Australian timber industry news

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In the wake of wildfires, bringing affected areas back into production poses a major challenge, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach areas. In Canada, wildfires affect an average of 2.8 million hectares of forest each year, underscoring the importance of exploring innovative solutions to support restoration efforts. Source: Timberbiz With financial support from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF), FPInnovations is evaluating the potential of aerial seeding using drones as a complement to traditional reforestation methods. In the spring of 2026, field trials were conducted to test various drone systems and validate several aspects of this approach: their operational capability, the accuracy of remote sensing technologies in targeting the most suitable sites, and the germination performance of different seed capsules and seeds. The goal is to assess not only the technical feasibility of this technology but also its economic viability and the contexts in which it could offer the greatest benefits. The results of this study will help determine the role that drone seeding could play in future reforestation strategies. Conducted in collaboration with government, academic, and industry partners, this project could expand the toolkit available to forest managers and offer new options for accelerating the regeneration of fire-affected areas. The preliminary results of the study will be released in the fall of 2026.

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Rottne has launched its new Rottne H13F – a harvester that steps into a new machine class, combining the agility of the proven H11 platform with increased capacity, higher performance, and a completely new level of operator comfort. Source: Timberbiz With the H13F, Rottne has a machine developed for operators who want more power and greater capabilities without compromising flexibility. The machine builds on the H11E platform but has been upgraded with larger 26.5-inch bogie wheels, improved stability, and significantly enhanced terrain performance. In the 8WD configuration, the machine is also extended by 250 mm, further improving stability and operator confidence in demanding terrain. “The increased working pressure of 280 bar combined with a 10.3-meter crane gives the H13F the capacity to handle larger harvesting heads such as the SP661 Lite and Log Max 6000V,” said Mathias Paulsson, Product Manager at Rottne Industri. “At the same time, a 6WD version is available for operators who prioritize maximum agility and a compact machine format. For those who prefer a larger chassis for thinning operations, the machine can also be equipped with an 11.3-meter crane combined with smaller harvesting heads.” To match the demands of the larger machine class that the Rottne H13F is now entering, tractive force has also been upgraded to a full 200 kN ensuring the right conditions even in tougher environments. With the Rottne H13F, Rottne also introduces the next step in the F-series harvester cab. The cab features extensive upgrades with a focus on ergonomics, comfort, and the working environment. New features include a new control system, a new electrical centre, updated control panels with 7-button harvester joysticks, and an electric mini steering wheel integrated into the right armrest. The interior has also received a redesigned dashboard layout with an improved sense of space and enhanced visibility. Practical features such as smart storage solutions, cup holders, and a lunchbox heater are included as standard. Climate comfort has also been improved through a more efficient climate control system and smarter airflow management. At the same time, safety has been further enhanced with stronger safety glass and larger opening rear emergency exits, improving both safety and visibility. The Rottne H13F will be the first machine in Rottne’s new F-series and marks the direction for the harvesters of the future, where productivity, power, and operator comfort go hand in hand.

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In a statement Nippon Paper Industries Japan has expressed its deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the Reiwa 8 (2026) Kumamoto Earthquake that occurred on 28 July, and its heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families. Source: Timberbiz The company provided the following update on 29 July, regarding the impact of this earthquake on its Yatsushiro Plant (Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture). Eleven individuals were trapped inside the plant building, and seven were rescued to date. Of the seven rescued, two are in moderate condition, and, with the deepest regret, five fatalities were confirmed. Nippon is continuing to verify the safety of the remaining four individuals. The safety of all other personnel who reported to work yesterday (including those from partner companies) has been confirmed. Operations at the Yatsushiro Plant have been suspended due to the earthquake as the company investigates the damage. Nippon Paper is assessing the impact of this incident on business performance, and an announcement will be made as soon as any matter requiring disclosure arises. To ensure the safety of affected employees, provide necessary support, and grasp the accurate status of the damage through a company-wide effort, the company established a Crisis Response Headquarters headed by Nippon Paper’s President Akira Sebe. The mill in southwest Japan is down following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake with numerous aftershocks, the main quake occurred close to the mill site. Japanese media reported eight deaths at Nippon Paper. The company’s chimney stacks partially collapsed due to the quake and fell into nearby buildings.

