Australian timber industry news

Wood procurement has always been about balancing competing priorities, but the margin for error has narrowed. Procurement teams are expected to secure a reliable fibre or log supply at a competitive cost while responding to shifting market conditions, changing mill demand, transportation constraints, natural disaster events, and increasing scrutiny around sustainability. At the same time, leadership expects procurement decisions to be backed by data, not just experience. Source: ResourceWise Experience and relationships remain essential in this business. However, they’re no longer enough on their own. Markets move faster than they once did, and the factors influencing delivered wood costs are more interconnected than ever. The challenge isn’t simply reacting to what’s happening today, it’s recognizing where the market is heading before those changes begin affecting procurement costs. Timber markets have always been cyclical, but today’s volatility is increasingly regional. Two procurement teams operating only a few counties apart can face very different pricing dynamics based on mill expansions, harvest activity, weather, export demand, or shifts in local fibre and log consumption. That makes benchmarking more difficult and more important. Many organizations still rely primarily on their own purchasing history to evaluate whether they’re paying competitive prices and word of mouth from suppliers for market intelligence. The problem is that internal data only tells you what you’ve paid; it doesn’t tell you whether the broader market has moved and word of mouth is not a verifiable market transaction. Without visibility into transaction-level market activity, procurement teams can miss emerging trends until they’re already reflected in supplier negotiations. By then, opportunities to lock in favourable pricing or adjust sourcing strategies may have passed. Figure 1. Benchmarking company purchases against broader market pricing helps procurement teams identify whether they’re buying competitively and recognize market shifts before they impact negotiations. Strong supplier relationships and local market knowledge remain competitive advantages, but they don’t always reveal what’s happening beyond a procurement team’s immediate operating area. Questions that matter today often extend beyond a single wood basket: Are neighbouring mills becoming more aggressive buyers? Are fibre and logs beginning to move across traditional procurement boundaries? Which regions are experiencing tightening supply? How do our delivered costs compare with similar facilities?   These aren’t questions suppliers can always answer, nor are they visible in an organization’s ERP system. They require market-wide visibility that connects individual transactions to broader regional trends. Transportation has evolved from a cost centre into a strategic procurement variable. Rising diesel prices, driver availability, equipment constraints, and longer average haul distances have changed the economics of wood procurement. In many markets, freight now accounts for a growing share of delivered wood costs, making transportation efficiency just as important as stumpage price. The lowest stumpage price doesn’t always result in the lowest delivered cost. Procurement teams increasingly need to evaluate sourcing decisions based on the full delivered economics—not just what they’re paying at the contract. Understanding average haul distances, freight trends, and delivered-cost benchmarks can uncover opportunities that aren’t immediately obvious when procurement and logistics are viewed separately. Procurement teams rarely have the luxury of optimizing for today’s needs alone. They must keep mills supplied today while preserving relationships with landowners, contractors, and suppliers that will sustain operations months or years from now. Chasing the lowest available price may reduce costs in the short term, but it can also create instability if trusted suppliers shift their business elsewhere. The challenge is finding the balance between responding to current market conditions and maintaining a resilient supply network. That requires more than operational visibility. It requires confidence in where the market is likely headed and an understanding of how procurement decisions made today will affect supply flexibility tomorrow. Executive leadership is asking procurement teams different questions than it did a decade ago. Instead of simply asking, “Did we secure enough wood?” they’re asking: Are we buying competitively relative to the market? Where are our biggest cost opportunities? How exposed are we to future market shifts? Can we support budgeting with market-based forecasts instead of historical averages? What mills are at risk of closure based on finished product costs, current market demand, and forecasted demand?   Procurement has become a strategic contributor to financial performance. As a result, teams are expected to support decisions with objective market intelligence rather than anecdotal evidence or historical norms. Sustainability reporting is no longer limited to environmental teams. Procurement organizations are increasingly expected to demonstrate responsible sourcing, understand carbon implications, and contribute to broader ESG initiatives. This doesn’t necessarily change how fibre or logs are purchased day to day, but it does change the information procurement teams need. Supply chain transparency, sourcing patterns, and forest management data are becoming important business inputs alongside price and volume. Organizations that can combine commercial and sustainability data will be better positioned to meet evolving customer and regulatory expectations without compromising operational performance. The common thread across these challenges is visibility. That’s where market intelligence platforms such as SilvaStat360 can make a meaningful difference. By bringing together transaction-level pricing, delivered wood costs, freight analysis, benchmarking, and regional market trends, procurement teams can evaluate their performance against the broader market instead of relying solely on internal history. The goal isn’t to replace experience—it’s to complement it with objective data that helps procurement professionals make faster, more informed decisions in an increasingly dynamic market. The challenges facing wood procurement today aren’t entirely new. What’s changed is the pace at which markets evolve, and the amount of information required to stay ahead of them. Organizations that combine industry expertise with timely, independent market intelligence are better equipped to anticipate change rather than react to it. In an environment where even small procurement decisions can have significant financial consequences, that perspective has become a competitive advantage.

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A study led by the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) investigated how seven different Central European tree species respond to metal-contaminated soils. Source: Timberbiz For centuries, artisanal and industrial activities have left many soils polluted with excessive levels of heavy metals such as zinc, cadmium, copper and lead, posing a threat to the environment and human health. Cleaning up polluted sites is often difficult and expensive, especially when larger areas are affected. As a result, many sites need to be managed in a way that prevents pollutants from washing away into groundwater or neighbouring ecosystems. One promising solution is phytostabilisation— using plants to reduce the spread of pollutants into the environment. Trees are particularly well suited because of their long lifespans and extensive root systems. To find out which tree species to select for this purpose, researchers from the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL and ETH Zurich compared the stabilisation potential of seven Central European tree species. The researchers grew the trees for five years in soils containing heavy metal-concentrations similar to those found in contaminated sites. They measured metal concentrations in the roots, the stems and the leaves and compared them with trees growing in uncontaminated soil. The results have been published as the cover story of the journal Plants. The selected tree species represent two contrasting growth strategies (see Box). Four “acquisitive” species, including grey alder (Alnus incana), aspen (Populus tremula), osier willow (Salix viminalis) and silver birch (Betula pendula), require large amounts of nutrients. On the other hand, three “conservative” species, namely Norway spruce (Picea abies), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), have lower nutrient requirements. While all seven species showed similar concentrations of heavy metals in their roots when grown in contaminated soils, the amount of these metals transported aboveground was different. The acquisitive species transported more zinc and cadmium into their stems and especially their foliage, likely because of their higher nutrient needs. In contrast, the conservative species kept excess metals away from their stems and foliage, in some cases storing excess zinc in specialised root structures instead. As a result, the wood of conservative species contained no more heavy metals than wood from trees grown in uncontaminated soil. “We were surprised by how clear-cut the distinction was between the two growth strategies”, says Madeleine Günthardt-Goerg, first author of the study. “This gives us practical guidance on which tree species to choose for polluted sites”. Once abandoned, polluted sites are often spontaneously reclaimed by forest trees.  Selecting suitable species with conservative growth strategies could help confine contaminants in the soil, prevent metals from recirculating through falling and decomposing leaves, while also yielding uncontaminated wood products. “Adapted forest management may allow us to bring polluted sites back into the economic cycle in a cost-effective way,” said Pierre Vollenweider, researcher at WSL and last author of the study. “The next step would be to test this approach under real conditions at polluted sites.”

