Forest Products Industry

Across the Mallee, rehabilitation works have now been completed at all major bushfire sites from the 2025–26 fire season, marking a key milestone in the region’s recovery. Source: Timberbiz More than 63,000 hectares burned across the district, including fires at Baring and Colignan, as well as across Wyperfeld National Park at North–South Track, Boinka and Freeway Track. While these fires were successfully contained, suppression efforts required extensive control lines to help stop the spread of fire and protect communities, infrastructure and environmental values. Control lines play a critical role during bushfire suppression, providing safe access and helping slow or stop fire spread. However, without rehabilitation, these temporary earthworks can leave lasting impacts on the landscape. In recent months, Forest Fire Management Victoria crews and contractors have completed rehabilitation works across all major firegrounds. In total, crews restored approximately 183 kilometres of control lines, including around 70 kilometres constructed during the Boinka fire alone. Rehabilitation is about more than tidying up after fire – it reduces long-term impacts and supports natural recovery. Works included reshaping disturbed ground, returning vegetation and organic material to the landscape and stabilising access points to reduce erosion and prevent unauthorised vehicle access. These activities help to: reduce erosion and dust limit the spread of weeds and pest animals protect cultural heritage values support regeneration of native vegetation.   This program was delivered through close collaboration between operational crews, planners, contractors and Traditional Owner representatives, ensuring works were completed safely, effectively and with respect for cultural heritage values. Completion of these works marks the transition from emergency response to long-term recovery, supporting restoration of fire-affected landscapes while reducing future risks.

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Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) is funding Australia’s first material-agnostic embodied carbon platform, measuring one million homes to prove timber can deliver 1.2 million new dwellings and 43% emissions cut. Source: Timberbiz Australia must build 1.2 million new homes by 2030 while cutting national greenhouse gas emissions by 43% and Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) is backing new research to prove timber can deliver both at once. The three-year project, titled Timber-Led Decarbonisation of Australian Housing: Evidence and Industry Translation, is funded through AFWI’s Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of the Sunshine Coast. It will create Australia’s first integrated, material-agnostic platform capable of measuring and comparing the embodied carbon of residential buildings, using as-built data from approximately one million Australian homes built since 2019 rather than theoretical estimates. The project is led by Rhianna Robinson, National Research and Technical Manager at the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association of Australia (FTMA), with project partner CarbonTrace. Mrs Robinson said the absence of transparent, comparable carbon data was a growing risk to timber’s market access. “We can’t manage what we can’t measure,” Mrs Robinson said. “Timber is uniquely positioned to support both housing delivery and decarbonisation through its low embodied emissions and stored biogenic carbon, but the industry currently lacks a centralised, credible and policy-aligned evidence base to quantify and communicate these benefits at scale.” Embodied carbon, the emissions generated in manufacturing and constructing a building, is climbing the industry’s agenda as homes become more efficient to run and construction materials account for a growing share of a dwelling’s lifetime carbon. Sustainability reporting and ESG requirements are pushing builders, developers and specifiers towards reliable, comparable data, yet no centralised system currently measures those emissions consistently across Australian housing. To close that gap, the project will feed detailed product-level timber data into the national housing database run by CarbonTrace, before building a freely accessible online tool allowing users to compare the carbon performance of competing materials on like-for-like Australian data. CarbonTrace co-founder Tom Petty, a builder and architect, said measurement was the precondition for any credible emissions cut. “Data is key to the decision-making around emissions reduction,” Mr Petty said. “This data needs to flow into design teams without friction and ideally in real-time.” More than 60 industry, government and research organisations co-designed the project, including CarbonTrace, FTMA, the Green Building Council of Australia, CSIRO, Master Builders Australia, Forest & Wood Products Australia, Timber Queensland, Hyne Group, MiTek, Multinail and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council. The work forms part of a wider AFWI push to connect the full forest-to-market value chain. AFWI Executive Director Dr Joseph Lawrence has described housing as one of the clearest areas where Australian timber can deliver immediate national benefits, giving the $23 billion industry a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to unite research, manufacturing and construction. “That’s where we see a real opportunity for Australian timber to be ramped up, for engineered wood to be ramped up, to be producing faster, safer and higher-quality housing, all made here,” Dr Lawrence said. “So, we can solve all the potential crises we are facing around shortages.” Over three years, researchers will assemble Australia’s most comprehensive embodied carbon dataset for residential construction, run scenario modelling comparing timber with conventional materials, and translate the findings into practical guidance, policy recommendations and education resources. Project partners estimate the education, and engagement work will reach more than 80,000 industry stakeholders through an online decision-support tool, technical reports, factsheets, webinars, workshops, case studies and a residential decarbonisation roadmap. Mrs Robinson said the long-term aim was to strengthen timber’s adoption, support net-zero housing pathways and secure timber as a preferred material in Australia’s residential market as the country chases its housing and emissions targets. For more information visit: Australian Forest and Wood Innovations: https://www.afwi.au/

