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The Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) has appointed Darrin Collett as its new Chair, bringing more than 35 years of hands-on experience across New Zealand’s forestry sector to the role. Source: Timberbiz Mr Collett began his career in logging crews in the late 1980s, ending up establishing and running his own forestry company, Woodbank Trading, for more than 20 years. His experience spans corporate and small-scale forestry, as well as international work as a tropical forestry consultant. He has also contributed to a range of industry and community initiatives, including the Northland Health and Safety Working Group and environmental projects. He has been an active member of organisations such as the NZ Farm Forestry Association and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry. Now semi-retired, Mr Collett says the role offers a timely opportunity to give back to an industry he remains deeply committed to. “I’ve been involved in several forestry sectors, which brings a holistic approach to my chairmanship role and an understanding of the different complexities and potential viewpoints on the way forward,” he said. “I’m excited to get started and put that experience to work for the industry.” FISC Chief Executive Joe Akari says Mr Collett’s breadth of experience will be of benefit to the council’s work. “Health and safety in forestry has come a long way over the past few decades, and Darrin has witnessed much of that change firsthand. His understanding of what it’s like on the ground, along with his experience from the decision-making table across different parts of the industry, will be invaluable,” Mr Akari said. “We’re looking forward to having him on board.” Mr Collett started the role on 20 May 2026 but will act as an observer for his first FISC council meeting. He takes over from Acting Chair Grant Dodson. Previous Chair Simon O’Grady stepped down in September 2025. Mr Akari acknowledged Mr Dodson’s leadership during the transition. “Our thanks go to Grant for stepping in as Acting Chair and providing strong, capable leadership through this interim period,” Mr Akari said.

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The Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) reinforced its growing role as a hub for industry connection and regional innovation, hosting its inaugural Annual Showcase marking its first 18 months of operation at the Mt Gambier Adelaide University campus. Source: Timberbiz More than 120 growers, processors, researchers, students, community partners and government representatives attended, highlighting the centre’s early achievements in establishing new research capability, building industry partnerships and translating applied research into practical outcomes. The showcase also featured the official opening of the recently completed FCoE building by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, who reinforced the Centre’s strategic role in supporting the long-term sustainability of the Forestry sector in the region, including capability across the workforce. FCOE Director Professor Jeff Morrell said the showcase demonstrated how the Centre was already delivering value to both industry and the broader community. “The FCOE exists to bring growers, researchers, students, and community partners together to solve real problems and build a stronger future for the region. The engagement we saw at the showcase illustrates how deeply this work matters,” Professor Morrell said. The program featured keynote presentations and four technical breakout streams spanning grower innovation, timber processing, forest health, and emerging technologies. Presenters shared new insights on remote sensing, safety innovation, silviculture trials, water-use research, biochar opportunities, and climate-ready breeding programs; research that directly supports the region’s workforce, productivity and environmental resilience. Centre General Manager Dr Jim O’Hehir, who was recognised by Premier Malinauskas for his exceptional contributions to the Centre, said the Showcase feedback would play a pivotal role in shaping the Centre’s forward research agenda. “The conversations and priorities raised throughout the day give us a clear signal of where industry needs support. These insights will guide our research program, partnerships and capability-building efforts over the coming years,” Dr O’Hehir said. The outcomes from the Showcase will feed into the Centre’s strategic planning for 2026–2030, helping refine priority research themes and ensuring the FCOE continues to deliver practical, applied outcomes for growers, processors and the wider community. The event concluded with a networking session at the Adelaide University Piazza, strengthening relationships across the sector and fostering new collaborations. The FCoE is a partnership between the South Australian Government, Adelaide University, the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and the South Australian Forest Products Association.

