Australian timber industry news

The Australian Forest Contractors Association has been placed into voluntary liquidation over a historical project debt owed to Forest and Wood Products Australia. Source: Timberbiz The Association says the decision follows an extended period of financial remediation, stakeholder consultation, and unsuccessful efforts to resolve a historical project-related liability and establish a viable long-term operating pathway for the Association. The Association says the “materially significant debt owed to FWPA, with no means of plan to repay” came to light at a Board meeting in October last year. In November the Board entered “good faith negotiations” with the FWPA to find a solution on repayment of the debt. However, the Board says that also in November, due to insufficient funds, it resolved to sell ForestFit, supplier agreements with administration contractors ceased and Board members took on some administrative tasks. The Board says consultation and feedback received from members and sponsors confirmed that, while there remained strong support for contractor representation and the issues AFCA has been advocating on, confidence in AFCA’s ability to continue effectively under its current structure had been significantly impacted by “historical legacy decisions and resulting actions”. Chairman Lloyd Martin said the feedback was that the damage to the credibility of AFCA, its effectiveness and its reputation “was irreparable”. He said major sponsors, who had been with the AFCA since the beginning, were beginning to question their involvement. And Mr Martin said around 30 per cent of the members surveyed had indicated they were considering withdrawing. In April AFCA received a legal demand for the money owed to FWPA. The Board concluded that voluntary liquidation represented the most responsible course of action to “transparently address the organisation’s liabilities and provide clarity for members, sponsors, and industry stakeholders”. The Board said that further information regarding the liquidation process would be communicated “as appropriate”. FWPA was contacted but declined to comment at this stage..

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Accsys announced that Accoya wood was chosen for the benches within the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at London’s Regent’s Park. The £5 million memorial honours the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and reflects her deep, personal appreciation of the outdoors. Source: Timberbiz Accoya wood was selected as the material of choice for a central circular bench and six linear benches due to its exceptional durability and stability in out-door environments. With a proven above ground lifespan of 50 years, it is ideally suited to a permanent public memorial, capable of withstanding year-round use and changing weather conditions while remaining aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance over time. The memorial garden has been designed by designer and manufacturer Millimetre, who worked closely with HTA Design and The Royal Parks to develop, manufacture, and install the seating. Millimetre has extensive experience of working with Accoya, having previously crafted Accoya seating for the Strand in London, and are currently working on Accoya structures for the Parkinson’s UK garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. The memorial garden landscaping design balances heavy public use with long-term sustainability. Accoya’s resistance to decay and low maintenance requirements align with this approach, helping ensure the benches, which provide seating for up to 75 people, continue to perform and age gracefully for decades. “For a memorial like this, longevity is es-sential, it’s about creating something that will endure as a lasting tribute to HM the Queen’s life and legacy. Accoya allows us to make design choices with confidence, knowing the material will perform over the long term while retaining a timeless, natural quality that feels entirely appropriate to the setting,” Karn Sandilands, Director at Millimetre, said.

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Forest Tracks: Country-Level Market Insights 2025/2026 is a compilation of national reports submitted by countries to the 83rd session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry. Source: Timberbiz The document provides a comprehensive overview of forest and forest product-related policies and market trends in Armenia, Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, German, Ireland, Kyrgyz Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Each chapter offers an in-depth analysis of recent trends and an outlook for 2026, with a focus on wood and wood product markets. There is also information on general economic trends affecting the forest and forest industry sectors, policy measures taken in each country, key market drivers and their effects, recent developments, and a near-term outlook for forest and forest product markets. The sectors analysed include wood raw materials, wood energy, certified forest products, sawn softwood and hardwood (both temperate and tropical), structural and non-structural wood-based panels, pulp, paper and paperboard, as well as housing and construction, with a focus on wood construction. Downland the report at https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/forest-tracks-2025-2026-web-small.pdf  

