Forest Products Industry

Seppi has released its new F50 turbo, the evolution of the Starforst, developed for professional mulching applications with tractors from 200 to 350 HP. Source: Timberbiz The new model introduces a series of updates and technical solutions affecting the machine frame, cutting rotor, drive system, tractor connection, and wear components. With working widths from 210 to 260 cm, the F50 turbo is designed for tractors with power ratings from 200 to 350 HP. The rotor can be equipped with 63-77 V-LOCK tools, while machine weight is around 3,400 kg, depending on configuration. The F50 turbo features a frame made from S420 steel, designed to provide high strength and durability. Internal wear components are made from AR400 wear-resistant steel; the complete shell around the rotor is bolted on and can be replaced easily when worn. The machine is also equipped with five rows of replaceable counter cutters to ensure the best shredding quality. The casing has an attractive and functional design, well-sealed against the entrance of debris and dust during work, but in case of maintenance easily accessible to reach the interior. The F50 turbo rotor comes standard with Mini duo V-lock tools, designed to be used in the usual land clearing application. For big diameter material, such as stumps and large-diameter wood, the machine can be equipped with the high-density rotor Opt 5578 Mono Hit V-lock tools where it develops a higher productivity. Special lateral tools called Extreme V-lock, in combination with the Duo Defender, protect the rotor on the extremes, where the wear conditions are always severe. One of the key features of the F50 turbo is its hydrodynamic coupling, which provides a smooth and progressive rotor start-up and decouples engine and rotor in the event of excessive power demand. M-TURBO helps to protect the tractor from torque peaks, by absorbing impact loads caused by sudden stumps and hard material. The tractor will never stall. The guide skids have also been redesigned. They are individually adjustable to several positions and feature a new replaceable wear sole, to minimize the cost of the wear exposed components.

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Indonesia’s 2026 wildfires have raised concerns about the availability of wood fibre for its pulp mills. As Indonesia is a major pulp producer and ex-porter, the wildfires could have a broad impact. Source: Resource Wise Although there has been no confirmed widespread damage to commercial pulpwood plantations, the fires are raging amid high demand from the industry for more wood fibre. This raises a pressing question for buyers and producers across Asia: can a market already strained by limited fibre supply withstand a major disruption? Indonesia produces approximately 11 million metric tons of pulp a year, making it one of the world’s largest producers. As Indonesia’s pulp output has grown substantially over the past decade, the industry’s demand for pulpwood has increased. The availability of wood fibre has become an increasingly important issue for Indonesian mills. This year’s fires add to the uncertainty for producers securing pulpwood, and ultimately for customers who depend on their pulp. Since they began early this year, the fires have swept through several regions connected to pulpwood sourcing. Major Indonesian pulp producers have strengthened fire prevention and response efforts. As of mid-September, however, there was no confirmed widespread destruction of their commercial acacia and eucalyptus plantations. Whether that situation changes is central to the market outlook. Any significant loss of usable pulpwood could force some reduction in pulp production. Indonesia’s Forestry Minister has stated that the wildfires could go on until early November. The ministry has also cautioned that satellite hotspots are indications of heat, not confirmed individual fires. Peat fires can continue burning below the surface after visible hotspots decline, and conditions on the ground require verification. For pulp buyers, the key question is whether the fires are affecting timber plantations and the fibre flows that supply operating mills. Indonesia’s expanding pulp industry was already placing greater demands on domestic wood fibre supplies before this fire season. Mills need enough fibre to support current output while preparing for additional capacity. If domestic supply becomes harder to secure, producers may seek more imported woodchips. That could help sustain pulp production, but it would also increase their exposure to import availability, higher input costs, and competition for fibre from other buyers. The fires warrant attention even before a major plantation loss or mill curtailment is confirmed because they could compound an existing supply challenge. Buyers could seek replacement hardwood pulp from other suppliers, potentially changing trade flows and putting pressure on prices in markets that rely on Indonesian output. China, for example, is a major destination for Indonesian pulp. A price response is not inevitable or necessarily immediate. Buyers and producers will be watching whether fire exposure turns into measurable changes in fibre procurement, mill operations, and pulp shipments. Demand and available supply from other producing regions will also shape the outcome. The signals to monitor are confirmation of any significant wildfire damage to pulpwood sourcing areas, changes in woodchip imports, reported fibre constraints, and any adjustments to mill production. ResourceWise’s latest Market Insights report, Wildfires Heighten Wood Fiber Supply Risks in Indonesia, looks more closely at where Indonesia’s wildfire risk intersects with pulpwood supply. It examines the country’s growing fibre needs, the role of imported woodchips, and the conditions under which a domestic supply issue could reach the wider hardwood pulp market. The report can be downloaded here.  

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This year’s harvest is expected to be 2.4 million cubic metres lower than the harvest in 2025. This is shown by a new forecast from the Swedish Forest Agency. If the forecast is correct, it is the lowest level in almost 15 years. Source: Timberbiz Swedish logging has decreased for several years in a row, and this trend seems to continue. You need to go back to 2012 to find a logging level as low as the forecast shows for 2026, says Jonas Paulsson, statistician at the Swedish Forest Agency. The forecast shows that gross felling in 2026 is estimated to be approximately 84.6 million cubic metres of forest. This is a decrease of 3% compared with 2025, when felling was 87.0 million cubic metres. The estimated decrease is explained by changes in wood supply and industry’s need for wood raw material. The 2026 harvest has also been affected by changed wood flows as a result of the disposal of trees that fell in storms Johannes and Dave. The harvesting of softwood sawn timber is estimated to decrease by 1.3 million cubic metres, which corresponds to a decrease of 4% compared with 2025. This year’s production of sawn timber in the Swedish forest industry is expected to decrease by 4.5%, but as exports of sawn timber are expected to increase, the result is that domestic felling of sawn timber will not decrease to the same extent. This year’s pulpwood harvesting is expected to decrease by 0.8 million cubic metres, which corresponds to a decrease of 2% compared with 2025. Pulpwood harvesting is decreasing even though the forest industry’s pulp production is estimated to be relatively unchanged in 2025. The pulp industry’s need for wood raw material is expected to be maintained through inventory reductions and imports. The Swedish Forestry Agency’s forecast is based, among other things, on assessments of how production will develop in the Swedish sawmill industry and in the pulp and paper industry. “The current market situation, external factors and changed raw material flows as a result of storms Johannes and Dave have made this year’s forecast more uncertain than in previous years,” said Mr Paulsson. Gross felling refers to the total volume of trunks harvested, including what is left in the forest. It is measured in forest cubic metres (m3), which means the trunk volume above the stump cut, including the top and bark.