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Tasmanian farmers are being unfairly targeted by the state’s forestry regulator, a crossbench MP says, with the premier now signalling he is willing to look at the system. Source: Pulse Tasmania Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco raised concerns in question time about a $100,000 fine handed to an east coast farmer for unauthorised land clearing. Di Falco told parliament the landowner had acknowledged his mistake, cooperated with the Forest Practices Authority (FPA) and proposed remediation works. He argued the penalty was excessive and said the FPA had become too heavy-handed. “Farmers are fed-up with the increasing regulation they are confronted with,” he said. Di Falco asked whether the FPA was now “weighted more towards punishment and bureaucracy than practical environmental outcomes”. He returned to the issue, telling parliament farmers had shown him “overwhelming support” after his initial question. “The farming community is saying to us that these forestry regulations are out of control,” he said. “When will you act to support our farmers against this bureaucratic red tape and allow them to do what they do best?” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was willing to look at a “common-sense position” for farmers caught up in the system. “I am more than willing and open to take advice to see what can be done to ensure a common-sense position is taken where farmers are unfairly targeted,” he said. “I believe there is a balance needed here. We need to back in our productive sectors, our farmers, to ensure that they have a fair legal regime, but an opportunity to ensure their land is as productive as possible.” Mr Rockliff said he had heard the frustration from farmers on King Island and the east coast and was aware of others across the state who were “utterly devastated” by what they were hearing. The premier said he was not across the details of the case and did not commit to any specific review of the forest practices system. Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis defended the regulator. Mr Ellis told Parliament the clearing included 7.1 hectares of a threatened native vegetation community, along with an additional 11.5 hectares of trees. He said the vegetation provided important habitat for native wildlife, including the endangered swift parrot. Mr Ellis told parliament the FPA had engaged constructively with the landowner to seek remediation, but no agreement could be reached. The matter was then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. “The Forest Practices Authority’s decision-making has clearly been upheld by the courts in this process,” he said. Mr Ellis said the court, not the regulator, set the fine. Chief Forest Practices Officer Anne Chuter defended the prosecution earlier this month, saying unauthorised clearing gave offenders “an unfair advantage over landowners who comply with the law”. “In this case, the landowner derived agricultural benefit by clearing and convert-ing forests that could not be lawfully cleared due to their significant environmental values,” she said.

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AKD is committed to modernising its Tumut timber mill in the NSW Snowy Mountains by investing in new technology to improve productivity and maximise timber recovery from smaller diameter sawlogs. Source: Timberbiz As part of a recent Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) visit to the innovative sawmill, AKD showcased its new Horizontal Shaping Saw (HSS), an advanced saw line designed to process small and medium sawlogs more efficiently while delivering higher yields and more consistent throughput. The investment comes as the large-scale timber business continues to respond to the long-term impacts of the devastating 2020 bushfires, which affected a significant portion of the plantation estate that traditionally supplied the mill. With timber volumes expected to remain low while plantations regenerate, Australian-owned AKD is focused on improving reliability, lifting drying capability and strengthening infeed and sorting systems to ensure the operation remains internationally competitive. Over the past decade, the Tumut mill has processed an average of around 525,000 cubic metres of sawlogs annually, producing structural timber and value-added products used on building and construction sites across NSW. The changing supply environment has also created opportunities to source timber from outside traditional harvesting regions, with AKD using the broader Tumut-Gilmore network to maintain customer supply and adapt product lines to available fibre resources. AKD’s Gilmore facility, located about 10km from Tumut, has played an important role in supporting distribution and value-adding activities, helping AKD to continue servicing major retail demand while the main Tumut operation adapts to post-fire market conditions. Importantly, the Tumut mill remains a major employer in the region, directly employing around 160 permanent skilled workers, alongside contractors supporting maintenance, specialist projects and mill operations. “Our people are our lifeblood, and we have generations of staff who worked with us over many decades – it’s a real family-based company,” said Tumut Site Manager Rab Green. Across Australia, AKD employs more than 1100 workers as part of its integrated forestry and timber processing operations in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. AKD says maintaining sustainable regional employment is a priority, with ongoing in-vestment in training, apprenticeships and workforce development helping secure long-term career opportunities in timber manufacturing. The company has also focused on improving day-to-day operations through safer work practices, reduced manual handling, stronger quality control processes and improved operational reliability to minimise costly disruptions. Beyond the mill gates, AKD continues to support the wider regional community through local sporting sponsorships, school and training partnerships, emergency services support, local procurement and bushfire recovery initiatives. Some of these programs include sponsoring the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) mentoring program for young people, Tumut Basketball Association, local primary school netball uniform purchases and a local RFS donation for protective safety curtains. The company says strong community involvement remains an important part of building a long-term future for the forestry industry in a region that continues to recover and re-build following major fire seasons. AKD also encourages its teams to participate and proudly represent AKD in community activities and local events.

