Australian timber industry news

An official report into the collapse of a 10-year-old mass-timber bridge in Norway in August 2022 has criticised the structure’s design and construction. Source: Dezeen Two drivers had to be rescued after the Tretten Bridge, over the Gudbrandsdalslågen river in the Øyer area of southern Norway, gave way as a heavy goods vehicle was crossing. Completed in only 2012, the glulam-and-steel truss bridge was designed by Norwegian architecture studio Plan Arkitekter and engineering firm Norconsult for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA). A recent report by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) was critical of parties involved in the bridge’s construction and management. “The investigation has shown that inadequate caution was exercised in the planning, design, inspection and approval of Tretten Bridge, with respect to the risk factors linked to its unconventional design,” the report said. “A short construction period, span lengths and reuse of existing foundation were framework conditions for the planning of the bridge,” it continued. “These framework conditions, combined with the choice of material and a strong focus on aesthetics, contributed to the structure not being robust.” An earlier report concluded that the bridge most likely collapsed as a result of block shear failure – a type of fracture – in one of its timber diagonal members that had become weak over time. Tretten Bridge was designed while building regulations in Norway were in transition from a national system to European codes. Provisions for this transitional period enabled the project to follow the older national standards, which unlike the Eurocodes did not account for block shear failure. “In retrospect, all the involved parties can be criticised for selecting and accepting regulations that proved to have a serious shortcoming (block shear failure),” the NSIA said. The report also dealt with investigations of Tretten Bridge carried out after the collapse of the similarly constructed Perkolo Bridge in 2016. It found that despite “serious faults” being identified at Tretten Bridge around that time, little action was taken by the Norwegian road’s authority. “This represents a system failure in the NPRA, reflecting a lack of knowledge about block shear failure, as well as shortcomings in the bridge management system and risk management,” the report said. “The NSIA believes that Tretten Bridge should either immediately have been closed or traffic restrictions imposed in 2016 when finding over-utilisation in relation to block shear in several of the bridge’s connections,” it added. Six safety recommendations have been issued based on the investigation, which the NSIA said provide lessons for relevant organisations in Norway and abroad. These include reviewing the process for regulating and approving road-related structures and their materials in Norway and clarification of building regulations. Tretten Bridge was 148 metres long and 10.5 metres wide, with a main span of 70 metres. A report produced by Plan Arkitekter and Norconsult in 2013 gave the bridge a life expectancy of 100 years. “As far as the Accident Investigation Board is aware, there are no wooden and steel truss bridges in the world that are comparable to Tretten Bridge,” said the NSIA report (translated from Norwegian). “The bridge was special both in terms of span length and asymmetry, trusses in the same direction and the combination of wood and steel.” The NPRA is currently undertaking steps to improve bridge safety. Four similar bridges to Tretten Bridge will reportedly be rebuilt following inspections carried out after its collapse. Nine of 14 timber bridges that were closed following the incident remained shut or still had restrictions in place as of last month. Plan Arkitetker has designed many of Norway’s wooden bridges. “If you read the conclusion from NSIA you will see that the collapse of the Tretten Bridge was caused by deficient regulations (national code) for building timber structures at the time of planning/construction,” the studio’s Yngve Aartun told Dezeen in a statement. Tretten Bridge was 148 metres long and 10.5 metres wide, with a main span of 70 metres. A report produced by Plan Arkitekter and Norconsult in 2013 gave the bridge a life expectancy of 100 years. “As far as the Accident Investigation Board is aware, there are no wooden and steel truss bridges in the world that are comparable to Tretten Bridge,” said the NSIA report (translated from Norwegian). “The bridge was special both in terms of span length and asymmetry, trusses in the same direction and the combination of wood and steel.” The NPRA is currently undertaking steps to improve bridge safety. Four similar bridges to Tretten Bridge will reportedly be rebuilt following inspections carried out after its collapse. Nine of 14 timber bridges that were closed following the incident remained shut or still had restrictions in place as of last month. Plan Arkitetker has designed many of Norway’s wooden bridges. “If you read the conclusion from NSIA you will see that the collapse of the Tretten Bridge was caused by deficient regulations (national code) for building timber structures at the time of planning/construction,” the studio’s Yngve Aartun told Dezeen in a statement.

Seppi has released its all new “E20 direct” for excavators weighing from 12 to 21 tons – the forestry mulcher head for excavators marks a breakthrough in green management technology, promising increased efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and improved performance for forestry and earthmoving professionals. Source: Timberbiz “E20 direct” represents the first model of a new family of forestry mulchers designed for excavators. Recognizing the diverse applications of forestry mulchers, Seppi has designed the “E20 direct” to excel in construction site clearing, vegetation management along highways, railways, and power lines, as well as in wetlands maintenance and agricultural field reclamation. The heart of “E20 direct” is the rotor with fixed tools featuring the cut control system, driven by the innovative direct drive hydraulic transmission. The machine can mulch vegetation up to 20 cm in diameter. Its cutting-edge design partially integrates the hydraulic motor into the rotor, eliminating belt transmission and reducing power losses due to friction by approximately 50%. The result is improved efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and increased available power – all contributing to enhanced productivity. With four different working widths, ranging from 100 to 200 cm, “E20 direct” is recommended for excavators weighing between 12 and 21 tons, offering versatility and performance in a variety of applications. Furthermore, its compact design and reduced weight, thanks to the use of durable materials such as AR400 steel, make it more universal and easy to use and mount on various excavators. “With the introduction of ‘E20 direct,’ we achieve a significant milestone in vegetation management technology,” stated Lorenz Seppi, the president of SEPPI M. “We are committed to revolutionizing the industry by providing innovative solutions that not only increase productivity but also reduce operational costs and environmental impact.”