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A Japanese group of forestry organizations has launched an online timber marketplace in February to match forest owners with buyers nationwide. Source: The Japan times About 30 businesses, mainly buyers, had registered on the platform by the end of April, with timber listings and transactions expected to increase soon. Standing timber is typically traded through negotiations. In such deals, individuals who own forests and small forestry cooperatives often have to sell at depressed prices presented by lumbering companies with large financing power and rich transaction experiences. The new platform was set up by the Tokyo-based group for promoting the use of domestic timber and protecting forests. It makes it easier for both sellers and buyers to find transaction partners from around Japan. The group aims to make the platform “an online flea market site for timber,” an official said. Organizers expect that transaction data accumulated on the site will facilitate the formation of market prices by conditions such as the tree species, volume and location, just as consumer online flea market platforms do. Forest owners could refer to market prices to consider their selling prices. If market prices become widely available, many owners would find it easier to negotiate with lumber businesses. The platform also incorporates into transaction prices reforestation costs, which are entrusted to financial institutions. Sellers can withdraw the money after replanting logged areas. This mechanism to secure reforestation funding is expected to appeal to major construction companies and home builders increasingly seeking timber sourced with consideration for forest conservation after logging.

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Biochar Network New Zealand (BNNZ) is looking forward to exhibiting at the MPI Forestry Hub again at the Fieldays from 10-13 June 2026. Source: Timberbiz The Forestry Hub will showcase the sector’s vital roles in agriculture, construction, energy and carbon management, giving visitors the chance to explore the many aspects of forestry and wood processing in NZ, including biochar. Biochar, a form of charcoal made by heating biomass such as wood residues in a low-oxygen process, is one of few negative emissions technologies (NETs) recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as safe, scalable, and effective. Biochar safely stores up to half the carbon in its source material for hundreds and even thousands of years. In New Zealand and globally, biochar made from forestry residues is used for a variety of regenerative agriculture applications, saving farmers money, increasing productivity and protecting the environment. “An attractive feature of biochar production is that it also yields significant amounts of useful energy, which can be used for electricity generation or process heat,” BNNZ chair Phil Stevens said. “Timber processors in particular can get multiple income streams from what has been regarded as a waste product, and in the current energy situation that makes our case even more compelling.” Mr Stevens said the growing market for biochar applications in the primary sector as proof that scaling up commercial production will tap latent demand. “Many farmers are feeding it to their stock and reporting several direct benefits: increased weight gain, higher milk production, better overall health, and lower incidence of intestinal parasites,” he said. “The animals then do the work of spreading it around the farm, and once the carbon is in the soil it enhances fertility for the long term.” BNNZ commercial members Southland Carbon have again donated a 1000L bag of their premium biochar for a lucky prize winner and BiocharTP will be returning with their demonstrator Air Curtain Burner to show how the forestry sector’s slash problem can be turned into environmental improvement, regional jobs, and increased revenue. After a successful “Char-B-Q” outing at the 2025 Fieldays, BNNZ will be again demonstrating live action biochar production with the spare heat going to cook venison sausages made from deer culled in North Island forestry blocks. Sausages will be handed out to everyone dropping by the exhibit around midday, and samples of the biochar will also be available. The BNNZ team will also be presenting in the Forestry Hub main stage on biochar production and its applications to agriculture and the natural environment. Schedules will be posted ahead of the event.

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Following considerable community pressure and lobbying by Towong Shire Council, the Victorian Parliament’s summer fires inquiry decided to hold a dedicated ‘open mic’ session for Toowong residents. Source:  Corryong Courier “While this session will be held online and not physically in the shire, it will at least pro-vide an opportunity for the inquiry to hear the voices of our communities directly,” said Towong mayor, Cr Peter Tolsher. Unfortunately, the ‘open mic’ session was held online (with) little time for it to be publicised widely. “It is disappointing that following representations from the community, council and this newspaper the inquiry did not allow sufficient time for all interested parties to prepare a submission for Wednesday’s session,” said Mark Collins, editor of the Corryong Courier. “We did not even receive a media release from the inquiry which would have at least allowed us to post the ‘open mic’ information online.” The inquiry also set a limit of 20 speaking slots for community members, each for three minutes only. Meanwhile, Towong Council has lodged a formal submission with the inquiry. While the focus of its presentation to the inquiry is the fire event in the summer of 2026, it also notes the regular experience of emergency events in the shire and the criticality of governments at all levels understanding, preparing for and responding to the ever-present risks and events that rural communities experience. The submission notes that there have been and will continue to be for some time, broad economic impacts felt within Towong Shire including: the loss of trade for local businesses due to prolonged road closures, restricted access and reduced customer movement the cancellation of accommodation, events and tourism activities during the peak summer period affected hospitality, retail and visitor-based businesses increased financial stress for households and businesses (with compounding impacts on mental health and wellbeing).   The inability of key infrastructure services (power and telecommunication) to maintain reliable and adequate performance during bushfire emergencies was also identified as a serious matter that must be addressed as a priority. The submission said the provision of relief or evacuation centres in the Upper Murray (Corryong and surrounds) is a major challenge in bushfire events and is a lesson that has not been adequately learned from the 2019/20 fires. It recommended that both the Victorian and New South Wales governments better support local cross border communities in establishing and resourcing relief and response outcomes. The transition of the fire event to the recovery stage under the management and responsibility of council has also identified serious issues with the administration and management of Commonwealth and/or State grant support programs. Importantly, the submission noted that the condition of the Murray Valley Highway and Murray River Road is very poor in non-emergency times; plagued by an array of significant and dangerous potholes, deteriorating and rough surfaces, crumbling road shoulders, and more. “In emergency events such as the recent fire, these road conditions are unacceptable, particularly given that both roads are the evacuation routes for community members, and access and response routes for control agencies,” the submission stated. “Significant government funding to restore the roads and to maintain appropriate condition is an urgent requirement.” Council’s [redacted] submission to the inquiry can be viewed at https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/2026firesinquiry – Submission No 292

