic metre of timber used in this project has 800kgs of carbon locked into it,” said AECOM Buildings Structures Leader, Marc Colella.

“Cross Laminated Timber is a modern material ideally suited to modern developments like The Gardens and one that is sustainable and that will create a better living environment for all its residents,” Mr Colella said.

¢ CLT panels are simply craned and fixed into position.

¢ The first CLT panel is craned into position.

¢ A team of six is all it takes to install the entire structure.

¢ CLT is made up by blueing lamellas together in alternating directions.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

www.timberbiz.com.au

CLT

Plans unveiled for tall timber tower Special funding

for CLT projects

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OVE THEM or loathe them, wooden skyscrapers are on the rise (no pun intended), especially in Europe and North America. This latest example is designed by Team V Architectuur and will rise to 21 floors in Amsterdam. Dubbed Haut, the project is due to begin construction in late 2017.

Expected to be completed in 2019, the 73m (240 ft)-tall building will likely be the tallest timber tower in the Netherlands, perhaps in Europe, and even possibly in the world, though it’s just as likely that another firm will build something taller in the meantime.

However, to put the size of these timber towers into perspective, the (non-wooden) Burj Khalifa is over 10 times taller, at 830m (2,723 ft), including tip. Indeed, the only wooden skyscraper with serious height is PLP’s 300m (984 ft)-tall Barbican skyscraper, but that’s just a concept with no immediate plans to build.

Haut is short for for Haute Couture, and developers plan to offer would-be occupants lots of options for their pad, including the number of floors, apartment layout, placement of doubleheight spaces, optional balconies, and the like.

Renders depict a plush-looking apartment with generous glazing that makes the most of the natural beauty of the building material with unfinished sections.

There will be 55 apartments in all, plus cycle storage space, an underground car park and an urban winter garden open to the public.

Structurally, in common with other timber towers (like the Tall Wood Building and the Periscope Tower), the building will feature CLT (or crosslaminated timber), prefabricated panels that are very light and strong, are relatively quick to assemble, and perform well in a fire situation.

Sustainable design planned for the tower includes a wastewater purification system and what the firm describes as “energy-generating facades,” which could take the form of wind turbines or solar panels. The project is also aiming for a BREEAM Outstanding rating, the green building standard’s top grade.

Haut is part of a larger development for the area called Amstelkwartier, which will comprise around 4,000 new residential units, plus commercial and retail areas. The project also involves engineering firm Arup, developers Lingotto, and investor Nicole Maarsen.

Projects in Springfield and Portland have landed $200,000 as leaders test the viability of cross laminated timber. The funding, awarded by the Business Oregon-backed cleantech champions Oregon BEST and the National Centre for Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing and Design, will back research that fast-tracks CLT as a green construction material usable throughout the US. Of that money, $155,000 will go to the planned four-story Glenwood Parking Structure in Springfield. The project’s developers will use the money for research, performance testing and code documentation.

The team will measure factors such as vibration, moisture, post-tension loss in rocking shear walls and seismic instrumentation. The SRG firm designed the 360-space structure.

The National Centre for Advanced Wood Products Manufacturing and Design, a collaboration between Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, will perform the research and testing functions.

The Carbon 12 mixed-use condominium complex in Northeast Portland was awarded $45,000 for acoustic and moisture testing.

According to Oregon BEST, US architects and builders wanting to use the new material in construction projects “must negotiate a maze of additional documentation, atypical performance modelling requirements, unfamiliar construction methods and building code hurdles that can delay CLT projects and has slowed adoption of the material”.

An Oregon BEST investment made last fall helped DR Johnson Lumber of Riddle, Oregon, become the first US maker of structurally certified CLT.

Government millions for prefabricated multi-storey housing FROM HOMES that can be unfolded and assembled without machinery to carbon positive modular houses and contemporary beach shacks, the prefab market in Australia is looking exciting, sustainable and beautiful. Source: Government News While multi-storey buildings have usually grabbed less attention in the prefab space, attention to larger housing solutions is gathering momentum. Now the University of Sydney and construction heavyweight Lendlease have been awarded a $3 million Commonwealth government grant to research pre-fabricated multi-storey housing.