Metsä has decided to start a pre-engineering project for the first commercial factory producing a new packaging solution, Muoto. Muoto products are wood-based alternatives to plastic packaging. Source: Timberbiz Muoto packages are renewable and recyclable bioproducts that can be utilised in, e.g., takeaway, berry, tray, and combo packaging. Pre-engineering is a key planning phase, after which Metsä Group will have the conditions of factory planning in place to consider deciding on the factory investment, and it is expected to be completed in early 2025. Based on the outcome of pre-engineering and the continued work in the demo phase, mainly using a unique demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, Metsä Group will assess the possibility of starting this new business and investing in a factory to support that business. Metsä Group has already decided that the possible factory would be located at its Rauma site in Finland. “Taking an idea to industrial scale is a long road with multiple different phases. Deciding to start the pre-engineering project is a big milestone for us. Although many areas still need further development, we have now gathered enough proof to initiate this very important factory planning stage. The Muoto project has reached this point very quickly, considering that the project started almost from scratch for us in 2020. A big thank you goes to our project team and our main partner Valmet,” says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO at Metsä Spring. The technology applied in Muoto products converts wet wood pulp into 3-dimensional packages without any intermediate steps, meaning that the new products would be ready to be shipped to end customers as such. In addition to being easy to mould into different shapes, Muoto is lightweight, strong, and recyclable. The first usage cases ready for mass production will likely be light takeaway and lunch packages, berry containers, trays, and combo packaging. The final Muoto product catalogue will be decided when the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation has been finalised. Earlier in the year, Metsä Spring appointed Veli-Pekka Kyllönen as Project Director, who will lead the pre-engineering project. His team will eventually comprise 5-10 experts, with recruitment currently ongoing.

Work is expected to begin soon on Western Australia’s largest timber frame apartment complex. Source: Timberbiz The Western Australian development body sold the land to developer Bluerock Projects for its Tuohy Garden Apartments plans in Midland, 16km east of the capital. Tuohy Garden Apartments will yield up to 51 apartments and will be available through an affordable build-to-rent initiative. Development approval has already been obtained for the site with construction anticipated to commence in the first half of 2024, with the first residents expected to be welcomed towards the end of 2025. The development will also incorporate 650 square meters of ground floor commercial space. “Tuohy Garden Apartments is expected to be Western Australia’s largest timber frame apartment complex and will feature a range of sustainability features to further reduce the cost of living such as the inclusion of solar panels and a smart metering system, alongside batteries utilising Powerledger Artificial Intelligence power trading technology,” Housing and Lands Minister John Carey said. “Other sustainable technologies include permeable paving systems for natural drainage, low carbon concrete and EV charging bays for visitors and residents.”

A new video has documented the impact that myrtle rust has on indigenous communities and the environment, reinforcing the need to maintain momentum in breeding for resistance and monitoring its spread. Source: Timberbiz Whakakotahitanga i te Kaupapa | Unity of Purpose, released by Scion and Rotoiti 15 Trust, is a video capturing activity from a cultural exchange in November last year that aimed to discuss the challenges posed by myrtle rust in New Zealand and Australia. Hosted in Rotorua, the exchange welcomed representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Queensland and New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water; the University of Tasmania; the Butchulla Nation (K’gari Queensland); the Gumbaynggirr Nation (Coffs Harbour, New South Wales) and the Bundjalung Nations (New South Wales). It offered a unique opportunity for cultures and researchers on both sides of the Tasman to connect and learn from each other. The eight-day visit highlighted the importance of sharing traditional knowledge and Western science between indigenous communities and researchers in both countries, and how they each have a role to play in protecting our environment from exotic diseases, such as myrtle rust. The short film weaves together First Nations’ and Māori perspectives on kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and the interconnectedness of all living things. It reveals the strong respect that both cultures have for the bush and takes viewers inside the ngahere around Rotorua, Scion’s nursery and to the trust’s marae on the shore of Lake Rotoiti, reinforcing the vital link between healthy forests and healthy people. The film also illustrates the work that Scion is doing in partnership with Rotoiti 15 Trust to monitor the spread of myrtle rust around the lakes area and efforts to breed more disease-tolerant species, starting with ramarama, rōhutu and their hybrids. The research is delivered through Te Rātā Whakamaru, a Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao programme funded by the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai. With support from Scion scientists, the programme employs 10 full-time staff who have been trained as technicians (hōmiromiro) to collect field monitoring data and develop protocols for long-term resistance breeding trials. The challenge facing researchers is the time it takes to breed for resistance. Trees are slow growing, and the current research is only on small trees in pots. A multi-year programme is required to ensure the resistance is enduring. Both Scion and Rotoiti 15 Trust are exploring strategies for how the program will continue after the Jobs for Nature funding contract ends in December 2024. Scion forest geneticist Dr Heidi Dungey says there is a desire to see mana whenua (Ngāti Pikiao) and Rotoiti 15 Trust take greater ownership of the programme as part of their journey to reconnect people to nature and build a passion for conservation. In the video trust chairman Arapeta Tahana shares his vision for the future, adding that the goal of Ngāti Pikiao is to become guardians of their own rohe and whenua. “That essentially means that we need rangers on the ground…that are monitoring and supporting restoration efforts.” The visit to Rotorua followed an earlier trip to Queensland and New South Wales last year by representatives from Rotoiti 15 Trust and Scion. The cultural exchange was captured in a video called Roots of Resilience released last month across all six Australian States. Dr Geoff Pegg, senior principal forest pathologist at Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, says Australia’s forests are valued for their diverse ecosystems and unique biodiversity, adding that exotic diseases, such as myrtle rust, were a constant threat. “Endeavours like this cultural exchange underscore the vital importance of global collaboration and unified actions aimed at preserving biodiversity and strengthening ecological resilience. Traditional knowledge and Western Science must walk together to protect our Country and the unique forests in New Zealand too.” The exchange was funded by Catalyst Seeding funding provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Myrtle rust was first discovered on mainland New Zealand in 2017. Since then, Scion scientists have been involved in a suite of research aimed at protecting our most vulnerable myrtle species from the infectious airborne fungus. The disease targets new leaf growth and repeated infection causes trees to die back, affecting natural regeneration in the forest. View the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR2fExDRWYU

