Australian timber industry news

Valmet is delivering key technology for Century Sunshine’s new Rizhao pulp mill that is being built in Shandong province in China. Valmet’s delivery includes cooking and fibre lines, an evaporation plant, a recovery boiler with optimizers, ash treatment and a white liquor plant. Source: Timberbiz The new pulp mill is part of Century Sunshine’s strategic three-phase investment program “Paper-for-Plastic”, which aims for 2.65 million tonnes of annual new paper production with the goal of plastics replacement with various paper-based products. The new pulp mill is designed to have an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of hardwood or softwood pulp and 400,000 tonnes of softwood pulp. The order was included in Valmet’s orders received for the second quarter of 2026. The value of the order exceeds EUR 100 million. The exact value of the order will not be disclosed. The new mill is expected to start up in June 2028. “This project is at the core of our strategy to improve our self-sufficiency in raw material supply and meet the evolving needs of customers in the Chinese market. We chose Valmet as a partner for this project based on our positive previous experiences and their ability to meet our project needs both regarding technology and our investment budget,” said Jeff Cheng, Vice President, Century Sunshine. Andreas Michalik, Vice President, Pulp Mills, Pulp, Energy and Circularity Business Area, Valmet said that the new Century Sunshine Rizhao mill will produce fluff, dissolving, softwood and hardwood pulp, and is an excellent example of product differentiation to meet the growing market needs with Valmet’s full scope offering. The mill features the latest cooking technology, a high-power recovery boiler with leading optimization and safety features, and electrostatic precipitator for efficient dust emissions reduction.

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The public sector (in South Korea) is taking the lead in expanding the use of domestic timber. With a system providing timber from national forests free of charge for wood-construction R&D and demonstration projects now fully in effect, it is expected to generate demand for domestic timber and accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality. Source: The Financial News The Korea Forest Service (KFS) said the amended Act on the Management and Administration of National Forests (National Forests Act), revised to expand the use of domestic timber and establish an institutional foundation for fostering the timber industry, will take effect on the 22nd. The legal amendment was pursued as part of the forest sector’s implementation strategy for achieving the National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC) and 2050 carbon neutrality. To promote the use of domestic timber, which has strong carbon-storage capacity, the law was amended in April and takes full effect today. Under the amended law, government agencies and public institutions in the forestry sector will be able to receive, free of charge, domestic timber produced in national forests and use it for wood-construction R&D, demonstration projects, and related work. The public sector is expected to lead the way in consuming domestic timber and serve as a catalyst for the development of related industries. Korea Forest Service Commissioner Park Eun-sik said, “We will lead the way by expanding the use of domestic timber, starting with the public sector, and drive demand for it,” adding, “We will spare no effort in providing support so that we can contribute not only to the development of the timber industry but also to achieving the national greenhouse gas reduction target.” Wood is considered a leading environmentally friendly carbon sink because it keeps carbon dioxide absorbed as it grows stored inside it for a long time. Replacing conventional building materials such as concrete and reinforcing steel with wood can greatly reduce emissions generated during manufacturing, making wood a key tool in achieving global carbon neutrality. However, South Korea’s timber self-sufficiency rate remains in the 10% range. Proactive demand creation by the public sector, centred on national forests, is expected to lay the groundwork for raising the self-sufficiency rate for domestic timber and establishing sustainable, cyclical forest management. Kim Won-jun Reporter

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Behind a wire fence lies a vast gaping wound of earth. Before Google’s arrival a few months ago, an estimated quarter of a million trees occupied the 330 hectares (815 acres) of forest near the town of Muhos in rural northern Finland. Now they are all gone. Source: The Guardian After the tech company illegally stripped the entire area to build a datacentre – taking even the top soil with it – all that remains is a vast expanse of mud indented with the trail marks of machinery, puddles and mounds of earth, roots and branches. Residents say that brown water flowing off the site is going into a stream that feeds the Oulujoki River. “It doesn’t end. It goes on and on,” says Mari Annala, an ecologist from the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (SLL), looking at drone footage of the former forest from the perimeter. With 145 new datacentres at various stages of planning, Finland has found itself at the forefront of the tech companies’ latest push. As well as its relative geopolitical and geological stability and abundance of land, the cool climate makes it especially attractive for saving on energy costs. Earlier this month, Google was ordered by the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) to temporarily stop work on Muhos and another site about 100km south-east in the village of Otanmäki after it failed to complete the necessary environmental impact assessments before clearcutting the land. The news has prompted widespread outcry and a national reckoning over what role, if any, the country should play in the global rush to build datacentres to keep up with rapid AI development. Last week, Google’s Finland country manager, Antti Järvinen, apologised for the forest clearings but claimed the company had acted “on the best understanding we had of the legislation at the time”. Muhos and Otanmäki are part of a €13bn AI infrastructure project by Google that has attracted criticism from Donald Trump, who would rather the centres were built in the US and has publicly called for the company to reconsider. It is the biggest ever project of its kind in the Nordic country. The Finnish government, which has presided over deep spending cuts, has encouraged the investment. Last month, when the Google plans were announced, the country’s prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said attracting investment was a “top priority” and “the value of the data economy extends far beyond direct investment”. He said the Google deal would “deliver lasting benefits for both parties”. But the revelations over Google’s misconduct have prompted public concern over what these deals mean for nearby communities, energy prices for Finnish households and Finland’s natural environment, a national source of pride. The datacentre push is likely to become a key election issue when Finns go to the polls in April. In addition to the 250,000 trees felled at Muhos, Annala estimates that an additional 150,000 trees were felled at Otanmäki. Because the trees have been felled illegally, she says wood from the two sites cannot be sold to wood-processing plants. The move has also prompted questions over why Finland’s renewable energy sources are being used to power international corporations. More than 93,000 people have signed a petition demanding more datacentre regulation and a fee to compensate local communities for environmental damage. Since the scandal broke, Orpo has described what happened in Muhos as a “cold shower”. Hanna Halmeenpää, chair of SLL’s board, said she had been incredulous when she discovered Google’s law breaking. “At first I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I have never heard that any company has done anything like this in Finland.” She said the system depended a lot on trust, which she believes Google took advantage of. “They bought the vast land area, and they just started to cut it, just like that,” she said. “It’s pure arrogance and it’s amazing.” The speed of developments had shocked the country, she said. “Many people are just watching the news and asking each other: ‘What’s happening now? What can we do about it? And do we have to take all these datacentre projects in Finland?’” Jussi Kangasharju, head of computer science at the University of Helsinki, said that while datacentres brought a limited number of jobs, potentially boosting the local economy, the benefits on a national level were minimal. “Really, for Finland, there are no benefits,” he said. “They are international companies serving international customers. Very little corporate taxes go to Finland. Datacentres ultimately have very little benefit for others except the datacentre operator.” With legislation still playing catchup, there is a rush to get projects under way as fast as possible. Some are calling for a centralised body to coordinate datacentre projects, rather than leaving so much of the decision-making down to municipalities that are likely to prioritise the immediate needs of the local area. In Muhos and Otanmäki, there are people who support the projects, along with the jobs and land taxes they will bring into the local area. But many believe they have been sold short by municipalities. Antti Jakonen, who lives in Muhos, said that, although the trees felled represented a small fraction of Finland’s overall forests, he objected to the manner in which it had been carried out. “It has been done in the wrong way. American style. No sense. No sense at all,” he said. The former entrepreneur and fisher wants Google to compensate by helping to restore the local salmon population destroyed decades ago by hydropower. In Otanmäki, the disruption to nature and to residents’ daily lives is being vividly felt. When the trees were felled, the wolves who had lived there came to the village, said Anni Ranta, 53, whose family has lived there for generations. A former mining village, the area is known for its rare earth elements. Ranta’s family live at the centre of the village next to a triangular church spire and a former bar that has been empty for years. The peaceful forest used to extend for miles from the village. […]