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Integral Limited is inviting forest nurseries and forest management companies to register for a free full season trial of PlantIT, its digital tree tracking and management platform designed specifically for the forestry supply chain. Source: Timberbiz PlantIT was created to make tree tracking easier and more efficient for the forestry sector. This full season free trial gives nurseries and forest management companies the opportunity to see how digital tracking can improve accountability, reduce friction, and deliver better operational visibility. Built for the movement of tree stock from nursery to forest, PlantIT improves visibility across dispatch, transport, delivery, planting, and returns. It helps address common seasonal challenges including limited visibility of stock in transit, manual paperwork, avoidable errors, and the difficulty of reconciling what was dispatched, delivered, planted, and returned. For forest nurseries, PlantIT supports more accurate dispatch, stronger box and stock accountability, reduced administration, and a clearer digital record of movement and handover. For forest management companies, it provides better oversight of incoming tree stock, improved field confirmation, and more reliable traceability from uplift through to planting completion. PlantIT is part of Integral’s forestry product suite and supports a more connected and accountable nursery-to-forest supply chain. Developed with the help of the FGR Precision Silviculture Programme, led by Claire Stewart, and with support from Forest Growers Research (FGR), PlantIT reflects a shared focus on improving efficiency, traceability, and innovation across the forestry sector. Organisations interested in taking part in the PlantIT free trial can register their interest with Integral Limited at https://plantit.integral.co.nz/

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The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the news that tomorrow’s federal budget will invest an additional $2 billion over four years to fund critical infrastructure, which will support the construction of up to 65,000 new homes. Source: Timberbiz “One of the key challenges facing the residential construction industry is the cost of enabling infrastructure, which invariably lands on the new home buyer,” said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin. “A substantial number of housing projects across Australia are near ready for construc-tion, but stalled due to a lack of funding for enabling (‘last mile’) infrastructure. “In many growth areas, state and local governments face increasing difficulty financing the trunk infrastructure required to unlock new housing supply. “The cost of infrastructure provision, and the mechanisms used to recover those costs, have a direct influence on land prices, development feasibility and housing affordability. “Poorly sequenced or excessively front-loaded charges raise project costs and delay delivery, whereas timely and efficiently financed infrastructure can expand supply and moderate price pressures. “It is particularly pleasing to see that $500 million is reserved just for regional Australia. “It can be a challenge to fund infrastructure in regional growth areas, where the population does not yet support more investment in services, but the population can’t grow without it. This helps break that ‘chicken and egg’ cycle. “Timely provision of enabling infrastructure is critical to making projects shovel ready. It is not traditionally an Australian government responsibility, so this is an important commitment that will help accelerate housing delivery,” concluded Ms Martin.