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Time is running out to save two significant mills in Kaitāia from closure say Northland Regional Council (NRC), Far North District Council (FNDC) and Northland NZ (NNZ) who are calling on central government step in to limit job losses, as NNZ continues to work with potential investors. Source: Timberbiz Juken New Zealand, a Japanese-owned company, announced earlier this year it was seeking expressions of interests to buy its two mills in Kaitāia – Northland Mill and plant. That offer process closed at the end of May. Government investment would see good financial returns, jobs and capability retained in the region, and it would protect our forestry industry, while closing the Northland Mill and Triboard plant would devastate the Far North town and Te Tai Tokerau Northland, says Head of Investment at NNZ, Tui Rutherford. “Conservative modelling predicts that investing right now will generate a good return over five years on an initial government investment. Acting soon also avoids economic damage and disruption which will cost the government dearly in the long term,” Mr Rutherford said. Northland NZ understands that while no outright buyers were found for either mill before the offer deadline, the Triboard plant did receive an expression of interest in continuing its operation and an expression of interest was received for the Northern Mill site, from an experienced operator. Interest in the Northern Mill centres on site plans to upgrade equipment and modernise the operation to fulfil their target market. NRC, along with FNDC, is backing Northland NZ to facilitate discussions that firm up both deals, says Pita Tipene, Chair of NRC. “This includes working on a consortium of investors to back the commercial upgrade plans for the Northland Mill site. That model would require investment by the government,” Mr Tipene said. The proposed Northland Mill redevelopment would make use of skilled staff, the existing site, site permissions and some existing infrastructure. The opportunities presented by the Northland Mill site are underpinned by a strong and sustainable forestry resource, experienced workforce, and access to domestic and export markets, says Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. “There is a significant opportunity to build on these assets, which are supported by experienced operators and well-established infrastructure,” Mr Tepania said. Alongside the modernised mill, a second operation is proposed – turning the waste and low-grade wood into woody biomass biofuel. This operation is also expected to employ some of the existing workforce. Early government investment in both proposals would help secure a successful transition of the milling operations, retain jobs, and provide a financial return to the government, says Mr Rutherford. “The regional economic agency is working alongside the councils to ensure potential investors understand the strategic value of the operations within Northland’s wider forestry system, along with the robust returns forecast.” Investors interested in this project can contact Head of Investment at NNZ, Tui Rutherford directly at – tui.rutherford@northlandnz.com

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A recent community meeting in Bombala to address a growing concern of local farmland sales to corporate entities for carbon forestry projects (both environmental plantings and plantation forestry methods) featured guest speaker, forestry industry expert, Rob de Fegely. Source: Monaro Post Other speakers at the June meeting were local farmers John Murdoch, John Jeffreys and Ben Mooney. Together they spoke to the community about concerns relating to a loss of productive farmland, reduced rural employment, outside corporate involvement and uncertainty about long-term impacts. Mr de Fegely provided an insight into the regional forestry hubs established under the National Forestry Industry Plan 2018. Mr de Fegely is the manager of the South East Forestry Hub, which supports forestry industries in southern NSW and the ACT to help grow a positive future for the region’s communities and environment. He also sits on the board of Forestry Corporation NSW and chairs the Public Forest Agency in Tasmania. There are 11 regional forestry hubs across Australia. These hubs work with industry, state and local governments, and other key stakeholders to prepare and provide the government with strategic planning, technical assessments and analyses that aim to support growth in the forest industries in their region. Mr de Fegely began his career on the Monaro in 1980 growing radiata pine in the Coolangubra, Bucky Springs, Pericoe and Rockton areas. “In my time as a career forester over 40 years, the challenge between farming and forestry has been around for a long time and its history that we haven’t actually blended together,” he said. “In Scandinavian countries and parts of Europe, you’ll find that forestry and farming are very close neighbours and they work together really well.” He recalled however the years he spent in Bombala were productive and produced good outcomes. “In the eight-and-a-half years I was here, when we were planting blocks that were basically cleared as farmland under early development in the late 1800s and early 1900s and for a raft of reasons those farms had become quite marginal mainly due to rabbits, the first World War, the loss of a generation of farm workers and then the Depression and again the second World War … those poorer quality farms fell away and were purchased by a corporate entity from the Philippines. “That was an interesting process as when re-developing those old farms in the mid-80s – by clearing all the tea trees and wattles – it suddenly looked like a farm again, but it was all granite soil and very low nutrient, so turning it back into forest was probably a sensible land use decision. “I don’t think in the eight-and-a-half years I was here, anyone seriously said to me I shouldn’t be planting that pine. So pine and forestry and Bombala and farming had worked together really well in those early years,” he said. Mr de Fegely then pointed out challenges within the industry. “The challenge has always been, despite the fact Australia is the seventh most forested country in the world, it is a net importer of wood products,” he said. “We import more than $7 billion worth of wood products a year. A lot comes from New Zealand, particularly pine framing. We get hardwood, particularly from Malaysia and the tropical rain forest, and we import paper products as well because all our paper mills have shut.” He said there are two drivers pushing the carbon debate. The first is a demand to be self-sufficient and secondly, achieving net zero such as carbon credits and cheap wood. As South East NSW Forestry hub manager, Mr de Fegely said this government funded scheme is designed to improve wood production, as Australia is not producing enough. He said within the South East hub, 60% of the land is forest and 50% of those forests are in national parks, by international standards a very high percentage.

