Australian timber industry news

A new Senate Committee report highlighting the need for stronger action and tougher reforms to prevent Russian timber products entering Australia has been welcomed by AFPA. Source: Timberbiz The Senate report featured strong recommendations to combat conflict timber entering Australia, including urging the Federal Government to explore tighter sanctions against Russia and ensure penalties evolve with global developments to keep pace with circumvention efforts. AFPA Acting CEO Richard Hyett said sanctions had stopped direct imports from Russia but there has been increased timber imports from third countries known to be using Russian fibre. “Russia has the largest forest estate in the world, and timber is an important economic driver, so it beggars’ belief that a resource of this scale could simply be turned off and replaced by other sources,” Mr Hyett said. Mr Hyett said recent forensic testing by Source Certain continued to identify Russian fibre in timber products around the world, often with documentation that mislabelled or misrepresented the product’s origin. “Addressing this imports issue is vital for Australia’s $6 billion timber manufacturing industry, which supports around 80,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs and supplies essential materials for hundreds of thousands of Australian homes every day,” Mr Hyett said. Mr Hyett said stronger testing and enforcement was also needed to protect Australian jobs, manufacturers and consumers while ensuring sanctions against Russian timber were genuinely effective. “It’s time for the Government to act and implement a testing program that can tell Australians what is actually being imported, and not just rely on paperwork from high-risk importers,” Mr Hyett said. “We also need to introduce Country of Origin labelling. “As part of the Senate inquiry, we sincerely thank Senator Raff Ciccone for his support by encouraging producers to seek an Anti-Dumping Commission investigation into Russian timber entering Australian markets.  We appreciate Senator Ross Cadell and Senator Susan McDonald for supporting industry and raising serious concerns about the lack of policing of timber imports. “Enforcing stronger sanctions will ultimately support Australian manufacturers, uphold our international commitments and ensure a level playing field for domestic producers.”

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A landmark partnership between the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and the University of British Columbia (UBC) is pioneering a made-in-BC solution to the global plastic crisis, turning local forestry waste into biodegradable foam packaging. Source: University of British Columbia Inside a new facility at Main Street and Terminal Avenue, wood fibre is moving through a production line and emerging, transformed, as a block of lightweight “wood foam.” For Dr Feng Jiang, who first developed the material in his laboratory at the University of British Columbia, the moment is years in the making. For Reg Ogen, president and CEO of Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (YLP) and a leader of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, it signals a shift in the Canadian bioeconomy: a new economic relationship between Indigenous communities and the forests they have stewarded for generations. Millions of tonnes of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills each year, where they can persist for more than 500 years. This new facility aims to change that. By transforming wood waste resulting from logging or forest fires, material that might otherwise be burned or discarded into biodegradable packaging and insulation, the partnership is turning a costly liability for the forestry sector into a high-value, sustainable product. The pilot plant is operated by DicinFoam, a majority-owned subsidiary of YLP, the business arm of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. Dicin (pronounced DIH-chun), the Wet’suwet’en word for wood, reflects the company’s connection to both the forest and Wet’suwet’en culture. The underlying intellectual property is co-owned by UBC and YLP. “This partnership is a blueprint for the future of the forestry industry,” said Mr Ogen. “Today’s forestry industrialization models have extracted value from all forest dwellers, communities, and our Indigenous cultures. Our project will maximize utilization to add value and respect to each harvested tree and land. Our wood-based biodegradable foam products will help protect Mother Earth for future generations.” The plant converts softwoods such as spruce, pine and fir into a lightweight wood foam using heat, mechanical processing and minimal chemical additives. In packaging applications, the material is designed to break down in soil within months. The facility also produces insulation panels treated to meet building performance requirements, a market that currently relies heavily on imported wood-based products. The technology originated in the lab of Dr Jiang, a professor in UBC’s faculty of forestry and environmental stewardship whose research focuses on turning underused forest biomass into high-value bio-based materials. His lab continues to support DicinFoam’s scale-up, testing new feedstock combinations and expanding the range of applications as the company grows. “With this pilot we’re creating opportunities to train the next generation of talent, including Indigenous students, in sustainable materials development and business,” said Dr Jiang. “This will help to build a stronger and more inclusive Canadian bioeconomy.” The bridge between lab and plant is Dr. Yeling Zhu, DicinFoam’s chief technology officer. Dr Zhu completed his postdoctoral research in Dr. Jiang’s lab before joining another company, but when the opportunity came to return and lead the scale-up, he took it. “As an inventor, it is rewarding to see green technologies move from the lab into pilot-scale production,” said Dr Zhu. “Now we can prove performance, validate the process and begin building the market for a made-in-BC material.” The plant currently produces 150 to 200 kilograms of wood foam per day, allowing potential customers to test the material and evaluate its performance. The company shares the site with Plantee, a manufacturer of wood-based construction materials, whose industrial expertise is helping inform the scale-up. The next phase targets an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes of biodegradable foam per year at a larger facility in Burns Lake, located within Wet’suwet’en territory. This expansion will anchor a forest-based innovation hub and is expected to create up to 15 jobs in a rural community, plus an additional 35 to 60 after a planned move into a larger, 15,000-tonne facility on Vancouver Island. Two members of Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island, William Dennis and Shaun Dennis, are currently training at the Vancouver plant to support future operations close to home.  