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As we sawed through yet another fire-scarred fir that had fallen across a backcountry trail, my trail crew and I would sometimes hear a hiker, pause our work and brace for the inevitable question: “What, they don’t let you use chainsaws?” Source: High Country News Nope, we’d answer. In a federally designated wilderness area, no motorized equipment is allowed. That’s why, we’d explain, we cleared trails with a crosscut saw, the same wooden-handled tool you see in old black-and-white photos of loggers. To most people, “wilderness” is in the heart of the beholder: an abstract term for any wild or remote-feeling area. But when it comes to our federal public lands, wilderness is a proper noun, defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act. A designated wilderness area consists of 5,000 or more contiguous roadless acres that meet special criteria, including “opportunities for solitude” and “unconfined recreation” and a lack of “permanent improvements.” The law protects these areas from development and regulates activities there more tightly than on other public lands. Earlier this year, the US Forest Service allowed the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association to use chainsaws to clear a limited number of trails in Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Some wilderness advocates panicked, warning this would lead to the erosion of wilderness protections; some accused the agency of bowing to special-interest groups. But the trail workers I know — skilled professionals who have spent years clearing logs and brush from trails and who deal firsthand with the devastating impacts of climate change and federal budget cuts on trail stewardship — have long sought greater flexibility on chainsaws in wilderness. Yet their voices remain largely absent from the conversation. I spent eight years working on trail crews in Washington’s fire-prone and heavily timbered Cascade Range, primarily clearing downed logs from trails. My ranger district on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest encompassed over 700 miles of trail, about half of them in designated wilderness. I cut thousands of logs, using crosscut saws on wilderness trails and chainsaws elsewhere. After a wildfire — and there are more fires each year in the West — a single mile of trail can be blocked by scores, even hundreds, of downed, dead trees. And trees will keep falling for years, even decades, to come. Other climate-fueled phenomena, including widespread beetle infestations, wetter, heavier snows and extreme winds, contribute to the buildup of deadfall. Each season, with an average of four or five people on the trail crew and dozens of volunteers, we were lucky to clear about half of our district’s trail mileage. Districts with smaller crews, or none at all, cleared far less. Unsafe and impassable trails are not just inconvenient; they hinder backcountry evacuations, fire management and scientific monitoring. They also limit public access to wilderness, stifling the growth of a diverse community of wilderness lovers and defenders — something we need now more than ever. Trail workers care about keeping public lands accessible. That’s our core purpose, after all. The Wilderness Act requires the government to administer wilderness “for the use and enjoyment of the American people” — a phrase that appears three times in the law’s text. But it’s hard to enjoy what you can’t experience. And, to paraphrase David Attenborough, people are unlikely to care about protecting what they’ve never experienced. I took pride in my skill as a sawyer, relishing the rhythm and camaraderie of pulling a crosscut with a partner. But log after log, year after year, the work took its toll on my body and morale, and I came to question the agency’s no-exceptions ban on chainsaws in wilderness. A single cut with a chainsaw takes seconds. The same cut can take minutes, even hours, with a crosscut saw, increasing sawyers’ exposure to hazards like standing dead snags. In today’s forests, with today’s staffing, prohibiting chainsaws is merely performative; instead of protecting wilderness, we’re helping it disappear. Maintaining wilderness access demands both bigger, better-paid trail crews and the targeted use of chainsaws. It’s worth noting that the word “chainsaw” does not appear in the Wilderness Act; Section 4(c) simply prohibits the use of “motorized equipment” in wilderness areas “except as necessary to meet minimum When I started working for the Forest Service in 2016, our district crew had already stopped maintaining over a dozen minor wilderness trails. Ten years later, they’re struggling to keep open major trails that provide the only remaining access to entire backcountry zones as well as to key sections of through-routes like the Pacific Crest Trail. Abandoning these trails would mean further concentrating people in high-profile places like the Enchantments or busy national parks like Mount Rainier — areas already suffering from overuse requirements for the administration of the area.” The National Park Service, which has long considered clearing trails to be a minimum requirement, allows its wilderness trail crews to use chainsaws. The buildup of deadfall now obliterating wilderness trails in national forests demands that the Forest Service do the same. Even if every ranger district in the West were fully staffed next year, trees would still fall, fires would burn, and crews would keep playing a hopeless game of catch-up. Chainsaws could help make the workload manageable again. When I started working for the Forest Service in 2016, our district crew had already stopped maintaining over a dozen minor wilderness trails. Ten years later, they’re struggling to keep open major trails that provide the only remaining access to entire backcountry zones as well as to key sections of through-routes like the Pacific Crest Trail. Abandoning these trails would mean further concentrating people in high-profile places like the Enchantments or busy national parks like Mount Rainier — areas already suffering from overuse. In the Frank Church — the focus of the latest debate about chainsaws in wilderness — dozens of airstrips and private ranches predating the Wilderness Act welcome fly-in guests. Trails provide a far more equitable and affordable access to wilderness, if we can keep them. Today’s battery-powered saws provide a […]

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Marlborough Research Centre is proud to be a founding partner of New Zealand Dryland Forests Innovation (NZDFI), a collaborative research program advancing durable eucalypts as a sustainable forestry option for New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz NZDFI has released its latest Project Update (July 2025 – June 2026), highlighting another year of research and development across the program. This edition includes updates on a new Forest Growers Levy Trust/Te Uru Rākau-funded project, progress from University of Canterbury PhD researchers, seed orchard and propagation developments, and planning for the next national NZDFI field day in Hawke’s Bay in February 2027. NZDFI has a vision for New Zealand to develop a future hardwood supply chain by strategically establishing a multi-regional durable eucalypt forest resource of 60,000 ha by 2050. One of the regions identified with excellent potential is Hawkes Bay. The update showcases the breadth of work underway to support resilient, high-value hardwood forestry and demonstrates the strength of collaboration between research organisations, industry and growers. Significant research investment has been made in Hawkes Bay with 10 NZDFI trials established across the region from 2011 to 2021. This region, therefore, offers an excellent location for a national field day to be held on Wednesday 17 February 2026. Sustainable durable eucalypt forestry is feasible for many North Island regions and Marlborough, Nelson and North Canterbury. This field day is targeted to forest growers and farmers interested in the potential for durable hardwood forestry as a productive land use in areas where more intense summer droughts are likely to become more frequent. Read the full Project Update on the NZDFI website https://nzdfi.org.nz/library/resources/project-updates/project-update-july-2025-june-2026/

