Australian timber industry news

The winners of two forestry prizes under the 2026 World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge for young researchers were announced at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. Source: Timberbiz Represented by Neyamat Hossen from Bangladesh, the country’s Mangrove Intelligence Research Team was awarded the Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize for its efforts to develop a digital decision-support platform for mangrove restoration in Bangladesh’s coastal areas. Gad Okodi from Uganda received the Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize on behalf of a team working on making forest monitoring more inclusive by enabling communities to report forest disturbances using basic mobile phones, FAO’s Open Foris Ground and toll-free telecommunications technology available in local languages. He is also a 2025 AIM4Forests Young Forest Champion. The announcement was made by Tiina Vähänen, Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry Division, during a hybrid event where finalists had the opportunity to pitch their youth-led initiatives in front of an audience. The Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize spotlights innovative and scalable approaches to real-world restoration challenges. The Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize recognizes youth-led solutions that use digital technologies, data and participatory approaches to strengthen forest monitoring and decision-making. Both forestry winners will receive US$10,000 in research funding, along with opportunities to promote their research and to scale and implement their proposals. Prize winners also gain global visibility, mentorship and networking opportunities, and a platform to connect with practitioners, policymakers and partners working to advance forest and landscape restoration worldwide. In addition, the finalists for both prizes – Jonathan André Fletes Gómez from Mexico, representing Chinampa Guardians / Iniciativa Agroecológica Xochimilco, and Keith May from Kenya, representing Watershed Restoration and Community-led Monitoring in Kajulu Forest – will also receive US$10,000 to support their research. The forestry prizes were two of five Transformative Research Challenge awards presented recognizing outstanding research in real-world agri-food solutions.

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The fibreline project at Östrand, Sweden is now complete. During the annual maintenance shutdown, the final work was carried out before startup, marking the completion of one of SCA’s larger projects this year. Source: Timberbiz The investment in Östrand’s digester area is about creating a safer and more stable process. The aim has been to reduce the risk of blow-through, improve availability, and lay the foundation for a sustained increase in production rate. A key part of the project has been the redesign of the steaming and impregnation stages, including a new hot top solution. This keeps the entire chip column warm and helps reduce the risk of unstable cooking. At the same time, the temperature in the impregnation stage has been lowered, further improving operational reliability. The project also includes a new washing stage after the digester, with two pressure diffusers designed to deliver better washing results while reducing the use of washing liquid. In the long term, the solution is expected to contribute to better runnability, higher wood yield, and more sustained production. The work has been technically complex, but close collaboration between SCA, Valmet and other contractors, as well as strong internal engagement, has helped keep the project on schedule. “We involved as many people as possible with the relevant expertise in meetings and follow-ups. I believe that has been one of the reasons it has worked so well,” said Daniel Solberg, process manager in the project. A 96-hour test run of the new equipment was underway. If it goes as expected, SCA will take over the new equipment. “The next step is to bring the plant up to full speed and then continue with optimization and fine-tuning, says Hanna Norberg, process engineer in the project.

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Tigercat Industries has upgraded its TCi D7 harvesting head control system with D7 Help Centre to empower owners and operators with additional knowledge, troubleshooting resources and repair guides. Source: Timberbiz The new D7 Help Centre is an onboard guide integrated with the TCi D7 harvesting head control system. D7 Help Centre is accessed inside the operator’s station via the D7 touchscreen interface. It combines the D7 Operator’s Manual with easily searchable troubleshooting and procedure guides for common adjustments and repairs. Troubleshooting and repair guides, maintenance schedules and a guide to the D7 system are all available at the operator’s fingertips. It’s another resource to empower owners and operators to better understand the harvesting head control system and maximize harvesting performance and uptime. For operators with less familiarity with the D7, many procedure-style topics are located within the D7 Quick Start Guide section. In addition, comprehensive troubleshooting and repair guides cover the most common repairs, adjustments and troubleshooting procedures such as measuring wheel, diameter encoder and saw encoder issues, repairs and replacement. With powerful search functionality, users don’t have to worry about navigating to get the information they need.