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PEFC’s new Project Sourcing Certification Standard has been shortlisted for the Product/System Innovation Award at the UK’s Structural Timber Awards 2026. Source: Timberbiz Being held at a gala ceremony on 7 October 2026 at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, the Awards celebrate excellence in timber construction across the UK, and recognise innovation, sustainability, and outstanding design. “It’s wonderful to be shortlisted for this important industry Award,” said Marta Martinez Pardo, Certification Program Senior Manager at PEFC International who oversaw the development of the new requirements. “A lot of work has gone into the new Standard from across PEFC globally. It replaces the previous Project Certification guidance document that was published in 2014 and has been developed over an 18-month period by an international task force comprising staff from PEFC International’s Standards and Integrity team, construction and technical experts from across the PEFC global alliance, including Australia, Japan and the UK, certification bodies and representatives from the construction sector,” she explained. “We were also able to pilot the requirements on two projects in the UK. This development process has allowed us to develop a set of requirements that meet the demands of the construction sector.” The Project Sourcing Certification Standard provides a practical framework for built environment professionals to demonstrate the responsible sourcing and traceability of forest- and tree-based products used in construction projects. The Project Sourcing Certification Standard can be applied to all timber elements that are sourced and used within parts of specific buildings and entire construction projects, and provides a practical management system that enables developers, contractors and project teams, to demonstrate that timber specified within a project has been sourced from PEFC-certified or PEFC-controlled sources from other recognised forest certification schemes, using independent, third-party audited procurement procedures. This provides project teams with greater procurement flexibility while maintaining a high threshold for responsible sourcing in line with commonly used overarching green building standards such as BREEAM and LEED. “One of the most significant innovations is its flexibility,” Ms Martinez said. “Certification can cover either an individual project or operate as a continuous certification programme, allowing organisations managing multiple projects to bring them under a single management system, which presents a more practical and straightforward approach to PEFC certification. “Also, the project sourcing management system will be certified after the initial successful certification body audit at the start of the project. On-going projects will be registered on the public database as applicant projects, and once completed, they will be listed as finished projects creating greater transparency for clients, investors and stakeholders.” With increasing emphasis on embodied carbon, sustainable sourcing and ESG reporting in the construction sector, the Standard has the potential to become an important tool for developers, contractors and clients seeking credible evidence of responsible timber and forest product sourcing across the built environment. You can find out more at: www.pefc.org/news/pefc-project-sourcing-certification-supports-responsible-sourcing-in-construction

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A new US Forest Service wood innovation grant will enable Dovetail Partners, MassTimber@MSU (Michigan State University), and Team Pennsylvania to accelerate the next phase of the Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative (GLMTC). Source: Timberbiz The multi-state effort advances mass timber markets, manufacturing capacity, and forest health aligned wood products across the region. The award is part of the Forest Service’s national investment of US$105.5 million in wood innovation, community wood, and wood products infrastructure grants, supporting 177 projects that strengthen rural economies, expand markets for low value wood, and improve forest health. The Wood Innovations Grant Program is investing in proposals that expand traditional wood utilization projects, promote the use of wood as a construction material in commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings, and expand wood energy markets. Healthy forests depend on a healthy forest products economy, and these investments support local economies while directly contributing to improving forest health and reducing wildfire risks to communities. The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative — founded in 2024 by MassTimber@MSU — brings together leaders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York to build a coordinated regional mass timber economy. More than 100 participants convened in April 2026 to mark the release of the Collaborative’s Regional Vision, outlining priorities for supply chain development, manufacturing expansion, workforce training, and project level technical assistance. “The Regional Vision reflects the knowledge, goals, and analysis of people across the mass timber chain — from forests to manufacture to research to buildings — in all eight Great Lakes states,” said Sandra Lupien, director, MassTimber@MSU. “This wood innovation grant enables us to start implementing that vision on the ground by identifying priorities in forests and matching them with opportunities in products and construction.” Ms Lupien founded and will continue to lead the Collaborative into its next phase. As the Collaborative’s fiscal sponsor, Dovetail Partners provides administrative and financial oversight, as well as staff expertise, to support implementation of this regional strategy. “It is an honour for Dovetail Partners to be able to provide a home for this work to continue,” said Kathryn Fernholz, president and CEO. “We’ve been involved with supporting the realization of benefits from mass timber since the early days, and we’re excited to see momentum continue to build.” The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities is strengthening the Great Lakes region’s mass timber ecosystem through a $300,000 matching commitment that complements the US$300,000 grant. Together, this US$600,000 investment enables Dovetail, MassTimber@MSU, Team Pennsylvania, and GLMTC partners to advance coordinated supply-chain mapping, provide technical assistance for emerging mass timber projects, assess manufacturing expansion opportunities including hardwood mass timber products and develop shared tools and case studies that reduce barriers to adoption. These efforts position the Great Lakes region to lead a national transformation in sustainable construction and forest-aligned economic development. “Pennsylvania is positioned to be a leader in the growing mass timber economy by connecting our forest resources, manufacturing expertise, workforce and innovation assets,” said Abby Smith, president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania. “The Great Lakes Mass Timber Collaborative is exactly the kind of partnership that can turn that opportunity into action. By working across state lines and bringing together leaders from industry, government and academia, we can establish lasting economic opportunities for communities across the commonwealth.”

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Soil testing has confirmed the presence of Phytophora agathidicida (PA), the pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease, at the site of the oldest kauri at Long Bay Kauri Walk, near Coromandel town in New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz Waikato Regional Council, Thames-Coromandel District Council (the landowner) and local iwi have been monitoring the 1200-year-old tree since 2023 after receiving several reports that the tree was visibly unwell. Waikato Regional Council Biosecurity and Biodiversity Manager Patrick Whaley says confirmation of PA is incredibly disapppointing. “The Coromandel Peninsula has relatively few recorded cases of kauri disease, and none as publicly accessible as Long Bay Kauri Walk,” says Mr Whaley. “Southern kauri forests are vital to the future of kauri, as they have been largely free from disease compared to forests in the north. “Preserving kauri on the Coromandel Peninsula really depends on everyone playing their part in stopping the spread of PA.” Phytophthora agathidicida is microscopic and spread through the movement of contaminated soil, including on dirty footwear, equipment, vehicles and animals. It infects kauri through their roots, preventing them from taking up water and nutrients which eventually starves the tree. Infected trees weaken over time and may eventually die. Symptoms include bleeding gum at the base of the trunk, yellowing leaves, thinning canopy and dead branches. The council has been testing for PA in Long Bay Kauri Walk and other areas of the Coromandel Peninsula for many years. However, detecting the pathogen can be difficult. “PA lives in the soil and can occur in very small, patchy pockets,” says Mr Whaley. “That means you can miss it completely in a soil sample, even if it’s present nearby. “We had suspected this tree might have kauri disease based on its symptoms, but kauri can become unwell for a range of reasons. Unfortunately, we now have confirmed the diagnosis.” Mr Whaley says the Long Bay kauri has received phosphite injections to help suppress the pathogen and boost the tree’s natural defences. Another round would be done later this year. However, the tree may not survive, he says. “The health of the tree has declined significantly over the past 12 months. Phosphite is not a cure, but a treatment that can help with long-term survival if it’s done early enough. All we can do is try to prolong the tree’s life and stop further spread of PA.” Phytophthora agathidicida can survive in soil for over eight years, and it can take years to decades for an infected tree to show visible symptoms. The pathogen was first discovered in Auckland and Northland in the early 2000s. It led to a significant biosecurity response, including the widespread closures of kauri forests in the infected areas while popular walking tracks were upgraded to manage the risk of spread. At Long Bay Kauri Walk, Waikato Regional Council and Thames-Coromandel District Council, with advice from local iwi, have worked together to mitigate risk. Over the years, this has included: upgrading the track by installing wooden boardwalks and rails, and using gravel substrate in other areas, to protect kauri roots and stop soil from sticking to shoes fencing off neighbouring farmland to keep stock out installing a cleaning station at the site entrance and kauri hygiene signage (and educational signage) funding a summer track ambassador programme, to educate visitors about protecting kauri. Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher says the most important thing people can do to help protect the remaining kauri in the reserve is stay on the tracks, respect the barriers, and arrive and leave with clean footwear. “Protecting kauri is a major regional and national priority – and a responsibility we all share. “Waikato kauri are one of this region’s greatest natural treasures. These ancient trees are not only an iconic part of our landscape, but they help create and support the habitats that many of our native plants and animals rely on.” Further surveillance and soil sampling has been carried out in the reserve and additional signage is being planned to educate the public about what they can do to help protect kauri.