Despite a myriad of Federal Government housing initiatives, Australia is on track to fall over 110,000 homes short of its National Housing Accord target. Source: Timberbiz Master Builders Australia has released its 2024 building and construction industry forecasts which, for the first time, cover the full five-year period of the Accord. From 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2029, Master Builders forecasts 1,087,325 new home starts. Master Builders Chief Economist Shane Garrett said work started on just 163,285 new homes during 2023, a 10.5% reduction on the previous year. “During 2023, detached house starts dropped by 16.4% to 99,443. This is the lowest in a decade. “The final three months of the 2023 quarter saw higher density home starts drop for the third consecutive quarter. “A total of 62,720 higher density homes were commenced during 2023 overall – the worst performance in 12 years. “The mismatch between the supply of new homes to the rental market and demand for rental accommodation is particularly worrying. “Rental inflation continues to accelerate at a time when price pressures across the rest of the economy have been abating,” Mr Garrett said. Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said that we were seeing inflation starting to near its target range and we can expect a fall in interest rates which will lead to a more favourable investment market. “The Federal Government has also announced a number of significant housing measures that focus on increasing supply in social and affordable housing and the rental market. “However, constraints on the supply side like workforce shortages, industrial relations changes and a poor planning system counter the full effectiveness of these measures,” Ms Wawn said. “Productivity in the industry has fallen 18% over the last decade. It’s clear that governments need to expedite the rollout of planning reforms to reduce the high costs and time it takes to build. “Concerningly, the full impact of the Closing Loopholes Bills and union pattern bargaining negotiations underway in several states has not been factored into these forecasts. “Workforce shortages continue to be the biggest challenge for the industry across all sectors. “At a federal level, the government’s priority should be growing the building and construction workforce. “We heard only recently from BuildSkills Australia that the industry needs 90,000 workers in the next 90 days. “Domestically, we cannot fill this gap. We need to think outside of the box with better apprenticeship incentives, reskilling migrants already in Australia, and a targeted international campaign to bring in skilled migrants. “Investment and support in the whole built environment is important. While the commercial and civil construction sectors have helped shield the economy from periods of negative economic growth, this is coming to an end. “We can’t build the homes we need without the appropriate commercial and civil infrastructure to support it. This includes critical infrastructure such as utilities. “Builders are up to the challenge to reach these targets but the barriers on the road need to be cleared to get the job done,” Ms Wawn said. Full forecasts can be purchased here: https://masterbuilders.com.au/product-category/forecasts/

A mass sandalwood supplier with NT roots has entered receivership after a lengthy period of turmoil. Quintis Australia leases land for sandalwood plantations in the NT, Queensland, and Western Australia. Source: NT News The company’s NT holdings are in the Douglas Daly area. Quintis Australia is the largest sandalwood supplier in the world – selling oil, powder, logs, and chips – but appointed FTI Consulting as receivers on April 2. An FTI Consulting spokesperson said they were now in control of the majority of Quintis Australia’s businesses, assets, and operations. “This includes sandalwood plantations and real estate in the Kimberley and Northern Territory, an operations centre in Kununurra, a small plantation and land in Queensland, and the Mt Romance oil distillation facility and shop near Albany,” the spokesperson said. “[We] will urgently call for expressions of interest in the sale and/or recapitalisation of the business and are currently working closely with key stakeholders to quickly conduct an independent assessment of the financial position of the entities that are the subject of their appointment and their ongoing and future viability.” Quintis Australia’s dealings in the NT were previously granted Major Project status, but said status was revoked in 2018. The company went into voluntary administration in January 2018. The move came after Federal Court proceedings were brought against ex-Quintis director Frank Wilson for allegedly misleading the market about terminated contracts with Swiss giant Nestle, and allegedly failing to discharge his duties as a director in 2017. The Federal Court in 2023 found Mr Wilson did not breach his duties regarding disclosure of the termination of key contracts.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has queried whether Premier Jacinta Allan, who is overseeing the shutdown of the native timber industry, even knows the difference between hardwood and softwood. Source: Timberbiz “In Parliament last year I asked the Premier a simple question, which read as follows: With the close of the native hardwood timber industry on 1 January 2024 and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommending the use of timber as the best climate change mitigation measure we can take, resulting in consumer demand increasing, can the Premier provide details on where Victoria’s supply of hardwood timber will now come from? “However, in her response, the Premier made no mention of hardwood whatsoever, and stated new plantations in Victoria would focus on softwood timber, and softwood sawlog production will boost the state’s supplies of pine plantation building products,” Mr Bull said. “The question never mentioned softwood, only hardwood and it was relating to where the supply of it would come from for our flooring and furniture, as well as a host of other items Victorian manufacturers produce. “The answer indicates one of two things; either the Premier does not know where the hardwood our industries need is coming from, or she does not know the difference between the two products.” Mr Bull said the final comment in the answer from Premier Allan was galling, where she stated, “we have listened to the timber industry and the support we are providing aims to ensure certainty of work for harvest contractors, their families, communities, and local businesses”. Mr Bull said there would be timber industry workers infuriated to read this. “This sustainable industry did not want to shut down, so they certainly were not listened to,” he said. “In addition, many have been left with offers that do not provide the security required, and other down the line businesses that have been promised support and have received none. “Sadly, the Premier may have changed, but we get the same old political nonsense in the answers they provide us,” Mr Bull said.

