Forest Products Industry

The recipients of the 2025–26 Growth Scholarship Awards Program have been announced with the judging panel was once again impressed by the calibre and diversity of applications received from across the forest and timber industry. Source: Timberbiz “This year’s recipients reflect the breadth of talent and innovation in our sector from early career operators to seasoned professionals seeking to upskill and lead,” Timber Queensland’s Strategic Relations Manager Clarissa Brandt said. Ms Brandt said judges were impressed by the operational aspect of many of the applications which will deliver on-going benefits for recipients and practical outcomes for industry development. The recipients of the 2025–2026 Awards are: $10,000 Kennedy’s Timber Foundation Partner Award Gian Carlos Poleto Learning Activity: Enhancing Forest Management in Queensland Using Drone and LiDAR Technologies $5000 HQP Diamond Partner Award Alan Ferguson Learning Activity: Operation Log Haulage – TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment $5000 AKD Diamond Partner Award Babar Hassan Learning Activity: Enhancing Timber Protection Knowledge through IRG-WP Conference and Chinese Institute Engagement $2500 DTM Timber Ruby Partner Award Sebastian Ballard Learning Activity: Certificate III in Forestry Operations Recipient of the Kennedy’s Timber Foundation Partner Award Gian Carlos Poleto, Forester – GIS & Planning at Parkside Group, will undertake a learning project focused on drone and LiDAR technologies to improve forest assessment and planning in Queensland’s private native forests. “This project will allow me to support landholders with accurate vegetation and timber volume assessments, helping guide sustainable forest management,” Mr Poleto said. “To achieve this, I’ll complete specialised training in drone operation and LiDAR data collection, conduct field trials in private native forests, and develop detailed forest inventory reports. I’ll also engage with experts and industry groups to understand how these technologies can be practically applied in Queensland,” he said. “By mastering remote sensing and spatial analysis, I’ll be able to produce detailed forest inventory reports that improve planning and harvesting decisions. This will directly benefit Queensland’s private native forests by enhancing data accuracy and promoting sustainable practices.” In awarding Alan Ferguson, a B-double log truck driver with Sunchip Group the HQP Diamond Partner Award to pursue a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment judges noted the industry-wide need for training and mentoring. One of the major challenges Queensland’s industry currently faces is a shortage of qualified trainers and assessors who have real, hands-on experience in roles like B-double log truck driving. “There’s a real need for experienced trainers in our industry. This qualification will help me support new drivers and improve safety and standards across forestry transport,” Mr Ferguson said. “As someone with extensive on-the-ground experience, gaining this qualification will allow me to help bridge that gap. I’ll be able to deliver training that is relevant, practical, and tailored to the real challenges drivers face in forestry operations.” Senior Forest Technician Babar Hassan from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries’ submitted a Learning Project application to help remove barriers to the uptake of timber and support more informed, evidence-based decisions around timber durability — especially as interest grows in mass timber and low-maintenance building systems. Mr Hassan has been awarded the AKD Diamond Partner Award to strengthen his expertise in timber durability, termite protection, and service life prediction modelling. He will attend the International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG-WP 2026) annual conference in Beijing and visit leading Chinese research institutes to help him understand how long-term field and lab data are applied in risk assessments and treatment development. “My goal is to strengthen timber protection strategies against termite and decay damage, particularly under Queensland’s climate conditions,” he said. “Insights from international research will help refine the wood service life predictions models and support more informed, evidence-based decisions around timber durability. This work will contribute to longer-lasting timber structures and more cost-effective protection methods for our industry.” Judges selected Sebastian Ballard, a trainee skidder operator at Sunchip Group to receive the DTM Timber Ruby Partner Award.  Mr Ballard will complete his Certificate III in Forestry Operations to build foundational skills in machine operation, sustainable harvesting, and forest assessment. “This qualification will give me the confidence and capability to take on more responsibility and grow my career in forestry,” Mr Ballard said. “By upskilling, I’ll be better equipped to contribute to safe and efficient operations. Supporting early-career development like mine helps ensure the industry has a strong, capable workforce for the future.” Ms Brandt said the scholarship program continues to grow thanks to the generous support of industry partners. “We are grateful to Kennedy’s Timber, AKD, HQPlantations and DTM Timber for their ongoing commitment to workforce development,” she said. “Each of this year’s recipients demonstrates passion, purpose and a clear vision for how their learning will benefit both their careers and the broader industry. “We are pleased to support recipients who are at various stages of their careers but who all have a commonality – passion, drive and commitment to growing Queensland’s forest and timber industry.”

