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The Timber Circularity Project, led by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life, is dedicated to identifying and implementing strategies for the repurposing and recycling of preservative-treated timber and engineered wood products (EWPs). Source: Timberbiz This initiative directly addresses the complexities associated with their disposal, transforming potential waste into valuable resources. By converting challenges into opportunities, the national Timber Circularity Project aims to demonstrate how circular economy solutions for end-of-life timber products can play a pivotal role in Australia’s circular bioeconomy. Begun in 2023, the Timber Circularity Project is a three-year endeavour supported and funded by leading industry stakeholders, including: Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA), Wine Australia, Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), Frame & Truss Manufacturing Association (FTMA), Koppers Performance Chemicals, Hexion, and Azelis. This extensive collaboration underscores a collective commitment to advancing timber management practices and enhancing resource utilisation across sectors. Why Is It Important? Reducing Landfill Waste: Provides sustainable end-of-life solutions for treated timber, minimising landfill contributions. Advancing Australia’s Circular Economy Goals: Supports national efforts to repurpose valuable materials. Enhancing Industry Sustainability: Aids sectors such as viticulture and forestry in managing resources responsibly. Delivering Economic & Environmental Benefits: Lowers disposal costs and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable industry. In efforts to lead the industry’s transition to the circular economy, FWPA has invested in this program to secure viable uses for end-of-life timber products, assisting members to grow their businesses and increase productivity and utilisation along the value chain. A key outcome of the project is the Timber Circularity Resource Map, an advanced geospatial tool designed to optimise timber repurposing and find circular solutions for treated timber and EWP waste and offcuts. The map provides insights into: The locations, types, and volumes of unused timber resources available. Strategies and solutions for integrating these materials into a circular economy framework. By utilising this tool, industries can improve resource recovery efforts, reduce waste management costs, and contribute to Australia’s 2030 circular economy objectives. Strengthening Sustainable Practices Through Collaboration The Timber Circularity Project exemplifies the power of collaborative research and industry partnerships. Through such collaborative research initiatives, Australia’s Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), FWPA and Wine Australia demonstrate their commitment to working together to address climate change challenges and advancing sustainable practices, ensuring the long-term viability of Australia’s primary production sectors and aligning with broader efforts to transition towards a circular economy by 2030. The project aligns with the Federal Agriculture Minister’s priorities on climate adaptation and resource management, reinforcing Australia’s commitment to responsible material use. The project contributes to this priority by promoting sustainable resource management and reducing environmental impacts, thereby supporting the resilience and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural and forestry industries. Industry professionals are encouraged to explore the Timber Circularity Resource Map by attending the online launch webinar on Thursday 27 February at 1pm (AEST). Register here.

New Zealand and Flinders University experts have deployed artificial intelligence and 3D laser scanning to accurately map planted pine (radiata) forests for most of NZ’s North Island. Source: Timberbiz The results, which distinguish planted large estates, small woodlots and newly established stands as young as three years old, showcase a new way of using remote sensing with other technology to reveal forest growth and update growth information. This approach is just as relevant for Australia, where radiata pine is also widely grown, says Dr Grant Pearse, Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Flinders University. “In New Zealand, where radiata pine plantations dominate the forestry sector, the current national forest description lacks spatially explicit information and struggles to capture data on small-scale forests,” says Dr Pearse, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. “We combined deep learning-based forest mapping using high-resolution aerial imagery with regional airborne laser scanning data to map all planted forest and estimate key attributes.” The spatially explicit forest description provides wall-to-wall information on forest extent, age, and volume for all sizes of forest. This facilitates stratification by key variables for wood supply forecasting, harvest planning, and infrastructure investment decisions – applications equally valuable for other forestry industries. The research, with New Zealand timber industry researchers from Rotorua, Christchurch and Auckland, was carried out on planted forests in the Gisborne region, which has publicly available aerial imagery and airborne laser scanning data. This region is particularly significant as it was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, which caused widespread landslides and forest debris flows. For such vulnerable terrain, knowing exactly where forests are located in the landscape, their age and condition is key to managing the risks of harvesting operations on the region’s steep slopes. “We propose satellite-based harvest detection and digital photogrammetry to continuously update the initial forest description. This methodology enables near real-time monitoring of planted forests at all scales and is adaptable to other regions with similar data availability,” researchers say in a new article. Along with the economic importance of NZ’s 1.8 million hectares of radiata pine forestry for export timber and fibre, these planted forests are a key part of the country’s emission trading scheme and are expected to play a significant role in achieving the government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. The forest map derived from artificial intelligence can be viewed at: www.forestinsights.nz