Walk out your front door and look down the street.  If you are in the regions or in suburbia, then you will look at a tall wooden pole that carries the cables that gives you electricity. Have you taken much notice of them?  Probably not, but the pole is native hardwood harvested from a native forest where, through the application of science, it was encouraged to grow that straight. Timber power poles are selectively harvested from regrowth or working forests. On 7 March 2024, the NSW ALP Minister for the Environment in NSW Budget Estimates had the following exchange with the Hon Wes Fang, National Party. The exchange reveals how uninformed the Minister is, who is a strong environmentalist. In the same Budget Estimates hearing, the Minister was boasting about the Great Koala National Park process she commenced. A process that is like that of a kangaroo court with a pre-determined outcome (but that is for another day). The Minister for the Environment is also the Minister for Energy. The Chair of the Committee is The Hon Sue Higginson, Greens MLC. The Hon. WES FANG: Minister, how many hardwood utility poles will be needed as part of the new network infrastructure for the transition to renewable energy in New South Wales? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Good question. I don’t know. I’ll take it on notice. The Hon. WES FANG: Have you done any planning around how many poles you’ll need for the next 20 years? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: There will have been some. There’s obviously different types of poles. We’re also looking at non-wooden poles. There are steel poles. There’s a whole range. There’s concrete poles. Some of that work’s being undertaken. I’ll take it on notice and I’m happy to provide it to you. The Hon. WES FANG: I note you’ve talked about the other sorts of poles. Do you know why we use hardwood poles over some of the other poles, such as steel and concrete? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Different uses for different applications. The Hon. WES FANG: Minister, do you agree that there are environmental and practical benefits to using hardwood poles over those other types of poles, such as concrete, steel, softwood poles and composite poles? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: I wouldn’t pretend to be an expert in the types of poles and the ways in which they’re best used, but I’m happy to accept on value that they’ve been chosen for a reason and there’s probably some benefits – sure. The Hon. WES FANG: Do you know where we source the majority of our poles in New South Wales? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Yes, in the State forest. The Hon. WES FANG: Minister, given the majority of the poles do come from the New South Wales mid-coast and are processed on the mid-coast, would you agree that the public native forestry industry is critical to the electrical supply industry and the renewable energy transition of your Government? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: First, I’d say I have taken a lot on notice in terms of the assessment of the need for poles, where they’re coming from and how they need to be used. If this is a question around the impact on pole supply as a result of the creation of the Great Koala National Park, which is what I think you’re trying to get to – The Hon. WES FANG: It’s very much where I’m going to, yes. The CHAIR: They come from plantations. The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Yes, fantastic. The process is currently underway around the creation of the Great Koala National Park and all of those issues are being worked through. The Hon. WES FANG: Have you put any safeguards in place to make sure that we continue to have a private native forestry industry in New South Wales whilst the Great Koala National Park is implemented? The CHAIR: Private? Public? Plantation? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: I’m not quite sure where you’re trying to get to there. I’m not the forestry Minister. The Hon. WES FANG: You’re the environment Minister. The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Yes, I’m aware, and I’m very pleased to be. The Hon. WES FANG: Are you putting some safeguards in to make sure that your Great Koala National Park isn’t going to shut down our forestry industry? The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: You should know better than most about this. The Great Koala National Park has been talked about for a long time. It’s this Government’s most significant national park that I believe we’ll create, although I do think that all national parks are important, just to be clear. It is a big area that we’re assessing. That’s why we’re doing the environmental, economic and social assessment in relation to the impact of the creation of the park. It is why we have three different panels, including an industry panel. They’re examining all of that work. We have done two things. One is obviously create the koala hubs in the area, which is about 5% of the park. The rest of the work is being assessed. That is what we’re doing and that’s the way we’re managing it, in a mature and thoughtful way. The Hon. WES FANG: But you would agree that the hardwood timber industry is a key stakeholder for you as the energy Minister, particularly around that issue of – The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: Yes. It’s why I’ve met with people, it’s why I’ve been on people’s farms. It’s why there is an industry panel in relation to the Great Koala National Park. As I said, one of the things that I think is extremely important in the work that we do, particularly in the environment, is that we misunderstand a lot of stakeholder’s concern and their desire to be part of the solution, and we have them at the table, and that has been a priority for me, as well as having others. The Hon. WES FANG: Prior to the election your colleague, who was […]

Stability seems to have been delivered for the timber industry in Tasmania following a deal struck between the minority Rockliff Government and the three newly elected members of the Jacqui Lambie Network. According to The Mercury, the Jacqui Lambie Network has traded an astonishing level of loyalty for a handful of things the government was either doing anyway or which deliver an uncertain result at an indefinite time. The Lambie Network MPs have agreed to be more loyal to the Liberal Party than even the Liberal Party’s own MPs – who are not bound to inform their party in advance if they intend to vote against it. The Jacqui Lambie Network’s website says that candidates don’t support an expansion of native forest logging in Tasmania but that more support for plantation timber is needed as “it’s a critical employer and the timber and fibre produced is essential for our sovereign capability”. However, with the Labor Opposition publicly backing the timber industry in the lead-up to the March election, the Network’s opposition will be of little strength. Combined, the Government and Opposition would have 24 votes available on any timber industry matter. The Government does need one more vote, with Tasmanian Labor leader and now Independent David O’Byrne being mentioned as a likely contender. Mr O’Byrne was expelled from the Labor party room and not endorsed as a candidate after sexual harassment allegations surfaced in 2021. Prior to the election he told The Australian he would work in a “mature and co-operative (way) … across the parliament”. With former Senator Eric Abetz, who served as the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation in the Howard Government between 2006 and 2007, named Industry and Resources Minister overseeing Tasmanian forestry there must now be a certain amount of certainty for the industry. As TFPA Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel pointed out Mr Abetz spent many years in the Federal Parliament representing Tasmania’s forestry industry on the national stage. He has shown he’s a strong supporter of the important and sustainable work of our industry and the 5,500 Tasmanians employed by it.