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The Victorian Government has protected another 2,155 hectares of native forest, safeguarding and connecting some of the region’s most significant natural areas by adding it to the Brataualung Forest Park in South Gippsland’s Strzelecki Ranges. Source: Timberbiz This expansion of Brataualung Forest Park is an important milestone for the community, which has long advocated for stronger protection of the Strzelecki Ranges. The addition contributes to the return of 4,455 hectares to public management and advances the Victorian Government’s broader commitment to return 8,000 hectares and establish a new conservation reserve. In 2008, the Victorian Government and HVP Plantations agreed to return 8,000 hectares, known as the Cores and Links, to public management. The agreement protects ‘core’ areas of high natural value and connects them through forest habitat ‘links’. A further 15,000 hectares of native forest surrounding the Cores and Links was permanently protected from timber harvesting within the HVP Plantations estate. To date, 4,455 hectares of the 8,000-hectare commitment has been returned to public management, with the remainder to be transferred by 2028. Regional Manager Forest and Fire Planning, Gippsland, Ryan Incoll said Brataualung Forest Park included ‘core’ areas of endangered cool temperate rainforest and significant stands of mountain ash. These forest areas also provide habitat links between Gunyah Rainforest Reserve and Tarra-Bulga National Park, protecting important habitat and supporting the movement of plants and animals through the Strzelecki Ranges. The park provides habitat for significant species, including the slender tree-fern, koala, powerful owl and Strzelecki burrowing crayfish. Brataualung Forest Park was declared in 2018 and named following engagement with the community. ‘The survival of animals and plants depends on connections between areas of good habitat,’ he said. ‘This declaration is a small but significant step to help them.’

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Most natural-hazard apps tell people what is happening during an emergency. Fewer than one in five help them prepare beforehand. Source: Timberbiz A free app developed through University of Tasmania research is seeking to close that gap by turning bushfire preparedness advice into practical action. Resilient Street allows users to create checklists, set reminders, identify nearby resources and work through emergency scenarios. Households, streets and neighbourhoods can also run the same scenario at the same time, allowing them to rehearse their bushfire plans together. The app grew from PhD research by Andrew Orange from the School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences, including a global study of 322 natural-hazard apps and interviews and focus groups with community members. “People told us they didn’t need another source of information. They wanted practical actions, reminders and clear guidance about what to do next,” Andrew said. “That became the focus of Resilient Street: turning ‘be prepared’ into manageable things people can actually do.” Participants wanted prompts to clear gutters and debris, maintain their properties, prepare important documents and organise water, chargers and evacuation items. But the research also showed that preparedness was not simply an individual or household responsibility. “Preparedness also happens over the fence. People told us they want to know what’s happening in their street and who they can count on, without it becoming a competition,” Mr Orange said. “Resilient Street complements official warnings rather than replacing them. For emergency warnings, people should always use TasALERT and listen to Tasmania Fire Service advice.” The app has received feedback and content recommendations from Tasmania Fire Service and was recently showcased at Hobart City Council’s Get Ready Hobart event. Resilient Street is now available for Tasmanians to use, with researchers collecting feedback and data before, during and after the fire season. “The app is live, but the research is continuing,” Mr Orange said. “We want to understand whether practical, personalised support helps people move from knowing they should prepare to actually taking action.” Resilient Street is free to download through the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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Sunshine Coast Airport’s $170 million Terminal Redevelopment Project has reached a new milestone, with installation now underway on around 30 tonnes of timber chosen for its sustainability and environmental benefits and reflecting the region’s subtropical landscape and laid-back character. Source: Timberbiz When completed it will be Australia’s first mass timber engineered terminal, creating a passenger environment unlike any other airport in the country. As well as reinforcing the terminal’s connection to the landscape that surrounds it, the use of timber over traditional steel and concrete materials reduces the terminal’s embodied carbon with an estimated Global Warming Potential (GWP) saving of roughly 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The engineered timber, GLT, is being installed to form the terminal’s dramatic raking roof frames – a defining architectural feature designed by global architecture firm Populous: Fentress Studios’ Australian team in partnership with builder McNab. Sunshine Coast Airport General Manager Projects and Planning Mr Robin Mace said seeing the timber structure take shape was a significant moment for the project. “This is where the vision our community helped shape really starts to come to life. “The timber frames will become one of the most recognisable features of our new terminal, and watching them go in is an exciting sign of the progress being made on this $170 