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The Minns Labor Government is expanding support to more down-stream businesses impacted by the moratorium on timber harvesting within the boundary of the Great Koala National Park. Source: Timberbiz In October 2025, the Government announced the $5 million Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Program, which provides financial support to eligible businesses facing higher operating costs after wood supply was interrupted by the Great Koala National Park timber harvesting moratorium. In response to industry feedback, the Government is expanding the program to make additional businesses in the supply chain experiencing reduced trade or increased operating costs potentially eligible for financial assistance. Under the expanded program, additional eligible businesses, such as engineers, chainsaw sales and sharpening service providers, machinery operators and other impacted contracting businesses will now be able to access funding including for: Planning with up to $25,000 to cover the costs of professional advice and business planning to support businesses make informed decisions about their future, and Transition with up to $250,000 to help eligible businesses implement plans, including activities that support transitioning to a new business model such as the purchase or upgrade of equipment and machinery, advice on tax, legal and marketing strategies, as well as other transition costs such as disposal or site remediation.   To further support downstream businesses, the existing funding program has also been extended by six months to 8 September 2026 or when available funding is fully allocated. This will provide businesses with additional time to make applications to the fund. The Minns Government has worked closely with affected mills, providing financial support to help businesses and their employees manage disruptions to wood supply agreements. In addition to payments to the mills, the NSW Government has also provided a worker support package including: Top-up redundancy payments – employees will receive four weeks of base pay (inclusive of employer redundancy payment) per year of employment with an impacted timber mill or harvesting operator, capped at $150,000. Additional support for employees over 45 years of age – a further three weeks of pay for every year of service after the age of 45 (up to a cap of $50,000), to be calculated separately from the top up redundancy payment Education and training payments – of up to $9,000 for retraining and upskilling. Relocation payments -– of up to $45,000 for affected workers who move more than 50 kilometres for new employment. Free access to mental health support, and financial and legal guidance – TELUS Health are the contracted organisation to assist affected workers and their immediate families.   In addition to the $5 million Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Program and the Forestry Industry Worker Support Program, the Minns Government has committed $6 million to a Community Grants package. This grants package will support new opportunities for tourism and small businesses on the Mid North Coast, in consultation with local communities. For further information about the Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Programs, including eligibility and guidelines, go to https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forestry/establishing-the-great-koala-national-park

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Australian Forest Products Association CEO Diana Hallam has resigned to pursue new opportunities. Source: Timberbiz The Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive search to identify a new CEO. During the interim period, the Board has appointed Richard Hyett, currently AFPA’s Deputy CEO, to serve as acting CEO effective from today. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Di for her dedicated service and leadership over the past two years,” AFPA Deputy Chair Matt Crapp said. “During her time as CEO, the organisation has been a proactive and successful contrib-utor to informing Government policy outcomes that recognise the essential role forest products play in the decarbonisation of the Australian economy. “We wish Di the best in her future endeavours.” Ms Hallam said: “It has been an honour to lead AFPA. I am proud of what we have achieved and confident that AFPA is well-positioned for continued success.”

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The NSW Government has published the Independent Forestry Panel’s Stakeholder Consultation Report. Source: Timberbiz The NSW forestry industry is a complex but crucial part of the state’s economic future which needs modernising reform across both softwoods and hardwoods to capture new opportunities to move up the value chain for timber products and improve environmental outcomes. The Independent Forestry Panel, chaired by Peter Duncan AM with other panel members Professor Mary O’Kane AC and the Hon Mick Veitch, has produced a report which outlines stakeholder feedback and areas where government should focus in the development of a future Action Plan for the forestry industry in NSW. In producing the report, the panel consulted with representatives from the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities, local government, business, related industries, tourism, scientific experts and the Commonwealth Government. The panel that was appointed in August 2024 received written submissions from more than 1500 individuals and 160 organisations representing a cross section of the timber industry, environmental groups, researchers, residents and businesses from regional NSW and others. This report is designed to succinctly and fairly present the views of these stakeholders to Government and highlight the matters for resolution necessary to inform the development of the Forestry Industry Action Plan. The Minns government says that making this report available to the public is a key step toward modernising forestry in a way that protects biodiversity. Following the finalisation of the Stakeholder Report, the panel has been tasked to produce a Considerations Report. This report will accommodate the Stakeholder Report findings and identify opportunities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NSW forestry industry and support jobs, in the context of recent and ongoing changes, including: the NSW Government’s moratorium on logging in the proposed area for the Great Koala National Park, changes to the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and opportunities the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme could offer state forestry reform, including potential revenue for the NSW Government.   The executive summary of the report said that regional communities were split valuing jobs and environmental protection however there were shared goals across all stakeholder groups. These goals were: Address timber and forest scarcity Expand plantations Improve stewardship Increase bushfire resilience Protect biodiversity Use sustainable building materials Maximise carbon benefits Base decisions on scientific evidence Recognise regional differences Provide long term certainty   The panel has urged the government to rely on peer-reviewed contemporary scientific consensus in ongoing policy developments. There is one central unresolved question which is whether native forestry will continue or not. This report is designed to present the views of stakeholders to Government and highlight the matters for resolution necessary to inform the development of the Forestry Industry Action Plan. The Panel’s Stakeholder Report is available online: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/cabinet-office/resources/independent-forestry-panel-stakeholder-report