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Since 2020, OneFortyOne NZ Forests has supported kea conservation projects through its partnership with the Kea Conservation Trust. During that time, the focus of the work has evolved from understanding how kea use plantation forests to investigating the threats they face within those landscapes and exploring practical ways to improve their long-term survival. Source: Timberbiz Over six years, the work has covered: understanding interactions between kea and forestry operations, including developing guidelines for forestry operations in kea habitat and identifying opportunities to work with plantation forestry crews to reduce conflict and support coexistence, understanding how kea use plantation forests, building knowledge about their behaviour, movements, nesting and food sources, investigating the threats kea face within plantation landscapes, particularly introduced predators, and how forestry management can help improve outcomes for the species.   The result is a better understanding of how forestry crews can work alongside kea, a much clearer picture of how plantation forests fit within the wider landscape used by kea and the role forestry can play in supporting their conservation. Kea are one of New Zealand’s most recognisable native birds, known for their intelligence, curiosity and adaptability. However, they are also nationally endangered, with populations facing ongoing pressure from introduced predators, habitat change and interactions with people. While kea are often associated with alpine and native forest environments, relatively little was known about their use of plantation forests when OneFortyOne first partnered with the Kea Conservation Trust. Forestry workers regularly reported sightings, but there was limited scientific evidence showing how these landscapes fitted into the birds’ wider ecology. Research led by Lincoln University researcher Jodanne Aitken began in 2020 and sought to better understand how kea use plantation forests in the Nelson Tasman region. Using GPS tracking, field observations and diet analysis, the research showed that kea were regular users of plantation forests rather than occasional visitors. The study found that kea used plantation forests for feeding and movement throughout the forest landscape. Researchers observed birds feeding on pine seed, huhu grubs and other invertebrates, demonstrating that plantation forests provide resources that kea actively utilise. The research also showed how plantation and native forests function together as part of a wider habitat network used by kea. These findings challenged assumptions about kea habitat use and confirmed that plantation forests can play an important role within the landscapes occupied by kea. Alongside the ecological research, the program also helped improve understanding of how forestry operations and kea can coexist. Kea are notorious for investigating machinery, vehicles and equipment, which can sometimes create challenges on operational sites. Over the years, researchers worked alongside forestry staff and contractors, sharing information about kea behaviour and providing practical advice to help reduce interactions. While conflict management was never the focus of a dedicated research project, it remained an important part of the partnership. According to Aitken, one of the positive outcomes has been the willingness of forestry crews to support conservation efforts despite the challenges that can arise when kea are present on site. “The crews still see the joy in having kea at their sites, even though not all parts of them being there are ideal. The crews have been really good to work with.” The OneFortyOne partnership with the Kea Conservation Trust also supported the development of the Kea Guidelines for Plantation Forestry, helping other forestry companies manage kea habitat and interactions within plantation forests. The guidelines recognise that many kea encountered on forestry sites are juvenile birds, which often gather in groups and are more likely to investigate machinery, vehicles and other equipment. The partnership has also supported practical innovation in the field. In recent years, trial work has explored deterrent devices designed to discourage kea from approaching machinery and equipment, providing additional tools to help reduce conflict while protecting bird welfare. As knowledge of kea behaviour grew, so too did understanding of the opportunities plantation forests provide. Kea proved highly adaptable birds capable of finding food and moving through a range of habitats. Plantation forests are now recognised as part of the broader habitat mosaic used by kea in the top of the South Island. As researchers spent more time monitoring kea within plantation forests, they began observing signs that introduced predators may pose a greater threat to kea than previously understood. During her fieldwork, Aitken encountered evidence of possible cat predation on kea and began noticing signs that predator pressure may be influencing kea survival within plantation forests. These observations prompted a shift in focus. Rather than continuing to concentrate solely on where kea occur and how they use plantation forests, researchers began investigating the factors that may influence their survival. The presence of predators raised questions about what was happening to kea once they were there. “There’s no point in continuously counting these birds or recording their diet if they’re actually just getting nailed by predators. That’s the system we need to understand better if we want to do good by kea,” Aitken said. Work led by researcher Corey Mosen provided a bridge between Aitken’s earlier habitat-use research and the current predator programme. Monitoring undertaken in 2024 confirmed that cats and other predators were common within plantation forests, with feral cats recorded at five of the six sites monitored. The findings suggested that kea nesting within these areas would likely be vulnerable to predation and disturbance. In 2025/26, the research focus narrowed to a catchment within OneFortyOne’s estate where kea had been consistently observed. Trail cameras and traps were deployed throughout the catchment to better understand predator activity and explore what predator management could look like within an actively managed plantation forest. OneFortyOne supported feral cat and stoat control within the catchment, resulting in the removal of twelve feral cats from the study area. The project provided a clearer picture of predator activity while demonstrating what predator management could look like within a commercial forestry environment. Future recommendations include continuing predator control and monitoring, while exploring what a larger-scale predator management programme could look like within plantation […]

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The 2026 Forestry Australia Symposium will close with a panel about what comes next for Australian forestry, and registrations are still open. Source: Timberbiz More than 250 delegates will be in Canberra in under a fortnight for the 2026 Forestry Australia Symposium, and the program builds towards a single question: where does Australian forestry go next? That question belongs to the closing plenary on Thursday 8 October, Taking the Forestry Story Forward: What’s Next? Five of the profession’s most experienced figures will use it to map the decade ahead, and the floor gets its turn in an open question and answer session. The morning before it looks the other way, with a panel on lessons from the past. On the panel are Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman, who also appears in that morning session; Bob Gordon, inaugural chair of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) and a former Forestry Australia president; Jenna Hammond from Private Forests Tasmania; Leon Holt from Forestry Australia; and Dr Robert Waterworth from FLINTpro and AFWI. Underneath it all sits this year’s theme, The forestry story: strategies for improved awareness, social licence and effective engagement. Forestry Australia puts the stakes well past the forest gate, in housing, farm incomes, trade, security, climate adaptation and nature repair. Its position is that without successful forestry, Australia cannot meet its goals. Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin put it plainly in May. “Social licence is not something our sector can take for granted. It depends on a genuine connection, trust, accountability and a shared commitment to the long-term stewardship of Australia’s forests,” she said. Symposium convenor and forester Matt de Jongh, said communication has been unfinished business for decades. “As a proud forester, this has been an issue for the forestry sector for a long time, and it is great that Forestry Australia is playing a lead role in addressing effective communication,” he said. “It is an honour to be the convenor for the Symposium, but my job is made easy by the hard work, dedication and support of the Forestry Australia staff and the event organising committee.” The program opens on Wednesday 7 October with Prof Stan Grant, announced in May as the headline act. A three-time Walkley Award winner, former senior CNN correspondent and Professor of Journalism at Monash University, Grant speaks on the nature of public debate: social licence, media and contentious issues. Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, takes Thursday’s keynote. Much of the rest of the program comes from outside forestry, with speakers drawn from salmon, farming, mining, energy and politics. Dr Tyron Venn of The University of Queensland makes the Wednesday case for why forestry matters so much to Australia. “The Symposium has so many great sessions, and it is pleasing to have so many speakers and attendees who work outside of forestry, bringing their perspectives,” Mr de Jongh said. Pushed to name a favourite, Mr de Jongh chose Breakout 4, A Stronger Forestry Narrative: Shared Concepts and Adapted Messages, a facilitated workshop built for communication, marketing and engagement professionals. “I am passionate about communicating the positive benefits of forestry, and this session will provide some valuable learnings, not only for dedicated marketing and communications experts, but others who want to learn about adapting the forestry narrative,” he said. AFWI turns up repeatedly. Beyond Gordon and Waterworth on the closing panel, it supports Breakout 1 on First Nations knowledge, leadership, enterprise and engagement, where AFWI’s Tolita Davis-Angeles is among the speakers. Breakout 2, Planting the Seed, hands the floor to the next generation, with Mia Cassidy from Hurford Hardwoods, Kate Battishall from the Forest Education Foundation and Paul McCartan from Ryde Secondary College. Thursday finishes with the Symposium Dinner at the National Arboretum. Friday 9 October brings five field trips, running from urban forestry in Canberra to alpine ash and snow gums under a new climate. The symposium builds on Forestry Australia’s 2025 conference in Adelaide and the 2024 symposium in Ballarat. MORE INFORMATION Registration: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/registration/ Program: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/program/ Field trips: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/field-trips/