million investment in our region’s future,” Mr Mace said. The scale of the installation is unusual for an airport project of this size – at around 30 tonnes, it’s a similar weight to an adult humpback whale, a familiar sight migrating past the Sunshine Coast coastline each year. “It’s genuinely rare for an airport to use timber at this scale,” said Mr Matt Findlay, Principal & Head of Aviation, APAC at Populous: Fentress Studios. “Most terminals of this size rely on steel and concrete, so committing around 30 tonnes of glulam to the roof structure is a significant statement about the kind of building we wanted to create – one that feels like nowhere else in Australian aviation.” Airports are widely recognised as high-stress environments – the noise, crowds and navigation involved in getting from drop-off to departure gate can leave even seasoned travellers feeling anxious. The terminal’s design sets out to counter that through biophilic design, a principle that draws on people’s innate connection to the natural world to help lower stress and improve wellbeing. By replacing concrete and steel with warm, exposed timber, the terminal is designed to have a calming effect on passengers from the moment they arrive. The raking glulam frames have been designed to do more than support the roof – they set the tone for the entire passenger journey. “For many people, airports reflect the fast pace of modern life,” said Sean Powyer, Associate Principal & Architect at Populous: Fentress Studios. “The raking timber frames form a distinctive gateway into the terminal, marking the transition from the pressures of everyday life to the relaxed character of the Sunshine Coast. Warm and natural, the exposed structure is designed to create an immediate sense of calm from the moment passengers step off the aircraft. “The Sunshine Coast is the only place in the world that’s home to three continuous UNESCO Biospheres, and our airport serves as a gateway to three of Australia’s five Biosphere Reserves. “Timber was a natural choice for the terminal, reflecting the surrounding subtropical rainforest and reinforcing the building’s connection to the landscape it sits within.” As a renewable material, engineered timber can lower a building’s embodied carbon compared with traditional steel and concrete construction – one of a number of sustainable design principles being explored across the redevelopment. Installation of the glulam frames will continue over the coming weeks, with specialist timber engineering consultation provided by Theca Timber, as the frames form a key structural and visual feature of the new departures hall, ahead of the terminal’s completion in 2027.

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prefabAUS is backing the creation of a Building Identification Number (BIN), a permanent, verified identifier for every building in Australia, modelled on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that has underpinned motor vehicle finance and insurance for decades. Source: Timberbiz prefabAUS is undertaking a proactive, industry-led pilot to test the concept in practice, an initiative aimed at helping unlock more housing supply. Most of a modular home is built off site, in a factory, well before any valuer or inspector ever sees it. The BIN creates the identifier to enable a chain of custody, verifying each stage of construction and aligning to milestones under the new prefabAUS Class 1 contract so manufacturers can receive progress payments during its construction in the factory. The BIN concept was developed by Quipex, a company that has built a digital record that follows a building for its economic life, keeping track of all drawings, manuals, whether it meets safety standards, what maintenance it has had and what materials went into it. Quipex wants the BIN to work as an open standard that the whole industry can adopt, not something only Quipex owns and controls, because it is only useful if every lender, insurer, builder and regulator can trust it. The BIN number is proposed to work in two stages. First, GS1 Australia, the organisation whose barcodes appear on almost every product sold in Australia, gives each building or modular component a scannable identity from the moment it starts being manufactured. Once the building is occupied, that number is linked to the address and location record the government already keeps for every building in Australi through Geoscape. Together, the two halves create one continuous, verifiable record for the life of the building, from factory floor to demolition. Because the identifier is applied at the point of manufacture rather than at import or occupation, the same approach can equally be used to capture, and potentially verify, compliance standards for modular units built overseas before they reach an Australian site. The broader BIN working group brings together representatives from across government, industry, research and the finance sector, including prefabAUS, Geoscape, GS1, Quipex, Commonwealth Bank, Better Living Group, Dulux, James Hardie and the RMIT Post Carbon Research Centre with further industry support anticipated. A live, fifty-home modular housing project currently underway in Victoria will provide an opportunity to test the concept in practice. RMIT University will study how well the pilot works, including how easy it is to trace materials, how well the BIN documents carbon emissions, and its potential to improve how the financing risks around modular delivery are managed. Those risks are real, and the state government in Tasmania has already had to step in with a state government guarantee. While this particular project has not required bank funding, Commonwealth Bank is participating in the industry working group and exploring how a digital BIN could also support progress payment processes on commercial and multi-dwelling residential projects. Together