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Auckland lawyer Andrew Jarvis has been ordered to pay NZ$275,000 in penalties for breaches of New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Act 2005. Source: Timberbiz The High Court penalty judgment follows an investigation by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) into two overseas individuals who purchased forestry blocks in Gisborne and Rodney without overseas investment consent in 2011 and 2014. The overseas individuals set up company structures and used local associates to hide their ownership of the forestry blocks and have separately been ordered to pay almost NZ$1.7 million in penalties. During the investigation, LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) uncovered evidence that Mr Jarvis, acting for the investors, structured the transactions and gave legal advice that resulted in the investors acquiring interests in sensitive land without consent. Mr Jarvis admitted that his actions were reckless. “Lawyers and advisors play a crucial role in supporting our overseas investment regime by providing investors with the right in-formation and advice,” LINZ Acting Compliance Leader Pedro Morgan said. “Good legal advice helps the regime work effectively and supports New Zealanders and overseas investors to have confidence in it. “The vast majority of advisors help their clients to understand the law and make the right decisions, which is why it is so disappointing that in this case, overseas investors have been enabled to break the rules by a legal advisor.” The High Court said that Mr Jarvis ‘devised and implemented the structures that were used by their companies to avoid those requirements’ and that ‘his conduct was reckless because he facilitated the transactions without having carefully reviewed the restrictions imposed by the Act.’ “The penalties awarded in this case reflect the seriousness of the breaches and should send a warning to anyone seeking to under-mine the rules and also reinforce the need for investors to seek advice from lawyers who are familiar with the overseas investment rules,” Mr Morgan said. LINZ began an investigation into the forestry transactions following a report in 2020 by one of the investors. The investigation looked into eight forestry block sales in Gisborne and one in Rodney. In 2021 the investigation was widened to include Andrew Jarvis. Proceedings were filed in the High Court in respect of the overseas investors in April 2023 and in respect of Mr Jarvis in September 2024.  

Projects are underway for four community groups across Australia which received a share of $40,000 in funding through the Responsible Wood Community Grants Program. Source: Timberbiz Now in its fifth year, the program has engaged with more than 100 community groups connected to Responsible Wood certified forests across Australia. According to Jason Ross, Responsible Wood’s Community Grants Project Manager for 2024/25, this year saw a record number of 25 applications. “Without a doubt, this year’s applicant process was the most competitive in the history of the grants, with the total value of applications exceeding $300,000,” Mr Ross said. “The judging panel had its work cut out deciding on the best projects. Interestingly, and for the first time, the vast majority of projects were co-funded, allowing us to engage with initiatives on a much larger scale than in previous years.” Mr Ross said it was clear that the initiative is growing from strength to strength. “You only have to look at the balance and quality of applications that Responsible Wood is now receiving from community groups across certified forests,” he said. “For the first three years, the challenge was finding high-quality applications. Now, given the calibre of submissions, I do not envy the judges. The next challenge is to build on the success of the first five years and continue strengthening connections with community groups.” The four funded projects for 2024 include: Heritage Skills Association – Restoration of the Ludlow Tuart Forest Teachers Cottage (Collie, Western Australia) Burrandies Aboriginal Corporation – Mt Burr Rock Shelter (Compton, South Australia) Bruny Island Environment Network Inc – Enhancing foraging options for swift parrots on Bruny Island (Barnes Bay, Tasmania) Planting Seeds – Topping it off – Habitats for Pollinators (Across New South Wales) Mr Ross said each project strengthens community connections with forests, providing better access, education, and conservation outcomes. “Each of these projects provides Australian communities with better access to forests and opportunities for people to connect through planning, completing, and benefiting from local projects,” he said. Responsible Wood will showcase the impact of these projects in the coming months, highlighting the tangible benefits of community-led initiatives in certified forests.

The prestigious Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards are back, and nominations are open. The awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and dedication across all sectors of the forestry industry, from harvesting and haulage to mill operations and sustainability initiatives. Source: Timberbiz This is your chance to recognize outstanding individuals and businesses making a difference in the Green Triangle region. Whether it’s a colleague, a contractor, or an emerging leader, now is the time to shine a spotlight on their contributions. Nominations are open for a range of categories, highlighting the talent and hard work that drive our industry forward. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this celebration of forestry excellence! Submit your nominations today and help us honour the best in the industry. For more details and to nominate, visit the new website: Green Triangle Timber Industry Awards (GTTIA) https://gttia.com/