Spanish police have arrested five members of a drugs gang, several Dutch nationals among them, during a raid in the Catalan city of Reus on Sunday, Spanish media reported. Source: Dutch News The gang, whose members come from Albania, Lithuania and the Netherlands, had hit upon a “very sophisticated method” to hide the drugs by impregnating 16 tonnes of wood pellets used as fuel for wood burning stoves with liquid cocaine, local paper Diari de Tarragona said. Police discovered that the pellets, which had entered the country legally from South America to Spain in sea containers, were stored for three months to “cool off” before being taken to a place where the drugs were extracted. The premises had been watched for months when a lorry with a foreign number plate arrived to pick up a load of pellets and police sprang into action. In all, 920 bags of pellets, each weighing 18 kilos, were found. The gang also had a space to package, seal and store the drugs, which were then transported across Europe. Police also impounded five kilos of MDMA, two hydraulic presses, a lorry and luxury car.

Since 1991, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has published a comprehensive report on the social, economic and environmental state of Canada’s forests. The theme of the 2023 edition of The State of Canada’s Forests is relationships for resiliency. Source: Timberbiz The document underscores the need for climate action and the benefits of sustainable forest management, while drawing attention to the interconnections between people, nature and the long-term sustainability of Canada’s diverse forest-based values. Among the stories featured in NRCan’s 2023 report: how Canada manages its forests for diverse values through the principles of sustainable forest management how “community forests” help sustain multiple values at multiple scales in increasingly uncertain landscapes how sustainable forest management sequesters carbon and helps mitigate climate change how forests help protect healthy aquatic ecosystems and Canada’s drinking water, and how forest disturbances and climate change affect our drinking water supply and quality the diverse people working across the forest sector supply chain, from forest regeneration and the production of various forest products to the development of new knowledge to help sustainably manage our forests “In 2022–2023, Natural Resources Canada continued to deliver on its mandate to improve the lives of Canadians while ensuring that our country’s natural resources are managed sustainably, competitively and inclusively,” writes the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “This report summarizes many of these initiatives, and it highlights the department’s efforts to ensure economic growth, create good jobs in every region of the country, and improve the lives and livelihoods of all Canadians.” To learn about the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s forests and forest products sector, read The State of Canada’s Forests: Annual Report 2023 here.  

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to make a popular pain reliever and other valuable products from plants instead of petroleum. Source: Timberbiz Building on a previously patented method for producing paracetamol, the discovery promises a greener path to one of the world’s most widely used medicines and other chemicals. More importantly, it could provide new revenue streams to make cellulosic biofuels derived from non-food plant fibres cost competitive with fossil fuels. “We did the R&D to scale it and make it realizable,” says Steven Karlen, a staff scientist at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Centre who led the research published recently in the journal ChemSusChem. Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is one of the most widely used pharmaceuticals, with a global market value of about US$130 million a year. Since it was introduced in the early 1900s, the drug has traditionally been made from derivatives of coal tar or petroleum. In 2019, Mr Karlen and UW–Madison biochemistry professor John Ralph showed how it could be made instead from a compound in poplar trees using a well-known chemical reaction. Now Mr Karlen’s team has improved the process for making paracetamol as well as other drugs, pigments, textiles, and biodegradable plastics with a cumulative market value of more than US$1.5 billion, a portfolio of products that he says could support dozens of small biorefineries feeding into larger hubs without saturating the market. The process is available for commercial licensing through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the non-profit organization that commercializes university discoveries to support ongoing research. The paracetamol molecule is made of a six-carbon benzene ring with two chemical groups attached. Poplar trees produce a similar compound called p-hydroxybenzoate (pHB) in lignin, the part of the cell wall that binds plant sugars together and provides structure. Lignin is chock full of valuable aromatic compounds that could replace many petrochemicals and provide biorefineries with additional revenue streams to make plant-based fuels cost competitive. The challenge is breaking down the complex and irregular chain of molecules into useful components. It turns out pHB is relatively easy to break off with chemical treatment, but while the initial discovery showed it was chemically possible to turn it into paracetamol, Mr Karlen says that process didn’t convert enough of the raw material into the final product. Research scientist Vitaliy Tymokhin discovered that treating poplar biomass with a different and typically cheaper method converted nearly all the pHB into another chemical that can then be converted into paracetamol or a less valuable molecule with other applications. “You can make dyes like black ink, polymers which can be used in textiles or material application, convert it to adhesives or into stuff like that,” Mr Karlen says. “It’s got a huge market and big value.” By recycling the unreacted product back through in a continuous reactor, the scientists successfully converted 90% of the raw material into paracetamol, which they extracted using a method that’s cheaper than traditional purification techniques. Karlen says it should be possible to dial the yield up to 99%. The process is primarily water based, relies on green solvents, and is continuous rather than a batch reaction, which makes it ideal for industrial applications. “As I’m chopping the tree up, it can feed right into a reactor that pulls out the benzamide,” Mr Karlen says. “So, you’re never stopping. As fast as your trucks can come in and fill that hopper, you can keep processing.”