with the recently launched prefabAUS Class 1 contract, this initiative is aimed at improving digital traceability, helping to streamline progress payments and enabling the continued growth of prefab construction. “Modular and offsite construction is under constant pressure from lenders and insurers to prove what has actually been delivered and when. A verified building identifier is exactly what our industry needs, and prefabAUS is proud to be leading an industry-driven pilot to test how it works in practice,” said Damien Crough, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, prefabAUS. Quipex, which developed the underlying concept, says prefabAUS’s leadership is proof the identifier is being built the right way. “As Chair of Quipex, I see prefabAUS’s leadership on this as exactly how industry should operate: identifying a genuine gap and solving it collectively, in the national interest, rather than waiting for government to mandate a fix. A building identifier only has lasting value if it is built as open infrastructure the whole industry can rely on, and prefabAUS’s willingness to lead this pilot is proof the model is being built the right way,” said Graeme Samuel AC, Chair of Quipex. “Banks and insurers price risk, but where they cannot identify and verify an asset, they are often not prepared to price it at all. That is the position with a modular home while it is being built in a factory. Lenders do not generally take the unit as collateral during construction, because they cannot see it, track it or verify what has been built. Builders and manufacturers then have to secure their funding against other assets. The BIN is the start of a journey to change that,” he said. “The pilot will test whether giving each modular unit a verified identity and chain of custody, from the factory floor to occupation, allows lenders and insurers to assess whether they could treat it as collateral and then to price the risk in a far more granular way. If that can happen, it could change how modular housing is financed in Australia.”

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More than 95% of New Zealand’s forestry and wood exports to India can now enter tariff-free, as the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement which came into force this week. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is running a program to help exporters use the agreement, with advice, market insights and connections in India. Source: Timberbiz “We launched talks in March 2025 and, by working harder and faster, concluded them in just nine months. That’s a record for India on a comprehensive trade agreement, and it’s one of the highest quality deals they’ve signed. Today, just 19 months after we started, it’s in force and working for exporters,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said. New Zealand Forest Owners Association President Dean Witehira says the agreement is a major opportunity for forest growers, wood processors and exporters to expand into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. “Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) data showing exports have tripled over the past three years to NZ$193 million. “With tariffs on almost all remaining forestry trade set to disappear over the next seven years, there’s considerable potential to build on this. “We already have a strong trading relationship with India, and removing tariffs on more than 95% of our existing exports puts our sector in a much better position to compete and grow.” Mr Witehira says the agreement comes at an important time for New Zealand forestry, with growers and processors looking to strengthen existing markets and find new opportunities for their products. “India’s scale and growing demand for wood products make it an attractive market for our sector. Better access gives New Zealand exporters a chance to win new customers, grow existing relationships and support further investment in forestry and wood processing at home. “Recent NZIER research found forestry contributes NZ$5.4 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, with a particularly important role in regional economies. “Growing our exports means more opportunities for harvesting crews, contractors, transport operators, mills and manufacturers, along with the local businesses that depend on them. “A stronger export sector is good news for the regions where forestry is a major employer and economic contributor.” Mr Witehira says the agreement also builds on longstanding relationships between New Zealand and India, including opportunities for collaboration on forestry research, education and industry practices. “Our visits to India and engagement on the ground have helped lay the foundations for further collaboration, and today’s milestone gives us the opportunity to build on that work. “We congratulate everyone involved in getting this agreement across the line. The focus now is on making the most of this improved access and turning it into more trade, investment and jobs for New Zealand.” The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ has welcomed the entry into force of the agreement, saying it will help strengthen New Zealand’s position in one of the world’s fastest growing markets. WPMA Chief Executive Mark Ross said the agreement is timely for New Zealand’s wood processing and forestry sector, with more than 95% of current wood product exports to India becoming tariff free immediately and tariffs on almost all remaining wood trade being phased out over seven years. Based on current industry export volumes to India valued at approximately NZ$193 million, the removal of existing tariffs of 5 percent on logs and pulp and 10% on wood products will deliver more than NZ$10 million annually in cost savings and additional revenue opportunities for New Zealand exporters across the wood processing and forestry sector.  