Some of Australia’s largest retailers and manufacturers recently gathered at HVP Plantations in Victoria for the FSC Forest Walk event, gaining first-hand experience of FSC-certified forestry in action. Source: Timberbiz Leading Australian companies, including Woolworths Group, Coles Group, Bunnings, Visy, Essity, Kimberly-Clark, Australia Post, and more, attended the event to deepen their understanding of how FSC certification supports sustainable supply chains. These organisations source FSC-certified materials for packaging, furniture, and household products, ensuring that forest resources are managed in line with their ambitious responsible sourcing commitments. The event provided a unique opportunity to see firsthand the sustainable forestry requirements under which FSC-certified products are sourced and engage with those who uphold these standards. With over 1.1 million hectares of FSC-certified forest and more than 260 FSC-certified organisations across Australia, the commitment to responsible forestry continues to grow. The FSC Forest Walk provided a unique, firsthand experience of FSC’s standards in action, demonstrating why FSC-certified products are the most trusted choice for businesses and consumers committed to sustainable forestry. “Understanding the FSC system in a real-world setting was an invaluable experience,” said Julian Westcott, Account Manager at Kimberley-Clark Professional “Seeing firsthand the commitment of forest managers to responsible practices gives us even greater confidence in the materials we source. It strengthens our ability to make informed decisions and communicate the importance of FSC certification internally and to our customers.” For Coles Group, an FSC promotional licence holder, the event reinforced the significance of responsible sourcing. “Being on the ground and speaking directly with the HVP Plantations team managing these forests gave us a much deeper appreciation for the rigorous work behind FSC certification,” said Coles Own Brand Lead Sustainable Packaging Manager Emma Buchanan. “ It’s one thing to read about sustainability standards but witnessing them in action drives home why FSC certification is so important to our business and the products we offer consumers.” HVP Plantations, the first-ever FSC-certified forestry organisation in Australia, celebrated 20 years of FSC certification in 2024. As the event’s host, HVP showcased the robust environmental stewardship practices that underpin FSC certification, including fire management, native forest care, and plantation thinning operations designed to maintain forest health. “HVP was delighted to take part in the FSC Forest Walk – a great opportunity to engage with others in our value chain and share how we grow and harvest our products responsibly. Our 20 years of certification reflects our enduring commitment to stewardship and sustainable plantation forestry,” Mick Evans, HVP Plantations Northern Region General Manager said. The FSC system continues to expand in Australia, with businesses across industries recognising the importance of responsible forestry. FSC ANZ CEO Melanie Robertson addressed attendees, marking 30 years of FSC’s global impact and outlining the organisation’s strategic priorities for the future. “As the demand for forest-friendly products grows, FSC-certified forests provide a solution that balances environmental conservation, social responsibility, and eco-nomic viability,” Ms Robertson said. “The presence of so many leading organisations today highlights the critical role businesses play in supporting responsible forestry.”

Agriculture, fisheries and forestry is well placed to take on future challenges and opportunities, according to the latest ABARES Snapshot of Australian agriculture. Source: Timberbiz Sector value and production have continued to grow over the past 20 years with another strong performance expected in 2024-25. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the sector was looking resilient. “The agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries are in a good position to respond to the challenges of climate variability, slowing productivity and global trade uncertainty,” Dr Greenville said. “The past 20 years have shown us that one of the main reasons for this success is the industry is flexible and responsive. Our farmers have been quick to change their practices for what consumers want and what the market is doing. “Gross value of agricultural production has increased by 34% in the past 20 years from $61.5 billion in 2004–05 to $82.4 billion in 2023–24. “When we include fisheries and forestry, the total value of production has increased by 30% in the same 20-year period from approximately $67.7 billion to $88.3 billion. “We also see strong growth in our exports. Last financial year, Australian agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports were valued at $75.6 billion. “Employment in the sector has also been increasing. Australian agriculture employed 274,900 people on average over the four quarters to November 2024, up 6.7% from the previous year. “We saw average cash incomes for broadacre and dairy farms over the 3 years to 2023–24 were well above the averages for the previous 10 years, albeit with differences across the sectors. This reflects the record incomes recorded in most industries in 2021–22 following good seasonal conditions and high commodity prices, however, recently sheep specialists have seen below average incomes. “Global interest in emissions and sustainability is growing. Australian agriculture has strong sustainability credentials. The sector’s chemical and fertiliser use is at world best practice levels. Australia also has remarkably low on-farm emissions per unit of agricultural output.” Australian agriculture has benefited from five decades of sustained productivity growth. However, since 2000, broadacre farm productivity growth has slowed up and there is more volatility. Productivity growth will remain important for the sector to compete in international markets where competition is high and prices can quickly change. “It’s a reminder to not get complacent. We need to make sure policy encourages competitiveness, investment is going to research and development, and the sector stays responsive to changes in the market,” Dr Greenville said. To read the full report go to https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/products/insights/snapshot-of-australian-agriculture ABARES’s Outlook 2025 conference is on 4-5 March. For more details about the program, speakers and registration, visit ABARES Outlook Conference 2025 – DAFF.