The five-year industry-led project, bankrolled by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) program, will design and build prototype housing using high-tech renewable materials and use cutting edge manufacturing methods.

Prefab buildings are not a new idea. The Roman’s used some prefabricated elements to build parts of their forts from around AD43 when they conquered Britain and prefab housing was transported www.timberbiz.com.au

to the British colonies from the first quarter of the 17th century, including Australia.

Prefab housing is probably most famously linked to providing homes and employment for soldiers returning after World Wars and keeping up with the baby boom.

It is not a new area for Lendlease either. The company already has experience in the prefabricating high-rise buildings and has a Western Sydney factory where it manufactures the Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) used in prefabs as part of its DesignMake business.

The company designed and built the world’s tallest prefabricated timber building, Forte, in 2013. The 32.17m tall building (10 storeys) in Melbourne Docklands is made from CLT. It has a five green star as built rating and includes sustainability features, including rainwater tanks, car sharing and energy efficient lighting and appliances.

It also sold well and was occupied quickly, a result which Lendlease will no doubt be eager to replicate in its new project.

Prefabrication is also essential to Lendlease’s gateway project at Barangaroo, where it will design and build a six-storey commercial

building totally from timber – called International House Sydney.

The new research project with Sydney University deepens its commitment to prefab buildings and sustainability.

Chief Executive Officer, Lendlease Property, Kylie Rampa, said the demand for affordable and innovative housing meant the building industry had to come up with imaginative, new housing solutions.

“We aim to bring to market an innovative housing system that is design-led, which will help address affordability issues, while developing advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques for future housing construction,” Rampa said.

Associate Professor Mathew Aitchison at Sydney University’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, said the project was a great opportunity to spearhead innovation in the residential construction market, which had remained largely static in the last 100 years.

“We will focus on developing multi-storey prototype houses that can be adapted for manufacture and customised project to project,” Prof Aitchison said. “At the same time, we are looking at ways to reduce

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risk and waste, while increasing the efficiency, safety, quality, sustainability and diversity of market-ready housing.

“Despite major advances in other manufacturing sectors, innovation in residential construction is lagging,” Prof Aitchison said. “This project seeks to drive efficiency and safety benefits and boost Australia’s competitiveness internationally, where we have seen a notable increase in advanced manufacturing in building over the past decade.”

The aim is to develop a range of solutions for the multi-storey housing market that answer the twin calls of increasing urban density and the demands of the residential market.

Rampa said the new jobs, skills and technologies would be created through the project, which would also open up export opportunities “for prefabricated housing to meet the sophisticated needs of homebuyers and builders.”

The research project brings together industry leaders in Australian housing and construction including Lendlease and the University of Sydney’s Innovation in Applied Design Lab, located in the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning.

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CABINETMAKER AWARDS

Premium level of craftsmanship on display

T

HE THIRD National Cabinet Maker and Design Association Awards celebrated the top ranks of cabinet making and design by showcasing and recognising the premium level of craftsmanship and ingenuity in Australia.

Individual Design and Construction was awarded the Australian Designer of the Year, as well as Best Contemporary Kitchen and the Best Outdoor/Alfresco Project.

Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year was awarded to States Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens, who was also awarded Best Kitchen over $60,000, Best Bathroom and Best Built in Furniture.

Individual Design and Construction’s show-stopping kitchen epitomised a sense of warmth and timelessness which was combined with creative design and flawless joinery.

The opulent kitchen showcased a diverse material palette comprising of stainless steel, recycled timber, marble

and mirrors, alongside integrated state-of-the-art appliances.

Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year, Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens, simply nailed it when it came to originality, design flair, innovation and functionality. The lush kitchen boasted a butler’s pantry and a luxurious black granite fireplace, with

This year, the judging panel, consisting of four highly experienced talents in the design and cabinet making industry including Lara Bailey, Sylvia Dziuba, Bryon Stanley and Wayne Chance. The judges had a tough job on their hands with a high calibre of craftsmanship and creativity on offer. Industry experts

“The suite of entrants in this year’s awards was a mixture of originality, impeccable design and unsurpassed expertise.” the inclusion of minimal contemporary details such as the matt black steel frames and a sleek hidden pantry situated behind the fireplace.