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Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has released its 2025/26 Annual Report, showcasing how they connected industry investment with outcomes designed to improve productivity, strengthen markets, build capability and give members access to research and information they can put to practical use. Source: Timberbiz Among the year’s highlights: The Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) and Softwood Manufacturer Advisory Committee (SMAC) CEO Forums provided valuable member input, with both groups identifying market development and market access as key priorities for FWPA. 7:1 estimated benefit ratio for the national tree improvement program, demonstrating measurable value from long-term investment in research. WoodSolutions attracted more than 2,500 webinar participants, an increase of more than 55% on the previous year, helping research, information and timber expertise reach more design and build professionals. Five builder collaborations were secured through the WoodSolutions Renewable Timber Framing Campaign, supporting efforts to grow markets and confidence in timber use. The Ultimate Renewable™ consumer campaign reached 1.5 million views among target audiences, continuing to build public awareness and consideration of wood and wood products. Funding was provided to more than 30 PhD, Masters and intern placements, investing in the ongoing knowledge, skills and research capability the industry will need in the future.   Together, these activities demonstrate the breadth of FWPA’s role in connecting research with practical industry needs, supporting greater adoption and commercial impact, developing markets for timber and wood products, and strengthening capability across the value chain. The Annual Report also provides transparency around FWPA’s performance, investment and progress against its strategic priorities, including where further improvement is needed. FWPA’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 November 2026 where three new Non-Executive Directors will be voted to join FWPA’s Board. Members wishing to appoint a proxy are reminded to submit their proxies to sophie.vayenas@fwpa.com.au by Monday, 9 November 2026. Further AGM information will be provided to members through the official AGM notice. You can download the 2025/26 Annual Report at https://fwpa.com.au/corporate-document/fwpa-annual-report-2025-26/

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Farm forester and mid-career professional with a background in native forest management and regulation in Victoria Leon Holt has been appointed Forestry Australia President, with Dr Lyndall Bull and Professor Rod Keenan appointed as Vice Presidents. Source: Timberbiz The appointments follow the retirement of sitting president Dr Michelle Freeman and vice-president Dr Bill Jackson at Forestry Australia’s Annual General Meeting in Canberra last week, where members elected two new Directors, Louise Bourke and Dr Phil Lacy. Forestry Australia Chief Executive Officer Jacquie Martin said the appointments represented an important milestone in the organisation’s ongoing renewal and succession planning. “Leon brings a wealth of experience, a strong commitment to forest science and the forestry profession, he also has a genuine passion for Forestry Australia’s future,” Ms Martin said. “Leon played an instrumental role in establishing Forestry Australia’s Future Foresters Initiative and was among our first Board Observers. His progression to President is a wonderful example of the leadership pathways we are working to create for emerging professionals.” She added that Mr Holt, a recipient of the 2019 Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry, brought a valuable farm forestry perspective to the role. Together with his family, he is developing an agricultural business and growing a hardwood plantation on Djaara Country in central Victoria. “His experience reflects the increasingly important role farm forestry will play in the future of Australia’s forest sector,” she said. Mr Holt said his focus as President would be on chairing a high-performing Board that could navigate an ever-changing operating environment and set the organisation up for future success. “I believe in what Forestry Australia has become over the last few years, I think we have a very bright future. I am deeply honoured that the Board and our members have put their trust in me to help guide our organisation,” he said. “I am and always will be a forester at heart, and I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work in native forestry and regulation in Victoria, and to receive a formal forestry education. I’m passionate about making sure forestry education has a strong future in this country. “We will continue to grow and engage with our membership, build partnerships with the stakeholders, the community and First Nations peoples, and continue to advocate for evidence-based forest management that ensures future generations will continue to benefit from Australia’s iconic forests.” The two Vice President appointments bring both continuity and expertise to the Board, Ms Martin said. “We are delighted that Dr Lyndall Bull will continue in her role as Vice President, providing valuable experience and leadership, alongside Professor Rod Keenan, who brings considerable expertise and a deep commitment to the forestry profession,” she said. “Michelle and Bill have provided outstanding leadership and service to Forestry Australia, and we are enormously grateful for their dedication, wisdom and contribution over many years,” Ms Martin said. “Strong governance relies on effective succession planning, an orderly transition of leadership and the ability to welcome new ideas while retaining experience and institutional knowledge. These appointments demonstrate those qualities, and I am confident Forestry Australia is in very capable hands.” Turning to the Board’s newest members, Ms Martin welcomed directors Louise Bourke and Dr Phil Lacy. “Both bring valuable experience, knowledge and perspectives, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to strengthen the Association and deliver for our members,” she said. Ms Bourke is a forest scientist and values-based leader with more than two decades of operational, commercial and executive leadership experience in public and private organisations across Victoria and New South Wales. Now Head of Fibre Strategy at HVP Plantations, she holds a Bachelor of Forest Science and an Executive MBA from the University of Melbourne. “I’m committed to bringing different perspectives together to help the profession navigate increasingly complex challenges and realise the opportunities forestry can create for Australia,” Ms Bourke said. Dr Lacy is a forestry consultant and farm forester with more than 30 years’ experience in plantation and native forest management, fire research and management, and carbon forestry. A Registered Forestry Professional (RFP) with a PhD in fire behaviour, he has held roles with Forestry Corporation of NSW and PF Olsen (now Stand Forestry), chairs Forestry Australia’s RFP Special Interest Group and brings extensive leadership, governance and committee experience across the sector. Speaking about his appointment, Dr Lacy said he was “really pleased” to have been endorsed by his peers. “I’ve been a member for over 25 years, and I look forward to working with the Board, CEO and staff of Forestry Australia to progress its strategic direction,” he said. More broadly, Ms Martin said Forestry Australia’s Board reflected the breadth of experience and commitment across Australia’s forestry profession. “Our directors are volunteers who generously contribute their time, knowledge and expertise because they care deeply about Forestry Australia, our members and the future of Australia’s forests,” she said. The Forestry Australia Board comprises: Leon Holt, President Dr Lyndall Bull, Vice President Professor Rod Keenan, Vice President Louise Bourke, Director Anne Chuter, Director Matt de Jongh, Director Dr Phil Lacy, Director Board Observers: Emily Post and Dr Sam Van Holsbeeck.