More than $2.6 million has been awarded to 22 businesses located in Western Australia’s South West under the Timber Region Transition Grant. Source: Timberbiz Successful recipients presented projects demonstrating potential for positive economic impact, including long-term business viability, enhanced regional productivity and job creation. The grant is the final funding initiative under the $80 million Native Forest Transition Plan to help workers, businesses and regional communities transition from the native forestry industry. It was a response to the September 2021 decision to end native forest logging in Western Australia. Support remains available for impacted businesses through the Closure of Impacted Businesses (CIB) until the end of 2025 with up to $50,000 available for eligible businesses. Furthermore, the Business and Workforce Transition Programs have been extended to the end of 2025 to enable eligible workers and businesses more time to access support funding. These are the 22 companies that have received grants:

A prominent forestry company in Mount Gambier/Berrin has been put under the microscope following a five-year select committee review. Source: The Border Watch An extensive 83-page report was tabled to Parliament following extensive review, submissions and discussions. The Select Committee on Matters Relating to the Timber Industry was established in November 2022 following the recommendation of the interim report of the original select committee. The Lower Limestone Coast is responsible for $483m in forestry and logging output leading to 87% of the state’s overall forestry and logging output. OneFortyOne is one of the biggest forestry companies across the Green Triangle and after purchasing the Jubilee Highway Sawmill in 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer COmmission concluded its proposed acquisition of the premises, and associated woodship export operations was unlikely to “substantially lessen” competition in any relevant market. The company’s Plantation Lease Agreement requires OneFortyOne to provide annual reports and while the company undertakes self-assessment for these reports, it may be reviewed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA). The report stated neither OneFortyOne nor any other agencies provided complete copies of the lease agreement or its annual report to the committee while arguing OneFortyOne was compliant with the conditions of the lease. “The committee was presented with evidence that although OneFortyOne claims compliance with the letter of the contract, it was less than certain that OneFortyOne was compliant with the intentions behind the contract,” the report stated. In submissions received by the committee, the South Australia Timber Process Association claimed OneFortyOne had “offered tenders of sizes and timeframes” which local processors could not manage. “It was not practical for South Australian mills to purchase these large volumes, and particularly with little notice,” the report stated. “Therefore, OneFortyOne could export the volumes that were first offered to the local industry.” It said the association stated “OneFortyOne exported the highest volume of sawlog during the calendar years 2016 and 2017, taking full advantage of the fact that [local] industry was not able to use the log[s] advertised”. In the submission, the association also argued the purchase of the Jubilee Sawmill and the supply of logs by OneFortyOne to the mill could not be considered “arm’s length” transactions as required in the lease agreement. Despite this, OneFortyOne stated it took its compliance with the lease agreement seriously with the organisation establishing a “comprehensive internal compliance process”. “Under the terms of the PLantation Lease Agreement any sawlog over and above OneFortyOne’s contracts with domestic suppliers must be made available to domestic sawmills and exports on an equal basis and we have fulfilled this obligation,” they said. There was also an independent audit of the agreement for the 2018 calendar year. The audit found that the lease agreement was the “sole reference document” of deliverance with respect to the state’s dealings with OneFortyOne regarding the supply of forest product to domestic manufacturing. It also found that OneFortyOne complied in all material respects with its agreement. Throughout the report, the committee presented 17 recommendations including one requesting examination into the state government’s contract of the sale of the forward rotations of the forests as well as the plantation lease agreement. It also found there were varying opinions across the industry regarding OneFortyOne’s compliance with the conditions of the lease as well as the sale of the forward rotations of the forest. Topics covered in the report also included the volume of radiata pine log exported from the Limestone Coast, the economic benefit and employment opportunities gained through additional woof fibre-based industries and options for increasing the availability of logs to state processors. A OneFortyOne spokesperson said the company acknowledged the report of the select committee and recognised it concluded a process which commenced in 2019. The spokesperson said the process was one which the company had “fulsomely engaged with” and had made a “number of written and in person” submissions. “OneFortyOne takes its obligations under the Plantation Lease Agreement seriously and has a robust compliance framework in place to monitor compliance and provide assurance,” they said. “Each year, OneFortyOne provides the Government of South Australia (through the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA- PIRSA) an annual compliance report on our obligations under the Plantation Lease Agreement. “A previous independent audit undertaken by the government has also confirmed OneFortyOne’s compliance with our obligations … we will continue to work with the Government of South Australia as we focus on the future of the forest and timber industry.”  