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Registrations are open for the Gottstein Trust’s 2026 Understanding Forest Science course, which will be held in Launceston, Tasmania, from Sunday 8 November. Source: Timberbiz The biennial course alternates with the Trust’s Understanding Wood Science Course and was last held at Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2024. Places are capped at 30 to 35 participants to allow for exchange and discussion. The week opens with a casual welcome dinner and course briefing on the Sunday evening and runs through to lunchtime on Friday, combining classroom sessions with field trips. Two dinners are included in the package, among them a final-night celebration dinner hosted by Gottstein Trust chair Suzette Weeding, who will also host field trip sites at Sustainable Timber Tasmania. Participants can expect to see Tasmanian farm forestry, public native forest and both hardwood and softwood plantation operations. Course convenor Helen Murray said the program was refreshed every year and had been delivered to many hundreds of participants. “The course offers a curated set of topics and activities that cannot be gained otherwise, all in one dedicated week,” Ms Murray said. Session presenters range from academic researchers to experienced industry practitioners, all donating their time. “It’s a genuine collaborative effort to deliver these courses, and we are thankful for such strong support from presenters coming to help pass their knowledge on to others,” she said. Topics include the role forests play in hydrology, forest biodiversity and protection, biosecurity, third-party certification and the latest carbon research into Australian forests and timber products. The 2026 program will also cover EPBC Act reforms and the Timber Fibre Strategy, along with the monitoring technology now used to track native and endangered species. There are no exams. “We find that people generally focus closely on the specific topics of greatest interest to them as, across the week, they gain insight into a whole range of topics,” Ms Murray said. Ms Weeding thanked the industry donors underpinning the Trust’s annual capacity-building activities and confirmed donor discounts would continue. “We’re very pleased to reconfirm the 20% discount for Patron Donors and 10% for sponsor donors, applied to their first two course registrations,” she said. Full details and the online registration form are at www.gottsteintrust.org  

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Conversion of sheep and beef farms to forestry in New Zealand has slowed, but an additional 30,000 hectares of whole sheep and beef farms have been confirmed as sold for forestry since mid-2025. New research for B+LNZ brings the total extent of whole sheep and beef farms sold for afforestation since 1 January 2017 to almost 330,000 hectares. Source: Timberbiz B+LNZ has been monitoring whole-farm sales for conversion to forestry for several years. B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland says the latest figures bring the total extent of whole sheep and beef farms sold for afforestation since 1 January 2017 to almost 330,000 hectares – equivalent to 3,300 square kilometres or roughly six times the size of urban Auckland. The new analysis by Orme & Associates has found that an additional 30,000 hectares of whole sheep and beef farms have been confirmed as sold for forestry since the previous research was released in mid-2025. Revised confirmed sales in 2024 added 11,482 hectares (bringing the revised 2024 total to 41,966 hectares), with 15,743 hectares sold in 2025. The 2025 figure is expected to rise as further sales are confirmed through the Overseas Investment Office. “While we are pleased that total sales have slowed from the height of conversions to forestry in 2021 and 2022 (when almost 64,000 hectares were sold each year), we remain concerned that too much is still going to occur,” Ms Acland says. The report indicates that 27,000 hectares of sheep and beef land could still be converted into forestry each year under the restrictions that were introduced on whole farms being entered into the ETS. Prior to 2018, when it was signalled that the cap on the carbon price would be lifted, only 7,000 hectares or less was converted into forestry on average each year. Ms Acland said that 27,000 hectares a year, combined with how much has already happened, would see New Zealand lose a million hectares of productive pastoral land by 2050, which is unsustainable for our sector, our rural communities and the country. “While the restrictions introduced in 2025 are welcomed, we are concerned they do not go far enough and we will be keeping a close eye on ongoing levels of afforestation,” she said. “B+LNZ is not anti-forestry. We strongly support the integration of trees within farms. Forestry presents an important and well-established diversification opportunity for farmers. Farmers know their land and can plant the right trees in the right places, without affecting overall levels of production.” The latest research combines with analysis carried out by BERL earlier this year which found that sheep and beef farms create employment and exports on a continuous, annual basis. In contrast, forestry mainly generates both employment and export revenue at harvest, around 25–30 years after planting. In 2025, New Zealand’s red meat sector generated NZ$17.5 billion (4%) in GDP and supported a total of 120,580 jobs, or 5% of total employment in New Zealand. Converting productive farms to forestry makes it harder for rural communities to retain people and skills, in turn reducing local spending, school rolls, rural services and future food-producing capacity. B+LNZ estimates that more than two million stock units have been lost to afforestation since 2017. Download the Orme & Associates report at https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/blnz-afforestation-review-2026

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The Coalition wants Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the Foreign Investment Review Board to reject the proposed foreign-backed acquisition of Victoria’s Cobungra Station, warning Labor has already shown it cannot be trusted to protect Australia’s productive agricultural land. Source: Timberbiz The proposed sale of Cobungra Station north east of Melbourne near the NSW border to carbon investment manager Silva Capital remains subject to FIRB approval. Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Darren Chester said Australians had every reason to be concerned after Labor approved the foreign takeover of Tasmania’s Rushy Lagoon which will be converted from an agricultural estate into a $142 million pine plantation and carbon project. “Labor has already signed off on the loss of one of Australia’s most productive farming enterprises in Tasmania, allowing it to be converted into a carbon project,” Mr Chester said. “That decision showed Labor is prepared to put its net zero agenda ahead of Australia’s food security, regional communities and agricultural production. “Now Cobungra Station is before FIRB, Australians deserve to know whether the Government will once again wave through the loss of productive farmland. “We cannot continue replacing food production with carbon credits. Australia’s productive farmland exists to feed Australians, support regional jobs and strengthen our national food security.” Mr Chester said the national interest test must recognise that food security is a strategic priority. “Every hectare of productive agricultural land permanently diverted away from farming reduces Australia’s ability to produce food into the future.” Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said Labor’s carbon policies were distorting the agricultural land market and pricing farmers out of their own industry. “Labor’s approach is creating a perverse incentive where foreign-backed carbon investors can outbid Australian farmers for productive land,” Mr Tehan said. “We’ve already seen what happens when Labor is faced with this choice after they approved the sale of Rushy Lagoon. “We don’t want to see history repeat itself at Cobungra. “The Coalition believes Australia’s foreign investment laws should protect productive farmland, not facilitate its conversion into carbon assets.” The Coalition is calling on the Treasurer to reject the proposed acquisition of Cobungra Station and send a clear message that Australia’s productive agricultural land should remain in food and fibre production, not be sold off to foreign-backed carbon investors. The Coalition will also reinstate the Ministerial Veto power so the Minister for Agriculture can veto any project that will lock up prime agricultural land for carbon credits if it will have a significant impact on water, agricultural production and regional communities.