More than 50 projects from around Australia entered the awards, run by the Cabinet Makers Association and Designers Association, all vying for top honours.

Henry Johnson, Zeb Walker and Lesia Clark had the tough job to choose the winners of the Apprentice of the Year Awards.

Each entry was considered and judged on a range of criteria, from practicality and safety through to aesthetic appeal, innovation and visual balance.

According to the Secretary of CMDA, Richard Brooks, the 2016 suite of entrants in this year’s awards was a mixture of originality, impeccable design and unsurpassed expertise.

“To be presented with a collection of submission which boasted an array of classic and contemporary designs, coupled with premium work quality and design panache is evidence that the Australian industry is strong.”

According to award-winning designer, The Block judge and Selling House Australia co-host, Shaynna Blaze, who also hosted the CMDA’s award ceremony, was thrilled to witness how exceptional the standard is for not only the local businesses but also a celebration of the industry.

“Awards of this ilk not only bring out the best in designers and craftsmen, it is an opportunity to celebrate our cabinet makers and the incredible talent we have in Australia.

¢ Australian Designer of the Year - Individual Design and Construction & Best Kitchen over $60,000 - Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens. .

¢ Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year and Best Kitchen over $60,000 - Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

SEPTEMBER 2016

www.timberbiz.com.au

CABINETMAKER AWARDS

¢ Best Built-In Furniture - Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens.

¢ Best Kitchen $20,000 - $35,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd.

¢ Best Kitchen $20,000 - $35,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd.

WINNERS Australian Designer of the Year Individual Design and Construction Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens People’s Choice Award - Seaview Cabinets President’s Award - Bessant Custom Furniture Best New Member Entry VOS Constructions and Joinery Best Kitchen under $20,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd Best Kitchen $20,000 - $35,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd Best Kitchen $20,000 - $60,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd ¢ Best Kitchen under $20,000 - COS Interiors Pty Ltd.

Best Kitchen over $60,000 Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens Best Contemporary Kitchen Individual Design and Construction Best Traditional Kitchen de Wacht Cabinets and Designs Pty Ltd Best Built-In Furniture Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens Best Commercial Project - HK Joinery Design Best Bathroom - Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens Best Outdoor/Alfresco Project Individual Design and Construction

¢ Best Outdoor/Alfresco Project - Individual Design and Construction.

¢ Best Bathroom - Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens.

¢ President’s Award - Bessant Custom Furniture .

¢ Best Commercial Project - HK Joinery Design.

www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER

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¢ People’s Choice Award - Seaview Cabinets.

19

ENGINEERED WOOD

First stained engineered flooring collection featuring Australian species

T

O MEET the growing demand for European-inspired stained wood flooring, Boral Timber has launched its metallon™ flooring collection featuring Australian Blackbutt and Spotted Gum species.

As the first to market with a broad engineered flooring offering featuring local timbers applied with contemporary stained finishes, Boral has provided a stunning alternative in a category

that until now has been dominated by imported species.

The high quality, easy to install metallon™ boards are inspired by the aesthetics of precious metals, transforming the earthy beauty of Australian hardwoods into the colours of Copper, Tungsten, Pewter, Cobalt (pictured) and Titanium.

“Stained engineered floors are extremely popular and when matched

with the natural beauty of Australian species, prove to be a versatile and multi-dimensional timber flooring solution that aligns with evolving Australian architecture and design trends. metallon™ is the next iteration of the highly successful Boral engineered flooring range and will make a truly unique statement in residential interiors,” said Leon Travis, national sales and distribution manager at Boral Timber.

Incorporating the click-lock installation system, the hard-wearing Blackbutt and Spotted Gum boards are pre-finished for minimal fuss and mess, and can be sanded back for a more natural finish or re-stained as design preferences evolve. metallon™ is the sustainable engineered timber flooring choice. It is Chain of Custody certified by the Australian Forestry Standard*, which has mutual recognition by the world’s largest forest management certifier, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme.

This means the timber is produced using certified, legal and sustainably managed sources. As a building material, timber is a good choice because it is a natural and renewable resource.