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A recent national heavy vehicle fatigue operation has uncovered a concerning rise in false and misleading records, as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) warns drivers and operators there is no room for complacency when it comes to managing fatigue. Source: Timberbiz More than 6,100 heavy vehicles were intercepted during Operation Ambit II with more than 1 in 10 heavy vehicles found to be non-compliant overall. The fatigue non-compliance rate rose from 4.7% to 5.3%, compared with the previous national operation (held in November 2025). Of the close to 150 fatigue-related offences, nearly half were deemed critical breaches, with the number of false and misleading offences increasing by more than 42%. NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said there was no excuse for this troubling increase, particularly given fatigue remained a critical safety risk for the heavy vehicle industry. “Fatigue-related offences have increased in both number and severity over the past three years, while driver fatigue continues to be one of the three primary contributors to heavy vehicle fatal crashes,” Mr Salvati said. “What is particularly concerning is the increase in false and misleading records. The NHVR and our Safety and Compliance Officers spend significant efforts in educating industry about fatigue rules and deliberately breaking these rules can be the difference between someone getting home safely or not. “It is crucial drivers and operators are ensuring they meet their work and rest requirements. Failing to do this could not only puts themselves in harm’s way, but other drivers and road users as well.” Administrative fatigue offences, like not carrying a work diary or not recording start times, were also on the rise, with breaches up more than 10%. “These types of offences are often precursors to more serious offences and can ultimately lead to a driver working more than the prescribed hours,” Mr Salvati said. “Failing to adhere to these regulations can set off a chain of non-compliant offences which could ultimately lead to a crash or even fatality.” The NHVR worked closely with police agencies in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania to conduct the national fatigue operations. Mr Salvati said although police intercept activities varied across jurisdictions, this collaboration demonstrated the strength of existing partnerships and the value of combining capabilities to deliver effective heavy vehicle compliance outcomes. If a heavy vehicle driver is concerned about their safety or feels pressured to drive, they are encouraged to contact the NHVR’s anonymous Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line on 1800 931 785.

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More than 280 modular homes have now been delivered under the Tasmanian Government’s ModHomes Program. Source: Timberbiz The ModHomes Program is a Tasmanian Government initiative managed by Homes Tasmania to fast-track social and affordable housing using pre-fabricated modular construction. Housing and Planning Minister Kerry Vincent said the State Government was continuing to expand modular housing construction to deliver more high-quality homes for Tasmanians. “Modular construction is an important part of increasing housing supply and getting people into safe, secure and affordable homes sooner,” Mr Vincent said. “The team at Podmatrix is working hard to deliver more homes for Tasmanians under the ModHomes Program. “Seeing the factory in action is a great example of how we can think differently about housing delivery – and, importantly, how we can get more homes on the ground faster. “Every home completed is another place to call home for Tasmanians,” Mr Vincent said. “Our government has already delivered more than 280 modular homes across the State, with a further 271 units our construction pipeline.” The modular homes being built by Podmatrix will soon be delivered to the State’s North West, where the State Government is delivering 13 units in Romaine. Two of the units have already been installed, with the rest to be installed in coming weeks. “Increasing our housing supply is a key part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. The ModHomes Program is helping deliver that,” Mr Vincent said. Building homes in a factory provides significant advantages, including reduced weather-related delays and greater efficiency, and it also helps us manage costs by reducing wasted time and materials and making more efficient use of labour and resources. This approach also supports jobs, skills and training opportunities for Tasmanians, helping grow the skilled construction workforce needed to meet future housing demand. “This shows what is possible when government, industry and skilled workers work together to build more homes, faster, without compromising on quality,” Mr Vincent said.

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Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels comprise multi-layered, orthogonally glued-laminated structural timber boards (lamellas) and are used as structural building components in applications including floors, roofs, stairs, soffits, balconies, and internal and external walls. Source: Timberbiz As the use of CLT continues to expand in Australian construction, industry requires nationally consistent design methods that provide confidence for engineers, certifiers, regulators and building practitioners. This draft FWPA Standard, D02 Cross Laminated Timber Design Methods, has been developed by Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) to provide a dedicated framework for the structural design of CLT elements. The Standard has undergone independent technical review and provides comprehensive design methods for structural CLT components, subject to the requirements and limitations described in the Scope. Developed through collaboration with industry, researchers and technical experts, the Standard is intended to support consistent engineering practice and will form the basis of a proposal to incorporate CLT design provisions into a future revision of AS 1720.1 Timber Structures. Industry Benefits of FWPA Standard D02 Provides recognised design methods for structural CLT elements. Promotes consistency across engineering, manufacturing and certification practices. Supports the growing use of CLT and mass timber construction in Australia. Consolidates CLT-specific design guidance into a dedicated technical document. Provides an independently reviewed basis for CLT structural design. Establishes a pathway for the future incorporation of CLT design provisions into AS 1720.1 Timber Structures. The public comment period for this Standard is open for a six-week period from 18 August 2026 to 29 September, allowing industry stakeholders and potential users to review the draft Standard and provide feedback. Comments can be provided via the FWPA public comments online form or downloading the excel spreadsheet when providing more detailed comments. Save the completed excel spreadsheet to your computer and email to: jacqui.bates@fwpa.com.au The online form and spreadsheet are available at https://fwpa.com.au/standards-activities/draft-standard-cross-laminated-timber-design-methods-d02/  