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Kaingaroa Tipu has revealed details of a NZ$2 million partnership agreement with Hawke’s Bay-based Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust (FLRT) to support long-term ecological restoration and protection across 11,359 hectares of indigenous forest in inland Hawke’s Bay, mid-way between Taupō and Napier in New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz The partnership is based on an initial 10-year commitment that will give the time needed to prove significant improvements in forest health and species recovery. Both organisations have agreed to a formal progress review after five years, with the possibility of extending the collaboration further. It is formalised through a comprehensive 10-year ecological management plan (2026-2036) that unites the proven conservation expertise of the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust with the extensive operational resources of Kaingaroa Tipu. Together, the organisations will manage ecological and environmental restoration work on the Trust’s Pohokura property north of the Napier-Taupo Highway, ensuring the preservation of one of the region’s most significant natural assets. Pohokura is a site of exceptional ecological value, featuring an uninterrupted sequence of indigenous vegetation progressing from lowland to subalpine bioclimatic zones. It serves as an important ecological corridor within the mountain ranges of the central North Island and provides critical habitat for many threatened and at-risk species of plants and animals. The partners will implement an ambitious work program designed to enhance the site’s status as an area of High Conservation Value. Priorities include: Intensive Pest Management: Expanding the existing predator control network to cover nearly 90% of the property. This includes the installation and maintenance of over 500 DOC 250 traps and additional Sentinel possum traps to protect vulnerable fauna such as the North Island brown kiwi (eastern form), whio (blue duck), and kākāriki. Threatened Species Recovery: Continuation of the highly successful kiwi restoration project, which has already seen over 300 birds released at Pohokura. The plan also focuses on the recovery of the nationally threatened Pittosporum turneri (Turner’s kohuhu), in conjunction with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, with new deer exclusion fencing and propagation programmes aimed at bolstering population numbers. Ecosystem Protection: Active control of invasive pest plants, including wilding conifers and gorse, to protect critically endangered frost flat ecosystems – an uncommon habitat type that requires rigorous protection to survive. Research and Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring of indigenous biodiversity, including surveys for long-tailed and short-tailed bats, terrestrial invertebrates and freshwater fish populations, ensuring that management decisions are guided by the best available science.   This strategic alliance is a cornerstone of Kaingaroa Tipu’s broader sustainability strategy. As the manager of approximately 200,000 hectares of plantation in the central North Island, the forestry management company is committed to maintaining Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. This requires that natural areas within forestry management units be managed for conservation purposes to reflect the diversity of local habitats. “Pohokura represents a significant opportunity to enhance our ecological footprint,” said Colin Maunder, Kaingaroa Tipu’s General Manager of Sustainability. “By partnering with the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust, we are not only meeting our FSC requirements but actively contributing to the restoration of this country’s indigenous biodiversity on a landscape scale.” The Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust has been at the forefront of private conservation in New Zealand since 2006. With a proven track record in restoration initiatives across 23,000 hectares, the Trust’s deep understanding of the Pohokura landscape, gained through decades of on-the-ground management, will ensure the partnership delivers tangible, long-term results. “We are delighted and very grateful to welcome Kaingaroa Tipu as our partner in this vital work,” said Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust Chair Simon Hall. “Our goal has always been to achieve the maximum amount of ecological restoration possible in the most cost-effective way. This partnership provides the stability and resources needed to scale up our efforts, ensuring that the work we started nearly two decades ago will continue to have an impact for generations to come.” Mr Maunder described the partnership as a promise to the future of New Zealand’s natural heritage. “By combining corporate responsibility with dedicated conservation action, the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust and Kaingaroa Tipu are setting a new standard for collaborative environmental stewardship in Aotearoa.”

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The Pentarch Forestry Mill in Kyogle, New South Wales, is closing at the end of October, and 25 workers will be made redundant. Five Pentarch staff will stay on to decommission the Summerland Way site and make it safe – this will take about a month. Source: IndyNR It’s a huge blow for a town the size of Kyogle to lose that many jobs in one go. (There is some confusion between the union and other reports on whether 25 or 31 workers are being laid off as the five staying on may have been counted twice). The Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) NSW secretary Alison Rudman blames the layoffs on the State Government decision to create the Great Koala National Park. “The wood supply stopped the day the koala park was announced on Father’s Day, 2025,” Ms Rudman said. The picture may be more complicated. Pentarch reported log shortfalls at its Koolkhan mill six months before the moratorium. If the mill closure is a result of the government’s moratorium on timber harvesting within the proposed park boundary – the moratorium covers 176,000 hectares of state forest from Kempsey to Grafton – it means a government support package for the laid off workers. IndyNR.com has asked State MP Janelle Saffin and Pentarch Head Office for comment. Pentarch Head Office said it was unable to assist with our enquiry at this time when we asked questions about the Kyogle closure. That’s a no comment from them at a time when information is needed. Ms Rudman confirmed that the support package for Kyogle redundancies will be handled by the government. The government redundancy package includes four weeks of base pay for each year of employment with an impacted mill capped at $150,000. This amount includes the employer’s own redundancy payment; it isn’t paid on top of it. The package includes extra for workers over 45 with three more weeks of pay for every year of service after age 45, capped at $50,000 and calculated separately from the top-up. Other offers include retraining money up to $9,000 and a relocation amount up to $45,000 for workers who move more than 50 kilometres for a new job. The package covers North Coast workers (full-time, part-time or casual) who were employed on September 7, 2025, and are made redundant by March 7, 2027. However, eligibility to this package also depends on the employer being a wood supply agreement holder with demonstrated impacts from the moratorium. Each worker needs a separation certificate or a letter from the employer saying the redundancy was because of the Great Koala National Park moratorium. So whether Kyogle workers get the government money depends largely on how Pentarch describes the reason for the closure. The package was originally framed around the six mills directly affected by the moratorium. When the State Government imposed a temporary moratorium on timber harvesting within the proposed park boundary from September 8 last year, it said it would affect six of more than 25 mills in the region and about 300 jobs. In early July this year, Pentarch closed one of its mills at Herons Creek, south west of Port Macquarie, with then Pentarch director Stephen Dadd saying the operation had been running on stockpiles that had now run out. In March last year, 38 workers were stood down at Pentarch’s Koolkhan sawmill near Grafton. At the time Pentarch cited a shortfall in logs from Forestry Corporation. Kyogle sits well north of the Great Koala Park. Pentarch clearly runs a sizeable operation at 13056 Summerland Way and as recently as April this year it was still advertising permanent roles at the Kyogle sawmill. Information about the closure is still coming in and IndyNR.com will update and offer more stories on this news that will affect all of Kyogle, not only the workers who are laid off. According to the 2021 Census, the town of Kyogle had a population of 2804 and the wider Kyogle Council area had 9359 people.