Boral Timber has implemented AFS Chain of Custody certification to support responsible and sustainable forest management in Australia. Boral Timber’s Chain of Custody certification meets the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) AS 4707-2006. AFCS has mutual recognition by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC) – the world’s largest forest management certifier. All Boral Timber manufacturing sites are Chain of Custody certified, this means all products from these sites are certified and can be traced from processing to distribution and are produced using certified, legal and sustainably managed sources.

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We will plan and design an advertising campaign that targets your market, and gets results!

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Because it works!

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ASSOCIATIONS

Focusing on your future

By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer / FTMA Australia FTMA AUSTRALIA has always been an active participant in collaboration across our supply chain, recognising the importance of industry associations, fabricators and timber companies to work together for the betterment of our industry.

With our industry facing new challenges and opportunities due to the change in housing markets, it’s important we focus on the future and ensure your business is ready to adapt if need be.

Therefore, in September FTMA will be running our first National Roadshow titled Focusing on Your Future in collaboration with a cross section of our industry.

Firstly the event is being sponsored by WoodSolutions who were instrumental in achieving the changes to the National Construction Code and who are putting together a technical field force to focus on new opportunities for the industry.

WoodSolutions are not only sponsoring but are also providing experts who will present on the changes the extensive opportunities that will be created for the whole timber supply chain including fabricators.

TABMA, Timber Trade Industrial Association and Timber Queensland have also come on board as support sponsors and members of these Associations can attend the seminars at FTMA Member rates.

Joining WoodSolutions on the program are First Super, AB Phillips, TTIA and Industry Edge who will present on a wide range of issues that affect your day to day business and help look to the future. The presentations include:

Wealth Advisory: Reaching Financial Independence - Mark Anderson / Viberto Selochan Housing Statistics & Forecasts - Industry Edge New Opportunities with NCC Changes WoodSolutions

State Date

What are the Barriers with Changing Markets Facilitated Panel Discussion We welcome supplier members of all Associations involved, however please note they will be limited to two representatives per company at each state seminar as the focus is on the fabricators. We thank you in advance for your understanding on this.

QLD 13th Sept, 2016 Colmslie Hotel, Cnr Wynnum & Junction Roads, Morningside

Seminar costs and times

SA

To assist fabricators who have to travel to the seminar we are starting the seminars at 10.00am and concluding at 3.30pm. Of course as FTMA Australia is a big believer in networking we will conclude with a ½ hour networking session with canapes and beverages.

The cost to attending the seminars as stated above ensures members of all Associations can attend at the Members rate of $90 (GST Incl). The price for nonmembers is $120 (GST Incl) State Seminar details are:

Venue

RSVP

NSW 8th Sept, 2016 Novotel Sydney 2nd Sept, 2016 Rooty Hill 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill 5th Sept, 2016

VIC 27th Sept 2016 Atura Dandenong, 15th Sept, 2016 1 Doveton Avenue, Doveton 29th Sept, 2015 The Lakes Resort 15th Sept, 2016 Hotel, 141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes FTMA Australia will also join forces with Timber Queensland and TABMA Queensland to address key issues for Central / North Queensland such as timber treatment and building to code in cyclonic areas.

More information to come.

If you require a registration form please email me at kersten@ftmaaustralia.com.au. Otherwise we hope fabricators recognise the importance of these events and attend.

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Australasia

Industry Fund Super-Stream - First Super Insurance Management - AB Phillips Industrial Relations & Worksafe Timber Trade Industrial Association

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Van donation helps keep volunteer palliative care service on the road A VOLUNTEER group that runs a delivery service to terminally ill patients was facing the prospect of not being able to meet its commitments because their 20-year-old delivery van was struggling to maintain the 1,000km a week schedule.

That’s when national timber manufacturer Hyne Timber stepped in and donated a new van for the Active Plus volunteers Active Plus volunteers deliver palliative care equipment to terminally ill patient’s homes to enable them to spend their time with family and loved ones as opposed to having to stay in a health care facility.

Items such as electronic adjustable beds and chairs are delivered to around 1500 people a year throughout the Wide Bay area so loved ones are better equipped to provide the necessary support from home.

Travelling over 1000km a week, their 20-year-old delivery van was unreliable to say the least. With unrelenting maintenance costs, a brand new replacement seemed like an impossible fundraising mission in the time needed to ensure this service could continue. www.timberbiz.com.au

Active Plus is a service that falls under the umbrella of Fraser Coast TESS, a training employment and support service based in Maryborough since 1983.