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Members, directors, staff and special guests came together recently for the Responsible Wood Annual General Meeting, held in Canberra adjacent to the Forestry Australia Symposium. Source: Timberbiz Beyond exploring the achievements of the preceding 12 months and launching the organisation’s 2025/26 Annual Report, the meeting was significant in marking the recent resignation of former Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries, with Acting CEO Matt de Jongh, Chair Dr Tony Bartlett and former Chair Dr Hans Drielsma AM all speaking to Mr Dorries’ extensive and well-regarded contributions. “Over the past 11 years, Simon has played a major role in advancing sustainable forest management and chain of custody certification as technically robust and commercially relevant,” said Acting CEO, Matt de Jongh. “His contributions leave a lasting legacy for not just Responsible Wood, but the broader sector”. Throughout his career, Mr Dorries has played an important role in strengthening the technical foundations and recognition of forest management and chain of custody certification. In a conversation with the Responsible Wood team, Mr Dorries noted one of his earliest career highlights, achieved at the ripe age of 25, while working as a technical officer with the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia. His efforts helped develop standards, auditing processes and testing systems that could demonstrate, through objective evidence, whether products complied with relevant standards. That early work put him at the forefront of his field, with industry professionals from around the world seeking his technical advice – a practice that continues today. At Responsible Wood, Mr Dorries identified the revision of AS/NZS 4708 (the joint Australian and New Zealand Standard for Sustainable Forest Management), and its subsequent recognition by the Green Building Council of Australia as among his proudest achievements. Each revision, including the latest which is nearing completion and on track to seek re-endorsement from PEFC in early 2027, has strengthened the Standard’s performance requirements, balancing practical implementation with robust and demonstrable sustainability outcomes. Securing its recognition under Green Star was a significant milestone, supporting the continued acceptance of Responsible Wood-certified timber in Australia’s commercial building sector. “On behalf of Responsible Wood and the forest and wood products sector, I’d like to thank Simon for his leadership and technical expertise throughout his tenure,” said Mr de Jongh. “He’s leaving the organisation in a strong position, and his contribution will benefit the sector for years to come.”  

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Researchers from the ARC Advance Timber Hub have completed a major program of field testing at Atlassian Central in Sydney, one of Australia’s most significant mass timber construction projects. Source: Timberbiz Led by Professor Hassan Karampour at Griffith University, the research team undertook a series of detailed vibration and acoustic assessments on the building’s cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor system. The testing forms part of the Hub’s project, Innovative Long-Span Timber and Wood-Based Hybrid Floors for Vibration Performance and Acoustic Compliance, which is delivering new insights to support the confident use of long-span timber and hybrid floor systems in commercial and multi-storey buildings. The field testing directly contributes to the project’s broader objective of measuring the vibration and acoustic behaviour of completed timber buildings and buildings under construction across Australia. These real-world investigations complement extensive laboratory testing of innovative floor systems, including CLT ribbed-deck floors, band-beam CLT systems, hybrid CLT-steel floors and lightweight timber floor systems. Professor Karampour said field measurements are critical for understanding how timber floor systems perform beyond the laboratory environment. “Real buildings provide invaluable information about the behaviour of timber floor systems under actual operating conditions,” he said. “At Atlassian Central, the research team conducted floor vibration measurements across three bays and investigated sound transmission between two levels, comparing the performance of the bare CLT surface and the raised access floor. The data collected will strengthen our understanding of long-span timber floor behaviour and support the continued adoption of mass timber in larger and taller buildings.” The research team extends its sincere thanks to Built and Tate APAC for facilitating site access and supporting the testing program. The successful field campaign was delivered with the contributions of Adam Faircloth, Stephani Soro and Ian Underhill, whose efforts in planning and conducting the measurements were greatly appreciated. Beyond the technical work, the testing provided an opportunity to experience firsthand the scale and ambition of Atlassian Central. The project showcases how mass timber can be successfully integrated into landmark commercial developments, demonstrating the growing role of engineered timber solutions in Australia’s future built environment. As the ARC Advance Timber Hub continues its industry-led research program, field studies such as this will provide the evidence base needed to support innovative timber construction and accelerate the adoption of high-performance, long-span timber floor systems across Australia.  

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Steve Dobbyns, chair of Forest and Wood Communities Australian recently wrote to the Nambucca Valley News regarding a blockade of a logging truck in Bellingen that he says poses serious questions about the conduct of those claiming to speak for our forests and communities. Source: Timberbiz Mr Dobbyns said that peaceful protest is a democratic right. However, sitting under a loaded logging truck to prevent a driver from doing lawful work crosses the line from peaceful demonstration into dangerous obstruction. The driver was simply doing their job. Yet protesters apparently considered their opposition to forestry sufficient justification to interfere with that person’s livelihood and potentially endanger everyone involved. There is considerable irony in activists demanding community engagement and social licence while deliberately obstructing the very people whose futures are being debated. Forestry workers are not faceless representatives of an industry. They are local residents, parents, employers and volunteers who contribute to the economic and social fabric of regional communities. They deserve the same respect, safety and opportunity to earn a living as anyone else. The protesters also made sweeping allegations about corruption, climate change and species extinction. Such serious accusations require credible supporting evidence, not slogans shouted at passing motorists. Disagreement about forest management is legitimate. Intimidation and dangerous obstruction are not substitutes for constructive engagement. If activists genuinely want a discussion about the future of our forests, they should engage with the science, forestry professionals and the regional communities affected by their demands. You cannot demand social licence from an industry while refusing to extend basic respect and consideration to the people who work in it. Our forests and communities deserve a more constructive debate.