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Plans to fund a massive koala sanctuary in northern NSW with a new type of carbon credit is threatening to split the federal Greens, who were unable to agree on a position this week on whether to back a Nationals-led motion to derail the scheme. Source: The Financial Review The Minns government last month announced its new Great Koala National Park would be funded with carbon credits, which are tradeable instruments generated by nature projects that can be used to offset emissions elsewhere in the economy. Supporters of the credits, including former Treasury secretary Ken Henry, argued they created an economic incentive to keep trees in the ground and permanently end the logging of native forests in the state. But the move was opposed by both the logging industry and a huge swathe of environmental groups, who said the credits lacked integrity and should not be used to offset the burning of fossil fuels in other industries. A federal Nationals plan for a Senate vote to block the new rules was delayed on Tuesday after the Greens indicated they needed more time to reach a final position. The vote will instead take place on September 15 but cannot be delayed again. Henry, who chairs the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said it was “inconceivable” that the Greens would consider backing a Nationals motion brought on behalf of the logging industry. “The loggers must be beside themselves with amazement that there is even a small chance that the Greens vote this regulation down and give the industry its biggest fillip in a decade,” he said. “I do understand that the Greens find themselves in a bind. They have been the most steadfast of supporters of forest protection for years and their unhappiness with the rate of emissions reduction is well documented. “However, surely it is inconceivable that the Greens could side with the Nationals and One Nation to keep native forest logging going whilst torpedoing the most rigorous and high-integrity carbon proposal that has ever been placed before the Australian parliament?” A Minns government stipulation that the credits would be off limits to coal and gas companies put extra pressure on the Greens, who historically criticised the use of offsets to cancel out emissions from fossil fuel projects. Former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service head Atticus Fleming, who helped design the new anti-logging measure, told The Australian Financial Review in July the credits would probably raise more than $1 billion for the state government. Greens, crossbench and Coalition senators were aggressively lobbied this week over the Nationals “disallowance” motion. Both renegade Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan and independent David Pocock intend to vote in favour of the new koala park credits. A spokesman for Greens leader Larissa Waters said the party was still discussing the issue with climate and environmental groups. “The Greens want to make sure that forests and the climate are both protected. We’ll take this motion through our usual process.” Australia’s oldest and most influential green lobby group, the Australian Conservation Foundation, led by former Greens leader Adam Bandt, has been unable to declare a position on the motion amid internal disagreement between its members. However, ACF is a signatory to a set of “Forest Protection Principles” agreed in August which include “an end to carbon and biodiversity offsets generated from public native forests”. Pocock said his support of the scheme was separate from his objection to the uncapped use of carbon credits in Labor’s safeguard mechanism, which regulates the emissions of Australia’s biggest industrial companies, including coal and gas. “Offsets shouldn’t license coal and gas facilities to keep polluting and mustn’t be used by heavy industry as an excuse not to decarbonise,” he said. “But disallowing the [carbon credits method] won’t fix issues with the safeguard mechanism and would come at the cost of forest protection. The Nationals and the native forest logging industry oppose the method because it would replace an unprofitable small industry with income to protect our incredible native forests.” The federal government launched a review of the safeguard this, which will consider capping the unlimited use of carbon credits to encourage big coal, gas and manufacturing companies to find more emissions cuts on site. Lobbying to block the koala park credits was led by left-wing think tank The Australia Institute. Chief executive Richard Denniss said the issue was a litmus test for the safeguard mechanism. “It would be inconceivable that the Greens would support the creation of even dodgier offsets. It’s really surprising that it’s even a conversation,” he said. Nationals senator Ross Cadell said the forest credits would do nothing for emissions reduction and were effectively a type of subsidy. “The Greens are at a crossroads – do they want rigour and accountability in the carbon credit market or convenience and political deals to lower the value?” he said.

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Influential forestry investment leader Dr David Brand will headline an Investor Symposium hosted by The Precinct in Melbourne this October as investors explore an initial $200 million-plus opportunity to establish large-scale engineered wood product manufacturing in Victoria’s Green Triangle. Source: Timberbiz Dr Brand, founder of global forestry investment manager New Forests, will deliver a keynote address on 14 October 2026, drawing on more than four decades of experience across forestry investment, forest management and natural capital. Russ Hughes, chair of The Precinct and former CEO of Australian Bluegum Plantations, will host the invite-only event as investors assess the commercial pathway, market opportunity and investment case for the world scale Precinct development, proposed for Portland in south-west Victoria. The event marks a return to the investment origins of Dr Brand’s work in Australia. He founded New Forests in 2005 with a single forestry asset in the Green Triangle with the goal of bringing institutional capital into the plantation sector. The business has since grown into a global operation with $10.6 billion in assets under management with a portfolio covering plantations, timber processing, agriculture, conservation, carbon and natural capital. From the outset, Dr Brand recognised that the value of a forest extended well beyond the sale of wood fibre. His work helped advance a more sophisticated view of forestry as an asset class, capable of delivering additional value through carbon, biodiversity, conservation and broader landscape outcomes. Just as carbon created a new way to value plantations, Dr Brand will explore the next evolution of the sector, transforming established plantation resources, traditionally exported as raw fibre, to be the feedstock for higher-value, domestically produced engineered wood products and prefabricated construction systems – markets experiencing strong domestic demand and constrained supply. The symposium follows the completion of the Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub feasibility study, which confirmed the technical and commercial pathway for the initial stage of The Precinct development. The proposed initial stage, earmarked close to port and transport infrastructure, represents more than $200 million in investment and would establish a large-scale Glue-Laminated Timber (GLT) manufacturing facility, supported by a state-of-the-art sawmill and major log merchandising facility. It will use locally grown plantation hardwood, creating an estimated 74 permanent jobs and anchoring future stages of engineered wood product manufacturing, including Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and prefabricated building component manufacturing. The market opportunity is significant, with Australia importing close to $1 billion of engineered wood products and wood panels each year, including significant volumes of LVL, GLT and plywood used extensively in housing construction. The Precinct Chair Russ Hughes said the symposium came at pivotal moment for investors and the region’s forestry sector. “Victoria has an established plantation resource, but too much of its poten(al value leaves the region before it is converted into higher-value products,” Mr Hughes said. “The opportunity is to connect the resource we already grow with engineered wood manufacturing and prefabrication capability, so more of the economic value, skilled employment and industrial capability is retained in Australia, helping to meet our growing housing needs. “Dr Brand has been at the forefront of forestry investment for decades. His experience, including the early New Forests investment in the Green Triangle, gives him a particularly relevant perspective on the opportunity now emerging for this globally recognised region.” Under the theme “From Plantation to Product to Prefabrication”, the invitation-only symposium will bring together institutional investors, industry leaders, government representatives and project partners to consider the investment case, market opportunity and pathway to delivery. The Precinct is supported by major industry contributions and the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) and the Victorian State Government. To learn more about the development visit www.theprecinctportland.com.au

