Forest Products Industry

The world-heritage listed Sydney Opera House, designed more than 60 years ago and arguably the most well-known and iconic building in Australia, has recently enjoyed a major renewal which has won a host of awards, including the 2023 Australian Timber Design Award. Source: Timberbiz Director of ARM Architecture, Andrew Hayne, will discuss the amazing acoustic and architectural transformation, accomplished through a marriage of innovative digital design, offsite manufacturing, and creative acoustic engineering. A key feature of the renewal was the inclusion of a series of stunning, sculptured solid carved Brushbox panels, which serve as aesthetic enhancements and acoustic heroes, breaking up and diffusing sound waves to eliminate problematic refections and creating a rich, enveloping auditory experience. Learn all about this absolutely fascinating design and construction journey which spanned over seven years, from project inception through to the gala reopening at the WoodSolutions webinar on 7 May at 11am, online and there is no cost. For more information here.

Research in Australia and Europe is moving closer to identifying an effective solution to the damage to forests caused by giant pine scale (GPS). The research project aims to boost our understanding of the effectiveness of the various available biological control strategies. Source: Timberbiz GPS poses a particular threat to Pinus radiata, a species that makes up 75% of Australia’s $1.16 billion softwood plantation estate but also infests other softwood conifers such as spruce, cedar and fir. GPS is native to Greece and Turkey and was first detected in Australia in 2014. Following its initial establishment in urban and peri-urban Melbourne, it has been determined to be non-eradicable. Greg Lefoe of Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR), which is leading the project, said GPS poses a major economic threat to the softwood timber industry. “GPS is difficult and costly to control with insecticides, therefore biological control is considered a priority,” Mr Lefoe said. “Successful biological control programs have a high return on investment for government and industry because, once established, biocontrol agents will continue to control the pest year on year.” Biological control is also considered to be an environmentally friendly approach to pest mitigation. AVR is conducting the research with the support of local industry partners including FWPA and various forest growers, as well as researchers in Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand. The project has already identified the predator Neoleucopis kartliana as the most promising biocontrol agent in the pest’s native Greece. Subsequent native range and molecular studies conducted by the research team found that N.kartliana is actually made up of three predatory species, two of which were previously undescribed. One of these species, designated Neoleucopis sp. B, was subjected to preliminary testing against native Australian scale insects. The results to date show the new species to be highly prey-specific, and therefore likely to be suitable for introduction into Australia. Based on these results, an application for the release of Neoleucopis sp. B is being prepared by the team. Further research is needed to determine its suitability for long-term, sustainable management of GPS in Australia. “Neoleucopis sp. B has proven its potential as an important GPS predator, and we have found no evidence of off-target attacks that might pose a threat to other insect species,” Lefoe said. The team has worked to demonstrate this proposed biocontrol agent will not threaten Australian agriculture or biodiversity. A main area of focus has been on exposing Neoleucopis sp. B to a range of native scale insects through lab experiments. “A major challenge of this research project has been the limited knowledge of Australian native scale insects that could be at risk from an introduced biocontrol agent,” Mr Lefoe said. “To address this knowledge gap, we partnered with a native scale specialist at the University of Queensland. During this research, the distribution, biology, ecology and phylogeny of native Australian scale insects was studied, leading to vastly improved knowledge of this group of native invertebrates.” The scientists believe the three Neoleucopis species may work together to target GPS, meaning the introduction of all three species could offer full season control under a range of climatic conditions. Again, further research is required to confirm this to be the case. FWPA recently extended this project through to early-2025 to allow for further field and lab studies of the three Neoleucopis species in Greece, and to re-import one of the species into Australian quarantine for further testing.  

Congratulations to Thomas Gordon of Clifton Station in New Zealand who won this year’s Pan Pac Farm Forester of the Year at Napier Port’s Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards in April. Source: Timberbiz The Gordon family has been farming at Clifton Station since 1861. Today, Tom and his wife Lucia farm the 800ha station alongside their two children Frankie, 8, and Jasper, 7, and Tom’s parents, Angus and Dinah. Sixth-generation Tom has continued his family’s philosophy of innovation and diversification with effective use of farm forestry to improve low production and high erosion areas. Tom has utilized poor-performing land by planting a variety of tree species, as well as soil conversion plantings on erodible slopes.