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A Canberra company has shuttered its 62-year-old timber truss and frame manufacturing unit due to a perfect storm of market, economic and cost pressures. Source: Region CRT Building Products announced it would no longer produce timber trusses and frames at its Mitchell factory for Canberra home builders, sparking fears, fuelled by a misleading social media post from Opposition Leader Mark Parton, that the business itself was closing. The “structured exit” would mean the loss of 20 jobs, but general manager Richard Gianatti stressed that this was only one part of the business, which still employed more than 30 people, had a long history and still had a long future ahead of it. “It was a decision not taken lightly because we’ve been in that industry since 1964,” Mr Gianatti said. “It’s a commercial decision we made so as not to put the business into distress because we just didn’t see that [side of the business] was going to be profitable.” A combination of the ongoing high cost of timber, competition from cheaper steel products, and a downturn in standalone home construction forced the company’s hand. Mr Gianatti said the industry has never recovered from the 2019 bushfires, which wiped out pine plantations and sent timber costs through the roof. The post-COVID construction boom that peaked in 2022 generated sufficient demand to absorb that higher cost, but since then rising inflation and interest rate rises have eroded housing affordability and dampened demand for new detached homes. At the same time, the ACT Government wound back land releases for standalone housing and the market favoured high-rise residential towers that, of course, had no use for timber trusses or frames. Mr Gianatti said the government was trying to keep land prices at the peak, but people couldn’t afford it. “You pay $700,000 or whatever for a tiny block, you’ve got to at least spend that building on it, and people say ‘I can’t get the money, I don’t see the value’,” he said. Mr Gianatti said standalone housing and townhouses were the company’s bread and butter, and while the former had slowed, the latter had dropped off significantly. The Federal Government’s tax changes in the last budget also hadn’t helped. “It might be well-intentioned but possibly timed pretty poorly on the back of everything else,” Mr Gianatti said. As if that wasn’t enough, the switch to cheaper steel along with cut-rate supply and install packages meant timber could not compete. Canberra used to be a 95 per cent timber frame and truss market, but two large steel players now operated in the Territory that didn’t exist in 2019. Mr Gianatti said the business was unlikely to restart the timber frame and truss operation even if conditions improved. It needed to sell the equipment and repurpose the large shed housing it. But CRT Building Products was still a substantial business and had plans to expand, Mr Gianatti said. It had its own steel operation, Steeline Canberra, and was probably the biggest manufacturer of Colorbond roofing, guttering and fencing products in Canberra, as well as sheds. It also dealt in other products such as insulation. “We’re a Canberra success story,” Mr Gianatti said. “The other side of the business is strong and will continue.” CRT’s decision comes as confidence across the ACT property industry fell to the lowest level in Australia, with new survey results highlighting growing concerns about future investment, project activity and economic conditions. The latest Procore/Property Council Confidence Survey shows the ACT’s confidence index has fallen to 55.6, well below the neutral benchmark of 100 and the lowest result recorded by any Australian jurisdiction. Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the results were a wake-up call for policymakers about the importance of maintaining a competitive and investment-friendly environment. “The property sector wants to invest in Canberra, build the homes our growing city needs and create jobs, but this survey shows confidence has been significantly shaken,” Ms Berry said. Ms Berry said the findings reflect growing concern about the cumulative impact of costs, regulation and uncertainty on development feasibility.

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A Victorian timber wholesaler and importer, Bayswood Timber Wholesalers Pty Ltd, has paid a penalty of $19,800 for making allegedly false or misleading statements about the suitability of its timber to be used in certain building applications in defined bushfire-prone areas. Source: Timberbiz The ACCC issued Bayswood with an infringement notice after investigating concerns that Bayswood marketed its Meranti timber product as having a certain density and being suitable for defined bushfire-prone areas. In fact, the Meranti timber was insufficiently dense to meet the density requirements for the stated bushfire standard for some building applications. Making false or misleading statements about features such as the quality or composition of goods is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law. “It is important that businesses supplying timber for use in bushfire-prone areas understand the timber’s properties and ensure any claims they make about the timber are accurate,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said. “It is crucial that builders and homeowners can rely on the accuracy of claims about building products, including because they may need to use timbers with certain characteristics to comply with building standards.” The Australian Standard 3959-2018 for ‘Construction for buildings in bushfire-prone areas’ requires timber used in those areas to have a specified minimum density depending on how it is used, for example in window assemblies, door frames and external cladding. These minimum density requirements are important to ensure buildings have proper resistance to bushfire attack. Construction requirements are categorised by ‘Bushfire Attack Levels’ or ‘BALs’, starting from ‘BAL-LOW’ and ‘BAL-12.5’ for lower-risk areas, and increasing to ‘BAL-19’ and ‘BAL-FZ’ for the high-risk areas. During October 2025, Bayswood provided a price list to its customers stating that its Meranti timber had a density of 400kg per cubic metre, and representing it was suitable for use in building applications where ‘BAL-12.5’ specifies a minimum timber density requirement. However, the ACCC alleges that Bayswood’s Meranti timber was not suitable for BAL-12.5 applications which specify a minimum density requirement, such as door frames, or for window assemblies or external cladding which were less than 400mm from the ground. During its investigation, the ACCC engaged with other timber suppliers about potentially misleading BAL claims regarding their timber products. These traders promptly changed their public material to remove the concerning BAL claims. The ACCC understands that timbers of the same species but sourced from different locations can have different densities due to the different growing conditions. This may affect whether a certain timber product meets the minimum density requirements under the applicable BAL-rating of the Australian Standard. “We are concerned that it is possible that some builders may have inadvertently used timber that did not meet building standards when they relied on the statements made by timber suppliers,” Mr Keogh said. “While the ACCC’s involvement in this matter has been as the consumer regulator, we understand that this issue may raise concerns for homeowners and builders. We have informed state and territory building regulators of the results of our investigation, so they can assist consumers with concerns about individual building projects,” Mr Keogh said. “Many areas in Australia are not bushfire-prone and therefore not subject to these timber density requirements.” The National Construction Code incorporates the Australian ‘Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas’ Standard. The Standard is included in state and territory planning and building legislation and regulations. Therefore, anyone building in designated bushfire-prone areas must comply with the Standard as part of their building permits. The Standard outlines minimum density requirements for timber used in particular parts of a building, such as window assemblies and door frames, as denser timber is better for resisting ember attack. These construction requirements are important to ensure buildings have proper resistance to bushfire attack. They only apply to buildings in bushfire-prone areas. Construction requirements are informed by the location’s ‘Bushfire Attack Levels’, or BAL. The BAL is an Australian standard system that measures a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat, and direct flame contact. It determines the minimum density requirements for timber to be used in specific parts of a building in that location. The BAL ratings range from the lowest level of ‘BAL-LOW’ and the second lowest of ‘BAL-12.5’ where the risk is primarily from embers during a fire, to the highest level of ‘BAL-FZ’ for the most-at-risk areas.

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Entries have closed for the 2026 Timber Design Awards, and the judges have settled on their finalists – leading the way is Flooded Gums, a one-bedroom cabin designed by Marker Architecture for a farming property at Millers Forest, north-west of Newcastle. Source: Timberbiz In all, 36 projects share 45 finalist places across the 11 categories judged by the panel, with the People’s Choice and the Grand Prix completing the 13 awards to be presented in Sydney on Wednesday 21 October. With less than four weeks to go, more than 85% of tickets to the gala dinner have been sold. Flooded Gums sits on what was once a horse dressage area, on a plain bounded by the Hunter and Williams rivers, and Marker raised it on stilts and a formed-earth and gabion embankment to withstand a 100-year flood, with a timber bridge back to the main house. Its structure is recycled hardwood, left exposed as a grid against thermally treated cladding outside and spotted gum ply linings inside, for owners who asked for a building their family would still be using generations from now. Because the Grand Prix is drawn from the category winners, at least one project leaves the gala holding two awards every year, and Kylan Low, the Timber Development Association structural engineer who is organising this year’s program, says three would be a first in his memory. The People’s Choice adds one more award to the night, with more than 2,000 votes cast before the poll closed on 4 September and every project entered in the running, and its winner will be revealed alongside the category winners. Sustainability is the largest shortlist this year, with six finalists, including Putty Passiv, along-side five projects that are also finalists in another category. Joining them are some of the most celebrated timber projects of the past year, the Sydney Fish Market in Commercial Building, the Cutaway at Barangaroo in Fitout Commercial and Public, the West Gate Tunnel in Public Building and the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in Sports and Recreation, on a list that runs from a grain-matched record unit and a lamella chair to a harbourside market. The 2026 finalists EXCELLENCE IN TIMBER DESIGN Residential Class 1, New Building Enclave House, Flooded Gums, Gingkin, Leura Tree Haven Residential Class 1, Alterations and Additions Wilsons Cottage, Not Firewood, Princes Hill House Fitout, Residential Flooded Gums, Babylonia, Bank Street House Commercial Building Sydney Fish Market, Gosford Central, Optus O Pavilion, Grace Village ELC Public Building Hoskins Building, The Forest, Tonsley Technical College, West Gate Tunnel Fitout, Commercial and Public The Cutaway Barangaroo, 500 Bourke St, Aesop Canberra Centre, Bunjil Wellbeing Place Furniture and Joinery Curved Grainmatched Record Unit, ANZAC Park East Concierge Desks, Reclaim Mosaico, The Lamella Chair Sports and Recreation Dendy Beach Pavilion and Brighton SLC, Adelaide Aquatic Centre, John Paul College, Roleystone Community College   EXCELLENCE IN THE USE OF TIMBER PRODUCTS Recycled Timber Wilsons Cottage, Batten House, Aesop Canberra Centre, Birkenstock at the Maltstore, Flooded Gums Australian Certified Timber Ora House, Swift Walk Arcade, CIT Woden, The Foundation Tree Sustainability Hoskins Building, Ora House, Tonsley Technical College, The Forest, Enclave House, Putty Passiv