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The Illawarra Grammar School’s Hoskins Building has topped a field including Sydney Fish Market and the Adelaide Aquatic Centre to take the country’s top timber design prize. That is according to the judges of the 27th Australian Timber Design Awards, who named the cross-laminated timber school building by betti und knut architecture the overall winner on Wednesday night. Source: WoodCentral “I think we’re quite overwhelmed by getting this award,” betti und knut architecture said as it accepted the Grand Prix on stage at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art. The practice also said many more schools should be built like the Hoskins Building, to get students thinking about sustainability. Its architects said it had been “quite surprising” to be engaged at all, given the small studio was tendering against much larger practices for the job. They credited a client and project team “aligned with everything that you’re doing” and thanked “a great builder” in Rohrig. Hilti quick connectors join the building’s cross-laminated timber columns and beams, which the architects said will let the whole frame come apart in future without screw fixings. They also said the building tested four times tighter than the Passivhaus standard requires, and that its design cuts heating and cooling demand by 80%. In comments played over the project’s images, the judges called the Hoskins Building “something to be very proud of” with one judge saying all schools should be like it. They praised the technical innovation in its connections, which allow for “longer term circularity”, saying there was “a lot of stuff packed into a small package”. Before taking the Grand Prix, the Hoskins Building won the Public Building award ahead of Woods Bagot’s The Forest, which reworked the University of Tasmania’s historic Forestry building in Hobart. MC James Fitzpatrick, whose Seed House took the top prize in 2019, called the overall award “the high point of our awards presentations this evening”. Meanwhile, Sydney Fish Market won the Savcon-sponsored Commercial Building category for 3XN with BVN and ASPECT Studios, ahead of finalists including Lyons and EJE’s Gosford Central. Its harbourside roof, the largest built for a fish market in the Southern Hemisphere, uses 1,800 cubic metres of spruce glulam shipped from Italy. Members of the public chose fjcstudio’s fit-out of The Cutaway at Barangaroo for the People’s Choice Award, with the judges also handing it the Intergrain-sponsored award for commercial and public fitouts. The practice said its 13 free-form timber trees rise up to 17 metres around the existing concrete columns beneath Barangaroo Reserve. Archier’s Ora House, a Victorian family home whose timber window systems and ceiling panels were prefabricated by its sister company Candour, won the Responsible Wood-supported Australian Certified Timber Award. Fitzpatrick told guests the category is judged not on design but on “how certified timber is an integral part of the use of timber in the design”. Matt de Jongh, Responsible Wood’s acting chief executive, presented the award, with Gray Puksand’s CIT Woden, LIAN Architects and Hayball’s Swift Walk Arcade, and Charles Sandford’s The Foundation Tree the other finalists. It comes as betti und knut said all of the Hoskins Building’s cross-laminated timber is PEFC and FSC certified, with fjcstudio citing PEFC-certified timber from its manufacturer. Elsewhere on the list, Bohane Campo’s Enclave House took the ASH-sponsored award for new homes, whilst Casey Brown Architecture’s Wilson’s Cottage won the Pentarch-sponsored alterations and additions award. Prior Barraclough’s Bank Street House won the Timber NSW-sponsored residential fit-out award, with Richards Stanisich’s Lamella Chair taking furniture and joinery, sponsored by iTi Australia. Warren and Mahoney’s Adelaide Aquatic Centre, designed with JPE Design Studio and Karl Winda Telfer, won Sports and Recreation, and Das Studio’s Tonsley Technical College took the Planet Ark-sponsored Sustainability award. The Aesop Design Team won Recycled Timber, sponsored by Kennedy’s Timbers, for the skincare brand’s Canberra store, with Helen Murray of the Gottstein Trust accepting on its behalf. Tomek Archer, whose Archer Office won last year’s Grand Prix for the Boot Factory in Bondi Junction, was one of five judges who chose the winners across 11 categories. He sat on the panel with Yann Frampton of Hassell, Nick Hewson of Arboralis, Victoria Judge of SJB, and Amy Smith of Arup. “We’re at the point now where people who are not familiar with the timber industry might scratch their heads and think, what, this is unusual?” said Kylan Low, who organises the awards. Low also said furniture and joinery drew real fervour from entrants this year, and that the goal is for timber to become “not so special anymore”. The winners: Residential Class 1 – New Building, sponsored by ASH:  Bohane Campo for Enclave House Residential Class 1 – Alteration or Addition, sponsored by Pentarch: Casey Brown Architecture for Wilson’s Cottage. Fitout – Residential Buildings, sponsored by Timber NSW: Prior Barraclough for Bank Street House. Fitout – Commercial and Public Buildings, sponsored by Intergrain: FJC Studio for The Cutaway Barangaroo Furniture and Joinery, sponsored by iTi Australia: Richards Stanisich for the Lamella Chair Commercial Building, sponsored by Savcon: 3XN with BVN and ASPECT Studios for Sydney Fish Market. Public Building, sponsored by HESS: betti und knut architecture for Hoskins Building. Sports and Recreation, sponsored by Theca and Rubner Timber: Warren and Mahoney Architects for Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Australian Certified Timber, sponsored by Responsible Wood: Archier for Ora House. Recycled Timber, sponsored by Kennedy’s Timbers: Aesop Design Team for Aesop Canberra Centre. Sustainability, sponsored by Planet Ark: Das Studio for Tonsley Technical College. People’s Choice: FJC Studio for The Cutaway Barangaroo sponsored by WoodCentral