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The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has lashed the Carroll Labor Government for its part in the latest round of job losses in the Latrobe Valley. Source: Timberbiz Opal has announced 84 jobs will be axed at the Maryvale paper mill as a direct result of Labor’s failure to meet its contractual obligation to supply timber. “The non-sensical closure of the native timber industry has been disastrous for the Latrobe Valley workforce,” Mr Cameron said. “In 2019, former premier Daniel Andrews guaranteed 1,000 workers at the mill their livelihoods were secured until 2050, but that was a lie. “Labor pulled the rug out from underneath the mill workers when he went back on his word and shut the industry six years ahead of schedule. “This move had an enormous impact on the mill’s operations and has placed Opal under unsustainable financial pressure.” Nearly 200 jobs were cut when the Maryvale mill ceased production of white paper in 2023, and another 40 were lost in 2024. “Now we are losing another 84 jobs, and it was avoidable. Labor killed off a sustainable industry for political expediency,” Mr Cameron said. “I have requested a briefing with Opal to understand the finer details of this decision and discuss supports available for workers, but one thing is clear – Latrobe Valley families continue to pay the price for Labor’s disastrous forestry policy.” Premier Ben Carroll served as the Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty when the white paper mill shut in 2023. Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath, said the Premier was liable for the trail of destruction left across the Latrobe Valley. “Ben Carroll sat idly as 200 jobs were lost at Maryvale, he failed to provide support for retrenched workers and backed in the forestry policy that caused this mess,” Ms Bath said. “The Premier is culpable for bringing this industry to its knees and he is responsible for the latest round of job losses in the Valley. “The leader may have changed, but it’s still the same old tired and corrupt Labor Government presiding over the destruction of regional Victoria.”

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The Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub has appointed Mr Johan Revalk as its new Executive General Manager, succeeding Tony Wright, who will retire from full-time work on 14 August 2026 after three years leading the Hub. Source: Timberbiz Mr Revalk has already commenced and will work alongside Mr Wright during a short transition period. A South Australian lawyer and former journalist with The Advertiser, Mr Revalk has held a number of senior leadership roles, including as chief executive of an industry association. The Chair of the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, Dr Ruth Schubert, said the appointment marked an important and well-planned leadership transition for the organisation. “On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to welcome Johan to the Hub,” Dr Schubert said. “Johan joins the Hub at an important time. He will work with the Board, members and partners to build on the strong momentum across industry development, workforce, research and policy. “His experience across law, journalism and senior organisational leadership, including as chief executive of an industry association, brings a valuable combination of governance, communication and stakeholder engagement skills to the role. “The transition period will provide continuity for the Hub’s members, funding partners and stakeholders, while allowing Johan to gain the benefit of Tony’s knowledge and established relationships.” Mr Revalk said he was honoured to be appointed and looked forward to working with the Hub’s members and partners. “I am keen to get out across the Green Triangle, meet the people and businesses that drive the industry, and develop a strong understanding of the region’s opportunities and challenges,” Mr Revalk said. “I am excited by the opportunities in forestry and timber manufacturing. The industry is nationally vital, and the Hub has an important role in bringing industry, government, researchers and communities together around practical opportunities. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by the Board, Tony and the Hub team, and to supporting the industry’s sustainable growth, competitiveness and contribution to the region.” Dr Schubert said Mr Wright had made an important contribution to the Hub and the broader Green Triangle region. “Tony has brought strategic thinking, governance experience, regional commitment and a strong ability to work across industry, government and community,” Dr Schubert said. “During Tony’s tenure, the Hub strengthened its role as a trusted regional industry body, delivering practical research, supporting policy development and helping sustain the Green Triangle’s position as one of Australia’s most important forestry and wood fibre regions. “A major recent milestone was the completion of the Hardwood Manufacturing Hub Feasibility Study, funded by the Victorian Government, Victorian Forest Products Association, Industry and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The study examined the opportunity to establish advanced hardwood timber manufacturing capacity in the Green Triangle, with a focus on Western Victoria. “That work formed part of a staged pathway to capture more value from the region’s plantation resources. “A critical earlier step was the ATMAC-funded Fast Commercialisation Trial, which supported the development, market testing and creation of a new Australian-made plantation hardwood engineered wood product – Blue Gum GLT. “The commercialisation work directly informed the feasibility study and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Precinct Project, helping move the opportunity from analysis and technical development towards future investment and manufacturing.” Mr Wright said he was proud of the Hub’s work, pleased to welcome Mr Revalk and was optimistic about the region’s future. “The Green Triangle has always been home for me. I am originally from Kingston, and I understand how important regional industries are to the prosperity and identity of our communities,” Mr Wright said. “I am proud that the Hub has helped connect industry strategy, government policy and practical delivery in ways that are creating real opportunities for the region. “The hardwood manufacturing work, the Precinct Project, the Forestry Centre of Excellence, new education and training pathways, our workforce development strategy and major private-sector investments are coming together. The Hub is in a strong position, and I am excited to see what happens next.” Dr Schubert also acknowledged Mr Wright’s broader regional contribution beyond the Hub, including his leadership as a former Chair of Generations in Jazz, his service as a director of ac.care since 2020, and his contribution to the Forestry Centre of Excellence as a Board Member and Project Control Group member. Mr Wright began his career as an electrical fitter with the Electricity Trust of South Australia. His executive career has included senior leadership roles across the forest and timber, local government, water and energy sectors. “On behalf of the Board, I thank Tony for his leadership and contribution, wish him every success in retirement from full-time work and warmly welcome Johan as the Hub’s new Executive General Manager,” Dr Schubert said.