A delegation of senior Chinese timber industry players from the China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) visited Australia. With stops in Canberra, Tasmania, and Sydney, the delegation was on a mission to forge partnerships and explore opportunities in Australia’s vibrant timber sector. Source: Timberbiz “We’re thrilled to present to the CTWPDA delegation and showcase the sustainability and quality of Australia’s timber products. This presents a unique opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and foster collaboration in sustainable forestry practices,” Matt de Jongh, Sustainability Manager at Responsible Wood said. James Jooste, CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association NSW, highlighted the significance of the delegation’s visit saying that Australia’s timber industry is renowned for its high standards of sustainability and innovation. Hosting the CTWPDA delegation allows us to showcase our capabilities and explore mutually beneficial partnerships. Investment NSW emphasised the economic opportunities presented by the visit, noting China is a key market for Australia’s timber exports and that strengthening trade relations with Chinese industry leaders not only benefits the NSW timber sector but also contributes to economic growth and job creation. Daniel Parkin from the Pentarch Forestry Group underscored the importance of collaboration in sustainable forestry management. “By sharing knowledge and best practices, we can work together to ensure the long-term viability of our forests. Collaboration with international partners like the CTWPDA is essential for advancing sustainable forestry initiatives,” he said. The delegation’s itinerary included meetings with key industry stakeholders and a site visit to a timber processing facility in Sydney. The purpose of the meetings was to provide the CTWPDA delegation with insights into the NSW timber sector, including a commitment to responsible forestry practices and the quality of our timber products. The exchange of ideas and expertise during the visit is expected to pave the way for future collaborations. “Building strong relationships with international partners is crucial for the growth and sustainability of Australia’s timber industry. The visit presents an opportunity to explore avenues for cooperation and expand market access,” Mr Jooste said. Mr de Jongh said that Australia offers a wealth of opportunities for investment and trade in the timber sector. Strengthening ties with Chinese industry players opens doors for increased cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships. The visit of the CTWPDA delegation underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing sustainable forestry practices and fostering economic growth. By working together, Australia and China can unlock new opportunities and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

The HIA Housing Scorecard report ranks each of the eight states and territories based on the performance of 13 key residential building indicators against their decade average, covering detached and multi-unit building activity, renovations, housing finance and rates of overseas and interstate migration. Source: Timberbiz“South Australia is one of the few markets where first home buyers can still afford a house and land package,” HIA Executive Director Stephen Knight said. “The state has capitalised on this relative affordability, with more and more people choosing it over the larger states to the east. “South Australia has the strongest detached housing sector in the nation with activity remaining resilient to the rise in the cash rate. “Recent efforts to increase higher density development in areas well serviced by transport will help accommodate this housing demand going forward,” he said. South Australia also has the nation’s strongest renovations sector that remains well above pre-pandemic levels of activity. Queensland took out second place in the rankings, trading places with South Australia over the last few years. The state has absorbed significant numbers of overseas migrants, as well as interstate arrivals, especially from New South Wales and Victoria. “Western Australia has had a remarkable surge up the rankings,” Mr Knight said. “The state has capitalised on its affordability advantages and strong economic and employment opportunities to jump from seventh position into third in just one year. “The main constraint for Australia’s mid-sized jurisdictions at the moment is simply getting enough labour to meet their housing demands, a constraint which is gradually easing,” he said. Mr Knight said the largest states, Victoria and New South Wales, faced the most acute land affordability constraints in the nation. He said this had left their detached housing markets more vulnerable to the compounding effect of rising interest rates. Combined with the dramatic decline in new apartment development as state governments tax investment in housing, this had driven these states down the rankings into fourth and fifth position respectively. The smaller states round out the rankings. “The Australian Capital Territory’s multi-units sector has been a valuable source of activity for this jurisdiction, testament to local authorities’ commitment to higher density living. A significant number of residents have nonetheless left the Territory since the pandemic shifted into the rear-view mirror,” Mr Knight said. “Tasmania’s slide down the rankings has been on the back of investors and local residents leaving the state after being such an important driver of the state’s pandemic and pre-pandemic booms. “The Northern Territory is still dependent on major government or mining sector investment to push it significantly up the rankings. “The synchronised cycle of the pandemic is coming to an end. The mid-sized states are pulling ahead,” Mr Knight said.

WA’s Cook Government’s Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 (FMP), which supports the decision to bring commercial logging of native forests to an end, will be bolstered with a $67.2 million investment over the next four years. Source: Timberbiz “This funding will support that historic decision, as well as create jobs, tackle climate change, and help manage water catchments,” Environment Minister Reece Whitby said. “This is important work, and our Government’s Native Forest Transition plan will also provide local communities the potential for forests to be used for recreation, tourism and other uses.” The funding, which will be part of the 2024-25 State Budget, will deliver: an additional 65 new jobs throughout Western Australia’s South West and metropolitan Perth, focused on a range of climate actions; a new forest health monitoring program; and support for emerging technologies, such as eco-acoustics, fire research, and ecological thinning, to improve forest health. “Under the new Forest Management Plan, some native timbers will still be available through ecological thinning, which promotes forest heath and resilience from drought and bushfires,” Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis said. “The State Government is committed to working with the smaller sustainable mills that will play a valuable role into the future.” Funding will also support work with Traditional Owners, protection of native wildlife from feral predators and managing weeds and plant diseases. The new jobs will be created between 2024 and 2027 within the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and partner agencies. The Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 came into effect on 1 January. It established the legal framework for managing more than 2.5 million hectares of forests across the State’s South West and includes a commitment to add more than 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests as nature reserves, national parks and conservation parks. Opposition Forestry spokesperson Steve Martin said the Government had cost industry jobs in its FMP and now taxpayers were footing the bill for new ones. “Minister Jarvis talks about working with smaller sustainable mills, but we’ve been asking her since the beginning of the year for updates on the status of supply contracts for small operators, with very little information provided in response,” he told The Augusta Margaret River Times. “Their decision to ban native hardwood forestry without warning or consultation threw legitimate and long-term multi-generational business into chaos, and their transition packages have been poorly targeted.” He said this week’s announcement meant more costs for taxpayers while “economic opportunities have been actively killed off by Labor”.