Spanning four decades and featuring domestic and internationally significant work, Dr Brian Richardson’s career was acknowledged when Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard presented him with the Minister’s Biosecurity Award at the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards dinner at the Beehive. Source: Timberbiz The award recognises outstanding contributions to New Zealand biosecurity over at least 10 years. Dr Richardson, a principal scientist in Scion’s Plant Protection Physics and Chemistry team, has worked at Scion since 1983 and research during his 41-year career has focused on forest protection, particularly in the areas of biosecurity and pest management. His expertise in pesticide application has been applied to pest eradication operations and more recently to the problem of wilding conifers, where his aerial spraying guidelines now underpin the Wilding Conifer Control Program. Dr Richardson also helped eradicate invasive insects including the painted apple moth, white-spotted tussock moth, and southern saltmarsh mosquito. Successful invasions of these pests could have crippled New Zealand’s horticulture and forestry exports. What keeps many people in science, Dr Richardson says, is a sense of curiosity. “That sense of discovery is really exciting, but for me, it’s adding value. Seeing something you do of use to someone. That motivates me. Working with teams has always been a big part of it too,” he said. “Anything I’ve achieved has been with the support and partnership of others who I feel all share in this award. Sadly, some of those who helped me on my career journey are no longer with us, but I will still acknowledge their contributions.” He also remembers some challenging and successful projects that became career highlights. “I think some have shared common characteristics. They’ve been complex problems with clear goals or challenges for the science to overcome. They’ve involved partnerships between policymakers, the science teams and people managing operations. We’ve worked closely together as a team and that’s really key to success,” he said. “There’s a lot of satisfaction in science that is immediately of value and can be used by people making decisions.” Dr Richardson has also collaborated internationally, such as with the US Forest Service on the development of spray modelling systems to quantify pesticide drift and efficacy. This work was recognised with a technology transfer award from the USDA Forest Service in 1996. He has contributed to technical advisory groups convened to address significant biosecurity incursions such as the brown marmorated stink bug and been involved in sector-wide initiatives like the Forest Biosecurity Council and as a board member on research programmes, including Better Border Biosecurity, BioProtection Research Centre, and Frontline Biosecurity. Scion chief executive Dr Julian Elder says it is great to see a lifetime’s achievements be recognised. “As Brian said in his acceptance speech it is a huge reflection on all the people he has worked with over the years. It is also great to see Scion and the critical work the Crown Research Institutes do for New Zealand being acknowledged.” Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says Richardson’s recognition is well deserved. “It’s really important for scientists in the forest industry to be recognised.  Scientists generally, and those who work in the forest industry in particular, tend to be overlooked when awards are handed out.” “So, recognition through a Ministerial Award is tremendous news.” “That Brian’s work is in biosecurity is also noteworthy. Keeping pests and pathogens out of our production forests, native trees and gardens is vital, but usually the more successful we are the less newsworthy it is.” The award is the latest in a list of Dr Richardson’s achievements including the NZ Institute of Forestry ‘Forester of the Year’ Award in 2015, a Science New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and New Zealand Plant Protection Medal in 2022.

The prospect of a “looming” balcony crisis in Victorian homes has raised concerns, but proactive measures can be taken to assess and address potential structural issues before they escalate. Timely inspections, maintenance, and necessary repairs can help mitigate risks and ensure the safety and longevity of these properties. Source: Timberbiz “Analysing the timber species and waterproofing systems used could be a crucial step in understanding why these issues are occurring, especially if the buildings are around 10 years old,” said Professor Tripti Singh, Director of the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life. Timber is a safe, durable, and predictable material to work with but like anything else, it requires ongoing maintenance. Some are saying that defective balconies are the biggest concern for buildings constructed in the last 15 years, but homeowners can prevent this sort of damage by taking proactive steps to maintain their balconies and other timber home elements. If you are looking to purchase a home or already own a home with a balcony, inspections are a great first step. Knowing the state of the balcony and what materials have been used arms you with the necessary knowledge to maintain your property. Inspections can help identify construction quality and design flaws so that you and your builder can plan the appropriate course of action for your balcony and decking concerns. Balconies and decks constructed prior to provisions introduced into the National Construction Code (NCC) may not meet current safety standards, as these provisions weren’t in place to mandate construction. However, with the implementation of the NCC provisions, decks designed and built to adhere to these provisions are considered to meet safe service life standards when properly maintained. From design to installation, timber is a durable and sustainable choice when correctly specified and constructed. Choosing a knowledgeable builder who knows the ins and outs of waterproofing and timber construction can provide you the reassurance you need to trust your balcony or raised decking system will last. From recommended timber species, termite protection and weather protection to sub-deck supports, builders can find all the details they need on domestic timber deck design from WoodSolutions. Timber professionals know that choosing the right timber species for each project is key to a long-lasting build. If you want to do some research of your own, you can download the SpeciesSolutions app to research timber species for any home project. Preventative measures such as coating systems (paints, stains), preservative and on-going maintenance assure your timber balcony can survive the elements. Waterproofing and maintaining that barrier is key to keeping your balcony in shape. If the damage has already occurred and you need to know what to do next, download the guide to learn about the Impact and Assessment of Moisture-affected Timber-framed Construction. The WoodSolutions guide on Domestic Timber Deck Design that, when used alongside modern design and construction techniques, is a best practice guide and tool that can assists tradespeople in delivering a safe and durable balcony or deck. Homeowners should regularly inspect and maintain balconies and decks made from timber to ensure structural integrity and safety. Timber is susceptible to weathering and damage over time, posing potential hazards if left unchecked. Regular inspections and maintenance, including sealing, staining, and repairing any damage, can prolong the lifespan of the structure and prevent accidents or costly repairs in the future. Find out more about timber durability, installation, inspection in the Domestic Timber Deck Design guide at https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/publications/domestic-timber-deck-design-0

Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has awarded John Deere Australia and New Zealand Inclusive Employer Status for 2023-24, in recognition of the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Source: Timberbiz To celebrate Inclusion at Work Week, DCA announced the 82 employers to earn a place on the list, with John Deere joining a small number of companies to receive the recognition three times, having been included in 2021-22 and 2022-23. To make the list, participants must prove their commitment to diversity and inclusion by having employees complete an in-depth survey to map the state of inclusion in their workplace and produce results that exceed national benchmarks on a series of key measures. John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, said achieving Inclusive Employer Status for the third year in a row was a proud moment. “Each year, this assessment has provided us with valuable insight on where to focus our efforts to ensure we offer an inclusive workplace for everyone,” he said. “An inclusive workplace is not the result of the actions of one, but the actions of many.” As Head of People and Culture at John Deere Australia and New Zealand, Camilla Kelly has led the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey. “DEI is multi-layered, requiring time, dedication, and a holistic approach to fully understand its complexities,” Ms Kelly said. “It can challenge deeply held beliefs and raise difficult questions. It’s not about checkboxes or quotas, but rather it’s interwoven in everything we do and everything we want to be. “We have taken the time and energy to expand knowledge across the company, not just talk. “Our policies, talent selection criteria and workplace practices have been updated, including introducing industry-leading gender-neutral parental leave. “We’ve also worked on developing leadership capabilities and implementing DEI frameworks that empower everyone to lead initiatives that move the needle on DEI.” John Deere’s Australia Aftermarket team recently led such an initiative, holding an event at the Brisbane office to celebrate World Inclusion Day. Staff were encouraged to share their personal stories, food from their cultural backgrounds, and discuss perspectives on what inclusion means to them. “Inclusion is all about creating a work environment where everyone feels respected,” Aftermarket Marketing & Communications Specialist, Laura Pozniak-Elphick, said. “You should feel like you can bring your true self to work every day, and John Deere really embraces that. “While your colleagues always try to be their most professional selves, it’s important to remember they are individuals with families and lives outside work. Someone could be smiling on the outside but struggling on the inside, so we just need to be mindful of each other and be as kind and inclusive as possible. “If your corporate values are rooted in diversity and inclusion, that extends to your ability to recruit the best people, which ultimately elevates your whole business. I think there’s also a halo effect where if a company is a good corporate citizen, they’re more likely to be offering their products and services in the best possible way.” With innovation as one of John Deere’s key values, Ms Kelly said diversity and inclusion was paramount to the company’s success. “As a smart industrial company, we need both diverse talent and an inclusive culture to develop this competitive advantage,” she said. “Fostering genuine, sustained diversity in the workplace takes many years and a genuine heartfelt commitment from all staff. It’s important that business leaders take charge to lead and empower other staff to follow.”

Foresta, an Australian listed company, announced the signing of a 30-year lease on a property in Kawerau, in the Bay of Plenty with plans to build New Zealand’s first low emissions fossil free fuel plant. Source: Timberbiz It plans to invest $300 million building the plant which will employ more than 100 people. The plant would produce low-impact torrefied wood pellets. The plant is subject to resource consent being granted. The production process produces torrefied “black” wood pellets heated to between 200C and 300C in the absence of oxygen. Foresta said black wood pellets had the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions when used as replacement for coal, as well as to reduce emissions from shipping for every log not being exported. Foresta chairman Henry Cheng said that with the phasing out of industrial coal boilers by 2037, the company was placed to provide locally produced black wood pellets. Annual initial production of 65,000t of pellets would require about 200,000t of logs or about 330ha of forestry supply a year. Seven million tonnes of pine feedstock would be used to produce two million tonnes of black wood pellets. New Zealand uses around two million tonnes of coal a year for electricity generation, industry and heating. Supply agreements are under way with owners of sustainably managed pine plantations. The company says it does not intend to use forestry waste or slash but has identified 2000 pine forest owners within 100km of its proposed plant. Recently Foresta signed a harvesting contract with Silvertree Biomass Solutions for around 243,000 tonnes per annum of logs, stumps, and other approved biomass, fulfilling the entirety of Stage 1a’s raw feedstock requirements for the proposed integrated manufacturing facility in New Zealand. This strategic partnership underscores Foresta’s commitment to fortify its raw material supply chain, by securing the forest cutting rights the company said in a statement. “We recognise that harvesting and delivery costs represent a significant portion 50%-90% of our biomass supply expenses. This contract with Silvertree not only secures our supply chain but also ensures cost efficiency, contributing to our commitment to sustainable operations.” The planned plant will also produce natural, pine-based chemicals (rosins and terpenes) from pine trees which can replace petroleum-sourced chemicals.  

New South Wales will record the biggest expansion of softwood plantations in a decade, growing the timber frames needed to build more houses. Source: Timberbiz Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) NSW CEO James Jooste said new softwood plantations are critical to resolving the states housing crisis. “Timber frames are the backbone of our housing industry used in 80% of new homes,” Mr Jooste said. “The solution to meeting future housing targets is access to domestic building materials and the most important material is timber,” he said. The Commonwealth has allocated $73 million over the next four years to help establish new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantations in Australia. NSW will plant an additional 3500 hectares of softwood timber under round 1 of the Commonwealth Governments Plantation Establishment Program. Mr Jooste said that figure is three times larger than the total national plantings in 2021-22. “We are on the right track to reverse the stagnant growth of one of our most important resources,” he said. “New South Wales received 70% of grants on offer under round one of the program showing the demand to address our housing crisis. “We need to build more homes to deal with our housing crisis, but we can’t build houses with growing more softwood trees.” Mr Jooste said the Plantation Establishment Program has been key to stimulating new investment in plantations. “NSW must build 80,000 new homes every year for the next 25 years to meet our housing needs, so this program could not have come at a better time,” he said. “The Commonwealth can keep improving the program by simplifying up-front to access the program while maintaining a robust assessment criterion. “The strategic increase in timber plantations is not just about meeting immediate housing needs. It is also a vital step towards environmental sustainability. “Timber is the ultimate renewable helping to decarbonise our economy while we achieve our housing targets,” Mr Jooste said. Grant applications for Round 2 of the program runs from 9 February 2024 to 27 June 2024. Successful applicants will receive $2,000 per hectare to help with the establishment costs of new plantations.