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Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about US$3.75 in wildfire damages, according to a new study, led by researchers at the University of California, of nearly 300 fires in the western United States. Source: Timberbiz The study estimated that the treatments, such as forest thinning and prescribed burns, prevented US$2.8 billion in losses, reduced wildfire spread and fire severity. The researchers analysed the nearly 300 wildfires that intersected USDA Forest Service fuel reduction treatments in 11 states between 2017 and 2023. The study is the first to evaluate the economic value of Forest Service fuel treatments across the West at a large-scale using data from wildfires that encountered fuel treatments rather than relying on wildfire simulation models. It was published in Science. “Fuel treatments and forest management are critically underfunded public goods,” said lead author Frederik Strabo, a postdoctoral scholar with the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. “Our results suggest that when fewer resources are available to agencies like the Forest Service, more of the economic burden of wildfires falls on the public.” The researchers measured wildfire damages including structure losses, carbon emissions and the health impacts of exposure to fine particulate matter. As climate change has intensified wildfires in recent decades, those damages are estimated to total US$185 billion to US$540 billion a year. Researchers compared how fires behaved when they spread into treated areas versus untreated forests, accounting for predictable patterns of fire spread using fire-simulation modelling, while controlling for weather conditions and suppression efforts. Fires were more than 13 percentage points less likely to continue spreading after reaching a treatment area. Treatments were especially effective at reducing high-severity fire — those that kill more than 75% of the tree canopy — lowering burned area by 20% to 35%. Prescribed burning was significantly more effective than mechanical thinning alone at limiting wildfire spread. Treatment size also mattered: landscape-scale treatments larger than 2,400 acres were the most effective at reducing wildfire spread. Across the fires studied, fuel treatments reduced total burned area by 36%, or about 152,000 acres, relative to a scenario without treatments. They also prevented the loss of more than 4,000 buildings, avoided the release of 2.7 million tons of CO2, reduced 25,757 tons of fine particle pollution and prevented an estimated 59 premature deaths. Together, these avoided damages totalled about US$2.8 billion, including: US$895 million from avoided structure loss US$503 million from reduced CO2 emissions US$1.39 billion from avoided health impacts and productivity losses linked to smoke pollution Strabo said the findings underscore the importance of investing more in preventive forest management. “Wildfire policy has historically focused on suppression, but our results suggest greater investment in prevention could substantially reduce wildfire damages,” said Strabo. “That will become even more important as the climate continues to change and forests face more large wildfires and other disturbances.” The research was supported by the Giannini Foundation for Agricultural Economics and the USDA Forest Service. Other authors include Matthew N. Reimer with UC Davis and Calvin Bryan with the Department of Economics at Washington and Lee University.  

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Stora Enso has announced that Bergslagets Skogar is the new name of its Swedish forest asset company. The announcement marks an important step in Stora Enso’s preparations to separate its Swedish forest assets into a standalone listed company, subject to relevant approvals. Source: Timberbiz Bergslagets Skogar represents Stora Enso’s Swedish forest asset entity, comprising long term, sustainably managed forest land with a history of active ownership extending back to year 1288. The name reflects both the historical footprints in the old Copper Mine in Falun and a long-term approach to value creation, where planning horizons extend across generations. “Forest land is a long-term asset class where value is generated through biological growth and sustainable forest management. Bergslagets Skogar reflects our ambition to manage our assets with a clear focus on long-term value creation and operational excellence,” said Tuomas Hallenberg, CEO of the new forest company. Stora Enso is preparing to separate its Swedish forest assets into a new publicly listed company, with completion expected in the first half of 2027. Following the separation, Bergslagets Skogar would comprise more than 1.2 million hectares of forest land in prime locations in Sweden and emerge as Europe’s largest listed pure play forest company, offering investors exposure to forest assets as a distinct asset class. The planned separation is intended to unlock the full value of both Stora Enso’s forest assets and its renewable packaging business, enabling each company to pursue a clearly defined strategy and capital allocation framework. Bergslagets Skogar would generate value through biological growth, operational excellence, efficient forest management, and additional revenue streams linked to sustainable land use. Long term wood supply agreements with Stora Enso are planned to provide predictable demand while maintaining flexibility for both companies.