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More positive news to report this month with most log market fundamentals in a favourable context. Prices are generally firm across domestic and export segments. Demand is strong and the mood in both is positive. The positive vibes are an interesting phenomenon, when there is so much bad news out there, mostly promulgated by Donald Trump’s stupidities. It appears the rest of us are just getting on with it. Amazing isn’t it. Donald can announce a wonderful new diesel purchase of initially 300,000 gallons of diesel from Putin and he thinks he is wonderful. This volume of diesel will sustain US consumption for about four hours, so I am uncertain how this, and future sales, can be viewed as a good thing given the sales will only serve to assist Putin’s war efforts. Meanwhile, your average Russian citizen is facing shortages at the pump. Perhaps the “stupid is” statement by Forest Gump might be changed to “bizarre is bizarre as” when one attempts to describe that which surrounds Donald T. Meanwhile in the world of normality, both China and India are experiencing good demand with sales prices firming albeit not wildly so. China eastern seaboard softwood log inventory has increased by about 120,000 m3 to 2.5mil m3. But this was entirely expected as the China golden week holiday took place whilst vessels filled with NZ logs continued to arrive. The very positive news out of China is threefold. Softwood log daily usage post-holiday is running well over 60,000 m3 per day as at mid-October. This was expected, but the fact it is happening is improving the air of positivity. China manufacturing numbers are continuing to improve. This has been described by one market commentator as a clear signal China’s broader manufacturing base is “returning to expansionary territory”.  Wood use is a very large component of China manufacturing and the resulting exports which in turn is positive news for Kiwi-forest owners. China trader margins have closed reflecting some domestic price improvements. To reiterate, trading margins reflect what traders buy the logs for versus what they sell them for.  Trading margins have more typically been about negative US$6 – 7 per m3. As at mid-October the CFR price, being the price landed at a China port, is US$132 per m3.  The selling price by traders is currently averaging US$128 with a US$4 loss viewed as positive. I was asked recently what the impacts of diesel cost increases were across the forestry sector.  My research suggests, on an average day there are about 515 logging crews operating in NZ and about 2,500 logging truck and trailer units taking the logs to market. The combined annual diesel usage of this sector is estimated to be north of 300mil litres per annum, or 1.4mil litres per day. Your average litre of Diesel cost $1.81 in October 2025 and $3.16 in October month to date, a difference of $1.35. This then tells me the forest harvest and transport sectors are paying north of $400 mil more per annum for diesel than it was a year ago. This equates to close to $2mil per day. These numbers do not include the loaders at sawmills or the plant used by our marshalling and stevedore companies or the many service vehicles used to keep the fleet going. I cannot understate how immensely proud everyone in the forestry sector should be. Taking the diesel price challenges head on, keeping the wood moving and ensuring fantastic returns to forest growers, erstwhile not seeking accolade or recognition. This is truly remarkable of the amazing 22,000+ people who are just getting on with it. I have also been asked to comment on the impacts of the India Free Trade Agreement. The prior to tariff had NZ at a US$6 -$7 per m3 disadvantage compared to other supplies, primarily from Australia and Uruguay. The removal of this cost imposition will see NZ logs displace Australia logs primarily. NZ logs are much favoured by India sawmill owners, so in the absence of a tariff, NZ log supply should increase or Aussie forest growers will have to discount to maintain market share. In short, my read of it at the moment is the tariff is unlikely to result in a price increase netted back to NZ, but the sales volumes should increase. As always, please remember the thoroughly important message: ‘It remains fundamentally important, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees”! Allan Laurie, Managing Director, Laurie Forestry  

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The winners of two forestry prizes under the 2026 World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge for young researchers were announced at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. Source: Timberbiz Represented by Neyamat Hossen from Bangladesh, the country’s Mangrove Intelligence Research Team was awarded the Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize for its efforts to develop a digital decision-support platform for mangrove restoration in Bangladesh’s coastal areas. Gad Okodi from Uganda received the Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize on behalf of a team working on making forest monitoring more inclusive by enabling communities to report forest disturbances using basic mobile phones, FAO’s Open Foris Ground and toll-free telecommunications technology available in local languages. He is also a 2025 AIM4Forests Young Forest Champion. The announcement was made by Tiina Vähänen, Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry Division, during a hybrid event where finalists had the opportunity to pitch their youth-led initiatives in front of an audience. The Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize spotlights innovative and scalable approaches to real-world restoration challenges. The Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize recognizes youth-led solutions that use digital technologies, data and participatory approaches to strengthen forest monitoring and decision-making. Both forestry winners will receive US$10,000 in research funding, along with opportunities to promote their research and to scale and implement their proposals. Prize winners also gain global visibility, mentorship and networking opportunities, and a platform to connect with practitioners, policymakers and partners working to advance forest and landscape restoration worldwide. In addition, the finalists for both prizes – Jonathan André Fletes Gómez from Mexico, representing Chinampa Guardians / Iniciativa Agroecológica Xochimilco, and Keith May from Kenya, representing Watershed Restoration and Community-led Monitoring in Kajulu Forest – will also receive US$10,000 to support their research. The forestry prizes were two of five Transformative Research Challenge awards presented recognizing outstanding research in real-world agri-food solutions.

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The fibreline project at Östrand, Sweden is now complete. During the annual maintenance shutdown, the final work was carried out before startup, marking the completion of one of SCA’s larger projects this year. Source: Timberbiz The investment in Östrand’s digester area is about creating a safer and more stable process. The aim has been to reduce the risk of blow-through, improve availability, and lay the foundation for a sustained increase in production rate. A key part of the project has been the redesign of the steaming and impregnation stages, including a new hot top solution. This keeps the entire chip column warm and helps reduce the risk of unstable cooking. At the same time, the temperature in the impregnation stage has been lowered, further improving operational reliability. The project also includes a new washing stage after the digester, with two pressure diffusers designed to deliver better washing results while reducing the use of washing liquid. In the long term, the solution is expected to contribute to better runnability, higher wood yield, and more sustained production. The work has been technically complex, but close collaboration between SCA, Valmet and other contractors, as well as strong internal engagement, has helped keep the project on schedule. “We involved as many people as possible with the relevant expertise in meetings and follow-ups. I believe that has been one of the reasons it has worked so well,” said Daniel Solberg, process manager in the project. A 96-hour test run of the new equipment was underway. If it goes as expected, SCA will take over the new equipment. “The next step is to bring the plant up to full speed and then continue with optimization and fine-tuning, says Hanna Norberg, process engineer in the project.