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A Liberal-Nationals Coalition Government in Victoria would double prescribed burning and work towards the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation to treat 5% of treatable public land annually. Source: Timberbiz Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, said an elected Liberal and Nationals Government would adopt a whole-of-landscape approach that combines strategic burning and, targeted fuel reduction. Last summer’s fires burnt more than 440,000 hectares across Victoria, a larger area than Black Saturday, and destroyed 451 homes. Earlier this year, the VFPA made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires, calling for increased funding for planned burning, strategic fuel breaks and proactive bushfire prevention. The submission highlighted that planned burning must be strategically targeted towards areas of greatest bushfire risk, ensuring resources are directed where they can deliver the greatest protection for communities, infrastructure and productive forests. VFPA also called for Victoria’s plantation timber estate to be recognised as a critical community asset in bushfire risk assessments, reflecting its importance to regional jobs, local communities and Victoria’s future timber supply for housing. The Parliamentary inquiry into the 2026 summer fires heard repeated evidence that Victoria entered the fire season underprepared, despite years of warnings about declining planned burning, rising fuel loads and inadequate roadside vegetation management. “That’s why our plan takes a whole-of-landscape approach: public land, roadsides and the interface with private land,” Ms Bath said. “We’ll back local brigades and land managers to get fuel reduction done when the conditions are right, not tie them up in red tape until the window has closed.” “Labor’s own auditor found it couldn’t deliver its own fuel breaks. Victorians deserve a government that sets clear targets, publishes the results and is held to account for them.” “Our plan puts prevention back where it belongs, at the centre of bushfire management,” Ms Bath said. “We will double prescribed burning and work towards the Royal Commission’s 5 per cent target, guided by science and local knowledge, to build a safer and more resilient Victoria.” The plan will also: Expand cultural burning in partnership with Indigenous Victorians, combining traditional knowledge with modern fire management to reduce bushfire risk and care for Country. Put more boots on the ground and less bureaucracy in Melbourne, backing the people who know the land, forests and fire risks. Restore transparency by publishing fuel management plans, targets and results, so communities can see what is promised and what is delivered.   “Unlike Labor, we won’t hide the facts, and we won’t neglect regional Victoria until it’s too late. Communities deserve to see exactly what is planned, what is targeted and what is actually delivered,” Ms Bath said. Last year, the government cut fuel reduction work by 33%, leaving less than 1% of Victoria’s public land estate treated to reduce bushfire risk. Victoria’s per capita bushfire death rate has been 18 times higher than south-west Western Australia, where sustained fuel reduction remains a cornerstone of bushfire preparedness. “Sixteen years after the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission called for a 5% fuel reduction target, Labor has allowed fuel management to fall to less than 1% of our public land estate.” Ms Bath said. “After Black Summer in 2019-20, the destructive fires of 2025 and the devastating bushfires of 2026, Victorians are entitled to ask why Labor has allowed fuel management to decline while bushfire risk continues to grow.” VFPA Chief Executive Officer Andrew White said the commitment was a welcome step towards strengthening Victoria’s bushfire preparedness. “Following the devastating plantation timber losses experienced earlier this year, greater investment in bushfire prevention has never been more important,” Mr White said. “The best bushfire response starts well before a fire breaks out. Investing in prevention, fuel management and early detection is critical to protecting communities and reducing the devastating economic and environmental impacts of major fires.”