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The British Columbia Council of Forest Industries (COFI) in Canada has put together a comparison of annual harvest levels in British Columbia (BC), New Zealand, and Finland. Source: Timberbiz This analysis also provides context on differences between these three major forest jurisdictions such as forest types, ownership structures, Indigenous participation, forest management practices, wildfire impacts over a 10-year average, and the value of forest sector exports. BC is home to one of the largest forested areas in the western world, with 57 million hectares of forests, 95% of which are publicly owned. Of this total, 22 million hectares are available for sustainable timber harvesting. Finland has a total forested area of 23 million hectares with 20 million hectares available for harvesting. New Zealand has 10 million hectares of forests with 1.7 million hectares available for harvesting. Despite these differences in size, the annual harvest from New Zealand in 2023 was 31 million cubic meters, nearly matching the 35 million cubic metres harvested by BC, while Finland produced nearly double that volume, with 66 million cubic metres. This comparison suggests that notwithstanding BC’s larger forest area and strategic focus on diversifying and enhancing manufacturing of higher value forest products, other forest jurisdictions are excelling in capturing the growing demand for low-carbon and sustainably produced wood products and biomaterials. By examining key differences in ownership, forest management, and the manufacturing profiles across these jurisdictions, BC can identify opportunities to develop a more robust and competitive forest sector. The chart of the jurisdiction comparison is available here – COFI Forestry Jurisdiction Comparison August

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) says the NSW Government’s latest Great Koala National Park announcement offers little comfort to timber workers, their families and regional communities already losing secure employment. Source: Timberbiz The Government has announced almost $1 million for councils to prepare a five-year “transition action plan” focused on nature-based tourism, small business development, job creation and retraining. The plan is not expected to be completed until mid-2027. FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said the announcement amounted to another plan to develop a plan while timber businesses continued to lose workers, contracts and confidence. “Timber workers do not need another planning process. They need certainty about future wood supply, their employment and the survival of the mills, contractors and small businesses that support their communities,” Mr Dobbyns said. “The industry is also still waiting for the NSW Government’s long-promised Forest Industry Action Plan or, as it increasingly appears, its Forest Industry Inaction Plan. “Redundancies began almost immediately after the Government announced its supersized koala park on Father’s Day. Workers have continued to lose their jobs, including this month, yet the Government now proposes to spend nearly another year studying impacts that were entirely predictable.” The Government describes the Great Koala National Park as a “generational economic opportunity” that will boost tourism, small businesses and employment across the Mid North Coast. However, an independent review by Professor Oswin Maurer of the University of Newcastle’s economic assessment of the park found major shortcomings in the data, assumptions and multipliers used to estimate its tourism benefits. The review concluded that the tourism projections were largely based on statements unsupported by evidence and that many of the figures used inflated the projected economic benefits. One of the most serious problems was the treatment of the number of visits to North Coast national parks as though they represented individual visitors. A single person visiting several locations can be counted multiple times, substantially exaggerating the number of tourists available to generate additional spending. “The Government cannot simply declare that changing the tenure and name of forests where koalas already live will produce a tourism boom,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Koalas, walking tracks, scenic areas and recreational opportunities already exist across these State forests and neighbouring national parks. Rebadging them does not automatically create new visitors, longer stays or higher spending.” The review also found that the original tourism analysis failed to account for “cannibalisation” where visitors attributed to the new park are simply diverted from existing attractions and destinations elsewhere in the region rather than representing genuinely new economic activity. It further noted that almost nine in 10 visits to NSW national parks were day trips, undermining assumptions that park visitors would necessarily stay overnight and generate substantial accommodation and hospitality expenditure. The review found that delivering the projected increase in tourism would require approximately 1,000 additional accommodation rooms within the first three years and around 3,500 rooms within 14 years. It estimated that between $100 million and $150 million would be required for additional accommodation in the early years, rising to between $250 million and $350 million over the longer term – not including the cost of upgrading existing rooms or developing the additional tourism experiences and infrastructure needed to attract higher-spending visitors. The review found that the original study did not explain where this substantial private investment would come from or whether it was likely to materialise. “The Government is talking about a tourism-led transition without identifying who will invest the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to deliver it,” Mr Dobbyns said. “A $995,300 grant to prepare another plan does not build thousands of hotel rooms, create premium tourism experiences or guarantee that visitors will come.” The review also identified fundamental labour-market problems with relying on tourism as a replacement industry, including low pay, part-time and seasonal employment, irregular working hours and persistent difficulty attracting workers. “Nobody should celebrate permanent, skilled and well-paid forestry and manufacturing jobs being replaced with lower-paid, insecure or seasonal tourism employment,” Mr Dobbyns said. “That is not economic diversification. It is a government-sanctioned pay cut for workers and families who have built their lives around a renewable, productive industry.” The review found that the forests proposed for the original park concept supplied approximately 60% of the North Coast’s hardwood timber harvest and warned that removing such a large share of supply would have serious consequences for downstream businesses, competitiveness and consumer prices. The Government’s latest announcement still does not explain how remaining mills will obtain secure long-term wood supply or how the timber previously produced from the forests will be replaced. “Closing sustainable production forests does not eliminate the demand for timber. It transfers production interstate or overseas,” Mr Dobbyns said. “That means greater reliance on imports, increased exposure to international supply disruptions and the export of environmental impacts to jurisdictions with weaker regulatory standards. “The NSW Government must stop announcing plans to write plans and provide certainty on future wood supply, viable employment and the promised Forest Industry Action Plan. “Until then, this is not a credible transition strategy. It is a transition away from secure employment, regional manufacturing and sovereign timber-producing capacity, based on tourism benefits that the Government has still not demonstrated.”