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Tigercat Industries has upgraded its TCi D7 harvesting head control system with D7 Help Centre to empower owners and operators with additional knowledge, troubleshooting resources and repair guides. Source: Timberbiz The new D7 Help Centre is an onboard guide integrated with the TCi D7 harvesting head control system. D7 Help Centre is accessed inside the operator’s station via the D7 touchscreen interface. It combines the D7 Operator’s Manual with easily searchable troubleshooting and procedure guides for common adjustments and repairs. Troubleshooting and repair guides, maintenance schedules and a guide to the D7 system are all available at the operator’s fingertips. It’s another resource to empower owners and operators to better understand the harvesting head control system and maximize harvesting performance and uptime. For operators with less familiarity with the D7, many procedure-style topics are located within the D7 Quick Start Guide section. In addition, comprehensive troubleshooting and repair guides cover the most common repairs, adjustments and troubleshooting procedures such as measuring wheel, diameter encoder and saw encoder issues, repairs and replacement. With powerful search functionality, users don’t have to worry about navigating to get the information they need.

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The Victorian Government has protected another 2,155 hectares of native forest, safeguarding and connecting some of the region’s most significant natural areas by adding it to the Brataualung Forest Park in South Gippsland’s Strzelecki Ranges. Source: Timberbiz This expansion of Brataualung Forest Park is an important milestone for the community, which has long advocated for stronger protection of the Strzelecki Ranges. The addition contributes to the return of 4,455 hectares to public management and advances the Victorian Government’s broader commitment to return 8,000 hectares and establish a new conservation reserve. In 2008, the Victorian Government and HVP Plantations agreed to return 8,000 hectares, known as the Cores and Links, to public management. The agreement protects ‘core’ areas of high natural value and connects them through forest habitat ‘links’. A further 15,000 hectares of native forest surrounding the Cores and Links was permanently protected from timber harvesting within the HVP Plantations estate. To date, 4,455 hectares of the 8,000-hectare commitment has been returned to public management, with the remainder to be transferred by 2028. Regional Manager Forest and Fire Planning, Gippsland, Ryan Incoll said Brataualung Forest Park included ‘core’ areas of endangered cool temperate rainforest and significant stands of mountain ash. These forest areas also provide habitat links between Gunyah Rainforest Reserve and Tarra-Bulga National Park, protecting important habitat and supporting the movement of plants and animals through the Strzelecki Ranges. The park provides habitat for significant species, including the slender tree-fern, koala, powerful owl and Strzelecki burrowing crayfish. Brataualung Forest Park was declared in 2018 and named following engagement with the community. ‘The survival of animals and plants depends on connections between areas of good habitat,’ he said. ‘This declaration is a small but significant step to help them.’

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Most natural-hazard apps tell people what is happening during an emergency. Fewer than one in five help them prepare beforehand. Source: Timberbiz A free app developed through University of Tasmania research is seeking to close that gap by turning bushfire preparedness advice into practical action. Resilient Street allows users to create checklists, set reminders, identify nearby resources and work through emergency scenarios. Households, streets and neighbourhoods can also run the same scenario at the same time, allowing them to rehearse their bushfire plans together. The app grew from PhD research by Andrew Orange from the School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences, including a global study of 322 natural-hazard apps and interviews and focus groups with community members. “People told us they didn’t need another source of information. They wanted practical actions, reminders and clear guidance about what to do next,” Andrew said. “That became the focus of Resilient Street: turning ‘be prepared’ into manageable things people can actually do.” Participants wanted prompts to clear gutters and debris, maintain their properties, prepare important documents and organise water, chargers and evacuation items. But the research also showed that preparedness was not simply an individual or household responsibility. “Preparedness also happens over the fence. People told us they want to know what’s happening in their street and who they can count on, without it becoming a competition,” Mr Orange said. “Resilient Street complements official warnings rather than replacing them. For emergency warnings, people should always use TasALERT and listen to Tasmania Fire Service advice.” The app has received feedback and content recommendations from Tasmania Fire Service and was recently showcased at Hobart City Council’s Get Ready Hobart event. Resilient Street is now available for Tasmanians to use, with researchers collecting feedback and data before, during and after the fire season. “The app is live, but the research is continuing,” Mr Orange said. “We want to understand whether practical, personalised support helps people move from knowing they should prepare to actually taking action.” Resilient Street is free to download through the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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Sunshine Coast Airport’s $170 million Terminal Redevelopment Project has reached a new milestone, with installation now underway on around 30 tonnes of timber chosen for its sustainability and environmental benefits and reflecting the region’s subtropical landscape and laid-back character. Source: Timberbiz When completed it will be Australia’s first mass timber engineered terminal, creating a passenger environment unlike any other airport in the country. As well as reinforcing the terminal’s connection to the landscape that surrounds it, the use of timber over traditional steel and concrete materials reduces the terminal’s embodied carbon with an estimated Global Warming Potential (GWP) saving of roughly 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The engineered timber, GLT, is being installed to form the terminal’s dramatic raking roof frames – a defining architectural feature designed by global architecture firm Populous: Fentress Studios’ Australian team in partnership with builder McNab. Sunshine Coast Airport General Manager Projects and Planning Mr Robin Mace said seeing the timber structure take shape was a significant moment for the project. “This is where the vision our community helped shape really starts to come to life. “The timber frames will become one of the most recognisable features of our new terminal, and watching them go in is an exciting sign of the progress being made on this $170 million investment in our region’s future,” Mr Mace said. The scale of the installation is unusual for an airport project of this size – at around 30 tonnes, it’s a similar weight to an adult humpback whale, a familiar sight migrating past the Sunshine Coast coastline each year. “It’s genuinely rare for an airport to use timber at this scale,” said Mr Matt Findlay, Principal & Head of Aviation, APAC at Populous: Fentress Studios. “Most terminals of this size rely on steel and concrete, so committing around 30 tonnes of glulam to the roof structure is a significant statement about the kind of building we wanted to create – one that feels like nowhere else in Australian aviation.” Airports are widely recognised as high-stress environments – the noise, crowds and navigation involved in getting from drop-off to departure gate can leave even seasoned travellers feeling anxious. The terminal’s design sets out to counter that through biophilic design, a principle that draws on people’s innate connection to the natural world to help lower stress and improve wellbeing. By replacing concrete and steel with warm, exposed timber, the terminal is designed to have a calming effect on passengers from the moment they arrive. The raking glulam frames have been designed to do more than support the roof – they set the tone for the entire passenger journey. “For many people, airports reflect the fast pace of modern life,” said Sean Powyer, Associate Principal & Architect at Populous: Fentress Studios. “The raking timber frames form a distinctive gateway into the terminal, marking the transition from the pressures of everyday life to the relaxed character of the Sunshine Coast. Warm and natural, the exposed structure is designed to create an immediate sense of calm from the moment passengers step off the aircraft. “The Sunshine Coast is the only place in the world that’s home to three continuous UNESCO Biospheres, and our airport serves as a gateway to three of Australia’s five Biosphere Reserves. “Timber was a natural choice for the terminal, reflecting the surrounding subtropical rainforest and reinforcing the building’s connection to the landscape it sits within.” As a renewable material, engineered timber can lower a building’s embodied carbon compared with traditional steel and concrete construction – one of a number of sustainable design principles being explored across the redevelopment. Installation of the glulam frames will continue over the coming weeks, with specialist timber engineering consultation provided by Theca Timber, as the frames form a key structural and visual feature of the new departures hall, ahead of the terminal’s completion in 2027.