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Kodiak AI is a leading provider of physical AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, and the company announced it will conduct pilot operations and explore the deployment of trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s AI-powered autonomous driving system, at West Fraser Timber’s log-hauling operations in Alberta, Canada. Source: Timberbiz In the initial phase of work, Kodiak will pilot the use of its self-driving technology to transport timber from forest sites to one of West Fraser’s Alberta processing facilities in Western Canada later this year. Results of the pilot will be used to inform any future long-term deployment of Kodiak Driver-equipped trucks for commercial driverless operations. This work marks a significant milestone for Kodiak, representing the company’s expansion into the timber industry, as well as its first international operations. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in Canada, the United States, and Europe, West Fraser is the world’s largest manufacturer of wood building materials. Logging truck routes often involve challenging, remote resource roads with uneven and rough terrain. By leveraging the Kodiak Driver, West Fraser aims to improve the safety of its logging transport operations, address the industry-wide shortage of drivers, and increase the consistency of its raw material supply to mills. “Innovation that improves safety and sustainability has long been central to how West Fraser operates,” said Mark Cookson, Woods Operations Manager, West Fraser. “This pilot gives us the opportunity to test autonomous technology that can help address driver shortages and enhance safety by reducing human exposure to the risks of remote, rough-terrain resource roads.” The Kodiak Driver is designed to handle the complex variables seen in industrial trucking environments. Kodiak deployed its first driverless technology commercially in West Texas’s Permian Basin in December 2024 and scaled its operations to 20 driverless trucks as of the end of 2025. Its modular technology is built to withstand the dust, vibration, and extreme weather conditions typical in industrial environments, including the oil and gas and forestry sectors. “We built the Kodiak Driver to be the most versatile autonomous system on the market, capable of handling everything from interstate highways to the toughest industrial environments, from arid We st Texas to the forests of Western Canada,” said Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak. “Our work with West Fraser is the perfect opportunity to support our expansion into logging, because it is an industry leader with a deep understanding of the logistical complexities of timber. By bringing the benefits of autonomous trucking to the wood products industry, we are demonstrating that our technology can thrive in even the most demanding settings.” FPInnovations, a private non-profit research and development centre, facilitated the collaboration between Kodiak and West Fraser. Supported by federal and provincial governments as well as more than 50 forest-product companies. FPInnovations brings decades of expertise in advancing transportation solutions that address unique challenges of the Canadian forest sector. “This is an important step towards making autonomous transportation in Canada’s forests a reality. The adoption of new key technologies is critical for the Canadian forest sector to remain competitive,” said Christoph Schilling, Program Manager Transportation for FPInnovations. “Deploying these technologies strategically, safely, with real operational purpose and in close collaboration with industry, technology providers and regulators will be crucial for its adoption.”

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The Limestone Coast Technical College in Mount Gambier has officially opened, marking a significant milestone for education and skills development in regional South Australia. Source: Timberbiz Delivered for the South Australian Government’s Department for Education, the new facility has been constructed using NeXTimber Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) for the building’s main structure. The college provides purpose-built learning environments for students, with specialist pathways across agri tech, multi trades, early childhood education, and health and social support. NeXTimber worked closely with the project team to develop a mass timber solution that balanced architectural intent, performance requirements and buildability, demonstrating the capability of locally grown and locally manufactured timber in large scale education projects. Beyond material supply, Timberlink’s partnership with the Limestone Coast Technical College reflects a broader commitment to the region, supporting agri tech and multi trades programs through site tours, work experience opportunities and potential employment pathways for students. The opening of the college represents an important investment in future skills, sustainable construction, and long-term opportunities for the Limestone Coast community.