One of the four project developers seeking to build large wind farms within the NSW government’s pine forest plantations has unveiled detailed plans that include giant 8-megawatt (MW) turbines, and a big battery scaled at up to 2,000 megwatt-hours (MWh). Source: Renew Economy The Sunny Corner wind project is being put forward by Mainstream Renewables and Someva Renewables, and would be located in Forestry Corp plantations between Lithgow and Bathurst, in an area already heavily populated by coal mining, coal fired generators and other coal industry assets. They propose a wind farm of around 500 MW, although the details of its first scoping report filed with the NSW planning authorities also indicates up to 80 turbines at 8 MW each, which of course would total around 640 MW. These would likely be among the biggest turbines in the country, although it should be noted that other projects at a similar development stage are also looking at 8 MW turbines. Most turbines being installed now are around 6 MW, or smaller. The 8 MW turbines will have a hub height of up to 185 metres and a maximum tip height of up to 285 metres. The exact scale of the battery, which the developers say will help smooth out price volatility and support the grid, will be finalised in the next phase of planning. The project is located close to existing and proposed renewable and battery projects, including the Crudine Ridge wind farm, the Glanmire and Brewongle solar farms and the proposed Panorama big battery. It will be just 15 kms from EnergyAustralia’s Mt Piper coal fired power station, likely to be the last coal generator standing in what remains the country’s biggest coal state, and its proposed Mt Piper battery. The proposed Lake Lyell pumped hydro project is 18 kms away. “Sunny Corner is situated in the central west of NSW which has a long his-tory of energy generation and supplying the people of NSW,’” the scoping report notes. “To date, this generation has come from coal power stations including those near Wallerawang and Mt Piper.” The developers say the area also has a strong wind resource. “The ability of the area to transition from historic to renewable energy sources is evidenced by the emergence of new and existing renewable energy technologies in the area, such as Lake Lyell and Central West Pumped Hydro, multiple solar farms and standalone BESS (big batteries) such as Wallerawang and Mount Lambie,” it says. The developers say the layout of the wind farm, and the final scale, are not finalised, and will be subject to community consultation, with a number of meetings to be held in coming weeks. “It’s important to note that the initial layout is just a starting point, and an opportunity for feedback and to host discussions based on where turbines might be.” Someva’s Jamie Chivers said in a statement. “We are keen to present an opportunity for near neighbours and community members to benefit from where turbines may be located. We want to ensure the voices of near neighbours, and the wider community are heard, shaping a project that delivers shared benefits for decades to come.” The NSW Forestry Corp has allocated permits for the potential development of four different wind projects. Two others, The Pines from TagEnergy and Stromlo Energy, and Iberdolar’s Canobolas, are in the same central west region, while Neoen’s Bondo wind project is in the south of the state.  

The State Government in Victoria is supporting new ways to use Victorian timber, with a study launched on two new timber products designed to take low value timber and turn it into sustainable construction materials which could support new jobs for South-west Victoria. Source: Timberbiz Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes has announced a feasibility study to explore the potential to take the new innovative timber products to the Australian market, which could bring up to 150 jobs to the region. The Future Fibre – Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub Feasibility Study was made possible by a $500,000 Victorian Government investment through the Portland Diversification Fund. It will allow the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub Association to investigate whether glue laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber could meet Australia’s growing demand for construction grade timber products. The new products are made from low-value pulp log material, which is typically exported as wood chip, and were developed as a possible solution to diversifying Southwest Victoria’s hardwood timber industry. The study, which is co-funded by the Victorian Forest Products Association, will investigate whether it is viable to establish a manufacturing hub in the Glenelg Shire. Running until October 2025, the study will examine a potential hub location, logistics, facilities, infrastructure, regulatory approvals and implementation timelines. The initiative is part of the Portland Economic Diversification Plan which is supporting long-term economic growth in the Glenelg Shire through community-led projects and planning. This includes $7.3 million in funding to upgrade freight roads and provide road infrastructure to industrial land in Portland. “With global demand for wood fibre forecast to increase and Australia remaining a net importer, this study is critical to identifying opportunities for increased value capture within the Green Triangle Hardwood Plantations and, in particular, Portland and the Glenelg Shire,” Green Triangle Forestry Industries Hub Chair, Cameron MacDonald, said. Victorian Forest Products Association CEO Andrew White said that Victoria was a leading state for plantation wood fibre production, with substantial opportunities to manufacture innovative engineered hardwood products, like structural timbers, that would address future demand for multi-story residential developments, as the population grew, and the market sought more climate-friendly building materials.