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The maths does not add up: forest carbon method risks millions of low-integrity credits. Forestry Australia is raising serious concerns about the new Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests Method (INFM Method), after technical analysis by its forest carbon experts identified material flaws that could systematically, and significantly, overstate carbon abatement. Source: Timberbiz Analysis by Forestry Australia’s forest carbon experts indicates the INFM Method could potentially over-credit projects by 40% to 100%, even before the full effects of leakage and carbon stored in harvested wood products are taken into account. Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the findings raise serious concerns about whether credits issued under the INFM Method would represent genuine climate benefit. “There are fundamental problems with this Method. Its prescribed accounting and modelling framework is structurally biased towards issuing more carbon credits than the genuine climate benefit achieved,” Dr Freeman said. “Forestry Australia supports credible investment in forest carbon and does not dispute that avoiding native forest harvesting can generate genuine abatement in some circumstances. But every ACCU issued must represent a real, additional and accurately measured tonne of emissions reduction. “That is why the maths must add up.” Forestry Australia’s assessment identifies three central problems: The 15-year accounting period is too short: This is significantly shorter than the periods commonly used in forest carbon accounting; for example, the Plantation Forestry Method uses a 100-year accounting period. While harvesting causes an initial loss of forest carbon, regrowth captures carbon over many decades. Ending the accounting after 15 years excludes much of this regrowth, making the baseline appear to store less carbon and inflating the estimated carbon benefit of the Method. The accounting structure over-credits projects upfront and relies on future deductions: The INFM Method over-credits projects up front. Later reporting periods then deduct some of the earlier credits as regrowth occurs to claw back some of what was over-credited. The appearance of continuing carbon benefit therefore depends on repeatedly adding new areas; if that flow slows or stops, the underlying shortfall becomes visible. FullCAM is applied incorrectly: The Method prescribes clearfall harvesting assumptions to be implemented in FullCAM, Australian Government’s tool for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and carbon stored in forests and land. Given the vast majority of native forest harvesting in Australia is implemented as selective or partial harvest, the INFM Method adopts an approach that does not reflect on-ground outcomes and is inconsistent with the settings used in Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. This misapplication of the model in FullCAM exaggerates the difference between the project and baseline forests and inflates the estimated carbon benefit.   Forestry Australia’s testing indicates that correcting the short accounting-window issue alone could reduce estimated abatement by more than 40%. Correcting the FullCAM modelling could reduce estimated abatement by more than 50%. “These are not marginal differences arising from professional judgement. They are material and cumulative problems embedded in the Method’s prescribed calculations,” Dr Freeman said. Millions of ACCUs could be issued without a genuine carbon benefit. The consequences could be significant because ACCUs generated under the Method may be used to offset real greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere in the economy. “If the Method overstates the carbon benefits achieved, emissions offset through the purchase of ACCUs will not be balanced by an equivalent climate benefit. That weakens confidence in the ACCU Scheme, makes it harder for Australia to genuinely meet its emissions-reduction targets and means the Safeguard Mechanism will not work as intended,” Dr Freeman said. New South Wales has promoted that it could generate approximately 22 million ACCUs over 15 years by ending timber harvesting in relevant public native forests. If the Method overstates abatement by around half, approximately 11 million ACCUs could be issued beyond the genuine carbon benefit achieved. Forestry Australia raised its concerns more than 12 months ago and repeatedly requested representative FullCAM files, modelling assumptions and sufficient technical detail to independently reproduce and test the claimed abatement outcomes. These materials have not been publicly released by the proponent, and material changes introduced by the proponent after consultation were not exposed to further independent testing. “A method with the potential to materially affect Australia’s carbon market should be transparent, reproducible and scientifically defensible. This is what is expected of a high-integrity ACCU Scheme method, yet the INFM Method has not met this bar,” Dr Freeman said. Forestry Australia has also identified broader integrity risks relating to leakage, additionality and double counting. The Method caps indirect leakage at 40% even where an independent assessment might find a higher rate. Furthermore, it does not provide sufficient safeguards to objectively demonstrate that harvesting reductions would not have occurred anyway. In addition, it creates a risk that state governments could generate and sell ACCUs while also counting the same emissions reductions towards their own reporting and targets. “In raising these concerns, Forestry Australia is seeking to safeguard the ACCU Scheme, not undermine it. The fastest way to damage confidence in a carbon market is to issue more abatement than is really there and try to resolve the problem later. It is far better to address it openly now,” Dr Freeman said. Based on the evidence currently available, Forestry Australia considers that the INFM Method should not be relied upon for ACCU issuance until its accounting and modelling problems have been resolved. Forestry Australia remains ready to provide technical expertise to government and supports the development of credible carbon methods that reward genuine improvements in forest management, health and resilience across all forest types and land tenures. Download the Forestry Australia Briefing Note: Forestry Australia’s analysis of Improved Native Forest Management Method (INFM Method)