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prefabAUS has welcomed the passage of the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 through Parliament, describing the inclusion of a clear definition of prefabricated building work as a significant milestone in modernising Australia’s building regulatory framework. Source: Timberbiz The amendment recognises the growing role that prefabricated and manufacturing-led construction will play in addressing housing supply, improving productivity and affordability, and strengthening Australia’s sovereign building capability. Executive Chairman of prefabAUS, Damien Crough, said the legislation acknowledges that construction is evolving and that regulation must evolve alongside it. “This is a significant step forward for New South Wales and one that recognises how buildings are increasingly being manufactured as well as constructed. “The Bill doesn’t create a separate regulatory pathway or reduce compliance requirements. Instead, it provides greater certainty for industry, regulators, certifiers, financiers and consumers by clearly recognising prefabricated building work within the legislation.” Mr Crough said the reform demonstrates that governments can embrace innovation while maintaining high standards for building quality and consumer protection. “Good regulation should enable innovation, not create uncertainty. This amendment provides a clearer legislative foundation for modern construction methods while maintaining the rigorous building standards that Australians rightly expect.” Today’s reform reflects several years of collaboration between industry, government, regulators and research organisations to ensure Australia’s building legislation keeps pace with innovation. Through its Building the Future We Want – Smart Building Industry Roadmap 2023–2033, submissions to governments and regulators, and ongoing engagement with industry, prefabAUS has consistently advocated for regulatory frameworks that recognise modern construction methods while maintaining confidence in Australia’s building system. Mr Crough said the passage of the Bill demonstrates what can be achieved when governments and industry work together to deliver practical reforms. “This is more than a definition. It is recognition that Australia’s construction industry is entering a new era,” he said. “As buildings become increasingly designed for manufacture and assembly, legislation must provide certainty for everyone involved in the delivery process, from manufacturers and builders through to certifiers, regulators, insurers and financiers.” prefabAUS acknowledged the NSW Government for progressing the legislation and thanked Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum for supporting a practical reform that will benefit the broader construction industry. “Housing affordability and housing supply remain among Australia’s greatest challenges. Every jurisdiction will need to modernise the way homes are delivered if we are to increase productivity and build the homes our communities need.” “New South Wales has demonstrated leadership by ensuring its legislation reflects contemporary construction practices. We hope this becomes a model for other jurisdictions as they review their own building legislation.” The organisation said the amendment complements broader national work underway to improve productivity, increase housing supply, boost affordability and strengthen Australia’s manufacturing capability. However, prefabAUS said legislative recognition is only the beginning. “The next step is to build a nationally consistent framework that supports investment in Australian manufacturing, strategic procurement, conformity assessment, financing, workforce capability and digital delivery,” Mr Crough said. “Ultimately, this is about creating the conditions for Smart Building, an industry where manufacturing, digital design, automation and construction operate as one integrated system to deliver better buildings more efficiently. ” prefabAUS looks forward to continuing to work with governments across Australia to support the implementation of modern building legislation and to develop nationally consistent policy settings that unlock greater productivity, accelerate housing delivery and strengthen Australia’s sovereign construction capability

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JCB has updated its LiveLink telematics platform with a series of developments designed to help customers improve profitability, safety and sustainability across their operations. Source: Timberbiz The latest updates see expanded safety and security functionality added across the platform. These include new remote machine management features including JCB IntelliSense integration – available on Hi-Viz Loadall telescopic handlers. JCB LiveLink is designed to help customers monitor and maintain their machines more effectively. Currently connecting more than 580,000 machines worldwide and supporting over 40,000 customers, JCB LiveLink is accessible through a web browser and mobile app and covers JCB and mixed fleets. The system provides information on machine location, utilisation, fuel consumption, maintenance requirements and security, helping customers maximise uptime, improve fuel efficiency and make more informed operational decisions. “Customers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce operating costs, improve machine utilisation and maintain safe, efficient worksites. JCB LiveLink continues to evolve to support those 1fleet, overseeing a project or operating a machine themselves, customers need access to information that is relevant to their role and helps them make informed decisions,” JCB Group Managing Director – Global Aftersales, Mario Moser, said. “By helping customers make better-informed decisions, LiveLink can bring increased profitability, safer working environments and more sustainable machine operation.” JCB’s Hi-Viz Loadall telescopic handlers – the 535-125, 540-140 and 540-180 models now benefit from enhanced remote management functionality through LiveLink. Fleet managers can remotely adjust a range of machine settings including Auto Stop parameters, speed limit controls, IntelliSense activation, tyre pressure monitoring settings and remote PIN management. LiveLink provides detailed information on machine operation including working time, idle time, fuel consumption and CO₂ output. Automated reports and flexible monitoring tools help business owners, fleet managers and site teams track machine performance across multiple assets and locations. By identifying underused equipment, excessive idle time and unnecessary fuel consumption, customers can improve working practices, lower operating costs and support preventative maintenance programs. LiveLink also provides fuel consumption and CO₂ reporting, helping customers measure efficiency improvements and support wider sustainability objectives and contractual compliance. The platform is also supported by the JCB Operator App, enabling operators to complete machine checks and helping ensure equipment remains safe, compliant and ready for work.

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Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance sustainable forest management and strengthen the country’s forestry sector. Source: Timberbiz Global demand for wood products is set to rise more than 40% by 2050 compared with 2020. Conservation and sustainable use of forests work together, not against each other, and this partnership puts that principle into action. The Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (Ditjen PHL) and FSC agreed to build closer synergy between Indonesia’s Timber Legality and Sustainable Assurance System (SVLK) and FSC certification. SVLK is Indonesia’s mandatory national system for verifying the legality and sustainability of timber, required for the country’s forest product exports. Ir. Laksmi Wijayanti, Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, signed on behalf of the Ministry, and Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of FSC International, signed for FSC, with government, business, and civil society representatives attending the ceremony. The MoU centred on a combined audit mechanism, which lets a single audit team assess both SVLK and FSC standards together, saving time and cost while keeping full credibility. Its scope includes: integrated audits across the supply chain, from forests to exporters and importers stronger forest management performance and aligned remedy frameworks supporting Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target capacity building, network strengthening, and market data exchange expanded market access for SVLK- and FSC-compliant Indonesian forest products   Laksmi Wijayanti said the partnership strengthens synergy between national and international approaches, delivering real benefits for the environment, communities, and forest businesses, and driving global market confidence in Indonesian forest products. Subhra Bhattacharjee said the collaboration supports the long-term resilience of Indonesia’s forests, including its natural forests, and reflects FSC’s commitment to one of the world’s most important tropical forest countries. She added that the combined audit mechanism streamlines certification while boosting the sector’s competitiveness. SVLK stands for Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas dan Kelestarian, Indonesia’s national timber legality and sustainability assurance system. It verifies that wood products meet Indonesia’s legal and sustainability requirements at every stage, from harvest to export, and is mandatory for the country’s forestry exports.