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Two research projects worth $1.43 million are building the first commercial case for native hardwood forestry at the scale between small farm woodlots and large industrial plantations. Source: Timberbiz The AFWI Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry at the University of Melbourne leads both, using existing commercial plantations in Gippsland, Victoria, as case studies. Australian Forest and Wood Innovations is investing $333,251 in the first project and $380,880 in the second, across total values of $669,635 and $762,578, with Radial Timbers and Heartwood Unlimited co-investing and supplying the working sites. The economics, ecology and social licence of medium-sized native hardwood plantations, which sit between small farm forests and large industrial estates, are not well understood. The projects measure the financial performance of current plantation management and local wood product manufacturing, quantify the natural capital the estates hold, and apply life-cycle analysis to the carbon footprint of production and processing. Victoria ended harvesting in its public native forests on 1 January 2024, and both case studies are built on plantation estates already trading in the region. The findings will inform investment decisions about medium-scale native hardwood forestry and processing infrastructure in comparable regions nationally. Jon Lambert, Managing Director of Heartwood Unlimited, said the work opened a new avenue for medium-scale private forestry. “We are delighted to be partnering in a project that is investigating a new avenue for medium-scale private forestry in Australia. This project has the potential to open many new doors via a platform of solid new data, being collected and analysed by a great team of researchers,” Lambert said in the AFWI Highlights Report 2024-2026, released in Canberra on Tuesday. Radial Timbers already runs the model the researchers will document. The company saws durable Victorian hardwoods at its mill at Yarram in South Gippsland using a radial cut that takes each log apart in wedges, cutting waste and handling the smaller diameter logs that plantations yield, and its integrated operation covers growing, milling, engineered wood manufacture and residue use. “Radial Timbers Australia is very excited to be partnering with this AFWI project as it will provide valuable, documented information on key pillars of our circular economy model which we have put into commercial practice,” Chris McEvoy, Managing Director of Radial Timbers, said. The Gippsland work sits inside a wider AFWI portfolio of 39 active projects worth more than $67.6 million at 30 June 2026, supported by a $101.5 million Commonwealth investment and hosted by the University of Tasmania. Both Gippsland projects run to February 2027.

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The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute said it is promoting full utilization of Taiwan’s incense cedar to develop a high-value circular economy for forest resources. Source: Taipei Times Incense cedar is an endemic species of Taiwan and is one of Taiwan’s five major coniferous tree species, the institute said. It is distributed in mountainous areas of northern and central Taiwan at elevations of 300m to 1,900m, it said. Taiwan incense cedar is the primary tree species used for reforestation in warm forests between 500m and 1,800m above sea level, the institute said. While Taiwan incense cedar wood is popular with consumers thanks to its distinctive aroma, surplus materials generated during the process of forest tending, pruning and wood processing are usually used as fuel or disposed of, it said. The institute’s Chiayi Research Centre promoted research on the reutilization of Taiwan incense cedar surplus materials at the Yunshui Experiment Station from last year to this year, the institute said. Water distillation was applied to extract Taiwan incense cedar oil from surplus materials, while the remaining materials would be ground into scented powder or made into incense cones, it said. The institute said that water distillation is a well-established extraction technique. It uses high-temperature steam to release volatile aromatic compounds from plants, which would then be condensed and separated to obtain natural essential oils, the institute said. Water distillation can preserve the plant’s aroma and active compounds without adding organic solvents, it said. That helps meet modern consumers’ demand for natural, safe and environmentally friendly products, the institute said. Taiwan incense cedar essential oil is rich in compounds such as ferruginol, alpha-pinene and limonene, it said. Ferruginol is highly antibacterial and antioxidant, the institute said, adding that it can inhibit skin disease-associated pathogens and tyrosinase, a key enzyme involved in skin pigmentation, it added.

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With extreme wildfire activity exhausting all available federal firefighting resources and the national wildfire system operating at its highest level of readiness, the US Department of the Interior has finalized two categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act to expedite Bureau of Land Management timber salvage and forest thinning projects. Source: Timberbiz These new administrative authorities are designed to bypass bureaucratic delays and immediately expedite critical timber salvage and forest thinning projects. “The Trump administration is committed to giving our land managers the tools they need to reduce wildfire risk before the next fire starts,” said Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor. “These categorical exclusions remove unnecessary delays so we can accelerate common-sense forest management projects that reduce hazardous fuels, strengthen forest health and resilience, and better protect firefighters, communities and our public lands from catastrophic wildfire.” Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that have been determined to not typically have significant environmental impacts, eliminating the need to do a full environmental review. Streamlining National Environmental Policy Act compliance through categorical exclusions removes regulatory burdens and speeds up the process, saving time and resources. The new exclusions allow the Bureau of Land Management to remove dead, dying and excess trees more quickly and reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, support landscape rehabilitation post-fire, while strengthening rural economies. They apply to routine salvage and thinning projects of up to 5,000 acres. Forests across the West have been heavily impacted by years of mismanagement that has led to more destructive wildfires, exacerbated by drought, insects, and disease, leaving millions of acres vulnerable to future wildfires. The previous administration inexplicably stripped timber harvest authorities from the BLM late in 2024. Since 2000, wildfires have burned an average of 7.3 million acres annually, with BLM lands seeing an average of 236,530 acres affected each year. This year alone, wildfires have devastated over 2.7 million acres of BLM-managed lands, and more than 7.4 million acres of all jurisdictions nationwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective forest management and fuels reduction strategies.