The global search to find an internationally recognised expert to lead South Australia’s Forestry Centre of Excellence as director has begun, with leading forestry researcher Dr Jim O’Heir appointed as the general manger. Source: Timberbiz South Australia’s Dr O’Hehir brings his extensive experience in the areas of forestry, wood production and environmental management as he joins the Forestry Centre of Excellence having previously been the head of Forest Research at the University of South Australia in Mount Gambier and various executive roles at ForestrySA. Dr O’Hehir is highly regarded across both the industry and research sectors, which was reflected when he was named the 2023 Timber Legend at the 4th Green Triangle Timber Awards last October for his dedication to the forestry sector. A search for a second expert is also underway to fill the director role. The successful applicant for the director role will help advance innovative research on wood resources and wood-based products, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaborations within the University of South Australia, with national and international research institutions and industry. The Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) is the first of its kind in South Australia and was a key forestry commitment by the Malinauskas Labor Government with an aim to create long-term research and development capability to enhance the Green Triangle’s economic prosperity to generate more jobs and investment in the region. The South Australian Government last year launched the FCoE strategic plan, which outlines the vision behind the $15 million 10-year collaborative project, which has been established at the existing UniSA and TAFE precinct in Mount Gambier. The FCoE is a central hub that focuses on innovation, sustainability, and the creation of new market opportunities from Australia and across the globe. A Strategic Collaboration Agreement to formally establish the centre was signed off in December 2023 between the South Australian Government, the University of South Australia (UniSA), the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH), and the South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA). Tree Breeding Australia (TBA) will also be located in the centre. For more information about the role or to apply visit: Research Professor: Wood Science & Technology and Director: Forestry Centre of Excellence (Level ERP). https://workingatunisa.nga.net.au/cp/index.cfm?event=jobs.checkJobDetailsNewApplication&returnToEvent=jobs.listJobs&jobid=88CB661B-D769-F4CE-5182-DA7C3CEF5135 Applications close 11:30 pm Thursday 18 April 2024 (ACST).

Funding to support disaster resilience in the primary industries has been highlighted at a South Australian Forest Products Association disaster resilience summit in Mt Gambier. Source: Timberbiz A new pilot project led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Primary Producers SA (PPSA) has received $770,000 from the State Government’s Disaster Risk Reduction grant program to prepare the agricultural sector and mitigate the impacts of compounding and increasingly complex natural disasters. Funded through a national partnership agreement between the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments, the project takes an industry-led approach to minimising disruptions to supply chains and maintaining the production and profitability of regional communities. This support is subsequent to the $26.7 million investment made by the Malinauskas Government to increase the Country Fire Service’s aerial firefighting fleet, which for the first time has seen a Blackhawk helicopter with 4,500 litre capacity for water and foam substantively based at Mount Gambier during the 2023–24 fire danger season. Additionally, the upgrade of the latest fire observation tower in Lucindale South has now been completed featuring game changing artificial intelligence (technology now rolled out across the region. The cameras are now fully operational at Comaum, Mount Benson, The Bluff, Carpenter Rocks, Mount Burr and Furner. It is the first time the Pano AI system has been implemented commercially in Australia as part of the South Australian Government’s $2.3 million fire tower network upgrade project, with $1 million targeting the new technology – and it has already been able to assist with early detection of several bushfires in the South East. “This new pilot program funded by SAFECOM and delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and Primary Producers South Australia (PPSA), provided the South Australian Forest Products Association an opportunity to host a Disaster Resilience Summit bringing together all the agricultural commodity groups with community groups and key decision markers in an effort to focus on how to mitigate the impacts of compounding and complex disasters,” South Australian Forest Products Association CEO Nathan Paine said. “One thing that Covid taught us all, is that disasters can come at any time and we can never be too prepared. These disasters include bushfires, floods, heatwaves and extreme winters, pandemics, animal, and plant diseases, and we need to ensure that we are all integrated with our approach when it comes to disaster management,” he said. “SAFPA’s Disaster Resilience Summit attracted significant guest speakers to address the 80 plus crowd who attended from across the State and Victoria, to understand how authorities and community members can minimize the disruptions to supply chains, ensure production maintenance continues in the event of a disaster and most important, how we can support the community to recover after a disaster. “SAFPA acknowledge the ongoing support of the State Government, particularly the Minister for Forest Industries, The Honourable Clare Scriven, and the Minister for Emergency Services, The Honourable Joe Szakacs, who both attended and spoke at the Summit.  Their attendance highlights how important the State Government values our regional economies and how committed they are to safeguarding lives, property and infrastructure in the region.” Along with the Ministers, the Summit attracted the following speakers: Jonathon Pollock, Bureau of Meteorology Jason Taylor, Limestone Coast Landscape Board Cameron MacDonald, OneFortyOne Caroline Rhodes, Primary Producers South Australia Alex Zimmerman, Community recovery Coordinator, SA Government Brett Loughlin, Chief, SA Country Fire Service Anthony Walsh, Green Triangle Fire Alliance Andrew Prolov, PANO AI Jason Wallace, ac.care Andrew Excel, Department of Infrastructure and Transport Georgina Goodrich, Department of Premier and Cabinet “Industry and Government have a strong partnership and are working together to reduce the impacts of disaster.  Currently, SA’s forest industries invest $13 million every year into fire detection, prevention and response, including fire fighters, specialist firefighting tankers, and associated equipment,” Mr Paine said. “With industry’s investment along the State Government’s additional investments into upgrading fire tower network with new technology and increasing the Country Fire Services aerial firefighting fleet with a Blackhawk helicopter, the Limestone Coast is well prepared to combat any compounding and complex disasters. “Thank you to our partners, SAFECOM with Department of Primary Industries and Regions and Primary Producers South Australia, OneFortyOne and Limestone Coast Landscape Board, for their support for this ever-important Summit.  SAFPA are working in step with industry and government authorities to ensure the Limestone Coast are well prepared in crisis management, mitigation and recovery,” he said.