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Ministers and senior representatives meeting in Shenzhen, China recently called for stronger action to protect the Asia-Pacific forests, warning that illegal logging, mangrove loss and rapid urban growth are putting one of the region’s greatest economic assets under pressure. Source: Timberbiz Convening at the sixth APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry, ministers and senior representatives focused on how digital technologies can strengthen sustainable forest management. “We gather here today in China to renew our shared aspirations and charter the future of forest together, an occasion of great significance in the midst of global transformation,” Administrator of National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China Liu Guohong said, opening the meeting. Illegal logging accounts for an estimated 15% to 30% of the global timber trade, costing the Asia-Pacific an estimated US$51 billion a year. Senior representatives from 21 APEC economies stressed the importance of combating illegal logging and expanding legal trade, especially through wider adoption of technologies such as predictive artificial intelligence, DNA profiling and blockchain tracking, tools that help legitimate businesses prove their timber is sourced legally and build trust with buyers across the region. The APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade is carrying this work forward by maintaining user-friendly resources like Timber Legality Guidance Template that allow businesses to quickly verify legal timber requirements as well as engaging small forestry enterprises to better understand challenges they face, among other initiatives. Ministers also highlighted opportunities to move the forestry sector up the value chain by expanding forest products and processing, while building out services like agroforestry and eco-tourism to diversify income and build resilience for forestry-dependent economies and communities. Home to roughly 48% of the world’s mangroves, the Asia-Pacific has a critical role to play in protecting them. Ministers called for faster conservation and restoration efforts, pointing to mangroves’ importance for disaster resilience, food security and economic growth. As economies grow and cities across the region expand, ministers called for the same urgency in building environmentally friendly urban spaces, using technology and data to guide the design, protection and expansion of such spaces. International organizations also highlighted how partnerships are translating policy into action, from the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation’s long-running forest restoration projects across the Asia-Pacific to the International Mangrove Centre, the world’s first intergovernmental organization dedicated to mangrove conservation. “The Asia-Pacific region, with its connected mountains and rivers, shares benefits and challenges. Let’s take this meeting as a new starting point, work hand in hand, and forge ahead together to inject greater positive momentum to the building of a clean and more beautiful Asia-Pacific,” Liu concluded. Continuing the groundwork from these discussions, the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade met on 29 and 30 July to further practical work on advancing forest resilience and the ecological well-being for all across the Asia-Pacific.

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Established in 2015, the Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award is a perpetual tribute to the enduring legacy of the late Richard Stanton, renowned for his pioneering contributions to Sustainable Forest Management in Australia and internationally. Source: Timberbiz This esteemed award recognises individuals who have made significant strides in Forest Management or Chain of Custody Certification within the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. In 2024, with the support of the late Richard Stanton’s widow, Sonya Stanton, the award now extends its eligibility to early-career professionals in forestry, environmental science, wood technologies, and design, as well as university students pursuing relevant studies, including those completing post-graduate degrees. The award recognises the multifaceted approach to sustainable forest management, emphasising environmental, social, cultural, and economic aspects, along with innovation in the use of forest products. Open to all individuals contributing to Sustainable Forest Management under AS/NZS 4708 or Chain of Custody under AS 4707 or PEFC ST 2002, the award welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to: Certified Forest Owners and Managers Chain of Custody Certificate Holders Certification Bodies Forest Scientists and Researchers Builders and Designers advocating for sustainable timber utilisation.   Candidates must be nominated, with nominations accepted from Responsible Wood members, certificate holders, stakeholders, lecturers, or senior leaders within academic institutions. Nominating someone takes only minutes using the online form below. Alternatively, email info@responsiblewood.org.au with your responses to the following three questions, along with the nominee’s name, email address, phone number and organisation: How has the nominee demonstrated a commitment to Sustainable Forest Management and/or Chain of Custody Certification in their work? Tip: Consider actions taken, leadership shown, or outcomes achieved. In what ways has the nominee gone above and beyond what’s expected in their role? Tip: This could include innovation, long-term dedication, community engagement, or overcoming challenges. What impact has their work had – and why do you believe they deserve to be recognised with this award?   Nominations close at 5:00 pm on Friday 14 August 2026 – use the form below to nominate: https://form.typeform.com/to/O2RpQD6B

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What makes Kaingaroa Forest Estate in New Zealand different is the scale and contiguity. It is largely a single, predominantly connected landscape of 235,000 hectares that allows it to be managed as one. This continuity makes it easier to plan operations and logistics well. Source: Timberbiz “Our forest footprint means we can operate as one big, connected unit,” said Gareth Bowen, Kaingaroa Tipu (KT) Harvesting and Logistics Manager. “Off highway trucks, internal roads, and rail integration all work together as a single system, which is very different to anywhere else.” By managing every stage of the value chain, from nursery and planting through silviculture, harvest, and replanting, Kaingaroa Tipu avoids the fragmentation common in smaller or multi-owner forests. Boundaries and access are regulated. Biosecurity is easier to control. Roads and haulage routes are engineered for safety, efficiency, and environmental performance with less reliance on public networks. The result? Fewer vehicle movements mean lower emissions, and a lighter carbon footprint across the supply chain. “Supply chain influences sustainability,” said Colin Maunder, Kaingaroa Tipu General Manager Sustainability. Much of KT’s harvest is moved through an established internal roading network to supply local processors, including Donnelly’s Sawmill, Sequal, Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products, and Oji Fibre Solutions. The same network also links harvest sites to KiwiRail’s Murupara and Kawerau railheads, where logs travel via the 57km Murupara Branch line to the East Coast Main Trunk and on to the Port of Tauranga. “The KiwiRail portion of our supply chain is significantly lower carbon emissions than trucking that volume to port,” Mr Bowen said. By shortening the “first mile” between forest and rail, many long-haul truck movements on public roads can be largely avoided. The private road system and rail link form a lower-emission supply chain operating at industrial scale. Kaingaroa’s progress stands on decades of refining its ways of working. For Kaingaroa Tipu Chief Operating Officer, Dean Witehira, the link between operations and climate outcomes is straightforward. “We’ve spent decades refining how our infrastructure, systems, and contractors work together. That integration is what allows us to move fibre efficiently and reduce the volume of transport movements required in our supply chain,” Mr Witehira said. “With a contiguous estate and a well organised supply chain, we’re already achieving real efficiency gains. The next step is harnessing modern technology to take that even further.”