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Sumitomo Forestry, SCA and The Navigator Company have joined the PEFC Alliance. Together, the three organisations represent millions of hectares of sustainably managed forests and bring extensive expertise from across the forest value chain. Source: Timberbiz Founded in Japan in 1691, Sumitomo Forestry has more than 300 years of experience in forest- and wood-based businesses. Today, the company owns and manages more than 370,000 hectares of forest in Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada and the United States. Its activities span sustainable forest management, timber processing, wood construction and renewable energy. “Because our businesses cover both upstream and downstream sectors of the forest value chain, we have the perspectives of both a producer and a consumer,” said Yuko Iizuka, Head of Sustainability at Sumitomo Forestry. “We believe these dual perspectives enable us to share practical insights and contribute to the PEFC community. We look forward to working with PEFC to promote sustainable forest management, responsible wood use and transparency across the value chain.” SCA manages 2.7 million hectares of forest in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and operates sawmills, pulp and paper mills, renewable energy and logistics businesses, giving it broad expertise across the forest sector. “As one of the largest private forest owners, we have a great responsibility to conduct forest management in a sustainable manner,” said Jörgen Bendz, Forestry Director at SCA. “One of the strengths of PEFC is its ability to change and adapt to new conditions to remain relevant.” The Navigator Company is an integrated forest-based company headquartered in Portugal, with operations spanning sustainable forest management, pulp and paper production, tissue, renewable energy and sustainable packaging solutions. “It is very important to be part of the discussions,” said Sofia Castelão, Head of Management Systems. “We are at a time when we have a lot of European Union regulation, and credibility is very important for our systems. “We intend to work with PEFC International and, of course, the national PEFC members through the specific working groups to deal with special matters and improve and develop new solutions.” International stakeholder members play an important role in bringing knowledge, experience and market perspectives from across the global forest sector into the PEFC alliance. Membership is open to companies, organisations and associations with principles and objectives in line with PEFC. International stakeholder members are part of the PEFC General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the organisation, which sets the strategic direction of PEFC. They can join PEFC working groups and committees on relevant topics including standards revision, marketing and regional promotions. They can partner with other PEFC members on projects around the world and nominate representatives for the PEFC Board of Directors.

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Melbourne Polytechnic is inviting industry, education and construction sector stakeholders to help shape a new Modern Methods of Construction Showcase Building being developed as part of the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence at its Heidelberg campus. Source: Timberbiz A survey is now open to gather feedback that will help inform the functional brief for the new facility. The Showcase Building is being designed as a hands-on learning and demonstration environment where students, industry and researchers can explore modern methods of construction in practice, bringing together prefabrication, advanced manufacturing, digital construction and emerging building technologies. Set to become Victoria’s leading demonstration and education facility for modern methods of construction, it will also serve as a national destination for learning, innovation and collaboration. We are seeking industry expertise to help shape the Showcase Building through a survey. We want to understand feedback on the capabilities, infrastructure and learning experiences that will provide the greatest long-term value to industry and the wider sector. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous. Complete the survey by 31 August 2026. You can access the survey here.

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A Facilitator has been appointed to advise the New Zealand Government on what further support or intervention may be needed around forestry in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region. Source: Timberbiz Doug Leeder, former Chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council and former Chair of Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector Group has been appointed. Mr Leeder will work with Council leadership, members of the Council’s Assurance Review panel and other stakeholders, on the complexity of consenting and land use change. He will provide advice directly to Forestry Minister Todd McClay, and to other Ministers as required. The New Zealand Forest Owners Association, Eastland Wood Council, Forest Industry Contractors Association and Ngāti Porou Forests have jointly backed the Government’s decision. Mr McClay said the Government was aware of growing sector-wide concern about the approach the Gisborne District Council is taking to land use change, including its use of draft enforcement orders on woody debris and sediment management. He said that stronger compliance measures may be necessary however, they must be workable and proportionate, and they must not undermine progress towards land transition. “Forestry and wood processing matter enormously to Tairāwhiti and to the people employed in them,” Mr McClay said. “Industry is telling me it faces decisions it considers unworkable and costly, and growing uncertainty about the future of the sector in the region. “I am advised this is affecting the willingness of investors to pursue processing ventures, both in Tairāwhiti and elsewhere in the country. “I want the relationship between the Council and stakeholders reset, with all parties working together in a constructive and structured way. That means supporting effective long-term forestry management, the environment, jobs and local businesses.” In 2024, Mr McClay established the Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group (TFAG) to build confidence between all parties, and to allow the Government and Council to work closely with the sector to remove woody biomass from the district. The group has reduced risk across 173 kilometres of river network and removed almost 40,000 cubic metres of woody debris from high-risk locations. TFAG will now move to the next stage of the clean-up. That includes supporting landowners and operators to accelerate consenting on legacy biomass through pilot projects, monitoring progress, maintaining engagement with the community, and helping inform decisions about land use change. “TFAG has worked because central government, the Council and the sector all came together. I have invited the Council’s continued support and participation,” Mr McClay said. “I want to recognise the significant efforts of the Council, the forestry sector and the community in dealing with the compounding effects of weather events. The appointment of a Facilitator will help drive better outcomes for forestry, the environment and the wider community.” NZFOA Chief Executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the appointment of Mr Leeder provided an opportunity to make progress on difficult questions around land use, woody debris and forestry-related environmental issues. “Forestry wants a system that protects the environment while allowing businesses to keep investing and operating responsibly in the region,” Dr Heeg said. “Tairāwhiti needs to see decision-making that recognises where land use has to change, while allowing forestry to continue on land where it remains appropriate.” “Bringing Government, Gisborne District Council, iwi, communities and industry together with an independent facilitator gives us a practical way to work through those issues.” Eastland Wood Council Chairman Julian Kohn said decisions about forestry have consequences for everyone living in Tairāwhiti. “NZIER research has shown forestry accounts for 7.9% of Tairāwhiti’s GDP, the highest proportional contribution of any region in New Zealand. Around NZ$295 million per year is added to the regional economy through forestry and logging, support services and wood processing,” he said. “We want environmental issues addressed, but the decisions made through this process also have to recognise the scale of forestry’s contribution to Tairāwhiti and the communities that depend on it.” Ngāti Porou Forests Chairman Whaimutu Dewes said decisions about land use have long-term consequences for iwi landowners and communities. “For iwi landowners, there is a responsibility to look after the whenua for generations to come but also to create opportunities for our people today. Forestry supports whānau by generating employment and providing income from whenua to sustain our communities,” he said. “Bringing iwi, communities, Government, Council and industry together gives us a better chance of making decisions that achieve both.” Forest Industry Contractors Association Chief Executive Rowan Struthers said contractors and forestry workers will bring an important operational perspective to the process. “Decisions about forestry directly affect crews, trucking companies, machinery operators and local businesses,” Mr Struthers said. “Our members want high environmental standards and clear expectations, but those expectations also have to work on the ground. “The experience of the people carrying out harvesting and other forestry work will be important as practical solutions are developed.”