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The Australian Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association (FTMA) is holding its national conference on 19 May 2026 and for the first time it includes a trade show. Source: Timberbiz Keeping with this year’s theme ‘At the Crossroads’ the FTMA has put together a program that will focus on the key decisions facing the industry. Topics span: Housing at the Crossroads. Building the Future of Lightweight Timber Framing. Reframing for Growth that Actually Works. Optimisation Lessons for Automation. Market Outlook for the Timber Frame & Truss Sector.   As part of the 2026 FTMA National Conference, there is a dedicated trade expo as a key element of the conference agenda, curating nearly three hours of dedicated networking, demonstration and exhibition time. This will be held at the conclusion of the conference. The trade expo is the first that the FTMA has held and the association says it is the biggest frame and truss-focused trade exposition in Australia, with: 40+ exhibition sites. Live demos. Dedicated mid-conference expo time. Interactive town hall style learning lab led by industry and research leaders.   The 2026 FTMA National Conference & Trade Expo will showcase exhibitors from across its Principal, Strategic, and Supporting Partners – organisations that are leaders in their field, and fundamental to the strength and success of the association. Alongside FTMA’s valued Annual Partners, there is a diverse range of additional conference sponsors to the Trade Expo each bringing specialised expertise and solutions that support the advancement of the frame and truss industry. These organisations will be showcasing products, technologies, and services that are directly relevant to driving efficiency and growth across the sector. Together, they will help create a dynamic experience, offering delegates the opportunity to connect with trusted providers, explore new ideas, and stay at the forefront of industry progress. The event will be held on 19 May at the Novotel on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. More information is at: https://conference.ftmanews.com/

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As more industrial sites transition to electric plant and equipment, the supporting infrastructure matters just as much as the fleet itself. At Timberlink’s Tarpeena site, the company is constructing a purpose-built battery charging building to support the arrival of a new electric forklift fleet in 2026. Source: Timberbiz This project brings safety, efficiency and material choice together, while also demonstrating how mass timber performs in real, working industrial environments. Introducing electric forklifts requires more than plugging in chargers. Battery charging and storage must be well ventilated, compliant and carefully managed. Without a central facility, charging points would need to be spread across the site. That approach increases traffic interaction, safety risks and operational complexity. This new building brings everything together in one controlled location. The battery charging building has been planned through a detailed HAZOP process, with a strong focus on: Traffic separation and forklift movement Risk control during battery charging and handling Clear access and servicing arrangements   The final location was approved through site review and mobile plant network planning, ensuring it fits safely within existing operations. The structure features NeXTimber Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), demonstrating how engineered timber can be used beyond traditional commercial or residential builds. In this case, timber provides: a practical structural solution a highly visible, working example of mass timber a durable material choice suited to industrial environments   The battery charging building will be a showcase demonstration of timber being used where performance and safety matter.

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Two more businesses have been held to account for the forestry road failures that killed Coromandel, New Zealand truck driver Greg Stevens, as his widow issues an emotional plea for worker safety. Source: Timberbiz Mr Stevens who was 59 years old died when his fully loaded logging truck and trailer rolled while negotiating a treacherous bend on a private forestry road in May 2023. The road had no warning signs, road markers or berms, and its sharp corner was well outside any recommended specifications for the heavy vehicle he was driving. The Thames District Court found the corner’s turning diameter was 7.5 metres less than the minimum standard for the truck configuration. Wet surfaces, mud-caked tyres, darkness, and a steep downhill approach made the bend even more dangerous. The forest owner, Specialty Timbers (1987) Limited, and the transport contractor, Trevor Masters Limited, have now been sentenced for their work health and safety failures. Judge Tompkins found each party assumed someone else was ensuring the road was safe, so nobody took responsibility. “Greg’s death was preventable, and if those companies had done what they should have done, my Greg would still be with me today,” Caroline Stevens told the Thames District Court in a victim impact statement. “Greg’s death has left both mine, and the lives of our families, in limbo. Only someone who has experienced a loss like this in such tragic and horrible circumstances will ever understand. “It is my hope that Greg’s death will serve as a reminder to prioritise safety in the workplace, so no other family has to endure this trauma. My plea is simple: let our loved ones come home from work safely,” Mrs Stevens told the court. Safe transporting of logs to the forest boundary is part of WorkSafe New Zealand’s recently released approved code of practice for forestry and harvesting operations. “No log load is worth a life. Forestry operators must understand that managing forestry roads isn’t optional. If you’re moving heavy vehicles through difficult terrain, you need proper risk assessment, proper consultation, and proper controls. If you’re not sure your roads are up to standard, stop and check before the next truck goes out,” said WorkSafe’s northern regional manager, Brad Duggan. Forestry is a priority for WorkSafe as its fatality rate is about 20 times higher than the average for all sectors. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities to keep people healthy and safe. The forest managers, Forest360 Limited, has separately entered into an enforceable undertaking. This is a binding agreement with WorkSafe to invest over NZ$400,000 in a range of safety actions in response to the death.