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia says the NSW Government’s application for carbon credits from the Great Koala National Park should not be approved until fundamental questions about additionality, leakage, regional impacts, governance and long-term funding are independently resolved. Source: Timberbiz Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has confirmed that the project has been submitted to the Clean Energy Regulator and claims it must be approved before the NSW Government can legislate the Park. She has also announced that any ACCUs generated would be prioritised for selected NSW manufacturers and excluded from sale to coal and gas projects. FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said this was a procedural condition created by the Government, not evidence that carbon finance caused, enabled or was necessary for the park. “The Great Koala National Park was first promised by NSW Labor at the 2015 election and was taken to voters again in 2019 and 2023,” Mr Dobbyns said. “The Government subsequently announced the Park’s boundary, committed public funding and stopped harvesting before the INFM method was approved. “Penny Sharpe cannot make a decade-old election promise additional simply by declaring that legislation now depends on carbon-credit registration.” Contemporary election reporting confirms Labor promoted the Park in 2015 and 2019, while the 2023 election was the third time it took the promise to voters. The NSW Government later described the Park as an election commitment it was already delivering. The final INFM method also contains an exception recognising the September 2025 Great Koala National Park harvesting moratorium as an interim measure that does not disqualify the project under its previous-decision requirements. “That looks less like a carbon method independently testing a new project and more like a method accommodating a political decision already made,” Mr Dobbyns said. “A government cannot manufacture additionality by describing an existing commitment as conditional or interim. “Wanting carbon revenue to help pay for a decision is not the same as proving the decision would never have occurred without carbon credits.” Mr Dobbyns said the approval process also raised serious questions about how adverse social and economic impacts were assessed. Under section 106 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, the commonwealth minister was required to have regard to whether projects operating under the method were likely to cause adverse environmental, economic or social impacts before making the determination. ERAC’s published advice records that it considered the Offsets Integrity Standards, 371 public submissions and advice from the Clean Energy Regulator. It also states that ERAC was not directed to consider additional matters under section 123B of the Act. “The Act does not permit the Commonwealth decision-maker to consider carbon accounting in isolation,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Yet the published material does not demonstrate a comprehensive assessment of lost employment, stranded businesses, reduced sovereign timber supply, increased imports, impacts on housing and manufacturing, or the permanent removal of productive public assets. “The Commonwealth should release the adverse-impact assessment relied upon when the INFM method was approved. “A broad method-level process is also no substitute for a transparent, project-specific socio-economic assessment of the Great Koala National Park and the communities carrying its costs.” The INFM method requires an independent assessment of indirect leakage but restricts the deduction to between zero and 40%. Recent research estimated that reduced Australian native forest harvesting has produced a long-run timber-harvest leakage rate of 81.3%, with most displaced demand supplied by countries carrying elevated risks of illegal harvesting. “Stopping production in NSW does not stop demand for hardwood timber,” Mr Dobbyns said. “It transfers production to private forests, other states, overseas suppliers or more emissions-intensive substitute materials. “A method that caps indirect leakage at 40% cannot credibly account for evidence showing that more than 80 per cent of lost domestic supply may return as imports. “That creates a clear risk of issuing credits for carbon benefits that are substantially cancelled out beyond the project boundary.” FWCA said greater transparency was also needed around the development and independent review of the method. The NSW Government’s original proposal states that the INFM method was prepared with an Australian National University research team led by Professors Andrew Macintosh and Don Butler. Professor Macintosh previously co-authored research comparing native forest harvesting with carbon-credit alternatives and has supported the use of carbon markets to facilitate reductions or cessation of native forest harvesting. He has also been one of the strongest public critics of the integrity of other ACCU methods, claiming in 2022 that 70% to 80% of credits issued under certain methods did not represent real and additional abatement. “Those facts make it essential that the Government disclose how independence, competing viewpoints, declarations of interest and genuinely arm’s-length peer review were documented throughout the method-development process”, Mr Dobbyns said. “The same demanding additionality and integrity tests Professor Macintosh has applied to other carbon methods must be applied to the INFM.” The final method gives projects a 15-year crediting period but requires a 100-year permanence commitment. “The Government is promising that ACCU revenue will help fund the Park, but carbon-credit generation ends after 15 years while management obligations and costs continue for a century,” Mr Dobbyns said. “That leaves an 85-year funding exposure unless the Government produces a fully costed and independently verified long-term management plan. “Fire management, weeds, feral animals, roads, visitor infrastructure and ecological monitoring will not disappear when the crediting period ends. “Future taxpayers should not inherit a permanent liability after a temporary revenue stream has run out.” Mr Dobbyns said restricting the credits to selected manufacturers and excluding coal and gas projects did nothing to repair the underlying accounting problems. “Changing who can buy the credits does not fix a bad credit,” he said. “If the claimed carbon benefit cannot withstand proper leakage analysis, and the project cannot withstand a rigorous socio-economic assessment, it should not be approved. “The Great Koala National Park should not be built on exported environmental impacts, regional job losses and an 85-year taxpayer funding cliff.” FWCA is calling for the release of the project’s complete additionality case, leakage assessment, […]

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AFPA has echoed serious concerns raised by Forestry Australia over the Federal Government’s controversial new carbon credit method, warning it undermines the integrity and credibility of Australia’s carbon market. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Australia has identified significant technical flaws in the new Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method (INFM), with its forest carbon experts warning it could substantially overstate carbon abatement. The latest analysis also shows the method could over-credit projects by between 40% and 100 %, even before accounting for carbon leakage and harvested wood products. AFPA Acting CEO Richard Hyett said the alarming independent research reinforced concerns the sustainable forest products industry had been raising for more than 18 months. “As we have highlighted on several occasions, this method does not meet the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme’s own requirements for integrity, transparency or additionality,” Mr Hyett said. “The decision to register the method clearly prioritised politics over science and will damage public confidence in the integrity and transparency of the scheme.” Mr Hyett said the method would generate carbon credits without delivering genuine additional emissions reductions and relied on science that had been challenged by independent experts and government scientists. “We are very concerned the new method could flood the market with low-integrity ACCUs, undermining confidence in legitimate carbon projects and weakening investment in genuine climate action. “Australia’s carbon credit scheme is designed to encourage real carbon abatement and high-integrity environmental outcomes, and it’s important the scheme remains focused on delivering genuine emissions reductions rather than being used to retrospectively fund policy decisions. “Our carbon credit scheme is a critical part of Australia’s framework to meet net zero ambitions and it’s vital that its integrity is maintained to deliver genuine carbon abatement.”