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Good information is one of the industry’s most valuable resources. Whether it’s helping a builder answer a customer’s question, supporting a merchant with technical information or giving fabricators practical tools to engage their networks, clear and consistent communication helps build confidence in timber framing. Source: Timberbiz That’s why WoodSolutions, with support from FWPA and in collaboration with the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association (FTMA) and campaign funding partners, has launched a coordinated national campaign to help industry share the benefits of structural timber. The campaign brings together a suite of professionally developed resources that funding partners and industry stakeholders can use through their own communications. Rather than every business developing its own materials, the campaign provides a shared set of evidence-based assets that are practical, consistent and ready to use. Over 14 weeks, participants will receive weekly campaign packs featuring social media, graphics, newsletter content and simple discussion notes designed to support conversations across the timber framing supply chain. To support consistent industry messaging, the campaign provides 14 ready-to-use campaign packs available through the WoodSolutions website. Each pack includes customer flyers, social media graphics and conversation starters, with a different timber framing benefit highlighted each week throughout the campaign. Each week’s content focuses on a different benefit of lightweight timber framing, drawing on trusted WoodSolutions technical resources and research. From renewable forestry and carbon storage to thermal performance, structural capability and construction efficiency, the campaign brings together practical information in a format that’s easy to understand and share. The initiative reflects FWPA’s ongoing commitment to supporting industry beyond research and development. By investing in practical communication tools, FWPA and WoodSolutions are helping funding partners confidently promote the value of timber framing while strengthening consistency across the sector. Research and technical guidance only create value when they’re used. This campaign helps turn existing industry knowledge into practical conversations that support confidence in timber framing across the supply chain. It’s also a reminder that meaningful industry communication isn’t driven by a single organisation. It comes from manufacturers, suppliers, merchants, builders and industry partners all contributing to the same conversation. When those voices work together, the collective impact extends far beyond what any one business could achieve alone. Funding partners and industry stakeholders are encouraged to download the campaign materials through the WoodSolutions Timber Framing Campaign page and use them throughout the campaign. Because every conversation is an opportunity to build greater understanding of timber framing, and every shared message helps strengthen the industry’s voice.

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) is calling on The Australia Institute and more than 50 environmental organisations involved in a newly announced national campaign to end native forest harvesting to disclose who is funding the campaign, how much is being spent and whether any government, philanthropic or tax-advantaged funding is supporting it. Source: Timberbiz The organisations announced on 17 August that they were meeting in Canberra to coordinate a national campaign seeking an immediate end to native forest logging, clearing and conversion and permanent protection of native forests across Australia. The media release says the meeting was being hosted by The Australia Institute. However, neither the media release nor the campaign’s published Forest Protection Principles identifies who was specifically financing the meeting or the coordinated national campaign. FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said environmental organisations were entitled to advocate for policy change, but the same organisations regularly demanding transparency from governments and businesses should be prepared to disclose the financial backing behind a campaign of this scale. “There is nothing improper about people donating to environmental organisations and nothing improper about those organisations participating in public debate. But transparency has to work both ways,” Mr Dobbyns said. “This is not simply a few local residents meeting to discuss their neighbourhood forest. It is an organised national policy campaign involving more than 50 organisations, coordinated across six states and territories, seeking to eliminate an Australian renewable industry.” “Before Australians are told this is simply a ‘people-powered movement’, they are entitled to know who is actually paying for the campaign.” The scale of some of the organisations involved is substantial. The Australia Institute’s audited 2024-25 accounts report $10.88 million in total revenue, including more than $10.05 million in donations. Its annual report says it is independently funded by donations from philanthropic trusts and individuals and by grants and commissioned research from businesses, unions and non-government organisations. The Australian Conservation Foundation reported $18.64 million in revenue and other income in 2024-25, including approximately $12.74 million in donations, $2.91 million in bequests and $1.66 million in grants. The Australia Institute, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Bob Brown Foundation are all registered charities with Deductible Gift Recipient status, allowing eligible donors to claim tax deductions for gifts. Mr Dobbyns said charitable and DGR status did not invalidate their right to campaign, but it strengthened the case for transparency where organisations were seeking major changes to public policy and expenditure. “These organisations benefit from tax concessions while campaigning to remove productive forests from timber supply, close regional industries and fundamentally restructure how Australia’s forests are managed.” “That makes transparency a legitimate public-interest issue. Who is funding this campaign? What are they funding? And what policy outcomes have funders specifically paid organisations to pursue?” FWCA is asking the campaign organisers to disclose: Who funded the national meeting being hosted by The Australia Institute? Who paid, or is paying, participants’ travel, accommodation and meeting expenses? Who funded the Protect Native Forests website, campaign development, communications, advertising and media coordination? What is the total budget for the national campaign? Have philanthropic foundations or other institutional donors provided restricted or project-specific funding for campaigns to end native forest harvesting? Have any overseas philanthropic organisations or foundations contributed to the campaign or participating organisations specifically for Australian forest policy advocacy? Have any Commonwealth, state or local government grants, government-funded positions or publicly funded resources been used directly or indirectly in developing or promoting the campaign? What cash or in-kind contributions have participating organisations made to the campaign? Will The Australia Institute and the major organisations involved publish the institutional sources and amounts of funding specifically supporting the campaign?   From shutting down forestry to a $10 billion-a-year public fund FWCA said the financial questions become even more important when the full Forest Protection Principles are examined. Those principles go considerably further than the 17 August media release. They call for governments to increase long-term public funding for forest conservation and restoration and establish an independent publicly funded statutory Nature Fund, nominating minimum recurring expenditure of around $10 billion per year as an example. “This deserves far more scrutiny than it has received,” Mr Dobbyns said. “The campaigners want governments to shut down a renewable timber-producing industry and permanently remove productive forests from timber supply, while proposing a new publicly funded conservation model involving expenditure on an extraordinary scale. “They cannot simply discuss the claimed environmental benefits and pretend the economic side of the ledger does not exist.” Australia’s own national forestry agency, ABARES, states that wood products from sustainably managed native forests are renewable because trees regenerate following harvesting. Australian forest reporting also distinguishes harvested forests that remain forest from permanent forest conversion. Mr Dobbyns said deliberately bundling native forest harvesting, land clearing and forest conversion into one political slogan blurred fundamentally different land-management activities. “Sustainable native forestry is not synonymous with permanently clearing a forest,” he said. “A production forest is harvested and regenerated to forest. That is precisely why Australia’s national greenhouse accounts classify harvested native forests within ‘Forest remaining Forest’. “Ending Australian timber production does not end Australia’s demand for timber. It simply means that demand has to be met somewhere else – through plantations where suitable resource exists, imports, alternative materials or shortages and higher prices.” FWCA said any credible national discussion about closing native forestry must therefore examine the consequences for domestic timber supply, housing and construction, regional employment, sovereign manufacturing capacity, imports, carbon leakage and the environmental standards of timber-producing countries that may replace Australian supply. Transparency should work both ways FWCA also noted the irony that The Australia Institute itself published research in November 2025 arguing that charitable and philanthropic contributions by corporations should be subject to clearer and more consistent disclosure so that the public can make informed decisions. “We agree with the principle,” Mr Dobbyns said. “If transparency about who funds an activity and what that money supports is important when corporations give money to charities, surely it is equally […]