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Thousands of tonnes of windblown sawlogs that were dragged out of the Wombat Forest have been left to split and rot, despite Victoria’s few remaining timber mills pleading to use them for flooring, stair treads and other high-value products. Source: Peter Hunt, Weekly Times In a bizarre twist, timber mill operators say bureaucrats within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action would rather the logs were left to split this summer, rendering them useless for anything apart from firewood. Former timber industry operator Gayle McCarthy said: “These logs could have been milled and put into housing, but now they will be burnt putting more smoke into the atmosphere.” “They’ve been felled and left in the paddock with no water (to prevent splitting), so they’re going to crack, which is a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Mrs McCarthy said. Timber mill operators say DEECA is telling them the government’s decision to shut down its native forest manager VicForests on June 30 last year, meant it no longer had the legislative means to sell logs. But while DEECA has had more than a year to solve the problem, the mills say DEECA policy makers are stalling, paranoid of the political backlash from environment groups if log trucks are once again seen on Victorian highways. One mill operator said it felt like there were two parts to DEECA, “one that wants active forest management and to work out a plan”, while the other part “refuses to act”. Agriculture Minister Ros Spence failed to respond to questions on the stockpile. Meanwhile timber mills are reporting thousands of hardwood plantation logs being stockpiled at Opal’s Maryvale paper mill, which are mainly used for white paper manufacturing. Opal’s mill produced its last ream of white copy paper on January 21, 2023, but plantation industry sources say it has  been forced to keep taking logs under a long-term supply contract it has with Hancock Victorian Plantations Holdings. An Opal spokeswoman said: “Opal manufactures kraft and recycled brown papers, which use both soft wood and hardwood as an input”, and that “wood stock volumes… fluctuate according to production”. However workers at the plant said the hardwood plantation logs made up “a very small percentage that goes into (brown paper) processing now”. Opal was forced to shut down its Reflex white paper lines following the Victorian Labor Government’s decision to end native forest harvesting, which supplied low grade hardwood logs to the mill. One mill operator said the plantation hardwood stockpile that now sat in Opal’s yards was just another example of the waste inflicted on the industry by the government. Meanwhile Ms McCarthy said there were still thousands more windblown logs lying on the forest floor in the wake of the 2021 storm, which was not only a waste but posed a massive fire risk.

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The Hyne Group, through its growing Hyne Pallets division, has acquired long-term customer Newcastle Pallets. Source: Timberbiz As Hyne continues to deliver on its acquisition strategy focussed on sovereign manufactured and vertically integrated businesses, this is the fifth pallet manufacturing acquisition in less than two years. In May Hyne acquired Pallet & Bin Pty Ltd located in Shepparton while in 2024 it acquired Rodpak Pallets & Packaging (VIC), Express Pallets & Crates (QLD) and Pinetec Pty (WA). Like the previous four businesses, Newcastle Pallets is located in one of Australia’s leading population centres and manufacturing powerhouses of the country. Specifically, Newcastle represents the strong growth region of the NSW Hunter Valley and greater Newcastle area. It also supplies a nationally operating customer base, some of whom are also customers of our other pallet manufacturing plants, enabling Australia’s significant manufacturing, mining, industrial and agricultural sectors to efficiently freight their goods. Hyne Group CEO, Jim Bindon said Newcastle Pallets has been a valued customer of our Tumbarumba Sawmill in NSW during its approximately 25 years of operations. “We are really pleased to bring Newcastle Pallets into the Hyne Pallets fold. I welcome the opportunity to have worked with the owner, our previously valued customer, Anthony Turner, to deliver a smooth succession transition for his business. We will also ensure a seamless transition for the staff, customers and suppliers of the business over the coming months,” Mr Bindon said. This is the second investment the Hyne Group has in Newcastle, with an existing, large distribution centre to service the broad customer base of Hyne Timber with key framing and laminated beam construction timbers. “This acquisition not only presents really good opportunities for our team members, customers and suppliers, but it further integrates the Hyne Group Newcastle region footprint to ensure efficiency and growth into the future.” Mr Bindon said. The acquisition of Newcastle Pallets will finalise on 1 September 2025, subject to all Completion Precedents being met.

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