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Evidence presented to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Victoria’s 2026 bushfires has exposed serious failures in Labor’s bushfire preparedness and response. The Nationals and Liberals have tabled a Minority Report, refusing to accept the Environment and Planning Committee’s Report which papers over the deep structural flaws and policy failures of the government. Source: Timberbiz The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria and Committee member, Melina Bath said the Majority Report overlooks the experiences of affected communities and frontline responders and fails to reflect the full weight of evidence. “Witness testimony and submissions paint a damning picture of Labor’s Victoria’s bushfire preparedness,” Ms Bath said. “The Inquiry heard evidence of fuel management failures, declining emergency service capability, leadership shortages, ageing equipment and growing bushfire risk. “These findings lay bare the consequences of years of Labor’s poor policy decisions, inadequate preparedness and its failure to act on repeated warnings. “Labor’s restructure of emergency services, funding decisions and workforce shortages have weakened the CFA’s capability and reduced frontline preparedness. “One of the most alarming revelations was the CFA’s original response to questions on notice was sanitised by the Government and Cabinet before being resubmitted.” Ms Bath, who is also Shadow Minister for Public Land Management said Labor has neglected critical bushfire mitigation, failing to undertake adequate fuel reduction, roadside vegetation management and the creation of strategic fuel breaks. “Years of Labor’s failures have resulted in hazardous fuel loads across the state and an elevated bushfire risk. “Our Minority Report calls for more fuel reduction, better roadside management and strategic fuel breaks to protect communities, critical infrastructure and firefighters. “It provides practical recommendations to strengthen CFA capability, improve emergency management and enhance protection for regional communities. “Labor was repeatedly warned about bushfire risks, yet communities, volunteers and first responders were left to bear the consequences.” The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said the two reports confirmed what locals had been warning about for years. “Fuel loads are being mismanaged, volunteers are still forced to ride in tankers with no rear cabin protection, and trucks and tankers are suffering mechanical failures because they are well beyond their service life,” she said. “My community has lived through the consequences of the Labor government’s failures year after year, and we simply cannot afford another fire season where our hard-working CFA crews don’t have the necessary resources and support to protect us. “Only an elected Nationals and Liberals Government will scrap the Emergency Services Tax and properly fund the CFA, effectively manage our firefighting fleet, and back our selfless volunteers who put their lives on the line.”