Bringing in more support and more action, the Maryvale Mill workers and union groups have made a move against Opal’s actions. Source: Latrobe Valley Express On February 6, about 150 Maryvale Mill production workers marched the streets of Opal’s Richmond location. Before taking to the metropolitan area, the mill workers also received support from Latrobe City Council, Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, and Senator Raff Ciccone towards the action taken by Opal. Workers and contractors under the CFMEU have been locked out of the mill by Opal since January 16, after seven workers undertook a protected stop-work action to preserve their work conditions and pay. With an hour’s notice until they were exiled from the mill, 308 production workers are now engaged in an Enterprise Agreement discussion with Opal Australian Paper – owned by the large multinational Nippon with the help of the CFMEU since the latest agreement expired in December 2024. Throughout the lockout, the workers have been keeping a presence at the mill during work hours (8am to 3pm), to let Opal know they still want to work. On January 30, Opal’s “protected” industrial action was described as abuse of power from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus. Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman relayed that not only is the action unfair to the workers, but Latrobe is already seeing some of the impacts of the closure, urging for state government support. “The Victorian government has an important role to play in facilitating dialogue between both parties, supporting efforts to bring both management and the union back to the negotiating table with the aim of resolving this dispute quickly and fairly,” the mayor told the Express. “This will help achieve a solution that safeguards both workers’ rights and the long-term viability of the Maryvale Mill, ensuring a sustainable future for the region and its workforce. “The current industrial action not only affects those directly involved but also places undue strain on the Latrobe City community. Many families rely on the mill’s operation for their livelihood, and any prolonged disruption threatens the region’s economic stability.” As Victorian’s most heavily impacted and transitioning region, council says it stands with the community to support the economic diversification of the region’s industry landscape and economy. “We call upon the Victorian government to continue to work collaboratively with the timber industry and affected communities, following the cessation of native timber harvesting, to find viable and sustainable solutions that prioritise both environmental conservation and the welfare of timber industry workers, including those employed at the Maryvale Mill,” Mayor Harriman said. “We understand that this is a pivotal moment for the mill’s future as it navigates challenges such as rising costs and evolving market demands. A fair and equitable resolution to this industrial dispute is critical to ensuring that the Maryvale Mill remains a key player in Australia’s paper industry and, importantly, a strong employer in Latrobe City. “Securing the ongoing operations of the Mill is essential, not only for the livelihoods of those directly impacted, but also for the long-term prosperity and economic stability of the Gippsland region. A timely resolution will not only protect local jobs but will also ensure that the Maryvale Mill can continue to serve as a vital economic engine for Latrobe City.” On Wednesday, February 5, Senator Raff Ciccone responded to the issue by showing his support. “I rise in support of the 308 pulp and paper manufacturing workers who’ve been brutally stood down without pay at the Maryvale Mill in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley,” he said. “This adversarial move by Opal comes after years of cooperation from union members to financially secure the mill during difficult periods. This included employees agreeing to reclassifications and wage resets, as well as a five per cent pay cut in 2016. “In return for their cooperation, Opal has shamefully offered its workers a choice between real cuts to wages and workplace conditions, or indefinite lockout from work and income. I can tell you that a lot of them are relying on that income to support their families. “These 308 workers deserve better than this unjustifiable lockout. I call on Opal to return its employees to work, and to engage with them in good faith for the sake of their families and the local community. “I stand in solidarity with the Pulp and Paper Division, Maryvale Mill workers and every Australian fighting for secure work, for secure jobs and for better pay.” He mentioned that the Mill has been an integral part of the community since 1937, and the supply chain has empowered the community and the local economy for so long, and that their support throughout times such as the pandemic have not gone unnoticed. Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron and state Leader of The Nationals, Danny O’Brien, met with mill workers in state Parliament on February 6. “Over the last few weeks I have met with local union representatives who have reaffirmed employees are ready, willing, and able to reach an agreement and return work at the mill,” Mr Cameron said. “Workers are under immense strain and are understandably concerned about how they will provide for their families with no end in sight to this dispute. “I have written to Opal and reiterated the importance of brokering a deal that’s fair for both workers and the company, because the reality is that our region cannot afford to lose another major employer. “Labor’s decision to shut the native timber industry has had an enormous impact on the Maryvale Mill’s operations and placed Opal under financial pressure.” During question time, Mr O’Brien demanded answers from Jacinta Allan about what Labor is doing to ensure mill workers don’t lose their jobs. “Labor’s disastrous forestry policy has cut supply to the Maryvale Mill, and Opal has directly credited the shut-down of the native timber industry as threatening the viability of its operations,” he said. “The former Premier promised mill workers their jobs were secure up until 2050, but the rug was pulled out […]