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prefabAUS is backing the creation of a Building Identification Number (BIN), a permanent, verified identifier for every building in Australia, modelled on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that has underpinned motor vehicle finance and insurance for decades. Source: Timberbiz prefabAUS is undertaking a proactive, industry-led pilot to test the concept in practice, an initiative aimed at helping unlock more housing supply. Most of a modular home is built off site, in a factory, well before any valuer or inspector ever sees it. The BIN creates the identifier to enable a chain of custody, verifying each stage of construction and aligning to milestones under the new prefabAUS Class 1 contract so manufacturers can receive progress payments during its construction in the factory. The BIN concept was developed by Quipex, a company that has built a digital record that follows a building for its economic life, keeping track of all drawings, manuals, whether it meets safety standards, what maintenance it has had and what materials went into it. Quipex wants the BIN to work as an open standard that the whole industry can adopt, not something only Quipex owns and controls, because it is only useful if every lender, insurer, builder and regulator can trust it. The BIN number is proposed to work in two stages. First, GS1 Australia, the organisation whose barcodes appear on almost every product sold in Australia, gives each building or modular component a scannable identity from the moment it starts being manufactured. Once the building is occupied, that number is linked to the address and location record the government already keeps for every building in Australi through Geoscape. Together, the two halves create one continuous, verifiable record for the life of the building, from factory floor to demolition. Because the identifier is applied at the point of manufacture rather than at import or occupation, the same approach can equally be used to capture, and potentially verify, compliance standards for modular units built overseas before they reach an Australian site. The broader BIN working group brings together representatives from across government, industry, research and the finance sector, including prefabAUS, Geoscape, GS1, Quipex, Commonwealth Bank, Better Living Group, Dulux, James Hardie and the RMIT Post Carbon Research Centre with further industry support anticipated. A live, fifty-home modular housing project currently underway in Victoria will provide an opportunity to test the concept in practice. RMIT University will study how well the pilot works, including how easy it is to trace materials, how well the BIN documents carbon emissions, and its potential to improve how the financing risks around modular delivery are managed. Those risks are real, and the state government in Tasmania has already had to step in with a state government guarantee. While this particular project has not required bank funding, Commonwealth Bank is participating in the industry working group and exploring how a digital BIN could also support progress payment processes on commercial and multi-dwelling residential projects. Together with the recently launched prefabAUS Class 1 contract, this initiative is aimed at improving digital traceability, helping to streamline progress payments and enabling the continued growth of prefab construction. “Modular and offsite construction is under constant pressure from lenders and insurers to prove what has actually been delivered and when. A verified building identifier is exactly what our industry needs, and prefabAUS is proud to be leading an industry-driven pilot to test how it works in practice,” said Damien Crough, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, prefabAUS. Quipex, which developed the underlying concept, says prefabAUS’s leadership is proof the identifier is being built the right way. “As Chair of Quipex, I see prefabAUS’s leadership on this as exactly how industry should operate: identifying a genuine gap and solving it collectively, in the national interest, rather than waiting for government to mandate a fix. A building identifier only has lasting value if it is built as open infrastructure the whole industry can rely on, and prefabAUS’s willingness to lead this pilot is proof the model is being built the right way,” said Graeme Samuel AC, Chair of Quipex. “Banks and insurers price risk, but where they cannot identify and verify an asset, they are often not prepared to price it at all. That is the position with a modular home while it is being built in a factory. Lenders do not generally take the unit as collateral during construction, because they cannot see it, track it or verify what has been built. Builders and manufacturers then have to secure their funding against other assets. The BIN is the start of a journey to change that,” he said. “The pilot will test whether giving each modular unit a verified identity and chain of custody, from the factory floor to occupation, allows lenders and insurers to assess whether they could treat it as collateral and then to price the risk in a far more granular way. If that can happen, it could change how modular housing is financed in Australia.”

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More than 95% of New Zealand’s forestry and wood exports to India can now enter tariff-free, as the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement which came into force this week. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is running a program to help exporters use the agreement, with advice, market insights and connections in India. Source: Timberbiz “We launched talks in March 2025 and, by working harder and faster, concluded them in just nine months. That’s a record for India on a comprehensive trade agreement, and it’s one of the highest quality deals they’ve signed. Today, just 19 months after we started, it’s in force and working for exporters,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said. New Zealand Forest Owners Association President Dean Witehira says the agreement is a major opportunity for forest growers, wood processors and exporters to expand into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. “Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) data showing exports have tripled over the past three years to NZ$193 million. “With tariffs on almost all remaining forestry trade set to disappear over the next seven years, there’s considerable potential to build on this. “We already have a strong trading relationship with India, and removing tariffs on more than 95% of our existing exports puts our sector in a much better position to compete and grow.” Mr Witehira says the agreement comes at an important time for New Zealand forestry, with growers and processors looking to strengthen existing markets and find new opportunities for their products. “India’s scale and growing demand for wood products make it an attractive market for our sector. Better access gives New Zealand exporters a chance to win new customers, grow existing relationships and support further investment in forestry and wood processing at home. “Recent NZIER research found forestry contributes NZ$5.4 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, with a particularly important role in regional economies. “Growing our exports means more opportunities for harvesting crews, contractors, transport operators, mills and manufacturers, along with the local businesses that depend on them. “A stronger export sector is good news for the regions where forestry is a major employer and economic contributor.” Mr Witehira says the agreement also builds on longstanding relationships between New Zealand and India, including opportunities for collaboration on forestry research, education and industry practices. “Our visits to India and engagement on the ground have helped lay the foundations for further collaboration, and today’s milestone gives us the opportunity to build on that work. “We congratulate everyone involved in getting this agreement across the line. The focus now is on making the most of this improved access and turning it into more trade, investment and jobs for New Zealand.” The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ has welcomed the entry into force of the agreement, saying it will help strengthen New Zealand’s position in one of the world’s fastest growing markets. WPMA Chief Executive Mark Ross said the agreement is timely for New Zealand’s wood processing and forestry sector, with more than 95% of current wood product exports to India becoming tariff free immediately and tariffs on almost all remaining wood trade being phased out over seven years. Based on current industry export volumes to India valued at approximately NZ$193 million, the removal of existing tariffs of 5 percent on logs and pulp and 10% on wood products will deliver more than NZ$10 million annually in cost savings and additional revenue opportunities for New Zealand exporters across the wood processing and forestry sector.  