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A former president of NSW Forest Products Association now Timber NSW Lexie Hurford passed away this week aged 86 after a short illness. Mrs Hurford had been presented with an award for more than 45 years of dedicated and outstanding service to the forest industry. Source: Timberbiz “She is a legend of our industry,” Maree McCaskill, chief executive of Timber NSW, said. Ms McCaskill said Mrs Hurford had made an outstanding contribution to the development of forestry policy, environmental management, and sustainable resource governance in Australia over a distinguished career spanning more than 60 years. “Throughout her adult life, Lexie Hurford has been recognised as one of Australia’s most influential forestry policy advocates, combining practical industry experience, and strategic public policy expertise to advance the sustainable management of Australia’s forests and natural resources. “In addition to this, Lexie has remained grounded in the Northern Rivers community with a particular interest in investment attraction and job creation for the region and an understated role as an advocate and leader of women’s roles in business.” Her work had been instrumental in shaping contemporary approaches to forest management, balancing environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community expectations, and the economic needs of regional Australia. Through senior leadership positions across government, industry and advisory organisations, she had consistently advocated for evidence-based policy development and long-term stewardship of Australia’s forest estate. As the first woman elected as Chairperson of the NSW Forest Products Association in 1999, Mrs Hurford broke new ground in the Australian forestry sector, providing visionary leadership to the state’s peak timber industry body while championing sustainable forest management, regional employment, industry innovation and greater participation of women in forestry. “Lexie has played a key role in the development and implementation of forestry strategies that have influenced both state and national policy settings. Her expertise has been sought by governments, industry bodies, research organisations, and community stakeholders, reflecting the respect she has earned across a diverse range of sectors,” Ms McCaskill said. A passionate advocate for sustainable forestry, Mrs Hurford worked to strengthen the relationship between environmental outcomes and productive land management and was a strong supporter of scientific research, innovation and best-practice forest management, helping to ensure that Australia’s forestry sector remains internationally respected for its environmental standards and sustainability credentials. She served as Chair of the Regional Development Board from 1995 to 2003, providing strategic leadership during a period of significant economic and community change in regional NSW. Through her stewardship, the Board worked to strengthen regional industries, support employment growth, and promote sustainable economic development across rural communities. Beyond her direct policy contributions, Mrs Hurford dedicated significant effort to mentoring emerging professionals within the forestry and natural resource sectors. Her leadership has helped foster a new generation of forestry practitioners, scientists and policymakers committed to sustainable resource management. The significance of the Hurford family’s contribution to regional industry and investment was recognised by senior New South Wales government leaders, including Premier Bob Carr during his term of office from 1995 to 2005 Ms McCaskill said that Mrs Hurford’s career had been characterised by integrity, professionalism and a commitment to public service. Her work contributed substantially to the protection and sustainable management of Australia’s forests while supporting employment, economic development and community resilience in regional Australia. “Lexie’s influence can be seen in the evolution of modern forestry policy frameworks, improved environmental management practices, stronger industry-government partnerships, and the promotion of sustainable forest management principles across Australia<‘ she said. “Her contribution has had lasting national significance and continues to benefit both present and future generations of Australians.”

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The ABC has reported that more than 80 people are to lose their jobs at Opal’s Maryvale Mill in Gippsland. The company blamed the Victorian Government for the changes to its operations due to the failure of the government to secure timber for Opal’s production lines. Source: Timberbiz Opal has previously cut jobs at the mill and experienced a number of shutdowns. The mill permanently shut down its white paper manufacturing operations, including the decommissioning of Paper Machine 2 and Paper Machine 5. This structural shutdown was triggered by the sudden end of VicForests’ native timber supply, resulting in 200 job losses and shifting the mill’s focus strictly to packaging and brown paper. According to the ABC the company is now blaming the state government for this latest decision to axe another 84 jobs. “The end of white paper production has significantly changed the operational footprint of the mill, and the site has been working to right-size its operations as a kraft and recycled paper manufacturer,” the company said in a statement. “This has included ongoing fixed cost reductions to align with its reduced footprint.” The ABC reported that Opal said it was to make cuts across salaried team members and team members covered by enterprise agreements. In a statement, the company said it suffered “substantial losses due to the Victorian Government’s failure to meet its contractual obligations under the Wood Pulp Agreement”. This latest cut follows years of disputes at the facility. In the first months of 2025 Opal locked out more than 300 CFMEU production workers with only one hour’s notice. The company initiated the 30-day, unpaid lockout after seven workers staged a short, protected stop-work action during Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) negotiations. The dispute ended on February 16, 2025, when workers voted to accept a new agreement with wage increases. In February 2024 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) were locked out of the site early in the morning following a breakdown in maintenance EBA negotiations over member quotas. In June 2020 Australian Paper (before rebranding to Opal) locked out more than 100 workers for three weeks. Management used the lockout to complete maintenance after employees took protected strike action during a long-running industrial dispute.

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