Lance Stone, chief executive officer of Fraser Coast TESS, was lost for words when he heard the announcement of the donation during a regional economic development forum.

“The Active Plus service is a very compassionate service run by incredibly dedicated volunteers who also work hard to fundraise in an increasingly challenging economic climate.

“We approached Hyne Timber in the hope of some form of support but never anticipated this company would turn around and donate a brand new van.

“I was in shock and quite emotional, as were my colleagues, volunteers and supporters of the service in what was an unbelievable gesture of goodwill.

“This is an extremely generous donation that will go so far in supporting the important service delivery by Active Plus to our community during the most emotional times of people’s lives,” Mr Stone said.

Active Plus receives limited funding

¢ The Donated Van, Hyne Timber CEO Jon Kleinschmidt, Fraser Coast TESS CEO Lance Stone and the Active Plus Volunteer Team. Photo: Hyne Timber

following referrals from hospitals as their services often ease the hospital costs and pressure, however, the funding predominately goes to the required chemical cleaning and not transport and other operational costs.

During an event at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough, Hyne Timber’s CEO Jon Kleinschmidt officially handed over the keys to the new van.

“Hyne Timber has a long-standing history of supporting and investing in the communities in which we operate, valuing an empathetic, philanthropic approach to supporting organisations that provide long term community benefit.

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“In return, we value community support, partnerships and active collaboration to achieve growth and development for the region.

“Active Plus is a hard working group of volunteers who deliver a much appreciated palliative care service to terminally ill patients’ homes.

“Hyne Timber considered the donation of this van as an opportunity for us to contribute to the community by supporting volunteers and safeguarding the valuable service you provide to patients and their families into the future,” Mr Kleinschmidt said.

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ASSOCIATIONS

Leave changes to modern awards

Hyne Timber celebrates employees achievements

required for cashing out annual leave and taking annual leave in advance.

Brian Beecroft Chief Executive Officer TTIA

A

S PART of the four-yearly modern award review, the Fair Work Commission has now issued a Full Bench decision amending most modern awards in the following areas: • cashing out annual leave • taking annual leave in advance • managing large (‘excessive’) • annual leave balances • payment for annual leave.

These changes will apply from the first pay period on or after 29 July 2016. Most modern awards will be amended to include these changes, including the Timber Industry Award 2010. Should you wish to check if these changes apply to your particular award, please contact the TTIA.

Managing excessive annual leave balances The rules about what happens if an employee has accumulated an excessive annual leave balance have been changed in some awards. Excessive annual leave is when an employee has accumulated at least eight weeks of leave (or 10 weeks for a shift worker).

Direction by employer If an employee has an excessive annual leave balance and can’t agree with an employer on when to take it, the employer can: • direct the employee, in writing, that they must take one or more periods of their annual leave • give the employee at least eight weeks’ notice (and not more • than 12 months) of when the leave will start.

Cashing out annual leave

Request by employee for leave

Most modern awards will now allow employees to cash out annual leave so long as: • an employee has at least 4 weeks’ annual leave left after cashing out • there is a signed written agreement between the employer and employee • the maximum amount of annual leave that is cashed out does not exceed two weeks within a period of 12 months.

Some awards have a new clause allowing employees with excessive annual leave balances to give their employer written notice to take one or more periods of paid annual leave. An employee can only give a notice to their employer if the employee has had an excessive leave accrual for more than 6 months. Please note this clause will not take effect until 29 July 2017.

Taking annual leave in advance

Payment for annual leave

Most modern awards now allow employees to take annual leave before they have accrued it if their employer agrees in writing. The agreement needs to: • state how much annual leave is to be taken in advance • be signed by both the employer and the employee • state the date on which the leave will commence.

The Timber Industry Award 2010 will include examples of the agreements

Some awards say that annual leave has to be paid before an employee starts leave. A new clause will provide that if an employee is paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT), they can continue to be paid using their usual pay cycle during periods of leave.

Members can give the TTIA Hotline a call if they have any questions about the above (02 9264 0011). TTIA will be running national membership seminars later in the year dealing with these specific changes.

