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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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