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Tasmanian farmers have reacted with anger and disbelief at the Federal Government’s decision to allow 22,000 hectares of prime dairy and beef country in the state’s north-east to be transformed into a pine plantation. Source: Timberbiz Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers last week announced the approval of the sale of Tasmania’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon, to UK-based forestry investor Gresham House. The 22,000-hectare property will be converted from an agricultural estate into a $142 million pine plantation and carbon project. The Australian Forest Products Association has welcomed the sale, saying the plantation project will expand Australia’s sovereign capability in sustainable timber production. However, TasFarmers President Nathan Cox said the decision was a betrayal of Tasmanian agriculture and a breaking of the social contract between government and the Australian people by greenlighting the use of taxpayer money against Australian farmers. “This is a disgraceful outcome for Tasmania and for Australian food security,” Mr Cox said. He said the Federal Government had broken its covenant with the Australian people by agreeing to turn productive farmland into a monoculture pine plantation “so a foreign investment fund can tick a carbon abatement box”. Tasmanian Forest Products Association Chief Executive Officer Nick Steel said while there has been public debate surrounding the transaction and the Foreign Investment Review Board process, the conversation also provides an opportunity to recognise that agriculture and forestry are not mutually exclusive industries. “Tasmania’s future prosperity is dependent on evidence-based land use decisions that recognised the strengths of both industries,” Mr Steel said. “Agriculture and forestry are not competing land uses they are complementary industries that have successfully coexisted across Tasmania for generations.” “Farmers make practical decisions every day based on soil capability, rainfall, topography, market conditions and the long-term sustainability of their businesses. In many cases, integrating forestry into farming operations provides additional income, strengthens business resilience and ensures land is used according to its natural capability.” Mr Steel said the guiding principle should remain simple: the right tree, in the right place, at the right scale. “Highly productive agricultural land should continue producing food and fibre, with suitable areas supporting forestry without compromising agricultural output,” he said. “That balanced approach delivers multiple benefits, including regional employment, investment certainty, environmental outcomes and diversified income streams for landholders.” As a renewable industry, forestry also plays an increasingly important role in supplying sustainable timber products to meet growing demand for low-emissions building materials. “Our forestry sector is built on renewal where forests are grown, harvested and regrown, supporting a renewable biodegradable resource that’s increasingly important as markets shift toward lower emissions materials,” Mr Steel said. “The discussion surrounding Rushy Lagoon reinforced the need for balanced and informed land use policy. “A strong future for regional Tasmania depends on recognising that agriculture and forestry can coexist successfully. They operate side by side, supporting regional communities, creating jobs and contributing to the state’s long-term prosperity,” Mr Steel said. Rushy Lagoon, together with the neighbouring East Wyambi, spans almost 22,000 hectares between Gladstone and Musselroe Bay and has run dairy and beef cattle at a capacity of around 85,000 DSE, supported by 1,170 hectares of developed irrigation and more than 12,500 megalitres of water entitlements. Gresham House’s reported offer of more than $100 million sits well above TasFarmers’ own estimate of the property’s $70–80 million market value, a gap the organisation says points squarely to government-backed financing tilting the paddock in favour of a foreign buyer using everyday Australians ‘ money. “We have real, unanswered questions about why funding was committed to this deal before the sale and why a foreign forestry fund could outbid every Australian farmer at the table,” Mr Cox said. “The treasurer’s excuse relating to the classification of farmland holds no water, as highly productive dairies have operated on Rushy for many years; any good farmer knows that cannot happen on poor or second-rate land. These comments are a smoke screen for his poor decision-making. “TasFarmers has raised the glaring conflict at the heart of this process: the Clean Energy Finance Corporation stands to benefit financially from carbon plantations like this one, and a CEFC director sits on the very Foreign Investment Review Board that was supposed to assess it independently. Tasmanian farmers cannot compete against their own government. “Our community survey found 99 per cent of respondents opposed this sale. Dorset Council has warned it creates an unfair playing field for local farmers and puts regional dairy pick-up runs and beef processing jobs at risk. Coalition members from Senator Colbeck to Senator Askew to Shadow Agriculture Minister Darren Chester have all raised the alarm. The only people who seem untroubled by any of this are the ones who signed off on it.” Mr Cox said TasFarmers would now demand the public release of the full FIRB assessment and financing arrangements behind the sale, and called on the Government to explain what safeguards, if any, were applied. “Tasmanian farmers deserve transparency, not a sneaky decision snuck out the back door during the winter recess. We will be pursuing this through every avenue available, including calling for a parliamentary inquiry into how a foreign carbon-forestry fund was allowed to outbid Australian farmers for our largest and most productive farm.” “TasFarmers and local interested parties and politicians have reached out over and over again to our federal Agricultural Minister, FIRB, and the Treasurer only to be stonewalled by meaningless responses. “For something that is so important, these responses and today’s announcement demonstrate the Treasurer did not have the national interest at heart, and that ideology drove this decision”.

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