Training delivers company-wide principles and tools for problem solving HYNE TIMBER stopped to recognise and celebrate the achievements of 19 employees at an event held on the lawns of their Tuan Mill near Maryborough.

While it wasn’t the first time this award-winning company made news for its celebration of employees, this particular event was the first where three of the graduates were actually the employees of long term partner and fellow iconic Maryborough business, Richers Transport.

The celebration marked the completion of either a Certificate III or IV in Competitive Systems and Practices, a course requirement of all 570 Hyne Timber employees nationwide.

Fifty people attended the formalities and BBQ including John Suthers, Director of Training and Skills (North Coast Region) from the Queensland Government’s Department of Education and Training, Fraser Coast Regional Councillor Anne Maddern and Chris Hyne, Director of Hyne Timber.

Operations Manager and graduate himself, James Hyne said celebrating achievements was an important element of the training requirements, “We ask all our employees to undertake specific training in order to consistently participate in key processes and procedures throughout all Hyne Timber’s 11 sites.

“The training delivers our company-wide principles and tools for problem solving and empowerment of employees to strive for continuous improvement, all of which are essential for contemporary manufacturing and business growth.

“In return, employees achieve an accreditation, personal skills from the training principles and recognition by their employer.

“Taking the time out to formally present certificates, shake hands and generally enjoy each other’s company over a BBQ away from the usual work area is a small token of Hyne Timber’s appreciation for our dedicated and committed employees.

“This isn’t the first graduation event we have held, with two events held last year also at the Mill. This time, however, I too was a graduate,” Mr Hyne said.

The graduation was also enjoyed by the Richers Transport hierarchy who, for the same reasons, were present to celebrate the achievements of three of their employees who are based at the Tuan Mill.

By default, they became part of the same training, applying the same principles and working closely with Hyne Timber employees in a team environment.

Graham Richers, Managing Director of the iconic Maryborough transport business said there was no doubt that their employees who work from the despatch area of the Tuan Mill had benefited from Hyne Timber’s training, “There are standards of reporting, presenting and problem solving, for example, that need to be consistent when permanently operating at a Hyne Timber site and the tools they use are quite specific.

“In addition to our own training culture and commitments, our graduating employees actually asked to be included in Hyne Timber’s training as well. We recognised the value in them being part of this broader supply chain team using the same processes,” Mr Richers said.

The training program at Hyne Timber is partially Government funded through both Commonwealth Incentives and the National Workforce Development Fund (since replaced by the ‘Industry Skills Fund’).

Hyne Timber employs a number of dedicated facilitators throughout its sites to ensure ongoing training and system implementation continues for both the graduates, and new employees.

Hyne Timber is currently a finalist in the Queensland North Coast Training Awards. Last year, Hyne was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame before later being announced winner of the Queensland Training Awards – Large Employer of the Year Category.

Five practical steps to protect your business from invoice fraud INVOICE FRAUD has become prevalent, with stories of fake invoices and email fraud hitting the news almost daily. Small-to mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) without automated invoice management software can be at risk of suffering invoice fraud. said, “SMEs are at the greatest risk of invoice fraud, especially as many continue to rely on paperbased processes and spreadsheets to complete supplier invoice administration,” says Matt Goss, managing director, ANZ, Concur.

“Invoice fraud can have significant ramifications and hamper the business’s ability to operate by stifling cash flow.”

Concur has identified five practical tips to protect the business from invoice fraud:

22

1. Be cautious with new suppliers If the company has not worked with a supplier before, administrative staff should be extra vigilant. Take the time to check in with the person who ordered the goods, and ensure the supplier details and invoice totals match the agreed costs.

2. Be curious and suspicious Run an internet search to check that the supplier is a legitimate business and look up their ABN on the government web page (http://www. abr.business.gov.au/Index.aspx). A simple step like calling the phone number provided on the invoice can help alert you to scams.

3. Be wary of a change in process Any time a supplier notifies you of a change in banking details, company name, or address, validate the new

details directly with the main contact at the supplier. Where possible, work with the person within the business that ordered the goods or services.

4. Re-examine current invoice processes Review how the accounts payable (AP) team processes invoices.

Assess if there are opportunities to move the more fallible, paper- and spreadsheet-based steps to a simpler, automated model. Supplier changes can be approved and monitored in an automated AP model. Aside from saving a considerable amount of time, centralising invoicing and payment details will reduce the available contact points where fraud can occur.