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Forestry SA will install new high-tech fire detection systems in the southern Barossa and northern Adelaide Hills. ForestrySA has signed an agreement with bushfire detection and intelligence provider Pano AI to install a new AI-powered fire detection camera on a fire tower within the Mount Crawford Forest estate. Source: Timberbiz The camera captures ultra-high-definition panoramic imagery and feeds it into a system that combines AI, satellite technology and human verification to identify potential smoke and fire activity. The platform provides real-time alerts and intelligence on fire location, behaviour and proximity to people, assets and firefighting resources, supporting more informed decision-making by emergency services and land managers. The high-tech early bushfire detection camera will be installed next month and will be operational ahead of the coming fire danger season, capable of detecting unplanned fires earlier and providing critical intelligence to support faster and more effective responses. It follows the successful implementation of eight AI-powered bushfire detection cameras across the Limestone Coast forestry region, funded by the Malinauskas Government and managed by the Green Triangle Fire Alliance. This camera network detected nearly 90 unplanned fires early over the past three fire danger seasons, delivering valuable intel to fire responders and demonstrating its value as an early bushfire detection system. This installation will provide an opportunity to assess how the technology performs in a more complex peri-urban landscape where plantations, native vegetation, farms, businesses infrastructure and residential communities are closely interconnected. It also reflects the South Australian forestry sector’s ongoing commitment to invest in fire prevention, detection and response measures, protecting the productive forests that are building the homes of tomorrow, as well as the regional and peri-urban homes of today. Through this trial, ForestrySA will work with the Malinauskas Government to gain a better understanding of how AI-strengthened bushfire detection technology can support bushfire preparedness, early intervention and emergency responses in one of South Australia’s most significant peri-urban landscapes.

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Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) has welcomed the completion of the Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub Feasibility Study in Portland, calling it proof of what timber communities can achieve when governments, industry and councils invest in a shared future. Source: Timberbiz TTV President Cr Karen Stephens, who is also Mayor of Glenelg Shire, said the milestone reflected years of deliberate preparation by the community and its partners. “The completion of the Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub Feasibility Study, alongside Council’s Future Portland Project, demonstrates a proactive approach to understanding and preparing for future opportunities across Glenelg Shire,” she said. The study confirms the commercial and technical viability of a world-class engineered timber manufacturing facility in Portland. It would convert locally grown plantation Blue Gum, currently exported as woodchips for pulp and paper, into Glue Laminated Timber for structural beams in residential and commercial construction, an Australian first for the species. This work completes phase one of The Precinct, a long-term vision to develop Australia’s largest integrated plantation timber manufacturing and prefabricated housing component precinct in the Green Triangle. Later phases propose a Laminated Veneer Lumber production line and a component fabrication centre. Investment of more than $200 million is expected in the first phase, creating 74 permanent jobs alongside around 150 construction jobs. At full development, The Precinct has the potential to support around 280 ongoing jobs, process more than one million tonnes of plantation timber annually, and manufacture building components supplying around 20,000 homes each year. Led by the Commonwealth-funded Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and delivered by IndustryEdge, the work was backed by more than $500,000 from the Portland Diversification Fund and the investment of local industry, with support from the Victorian Government. The next stage of Precinct development is backed by $1.75 million from the Victorian Government alongside Commonwealth funding, with Laminated Veneer Lumber production trials due to begin in August. For TTV, the significance goes beyond Portland. The project shows how value adding to plantation resources can replace the native forest supply no longer available in Victoria, reduce Australia’s reliance on imported product, support national housing targets, and strengthen sovereign manufacturing capability. It is the kind of coordinated, long-term investment TTV has called for in its 2026 Government Brief, which urges governments to align forestry, housing, manufacturing and regional development policy so that every timber town has a pathway to this kind of future. Reaching this milestone has taken partnership across every level of government, and TTV has congratulated the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, Glenelg Shire Council and all project partners involved. More information about the project is available at The Precinct.

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Labor has repeatedly failed timber workers and ignored respected forest scientists who support a properly managed and sustainable native hardwood industry, according to Shadow Forestry Minister Darren Chester. Source: Timberbiz Commenting on Opal’s announcement last week that more than 80 people are to lose their jobs at Opal’s Maryvale Mill in Gippsland, Mr Chester said hard-working Gippslanders were continuing to pay the price for the Labor-Greens decision to shut down Victoria’s native hardwood timber industry. “The announcement of a further 84 job losses at the Maryvale Mill is devastating news for the workers, their families and the wider Latrobe Valley community,” Mr Chester, the Member for Gippsland,” said. “The mill has been a critical part of our region’s economic life for generations, supporting local jobs, families, businesses and manufacturing,” he said. Opal has previously cut jobs at the mill and experienced a number of shutdowns. The mill permanently shut down its white paper manufacturing operations, including the decommissioning of Paper Machine 2 and Paper Machine 5. This structural shutdown was triggered by the sudden end of VicForests’ native timber supply, resulting in 200 job losses and shifting the mill’s focus strictly to packaging and brown paper. In its statement, Opal said the mill had suffered substantial losses following the Victorian Government’s failure to meet its contractual obligations under the Wood Pulp Agreement. The company commenced legal action in late 2025 over the government’s failure to supply wood in accordance with that agreement. “The Maryvale Mill suffered substantial losses due to the Victorian government’s failure to meet its contractual obligations under the Wood Pulp Agreement,” its statement on Thursday said. In September last year, Opal commenced proceedings against the state government for $402m in damages for the above. “The end of white paper production has significantly changed the operational footprint of the mill, and the site has been working hard to right size its operations as a kraft and recycled paper manufacturer,” the statement reads. “Opal understands the impact of job losses in regional communities, and we will work with affected team members to explore redeployment opportunities across the mill and the broader Opal network.” The end of white paper production dramatically reduced the mill’s operational footprint, and the business has been working to restructure as a kraft and recycled paper manufacturer. “I have been assured by Opal executives that affected workers will receive their full entitlements, but that does not diminish the widespread impact these job losses will have across the region,” Mr Chester said. Mr Chester said the announcement demanded immediate action from the state and federal governments to develop a properly funded economic transition plan in genuine consultation with local workers, businesses and community leaders. “It also reinforces why we must fight to protect Australia’s remaining sustainable hardwood timber industry,” he said. “At both state and federal levels, Labor has repeatedly failed timber workers and ignored respected forest scientists who support a properly managed and sustainable native hardwood industry. “Driven by its dependence on Greens preferences in metropolitan seats, Labor has abandoned blue-collar workers in regional communities.” Mr Chester said thousands of jobs had already been lost, regional towns had been weakened, and communities were less prepared for major bushfires because they have lost skilled workers, heavy machinery and local knowledge from the forests. “We need governments prepared to work with the private sector to create jobs in the Latrobe Valley, not governments that continually undermine our traditional strengths in energy, forestry and manufacturing,” he said.

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