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The South Australian state government has invested a further $2.25 million into the Bedford Group’s Mount Gambier/Berrin timber mill site following its visit for the Country Cabinet. Source: The Border Watch The investment comes after Bedford faced risk of collapse before the state government took matters into its own hands. With an initial investment of $40 million to save the organisation, Bedford was then sold to The Disability Trust earlier this year. South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas spoke during the event at the Bedford Timber Mill in Mount Gambier/Berrin to celebrate the organisation’s continued partnership with the state government and The Disability Trust. “Bedford in a broad sense has probably impacted people’s lives in South Australia al-most as much as any other organisation I can think of,” Mr Malinauskas said. “At the heart of the work you do here, it is about providing everybody with the opportunity to enjoy and experience the dignity of work. “Too often we take for granted the power of this dignity, people often think about jobs, and they look at it through the context of economics or wages or being able to provide for a standard of living which is critical, but it sometimes overlooks where the real power of people utilising your labour lives. “The real power is the dignity it gives people and a sense of purpose and fellowship and every time I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to a Bedford facility and see this in person.” Mr Malinauskas said despite Bedford leaning more towards a federal government responsibility, it was “the right thing to do” to provide assistance during the organisation’s time of need. “I have seen the incredible joy that the friendships formed in organisations like this give people not just while they are at work, but while they are out of it too,” he said. “This is why when Bedford was at risk not too long ago, we as a government decided to step in and do something about it even if it isn’t something the state governments normally do with this kind of organisation because it’s principally a federal government responsibility.” “I will be honest with you; we are entering into this agreement but there still is a bit of an issue associated with the work being done in Mount Gambier and it requires another bit of effort in conjunction with The Disability Trust to see if we can’t solve this problem.” Mr Malinauskas said the work done with the Department of Human Services and the government prompted a further investment from the state government into the partnership with the Disability Trust and Bedford to ensure the Mount Gambier/Berrin facility lasted for the long term. “There are always decisions to be made in government and the choices about where to put your resources that will sometimes be controversial, but this is not one of them, it is a no brainer,” he said. “It gives us great confidence that this is going to be an enduring enterprise providing all the opportunities we believe in so much for the long term. Mr Malinauskas thanked the workers of the Mount Gambier/Berrin timber mill for their persistence, commitment and personality they provided for the community. “I want to thank the people who work here, you are great South Australians who are a source of inspiration to everybody,” he said. “I say this with the utmost sincerity because I have seen the reaction of the entire South Australian community when Bedford was first at risk. “They drew confidence and hope from you and the work you undertake and I hope you continue to enjoy this.”  

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Public claims that timber harvesting increases bushfire risk are based on narrow and contested evidence, and should not be generalised across Australia’s diverse forests, according to a new evidence review released by Forestry Australia. Source: Timberbiz The review, Contested Evidence About Timber Harvesting and Bushfire Risk in Australian Landscapes, examines claims that timber harvesting increases forest flammability and bushfire risk. It finds that many public claims rely on evidence from one particular forest type and management system – tall wet eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia that have been previously clearfelled and that these findings are often presented as though they apply universally across all Australian forests. Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said the review was developed to help clarify a complex and often misunderstood area of forest science. “Public discussion about timber harvesting and bushfire risk is often highly contested, and at times, confusing,” Dr Freeman said. “The purpose of this evidence review is to unpack the science. It looks carefully at what the evidence does and does not show, where research findings are contested, and why terminology matters when discussing bushfire risk, fire severity, flammability and fire intensity.” Dr Freeman said the diversity of Australia’s forests meant evidence could not be applied uniformly. “Australia’s forests are highly diverse. Evidence from one forest type, management system or landscape context should not be generalised across the country without careful qualification,” she said. “The review highlights that different forms of forest management can have very different outcomes, and that it is inappropriate to reduce complex forest and fire dynamics to a simple claim that timber harvesting always increases fire risk.” The review also highlights the importance of using fire terminology accurately. “Terms such as fire risk, fire severity, fire intensity and flammability have different meanings,” Dr Freeman said. “When these terms are used interchangeably, public under-standing suffers. Sound policy depends on precise language and careful interpretation of evidence.” The review notes that landscape-scale analyses of major bushfires, including the 2019-20 bushfires, have found that extreme fire weather and topography are dominant drivers of fire severity, while timber harvesting, stand age and land tenure have comparatively minor effects at landscape scales. It also notes that while young regrowth forests may experience higher site-level fire severity under some conditions, large areas of mature and old growth forests, including forests in conservation reserves where timber harvesting is excluded, have also burnt at high severity. Dr Freeman said Forestry Australia hoped the review would support a more informed and constructive public conversation. “Forestry Australia represents a large cohort of professionals with deep scientific and practical expertise in Australian forests,” Dr Freeman said. “Our role is not to prosecute simplistic arguments. Our role is to support evidence-based discussion, grounded in forest science, so that policy makers, media and the broader community can better understand what the research is actually saying. “Forests are central to some of the most important challenges facing Australia, including climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, bushfire resilience, regional livelihoods and sustainable resource use,” she said. “These issues deserve careful, evidence-based discussion. We encourage journalists, policy makers, community leaders and all those engaged in forest debates to read the review and consider the full body of evidence.” Download the review https://www.forestry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Evidence-Review-Contested-Evidence-Timber-Harvesting-Bushfire-Risk.pdf

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