5. Spend time on reporting Run regular reports to see what types of invoices are being paid each month,

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and for how much. Scrutinise what is being spent and where, and look out for abnormalities. If any big-ticket items stand out or the business has spent more in a certain category than normal, it may be worth investigating.

With an automated solution, businesses can run these reports quickly and frequently. Utilising one AP platform will also let businesses spot key trends and discrepancies.

“Some of the key signs of invoice fraud are: different bank details on invoices, bills for directory listings, advertising, domain name renewals, office supplies, or tax lodgings that the company did not order or place.

It is important for businesses to be vigilant, review their invoicing procedures and regularly monitor invoices to avoid this type of fraud,” Mr Goss said. www.timberbiz.com.au

ASSOCIATIONS

Information is always king

By Eric Siegers PrincipaL, The Timber Hub

T

HE CHALLENGE for the timber industry in Australia is not who will buy the timber, evidence is that timber already has a pretty reliable market. No, the challenge is how can the timber sector do what other industries do and increase value and use innovation and communication as key factors to growing the sector.

The Australian timber market is slow to innovate.

There are a number of reasons given for this, anything from need to maintain sales (the failure of sales success!) to lack of material availability; to everything in between. Yes, they are just excuses. We have all heard them and we all fall into the trap at some stage of our careers of pandering to them. The reality is, we need to confront the status quo of any of our products and services and look to how we can do it better. As so many industries has taught us, getting the value add comes from being at the forefront of

technology and advancement. But to advance you need information – and this is the Achilles heel of the industry.

It is in my view the biggest issue the timber supply chain has - the lack of information regarding markets and opportunities and how timber is actually used.

By way of example finding data on flooring, decking, cladding is difficult at best, and impossible at worst.

So it answers the question why the timber industry has been so bad at understanding its customers.

Without data and analysis you have no hope of understanding how the consumer drives the pull strategy for so much of the industry. So what we are doing at the TimberHub is calculating information about how timber is used so we can do something that other industries seem to do a whole lot better.

Understand the consumer.

All too often I hear – “we don’t deal with the consumer!” or “they don’t pay our bills” and while these statements are correct in and of themselves the reality is the consumer is the powerhouse behind the demand and supply chains. We ignore them at our peril.

Yes we watch housing starts, but does that tell us what type of flooring people are going to be using or whether people are increasingly using composite materials for decking? Does it tell us whether

renovation is ticking up as an growing market for engineered floors? The answer is we need to focus a lot more on the detail and look at people’s questions to work out what the influences are in the market.

The TimberHub has been watching the consumer regularly and building a lot of data about the way the market is trending. By way of example we know from consumers visiting the centre that consumers are doing a lot of looking at composites, and Architects are specifying a huge amount of jobs in composites has this seen a dramatic increase in market share?

While some would say yes, other evidence indicates that the uptake of composites has stabilised while the consumers reignite their preference for timber.

The moral is staying on top of market information is vital to help understand where the market is heading, and what effect it is having on your market share (and therefore opportunities), and also to monitor what new products you may need to watch out for etc. etc. The TimberHub has the history of data that we are now supplementing with information from sources such as IBIS world, ABS and BIS so that we can help our supporters know and understand what is happening in their particular slice of the timber market. So keep in contact with us at the TimberHub, we see a lot of what is going on in the market place with a great deal more clarity than many would expect.

When the forest landscape meets the political landscape: why advocacy matters for our industry

By Clare Scriven State Manager SA Branch of the Australian Forest Products Association and national manager of AFPA’s softwoods manufacturing group

A

STROKE of a minister’s pen can affect your business, your profitability, your viability and the future of the industry.

Changes to air quality policy can add millions to processing costs for a sawmill. A change to water policy can impact a grower’s plans for coming decades. Changes to international trade agreements can hit product exports or see huge increases in competition from imports.

That’s why it is vital to have active advocacy for the whole forest products value chain.

Politics is a fascinating beast. So many opportunities to make changes for the better. So many obstacles to prevent those changes happening!

Having worked as a political adviser for four years, I saw many worthwhile policy proposals presented to Ministers.