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Forestry Australia’s longest-serving member Norm Lewis passed away on August 12. He was 109 years old. Source: Timberbiz Mr Lewis, ISO DipFor BSc DipFor FIFA, worked for the Woods and Forests Department in South Australia from about 1957 until 1981, when he retired as Assistant Director, Forest Operations Division. He was an advocate for thinning, having studied it in other parts of the world as a Russell Grimwade Scholar and in 1963 produced a guide to the “Optimum thinning range of Pinus radiata in South Australia“. He was also the author of “A Hundred Years of State Forestry, South Australia, 1875-1975” (1975). Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said in a note to members that Mr Lewis’s extraordinary leadership, contribution and longevity as a forester, and as a member of the Forestry Australia community was something very special. “We know many South Australian members will have known him personally or through his long association with The Institute of Foresters,” she said. “Norm’s exceptional legacy, significant influence on the science and art of forestry, and his enduring connection to Forestry Australia are deeply valued.” His funeral will be held at 1.00 pm on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at the Main Chapel of Berry’s Funeral Home, 204 Magill Road, Norwood. For those unable to attend in person, livestreaming information and the opportunity to leave a message of condolence are available through the funeral notice at https://www.mytributes.com.au/notice/funeral-notices/lewis-norman-benjamin/6372447/  

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Just over two years after its launch, Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) has backed 39 research and innovation projects worth more than $67 million across Australia’s forest and wood products sector. Source: Timberbiz The national institute, supported by a $100 million Australian Government investment, has brought together more than 100 industry and research partners and over 300 people across Australia, including growers, processors, manufacturers, Indigenous enterprises, government agencies and researchers. Its progress is detailed in the AFWI Highlights Report 2024–2026, launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, at the Australian Forest Products Association’s National Forestry Day event at Parliament House. Since its official launch in March 2024, AFWI has invested about $29 million in research and innovation projects, supported by a further $38 million in partner contributions. Ms Collins said AFWI had made strong progress in its first two years. “AFWI has made strong progress in just over two years, with its investments already translating into practical outcomes across Australia’s forest and wood products sector,” Minister Collins said. “I congratulate everyone involved and look forward to hearing more about the impacts being delivered and the further opportunities this national capability can unlock for industry, regions and communities.” AFWI CEO and Executive Director Dr Joseph Lawrence said the report showed how quickly AFWI had grown from a new initiative into a national research and innovation network. “In just over two years, AFWI has grown from a new national initiative into a substantial industry-led innovation network operating across Australia,” Dr Lawrence said. “We are bringing together industry, research and government to tackle key challenges: healthier and more productive forests, getting more value from Australian fibre, developing new bioeconomy opportunities and helping unlock manufactured timber housing at scale.” AFWI’s work is structured around four pillars: Healthier Forests, Maximising Fibre, Climate Solutions and Housing Innovation. Projects span forest productivity and resilience, biosecurity and climate adaptation, low-carbon fuels and bioproducts, engineered timber products, advanced manufacturing and new approaches to timber construction. AFWI is also rebuilding Australia’s long-term forest and wood products research capability through three Research Centres, hosted by the University of Melbourne, the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Tasmania. Across the portfolio, more than 90 early-career researchers are developing expertise while working directly with industry on practical challenges and pathways to adoption. Moving research into industry A major focus for AFWI’s next phase will be helping research move into industry, including through advanced timber manufacturing, manufactured housing and new bioeconomy opportunities. AFWI’s The Precinct initiative, led by IndustryEdge, is bringing together industry, research and government partners to develop new engineered wood products, prefabricated dwellings and bio-based co-products at scale. The initiative is designed to grow domestic manufacturing capability, reduce exports of lower-value fibre and substitute imported engineered wood products with higher-value Australian-made products. AFWI also provided technical support to the John Curtin Research Centre’s report, Manufacturing Homes: A National Strategy for Solving Australia’s Housing Crisis, which sets out a national strategy for expanding modular and offsite construction capacity in Australia. The report calls for AFWI’s proposed National Demonstration of Australian Manufactured Timber Housing as an early proof point. The proposed $300 million-scale demonstration would involve 600 manufactured timber dwellings across six to ten sites, showing how Australian timber, advanced manufacturing and modern construction methods could contribute to housing delivery at scale. Dr Lawrence said these initiatives reflected the type of practical, large-scale work AFWI was established to support. “The next phase is about taking the capability and partnerships we have built and turning them into larger-scale outcomes, from healthier and more productive forests and new bioeconomy industries through to advanced timber manufacturing and manufactured housing,” Dr Lawrence said. “Australia has an opportunity to turn more of our renewable timber fibre into higher-value products here at home, strengthening regional economies and sovereign manufacturing capability while contributing practical solutions to Australia’s housing challenge.” AFWI’s focus will increasingly be on helping research move into commercial pathways, standards, investment opportunities, new technologies and practical industry adoption. “The foundations are now firmly in place. Our focus is on ensuring research moves into industry, investment and implementation, and delivers tangible benefits for Australian businesses, regional communities and the nation,” Dr Lawrence said. AFWI acknowledged the Australian Government and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for their investment and support, the University of Tasmania as AFWI’s host institution, and the industry, research, government, Indigenous and regional partners contributing to its work. AFWI also acknowledged the Australian Forest Products Association for hosting the launch as part of National Forestry Day. The AFWI Highlights Report 2024–2026 is available at https://www.afwi.au/afwi-highlights-report-2024-2026/

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