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A new education and information program on carbon forestry has been launched. Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) launched its Carbon Forestry 101 project at Agfest. Source: Tasmanian Country Rob Downie has three parcels of land across the state where he grows trees. He said that around 90% of his income is from forestry. “Initially we were leasing land to Gunns, but once they went belly-up we secured the right to the trees,” Mr Downie said. “Until last year, I hadn’t planted a tree for about 30 years. “We had trees on the property and could see that forestry was the highest and best use for the land.” Mr Downie said carbon forestry had been an absolute gamechanger for him. “I know about this more than most, but I fear for those who don’t know. “That’s where the program comes in and is going to help. “It will be an information pool.” PFT CEO Elizabeth Pietrzykowski said there is a gap between service providers and landowners with trees who want to engage in carbon forestry. “When service providers start explaining carbon projects, landowners often get lost in all the jargon and technical information,” Dr Pietrzykowski said. “We saw an opportunity here to educate people about carbon forestry and how it might work for them, which then would give them confidence to engage with a service provider.” Dr Pietrzykowski said that the number of landowners signing up to carbon projects was increasing.

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Forest and Wood Communities Australia says a new peer-reviewed study published in Australian Forestry demands an urgent reset of swift parrot conservation strategy, after independent research found that predation by introduced sugar gliders, not native forest harvesting, is the primary driver of the critically endangered species’ collapse. Source: Timberbiz “This study is a wake-up call that exposes how ideology has been allowed to hijack conservation science. For years, the native forest industry has been a convenient scapegoat for activists, while the real killers-like the sugar glider-were ignored,” Steve Dobbyns BSc (Forestry), Chairman, Forest and Wood Communities Australia said. “We see this same pattern across the board; whether it’s the swift parrot or other threatened species, the focus is routinely shifted toward stopping timber workers rather than managing the complex, primary threats like invasive predators and bushfire fuel loads.” The finding, published in Australian Forestry, challenges the widely held view that habitat loss from native forest harvesting is the central cause of the swift parrot’s decline. Independent researcher Simon Grove reviewed the body of published research to test two competing explanations, concluding that the evidence base firmly favours predation over habitat loss as the primary driver. Swift parrots breed only in Tasmania, making the species uniquely vulnerable and uniquely dependent on getting the conservation response right. Mr Grove’s paper tests two hypotheses: the forest habitat narrative, which holds that habitat loss from native forest harvesting is the critical mechanism; and the predation narrative, which holds that the population is being suppressed by sugar gliders killing nesting females, eggs and broods. Neither the straightforward forest habitat hypothesis, nor a more nuanced version linking sugar glider predation to forest disturbance, is well supported by the evidence. The predation hypothesis, by contrast, is grounded in empirical observation and supported by what the paper describes as apparently robust statistical modelling. The implications for conservation are direct. A strategy focused solely on protecting existing breeding habitat would, the study concludes, make negligible material difference to the swift parrot’s fate in the short term, doing little more than ensuring the remaining birds continue to be predated when nesting. The paper is unequivocal: an all-out focus on predation mitigation remains the only strategy with at least the potential to avoid species extinction. Mr Grove is unequivocal about what the evidence demands. “Unless we focus all-out on finding practical ways to reduce predation on nesting swift parrots at scale, the species seems doomed to extinction,” he said. “In contrast, directing outrage towards the highly regulated forestry sector does nothing to further the species’ chances of surviving into the next decade — in fact, it detracts from where the real work is needed and is therefore contributing to the problem rather than the solution.” Forest and Wood Communities Australia says the study reinforces what the industry has argued for years: that conservation campaigns targeting regulated native forestry have displaced attention and resources from the interventions most likely to make a material difference. With the swift parrot facing functional extinction by the end of this decade, FWCA is calling on conservation organisations and government agencies to reorient strategy around the predation evidence without delay. “If we keep letting anti-forestry sentiment dictate environmental policy, we aren’t just losing an industry – we are losing our biodiversity. By obsessing over harvesting and ignoring the science, we are effectively managing species into extinction,” Mr Dobbins said. “This isn’t just about the swift parrot; it’s about a fundamental need to reset how we protect all our forest-dwelling species. We must move past the ‘lock it up and leave it’ ideology and embrace active, evidence-based management that addresses the actual drivers of decline.”

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