Some were adopted and implemented, but many were not. Some that didn’t make it to implementation had been welcomed by ministers and their departments, but still never got off the ground. By understanding the reasons good policy fails to get traction, we can better position our industry not to fall into the pile of ‘no further action’.

Initially it was a mystery to me why some good policy made it, whereas other good policy was never heard about again. On reflection though, there are three threads that are common to the successful initiatives.

Right positioning It is a truism that when an idea catches someone’s imagination, s/ www.timberbiz.com.au

he becomes personally invested in its success. When that person is a minister, and the idea is a policy, such a personal investment can tear down obstacles and make things happen quickly. So a key to policy success is finding that spark in a proposal that will speak to the minister’s imagination; is it a creative way of progressing a longstanding issue? Is it a cause for which the minister has held a long personal commitment? Does it speak to a topical party position?

Right timing Timing can make or break a policy.

Some great public policy advances involve actions that may be initially unpopular to the public, or need a lot of preparation to reach understanding and public acceptance. The time to push these issues is not in the lead up to an election. Whether it is Federal or State, issues that get unpopular headlines will not be welcome during such a time.

However, in other parts of the electoral cycle, such an issue can be pursued successfully.

On the other hand, a policy that creates positive headlines (or avoids negative ones) during an election period can be gold. It can be a great time to get commitment from major players, including getting matching pledges from different parties.

Outside of election periods, policy advocates need to be aware of what issues are dominating the political sphere – even if they seem totally unrelated to our industry and its interests. If a government is suffering from a dominant, damaging issue in the media, it may be a perfect time to launch a big policy in a different field – even if it is just to start a public conversation. I have seen good policy that was struggling to get attention be quickly developed under this kind of scenario – something that takes air

(media) space automatically reduces airspace for other (contentious) topics.

Recognizing and capitalizing on these opportunities delivers results.

Perseverance The final key to achieving good industry policy is perseverance.

Ministers are busy people. Their departmental heads are busy people, too. The important can very frequently be pushed out by the urgent. The only way to make headway with policy proposals is to never stop! To keep phoning, having meetings, sending copies of media releases, knocking on doors and so on. In essence, to be the ‘squeaky wheel’ that just keeps on making noise until it gets the oil!

So there are the three keys to

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successfully achieving policy change: right positioning, right timing and perseverance. Clearly, most companies don’t have the time or resources to pursue each of these and to always be looking at the political landscape.

Even if they did, a combined industry voice will usually achieve more than individual company voices that may be at variance with each other. To both avoid poor policy outcomes and achieve positive policy initiatives, advocacy needs to be cohesive and designed with an understanding of the political needs of the day.

AFPA’s core work of advocacy and policy development, and strong political acumen means that we can make our industry’s case loudly and forcefully to the political decision-makers.

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Supporting Multinail Truss Plants to reach new heights 1

2

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TRUSS TO BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT WALKWAY LOADS LOAD OF COLUMN C3 HANGS FROM ROOF TRUSS. DEAD LOAD = 15KN LIVE LOAD = 29KN

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TENSION ONLY MEMBER

LEVEL 3 12040

D82331 ABSORBER STRIPE, 800mm LONG x 100mm WIDE BY ROTHOBLAAS OR SIMILAR APPROVED. C3

INDIVIDUAL UNIT MODULES REFER S06

TENSION ONLY MEMBER

30 x 10mm FLAT BAR FIXED TO MODULE WALL TOP PLATE & BLOCKING ABOVE BRACING WALL WITH M10 x 100mm COACH SCREWS

30 x 10mm FLAT BAR FIXED TO MODULE WALLS WITH M10 x 100mm COACH SCREWS @ MAX 600CRS

LEVEL 2 9000

D82341 ABSORBER STRIPE, 800mm LONG x 100mm WIDE BY ROTHOBLAAS OR SIMILAR APPROVED. C3

INDIVIDUAL UNIT MODULES REFER S06

B S13

B2 BR1

B6

C1

C1

BOL

BOL S2

GROUND 2500 PC1

PC1

P2

SECTION 1 1 : 50

LEVEL 1 5960

BR1

B6

01 S01

TENSION ONLY MEMBER

P2