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Since 2023, teams from across the globe have competed in the US$11 million XPRIZE Wildfire Competition to transform how we detect and respond to wildfires through technological innovation. Source: Timberbiz As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity worldwide, XPRIZE Wildfire has incentivized innovation in firefighting technologies to help end destructive wildfires so humanity and beneficial wildfires can safely coexist. Teams competed across two complementary tracks, Space-Based Wildfire Detection & Intelligence and Autonomous Wildfire Response. Track A challenged teams to utilize space-based Earth Observation data synthesized with artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect, characterize and report wildfires faster and more accurately across vast landscapes. XPRIZE awarded US$1.05 million across five Track A teams, recognizing meaningful advances in space-based wildfire detection and intelligence. Judges recognized progress in multi-sensor system integration, detection methodology, commercial readiness, operational capabilities, and innovative algorithms. The results also helped identify key technical gaps that must be addressed to enable reliable, real-time wildfire detection from space. Track A: Space-Based Wildfire Detection & Intelligence First Place _ System Integration Awardee, US$500,000: SIRIUS Wildfire Alliance demonstrated comprehensive end-to-end and system integration methodology, integrating SAR and optical data to support fire characterization and spread modelling. Second Place – Methodological Innovation Awardee, US$250,000: Team Snuffed developed a probabilistic data-fusion framework designed to provide transparent, auditable and uncertainty-aware wildfire detection, with strong firefighter-facing usability. Special Recognition, Commercial Viability, US$100,000: MyRadar As a commercially mature team, MyRadar utilized upstream satellite acquisition and demonstrated spatial precision. Special Recognition, Operational Deliverable, US$100,000: DeepFire demonstrated an operational fire-spread-alert capability designed to support wildfire detection and intelligence. Special Recognition, Innovative Algorithm Application, US$100,000: Mayday.AI applied an algorithm originally developed for volcanic-ash detection to identify wildfire smoke plumes through cloud cover.   Track B: Autonomous Wildfire Response In June 2026, Autonomous Wildfire Response competitors put their solutions to the test in the Alaskan wilderness. Teams were challenged to autonomously detect and completely suppress a high-risk fire within 10 minutes of ignition across 1,000 km² of challenging terrain, without disturbing nearby decoy fires. The XPRIZE Wildfire Judging Panel awarded US$2.5 million across three Track B Finalist teams, recognizing distinct breakthroughs across the autonomous wild-fire response cycle: First Place Awardee, US$1.2 Million: Anduril Industries. Anduril’s modular Lattice software platform provided a detection-to-suppression integrated pathway for cameras, sensors, and drones. Second Place Awardee, US$800,000: Dryad Networks. Dryad’s Silvanet, a 170-sensor persistent field network, combined with their Silvaguard drones, demonstrated end-to-end autonomy. Third Place Awardee, US$500,000: AURA Foresight. AURA successfully demonstrated autonomous and persistent detection, meeting the critical 10-minute detection gate. Lockheed Martin Accurate Detection & Intelligence Bonus Prize, $US1,000,000: Anduril Industries. Recognized for their rapid and precise multi-sensor detector performance.  

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Researchers at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, have tested a compact, flexible, and cost-effective floor slab system for multi-story timber buildings. The “UniversalTimberSlab” (one word) is scheduled to be installed soon at the “Zukunftsforum” in the German town of Oberkochen. Source: Timberbiz Reinforced concrete floor slabs account for about 40% of buildings’ embodied carbon emissions. However, until now, there has been no practical alternative for complex, multi-story buildings. Using a construction demonstrator, researchers at the University of Stuttgart have now shown for the first time how floor slabs can be built sustainably from an innovative timber-concrete composite system. The demonstrator, which was tested in June as part of the Future Cleantech Festival in Remscheid, showcases “UniversalTimberSlab” – the first point-supported timber-concrete composite flat slab for two-way long spans. “With the UniversalTimberSlab, we aim to make multi-story timber-concrete composite construction significantly more flexible, performative, and adaptable. The demonstrator is the result of several years of research at the University of Stuttgart and is based on innovative digital design and manufacturing methods,” said Professor Achim Menges, director of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence “Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Transformative Architecture” (IntCDC). “UniversalTimberSlab” is as slender and performative as a reinforced concrete slab, but significantly more sustainable. This system largely relies on wood, a renewable resource, material-efficient construction, and circular design. Compared with conventional post-and-beam timber floor slab systems, which require deep beams for larger two-way spans, the compact “UniversalTimberSlab” reduces the structural height by 30 to 70 centimetres – a significant cost advantage: With the same floor-to-ceiling height, a building can accommodate more stories, and the fa-cade area is reduced by up to 20%. “UniversalTimberSlab” also sets entirely new standards for design possibilities in timber construction. The structural system is based on point supports, meaning that the building loads are transferred through columns that can be spaced relatively far apart. Load-bearing partition walls are not required; walls can be arranged freely as needed. In mixed-use buildings, this allows for flexible layouts tailored to retail, dining, offices, and residential spaces. In addition, floor plans can be easily reconfigured at a later date, if the building is to be repurposed. The novel floor slab could thus help promote the further spread of timber construction in inner-city areas. In timber construction, larger slabs are divided into individual prefabricated elements. While these elements and their supports previously had to be arranged along rigid grids for technical reasons, the “UniversalTimberSlab” system now makes it possible to also build regular and irregular floor slab geometries. The principle is based on a new, patent-pending segmentation method. Glued-laminated timber segments with straight laminations that are easy to prefabricate ensure cost efficiency. The fibres in the floor slab are arranged to follow the force flow to optimize the system’s load-bearing capacity. The project also developed new digital design methods for timber buildings: During the planning phase, AI-powered tools generate detailed models for numerous floor plan and building variations and assist with design optimization. For example, if a planner moves a column, the impact of that action on costs, slab height, and sustainability can be immediately shown. “What was particularly exciting for us was that the first load test wasn’t conducted in the lab, but in front of the approximately 200 visitors at the Future Cleantech Festival in Remscheid. This made it possible to verify the load-bearing capacity required for construction under real-world conditions,” said Professor Jan Knippers, director of the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE). For the structural test, the team built a 9 x 5 meters full-scale demonstrator of the floor slab with a two-way span of 8 x 4 meters in just three months. At just 36 cm, it was as thin as a reinforced concrete slab of equivalent load and span yet required about two-thirds less reinforced concrete. As a preliminary step, the researchers performed computer-aided calculations – so-called FEM simulations – to investigate how the floor slab structure deforms and vibrates under load. In the structural test, the demonstrator was loaded with a total of 20 metric tons in addition to its own weight. This made it possible to test the load-bearing capacity for a heavily used office building with finish loads of 1.4 kN/m² and a live load of 3.0 kN/m². The measurements confirmed the simulations, with a maximum deformation of only 12 mm. With a natural frequency of over 8 Hz – that is, eight oscillations per second – the floor slab met the requirements for multi-story buildings in terms of deflection and vibration. With the successful feasibility test, the researchers have reached a crucial milestone on the path to the widespread use of the “UniversalTimberSlab” in multi-story wood construction. “The system builds on the existing manufacturing expertise of the wood construction industry. This means it has the potential to be rapidly deployed in larger construction projects once further development work is successfully completed,” said Hans Jakob Wagner, group leader at the ICD and head of the EIC Pathfinder project The first pilot building is already in the works: The town of Oberkochen in the German state of Baden-Württemberg is planning the “Zukunftsforum,” a three-story, 1,400 m² building constructed using the innovative “UniversalTimberSlab” method. The building is intended to house exhibitions, workspaces, makerspaces, workshops, and laboratories.