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A Liberal-Nationals Coalition Government in Victoria would double prescribed burning and work towards the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation to treat 5% of treatable public land annually. Source: Timberbiz Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, said an elected Liberal and Nationals Government would adopt a whole-of-landscape approach that combines strategic burning and, targeted fuel reduction. Last summer’s fires burnt more than 440,000 hectares across Victoria, a larger area than Black Saturday, and destroyed 451 homes. Earlier this year, the VFPA made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires, calling for increased funding for planned burning, strategic fuel breaks and proactive bushfire prevention. The submission highlighted that planned burning must be strategically targeted towards areas of greatest bushfire risk, ensuring resources are directed where they can deliver the greatest protection for communities, infrastructure and productive forests. VFPA also called for Victoria’s plantation timber estate to be recognised as a critical community asset in bushfire risk assessments, reflecting its importance to regional jobs, local communities and Victoria’s future timber supply for housing. The Parliamentary inquiry into the 2026 summer fires heard repeated evidence that Victoria entered the fire season underprepared, despite years of warnings about declining planned burning, rising fuel loads and inadequate roadside vegetation management. “That’s why our plan takes a whole-of-landscape approach: public land, roadsides and the interface with private land,” Ms Bath said. “We’ll back local brigades and land managers to get fuel reduction done when the conditions are right, not tie them up in red tape until the window has closed.” “Labor’s own auditor found it couldn’t deliver its own fuel breaks. Victorians deserve a government that sets clear targets, publishes the results and is held to account for them.” “Our plan puts prevention back where it belongs, at the centre of bushfire management,” Ms Bath said. “We will double prescribed burning and work towards the Royal Commission’s 5 per cent target, guided by science and local knowledge, to build a safer and more resilient Victoria.” The plan will also: Expand cultural burning in partnership with Indigenous Victorians, combining traditional knowledge with modern fire management to reduce bushfire risk and care for Country. Put more boots on the ground and less bureaucracy in Melbourne, backing the people who know the land, forests and fire risks. Restore transparency by publishing fuel management plans, targets and results, so communities can see what is promised and what is delivered.   “Unlike Labor, we won’t hide the facts, and we won’t neglect regional Victoria until it’s too late. Communities deserve to see exactly what is planned, what is targeted and what is actually delivered,” Ms Bath said. Last year, the government cut fuel reduction work by 33%, leaving less than 1% of Victoria’s public land estate treated to reduce bushfire risk. Victoria’s per capita bushfire death rate has been 18 times higher than south-west Western Australia, where sustained fuel reduction remains a cornerstone of bushfire preparedness. “Sixteen years after the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission called for a 5% fuel reduction target, Labor has allowed fuel management to fall to less than 1% of our public land estate.” Ms Bath said. “After Black Summer in 2019-20, the destructive fires of 2025 and the devastating bushfires of 2026, Victorians are entitled to ask why Labor has allowed fuel management to decline while bushfire risk continues to grow.” VFPA Chief Executive Officer Andrew White said the commitment was a welcome step towards strengthening Victoria’s bushfire preparedness. “Following the devastating plantation timber losses experienced earlier this year, greater investment in bushfire prevention has never been more important,” Mr White said. “The best bushfire response starts well before a fire breaks out. Investing in prevention, fuel management and early detection is critical to protecting communities and reducing the devastating economic and environmental impacts of major fires.”

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TasPorts will undertake an independent strategic review of the future ownership and operating model of the Burnie Chip Export Terminal as the terminal enters a significant reinvestment cycle. Source: Timberbiz The review will determine which ownership and operating model is best placed to support BCET’s long-term future, while delivering the greatest public value for Tasmania. TasPorts Chief Executive Officer Captain Allan Gray said the review reflected responsible stewardship of a strategically important piece of Tasmania’s export infrastructure. “BCET is a critical export gateway for Tasmania’s forestry industry and regional economy, and ensuring its long-term future is our priority,” he said. “As the terminal enters a significant reinvestment cycle, it’s appropriate that we assess which ownership and operating model is best placed to support its next chapter.” Captain Gray said reviewing ownership and operating models for specialised cargo handling facilities was common practice across Australia’s ports sector. “Across Australia, specialised cargo handling facilities are commonly owned or operated by industry participants, specialist terminal operators or joint ventures, while port authorities continue to own and manage the port, provide marine services and invest in the core infrastructure that supports trade. “TasPorts already operates under similar commercial arrangements across parts of our port network. This review will determine whether a similar approach could deliver the best long-term outcome for BCET and Tasmania.” Captain Gray said the review would also consider whether alternative ownership or operating models could attract long-term investment into BCET, while enabling TasPorts to continue prioritising investment in the wharves, marine assets and core infrastructure that support trade across the state. “TasPorts has an important responsibility to ensure capital is invested where it delivers the greatest long-term benefit for Tasmania,” he said. “If there’s a model that enables continued investment in BCET while allowing TasPorts to further strengthen the infrastructure that supports all trade across our port network, it’s appropriate that we assess that objectively.” An independent financial adviser will be appointed to assess a range of ownership and operating models. Subject to that advice, TasPorts may also undertake an open market process to test market interest and capability. Options considered will include continued TasPorts ownership, a joint venture or partnership, and alternative ownership structures. BCET will continue operating as normal throughout the review. Existing Facilities Management Agreements with Forico and Sustainable Timber Tasmania remain in place, and any future ownership or operating model would be expected to protect operational continuity, customer access and existing contractual commitments. Captain Gray said TasPorts was committed to an open and transparent process. “We will undertake an evidence-based review, engage openly with employees, customers, Government and industry, and determine the model that delivers the greatest long-term public value for Tasmania.” The review will commence in January 2027 and is expected to be complete by July 2027.  

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