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Data, traceability, and digital tools were a central focus of discussions between FSC, certification bodies (CBs), training providers, and Assurance Services International (ASI) at the Annual FSC-CB Meeting, held in Cologne, Germany, from 15 to 17 September. Source: Timberbiz The event brought together around 200 professionals. Representatives of the FSC Indigenous Foundation and Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee also attended, bringing Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives to discussions about applicable auditing practices. The Annual FSC-CB Meeting is an important forum for FSC, ASI, training providers, Indigenous Peoples, and certification bodies to align on evolving certification requirements, emerging assurance topics, and implementation challenges, as well as to exchange practical experience and gain insights into broader FSC developments and strategic direction. As the independent organizations responsible for assessing conformity with FSC requirements and making certification decisions, certification bodies are central to the credibility of the FSC system. “Data and digital tools give us new opportunities to strengthen assurance, but technology alone is not the answer. What matters is how we use these tools together with the expertise and experience of our assurance providers to identify risks and support credible certification outcomes,” said Elena Tveritinova, Head of Certification Integrity at FSC International. At the event, FSC outlined its direction towards a more data-centred approach to assurance and certification, including how data and digital tools could contribute to more effective auditing and identification of certification risks. Discussions also explored how this work relates to FSC’s evolving approach to traceability. “We need to continually refine the data-driven approach to make sure we are using data effectively and providing the best service to certificate holders and FSC stakeholders, while ensuring the system remains credible and auditable,” said Emily Blackwell, Head of Accreditation at Soil Association Certification. “One of the biggest expectations from the FSC system is to ensure that the traceability system is transparent, credible, and robust,” said Tigran Martirosyan, Senior Quality Manager at Preferred by Nature. Participants also discussed the ongoing normative changes in FSC certification and explored emerging trends and challenges with potential implications for certification credibility, stakeholder confidence, regulatory compliance, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in assurance activities alongside human auditors. “There is a big potential to make the certification process more efficient, but I’m convinced that we still need humans,” said Christian Kobel, Global Head of Forestry and Nature at SGS. “We need humans interviewing humans, and we can’t replace this by machines.” On the final day, discussions focused on forest management topics such as Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and its implementation in practice, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs), and audit reporting tools. The discussions in Cologne will inform FSC’s continued work with its assurance partners as it responds to emerging risks and challenges and further develops its approach to assurance.

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Forestry Corporation is proud to support long-standing recreation partner, the Tenterfield Endurance Riding Club, through sponsorship of a major anniversary event in Girard State Forest. Source: Timberbiz The club will celebrate its 40th anniversary with its Ruby Ride on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday September 27, a milestone event expected to attract more than 100 horses, riders and spectators. The Tenterfield Endurance Riding Club has grown from a small group of local riders into a proud, community-focused organisation built on horsemanship and a shared love of the bush. The anniversary event will feature a 100km endurance ride and social and competitive activities. “What started as a handful of members sharing rides, knowledge and campfire stories has evolved into a welcoming endurance hub with a reputation for great tracks and good company,” Tenterfield Endurance Riding Club Ride Secretary Rachel Brown said. “Our club’s Ruby Ride is a special celebration of 40 years of endurance riding in Tenterfield and the support of Forestry Corporation helps make this event possible reflecting the strong partnership we’ve built around recreation and access to the forest.” Forestry Corporation has sponsored the Spirit Award trophy recognising participants, volunteers or supporters who embody the camaraderie and community spirit that define the club. “The Tenterfield Ruby Ride showcases the unique recreational opportunities that are offered in NSW State Forests and the club’s event is unique on the endurance riding circuit in that it is entirely held in an actively managed state forest, bringing together horse riders from all over to enjoy the Girard State Forest trails,” Forestry Corporation Partner-ships Leader Ryan Ellis said. For more information on the Ruby Ride visit www.terc.com.au

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The Victorian Tree of the Year competition celebrates the significant trees of the state – the towering icons, quiet companions, and local legends that shape our landscapes and communities. Source: Timberbiz This is your chance to shine a spotlight on a tree that matters, nominate your favourite significant tree for this year’s shortlist. The Tree of the Year contest isn’t just about the oldest, the largest, or the most beautiful tree, it celebrates the vital role trees play in enriching our lives; supporting biodiversity and wildlife; cooling the places where we live and providing cleaner air; boosting mental health and wellbeing.  Our trees hold stories, memories, and deep cultural significance. Here is the list of Victorian trees for which you an vote. Ginkgo Geelong Ginkgo biloba This female ginkgo tree started life as a seed planted in Geelong Botanic Garden in 1859. This example is the largest in Victoria and may be the largest in cultivation in Australia. Myrtle Beech Apollo Bay Nothofagus cunninghamii This is a particularly fine example of a native myrtle beech may be the result of two or three trees growing together, making it possible to wander through the complex living structure: a parallel to the web of life they support. Flooded Gum Carlton North Eucalyptus grandis This tree is a beautiful aberration. Flooded gums naturally grow north of Newcastle and are the dominant species in the rainforest edges around the Daintree, where rainfall is between 1000 and 3500mm per year. In their natural habitat, they grow straight and tall. Californian Redwoods Warburton Sequoia semperverens Although originally planted as a experimental plantation by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) the redwood forest has come to mean much more to visitors. Canary Island Pine Ballarat Central Pinus canariensis Planted by Jacob Bernstein (an active member of Ballarat’s Hebrew community) in 1867, this Canary Island Pine is a striking feature in the landscape of central Ballarat. Canary Island Pines are remarkable for their longevity and ability to survival climatic challenges: particularly relevant in our changing climate. Indian Bean Tree Castlemaine Catalpa bignonioides Native to central south eastern US, this Indian Bean Tree is the finest example of this species known in Victoria, and a lovely feature tree within the historic Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. The name Catalpa is derived from the Muscogee, the local native tribe, name for the plant, “kutuhipa” meaning winged head, likely relating to the form of the seeds. Smooth Barked Apple Myrtle Prahran Angphora costata Of State level significance, this enormous angophora is the largest known specimen in cultivation. Located in a highly urban area that is being developed for higher density living, the architects and landscape architects immediately recognised that retaining the tree was essential to the character of this new housing. Bunya Pine Maldon Araucaria bidwilii Widely planted in early Victorian gardens, this giant towers above it’s garden, creating a striking feature within the beautiful historic goldmining town of Maldon. Victorian gardeners likely appreciated the tree for it’s fascinating form and geometry, but there is another side to these native trees. Golden Wych Elm South Yarra Ulmus glabra ‘Lutescens’ Commonly known as the Golden Wych Elm, this tree is seen and appreciated by thousands of commuters every day. Voting is open and closes midnight Thursday 22 October 2026, the winner will be announced on Tuesday 27 October 2026. Vote at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TOTY26

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Carl James Peterson passed on 11 September 2026, following a period of illness, he was the founder of Peterson Sawmills and the creator of the first commercial portable swingblade sawmill in 1988. Source: Timberbiz From that breakthrough came the Peterson Sawmill brand, now recognised around the world for practical, innovative portable sawmills built for people who want to turn their own logs into valuable timber. Mr Peterson was far more than an inventor and entrepreneur. He was a creator, an adventurer, a determined problem-solver, and a man who lived a remarkably colourful life. His experiences and escapades were many, and his stories were as memorable as the first machines he designed. His ideas, energy and independent spirit shaped a business, a product category and a worldwide community of sawmill owners. His legacy will live on in the thousands of Peterson Sawmills operating across the world, and in the customers, distributors, staff, friends and family who knew him or benefited from his vision. His invention shaped the portable sawmill world, as his original technology continues to be utilised in various other subsequent swingblade brands and models as well. For more on Mr Peterson there is a YouTube video.

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Scientists are trialling satellite-enabled smart sensors on trees across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to provide an unprecedented picture of how Australia’s forests are responding to changing environmental conditions. Source: Timberbiz Using low-Earth-orbit satellites, the project will extend continuous environmental monitoring into remote forests beyond the reach of mobile networks including parts of western NSW. It will collect real-time data on how individual trees and ecosystems respond to drought, bushfire and climate change. Better information about how forests respond to environmental change will help governments, land managers and researchers make more informed decisions about biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, climate adaptation and natural hazard management such as bushfires and drought. Project lead Professor Brendan Choat from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University said Australia has relatively few intensively monitored forest plots capable of continuously measuring how trees and ecosystems respond to environmental change. “Australia’s forests are changing as our climate changes, but until now we’ve lacked the continuous monitoring needed to understand exactly how they respond,” Professor Choat said.“This project will give us an unprecedented picture of what happens before, during and after events such as drought and bushfire, helping us better protect these ecosystems into the future.” Led by researchers from Western Sydney University and UNSW Sydney, the Space-Enabled Smart Sensing for Forest Monitoring project is being funded through the NSW Smart Sensing Network’s (NSSN) Grand Challenge Fund. The project brings together Luxembourg-based satellite telecommunications company OQ Technology, Scenic World, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and the NSW Space Research Network to develop the next generation of environmental monitoring technologies. Unlike traditional monitoring, which relies on periodic field visits or sensors within mobile coverage, the project will provide continuous, real-time measurements from remote forests. The sensors will monitor how trees use water, grow and respond to environmental stress, while also measuring soil moisture, microclimate, wildlife activity and insect populations. Building on Western Sydney University’s Blue Mountains Hub for Ecology and Conservation, and long-term monitoring sites near Bourke established by UNSW ecologist Associate Professor Daniel Falster, the project will create a connected network spanning ecosystems from the World Heritage-listed rainforests of the Blue Mountains to semi-arid woodlands near Bourke. The project also builds on lessons from the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and WSU’s Dead Tree Detective citizen science project, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of Australia’s forests. Associate Professor Falster said the expanded monitoring network would provide unprecedented insights into Australia’s remote forests. “We are working at four locations east and west of Bourke, from Narran Lakes to Wanaring, in collaboration with Climate Friendly on properties where tree regeneration supports carbon projects,” A/Prof Falster said. “While the existing sites are within the outer limits of mobile coverage, many comparable forests across this vast region, including Sturt National Park, are not. Satellite-enabled sensing could allow us to extend continuous monitoring into these more remote areas and gain a much clearer picture of how Australia’s inland forests are changing.” Successful field validation could pave the way for wider adoption of the technology across forestry, biodiversity monitoring, carbon farming, agriculture, land rehabilitation and natural hazard management. OQ Technology Founder and CEO Omar Qaise said the project demonstrates the growing importance of satellite-enabled IoT infrastructure in supporting environmental monitoring in remote and climate-sensitive regions. “Australia is an ideal environment to showcase how satellite communications can support critical monitoring applications in remote and climate-sensitive regions,” Mr Qaise said. “The long-term opportunity is not only to monitor forests more effectively, but to build a model for resilient, standards-based connectivity that can support remote industries, public infrastructure and climate adaptation more broadly.” Scenic World Sustainability Coordinator Ben Allen said the project would establish a new rainforest monitoring site within Scenic World’s conservation estate. “At Scenic World, we feel deeply privileged to care for our historic site bordering the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park,” Mr Allen said. “This project will help us better understand and monitor the health of our rainforest over time, strengthening our efforts to protect and sustainably manage this remarkable environment for generations to come.” Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute CEO Joel Dalberger said the project would provide valuable real-time insights into ecosystem health while creating a model for environmental monitoring that could be applied well beyond the Blue Mountains. “The combination of satellite communications and continuous sensing will provide new opportunities to better understand and protect some of Australia’s most significant natural landscapes. “The NSW Space Research Network, a sister network to the NSSN, is also supporting the project. Business Development Manager – Industry Engagement Maurice Borer said it demonstrated how collaboration can accelerate the adoption of space-enabled technologies. “The project shows how research networks can build strategic partnerships, foster international collaboration and translate space-enabled technologies into practical outcomes aligned with Australia’s national science and civil space priorities,” Mr Borer said. Environment & Agriculture Theme Lead at the NSSN, Dr Tomonori Hu, said the project demonstrates how collaborative research can translate world-class science into practical solutions for climate resilience and environmental management. “By bringing together expertise in environmental science, satellite communications and smart sensing, this project has the potential to transform how Australia monitors forests and responds to future environmental challenges,” Dr Hu said.

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Keith Manufacturing has showcased its RX2 Drive Unit for the Australia and New Zealand wood-products market at Residues-2-Revenues 2026 in Brisbane. The RX2 is a two-cylinder Walking floor drive engineered to rapidly unload chips, sawdust, biomass and similar materials. Source: Timberbiz The RX2 uses a re-engineered hydraulic sequence to unload a 14.6-metre trailer in about four minutes. In mill operations where truck turnaround affects production flow, this faster discharge capability can support more loads per day and help reduce congestion at receiving areas. Designed with a two-cylinder configuration, the RX2 reduces drive weight while delivering the performance and durability required for wood-products applications. For wood-products fleets operating close to legal limits, the lighter system can create additional payload potential over thousands of loads. RX2 also features an 80% moving and 20% stationary slat configuration, designed to maximize push force while minimizing drag. The layout reduces hydraulic strain, improves energy efficiency and contributes to long-er floor life. Part of Keith’s RX Technology platform, its first major redesign in more than a decade, RX2 is built to address recurring performance and maintenance challenges, including corrosion, difficult component replacement, hydraulic heat and contaminated oil. Its adjustment-free design removes threaded rods and adjustable switching valves, helping promote consistent operation and reduce long-term maintenance demands. For easier serviceability, RX Technology uses cartridge-style check valves that can be ac-cessed and replaced quickly with a single wrench. This design helps simplify routine maintenance and minimize downtime. The platform also incorporates integrated heat sensors and automatic over-temperature switches. When oil temperature rises beyond a safe level, the system intervenes by shut-ting down until temperatures return to a safe operating range, helping protect critical components from heat-related wear, seal damage and efficiency loss. A high-flow filtration system helps keep hydraulic oil cleaner and reduce contamination in dusty lumber-mill environments. With fewer parts and potential leak points, the simplified hydraulic pathway can further reduce maintenance requirements and the time spent diagnosing issues. RX2 supports intuitive operation through an electric control interface. Single-action commands simplify training and help reduce operator error, giving drivers more predictable control during unloading. For chips, fines and sawdust, Keith recommends pairing RX2 with its CleenSweep tarp system. The CleenSweep system automatically draws a tarp across the trailer floor during un-loading, helping reduce leftover material, improve safety and reduce the time operators spend inside trailers.

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Sumitomo Forestry Australia has been revealed as Australia’s largest home building group in the 2025/26 HIA Housing 100. The HIA Housing 100 ranks Australia’s largest 100 residential builders based on the number of homes commenced each year. Source: Timberbiz Sumitomo Forestry Australia (Henley, Wisdom, Scott Park Group, Metricon) recorded 8,038 new home starts in 2025/26 across these four Australian home building businesses. The result follows Sumitomo Forestry’s acquisition of Metricon and brings together some of Australia’s largest and most established home building businesses within one group. “Metricon had held the number one position on the Housing 100 for the previous decade, making this a new name at the top of the list as the Housing 100 enters a new decade,” HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon said. “ABN Group was Australia’s second largest home builder with 3,764 starts, while NEX Building Group moved from fourth to third with 3,585 starts.” The consolidation of Metricon and Henley, two of the top ten builders last year, within Sumitomo Forestry Australia also saw Summit Homes enter the top ten for the first time, continuing its rise from 15th in 2023/24. There were also some significant movers further down the Housing 100. Homecorp Constructions moved from 31st to 13th, while Hutchies moved from 14th to eighth. Parkview Constructions was Australia’s largest multi-unit builder, commencing 2,735 homes. Meriton Apartments was second with 2,324 starts, followed by Hutchies with 1,907. “The largest apartment builders have moved down the overall rankings this year as detached housing led the increase in new home construction,” Mr Reardon said. In total, the Housing 100 commenced 70,553 homes in 2025/26, an increase of 9.4% from 64,481 in the previous year and the first time since 2021/22 that the total has exceeded 70,000 homes. Detached home starts increased by 11% to 52,058, semi-detached starts in-creased by 14% to 7,397, while multi-unit starts increased by just 1% to 11,098. The Housing 100 accounted for 35% of all new homes commenced in Australia in 2025/26. “These results show that Australia’s home builders responded to improving market conditions and increased the supply of new homes in 2025/26,” Mr Reardon said. “The concern is that the conditions which produced this increase have changed significantly during 2026. “New home sales strengthened through the second half of 2025 and into early 2026, providing builders with a pipeline of work that continued to translate into commencements throughout 2025/26. “Since then, the reversal of the 2025 interest rate cuts, weaker consumer confidence and changes to property investment taxation settings have seen new home sales fall,” he said. “There is always a lag between a new home sale and commencement of construction. This means the strong result recorded in this year’s Housing 100 reflects market condi-tions from earlier in the cycle, while the deterioration in sales during 2026 will increas-ingly weigh on commencements in 2027.” Mr Reardon said that underlying demand for housing remained exceptionally strong. Australia continued to have a shortage of homes, population growth remained strong and unemployment remained low. “The Housing 100 demonstrates that the industry has the capacity to increase the sup-ply of new homes when market conditions allow,” Mr Reardon said. “Australia cannot resolve the housing shortage unless governments lower the cost of delivering new homes and provide the stable investment and financing environment re-quired to sustain this increase in supply.” Key findings from the 2025/26 HIA Housing 100 include: The Housing 100 commenced 70,553 homes, up 9.4 % from 64,481 in 2024/25. Detached starts increased 11% to 52,058, semi-detached starts increased 14% to 7,397, and multi-unit starts increased 1% to 11,098. The Housing 100 accounted for 35% of Australia’s new home market. Sumitomo Forestry Australia ranked first with 8,038 starts, followed by ABN Group with 3,764 and NEX Building Group with 3,585. Parkview Constructions was the largest multi-unit builder with 2,735 starts. Homecorp Constructions recorded the largest move up the rankings, from 31st to 13th, while Hutchies moved from 14th to eighth.   To order copies of the full report please go to www.hia.com.au

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The Senate has made a political decision to allow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) Method, which credits carbon for reducing or ending timber harvesting in native forests, to stand. The vote reflects the environmental ideologies that drive Australian politics. The decision does not settle the question of the Method’s integrity, nor does it verify that the maths adds up. For more than a year, Forestry Australia has raised detailed technical concerns through multiple channels about how the INFM Method calculates carbon abatement. We have the analysis that supports those concerns and have offered to work constructively with government and stakeholders to resolve the problems. Our members include some of Australia’s foremost forest carbon experts. Their independent analysis identified material accounting concerns. None were addressed in the Senate debate, and none have yet been fixed. The maths and integrity of the INFM Method should have formed the basis of the decision, but the long-standing and highly emotive debate about native forest harvesting ultimately prevailed. The problem is that a politically convenient outcome, such as ending native forest timber harvesting, does not automatically create a genuine carbon credit. Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) are the currency of climate policy. Businesses buy them to meet obligations or offset emissions. Governments rely on them to help meet Australia’s emissions targets. Landholders and investors make long-term decisions based on their value. If an ACCU says one tonne of carbon abatement has occurred, the system must be able to demonstrate that one tonne really has occurred. The Greens announced their support for INFM under the headline “Real pollution cuts, not accounting tricks,” while simultaneously announcing opposition to a Bill intended to strengthen the governance, transparency and integrity of the ACCU scheme and announcing an intention to disallow a private land method that has been transparently developed through many years of co-design involving scientists, agricultural organisations, carbon practitioners, conservation organisations, governments and land managers. At the same time, they have supported an INFM Method that has lacked transparent pro-cess, was not developed with forestry experts and has material technical issues that re-main unanswered. The irony is difficult to miss. Poor-quality credits have consequences. If an ACCU overstates the carbon benefit achieved in a forest, a real tonne of emissions elsewhere in the economy may be offset by something less than a real tonne of abatement. Further, large volumes of inexpensive, over-credited ACCUs can also suppress the car-bon price and make it harder for genuinely additional projects, including new plantations, environmental plantings, farm forestry and landscape restoration, to attract in-vestment. These are investments Australia desperately needs. We should be designing carbon markets that help put more forests and trees into the landscape, improve the condition and resilience of existing forests and support land-holders willing to undertake genuine additional action. For that to happen, investors need confidence that an ACCU means what it says. The Senate vote is over, but the Government still has an opportunity to fix the INFM method before significant volumes of credits enter the market. Ultimately this debate should not be about whether someone supports timber harvesting, national parks, farmers, fossil fuel companies or any particular political party. It should come down to the very simple principle that one ACCU represents one genuine tonne of carbon abatement, that carbon methods are designed transparently and with independent expert verification, and that they meet this expectation before projects start. On INFM, Australia has not yet demonstrated that it does. Dr Michelle Freeman, President, Forestry Australia

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