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TasPorts will undertake an independent strategic review of the future ownership and operating model of the Burnie Chip Export Terminal as the terminal enters a significant reinvestment cycle. Source: Timberbiz The review will determine which ownership and operating model is best placed to support BCET’s long-term future, while delivering the greatest public value for Tasmania. TasPorts Chief Executive Officer Captain Allan Gray said the review reflected responsible stewardship of a strategically important piece of Tasmania’s export infrastructure. “BCET is a critical export gateway for Tasmania’s forestry industry and regional economy, and ensuring its long-term future is our priority,” he said. “As the terminal enters a significant reinvestment cycle, it’s appropriate that we assess which ownership and operating model is best placed to support its next chapter.” Captain Gray said reviewing ownership and operating models for specialised cargo handling facilities was common practice across Australia’s ports sector. “Across Australia, specialised cargo handling facilities are commonly owned or operated by industry participants, specialist terminal operators or joint ventures, while port authorities continue to own and manage the port, provide marine services and invest in the core infrastructure that supports trade. “TasPorts already operates under similar commercial arrangements across parts of our port network. This review will determine whether a similar approach could deliver the best long-term outcome for BCET and Tasmania.” Captain Gray said the review would also consider whether alternative ownership or operating models could attract long-term investment into BCET, while enabling TasPorts to continue prioritising investment in the wharves, marine assets and core infrastructure that support trade across the state. “TasPorts has an important responsibility to ensure capital is invested where it delivers the greatest long-term benefit for Tasmania,” he said. “If there’s a model that enables continued investment in BCET while allowing TasPorts to further strengthen the infrastructure that supports all trade across our port network, it’s appropriate that we assess that objectively.” An independent financial adviser will be appointed to assess a range of ownership and operating models. Subject to that advice, TasPorts may also undertake an open market process to test market interest and capability. Options considered will include continued TasPorts ownership, a joint venture or partnership, and alternative ownership structures. BCET will continue operating as normal throughout the review. Existing Facilities Management Agreements with Forico and Sustainable Timber Tasmania remain in place, and any future ownership or operating model would be expected to protect operational continuity, customer access and existing contractual commitments. Captain Gray said TasPorts was committed to an open and transparent process. “We will undertake an evidence-based review, engage openly with employees, customers, Government and industry, and determine the model that delivers the greatest long-term public value for Tasmania.” The review will commence in January 2027 and is expected to be complete by July 2027.  

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In September, SCA hosted a field excursion for the Collaborative Group for Continuous-Cover Forestry in Southern Norrland, Sweden. The group visited four sites where SCA has applied different continuous-cover methods. Source: Timberbiz “It is important that we meet and discuss these issues so that, together, we can identify which methods may work,” said Anna Cabrajic, Forest Ecologist at SCA. The Collaborative Group for Continuous-Cover Forestry in Southern Norrland was formed in autumn 2023. The aim is to promote learning and exchange experience around continuous-cover forestry and other management approaches that increase forest diversity and support the production of high-quality timber for building conservation. The field excursion attracted nearly 20 participants, with representatives from the Swedish Forest Agency, Sveaskog, the County Administrative Board of Västernorrland, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation were among those present. Several other forestry companies that are also part of the collaborative group had been invited but were unable to attend. “We had selected examples of different shelterwood stands as well as selection system harvesting and single-tree selection, to discuss how these methods and measures can be used to consider, preserve and restore different values,” said Askia Sandberg, SCA’s Conservation Specialist in Ångermanland. The first stop was a deciduous shelterwood stand where SCA harvested mainly spruce in 2018 to create a birch-dominated habitat that will in time be used for timber production. “The site itself does not have particularly high nature values, but SCA is working to increase the proportion of deciduous forests as part of FSC certification, and this was a good location for that. Here, the birches can continue to age, and in time we can thin the shelterwood stand,” said Sandberg. Many birds benefit from deciduous-rich forests with old birch trees, so the measure also supports birdlife in the area. The group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the measure and considered what the next step might be in about 10 years. It was also noted that establishing new forest may be challenging without any form of site preparation or planting. Continuous-cover forestry is usually based on natural regeneration, but site preparation and planting can also be carried out in gaps and beneath shelterwoods. If the birches had not been retained, the ground would have become much wetter. Without birches that use a lot of water, it would have been difficult to establish regeneration. The group then travelled to Viksmon, where SCA has used the postponed pine shelterwood method in three areas. There are pines that are 160 years old, as well as sandy pine forest. There were several examples of pine shelterwoods. Some were left unmanaged and preserved for social reasons because they are an important recreation area for local residents. In the second area, SCA harvested some timber in two rounds, in 1995 and 2008, and the stand now consists of 138 stems per hectare. The shelterwood of older pine is fairly dense, with a relatively tall and dense young stand of pine and broadleaf trees underneath, the group observed. However, there were clear bare patches around some retained pines, where the older trees outcompete the regenerating seedlings, so they do not receive enough nutrients or light. Pines require a lot of light, and that can make regeneration difficult in the long term. The older pine shelterwood may need to be thinned further for the young stand to establish itself. The developing young forest will also need to be thinned through cleaning and later thinning. “But if you thin too much, it will not become a multi-layered forest”, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation pointed out. This led the group into a discussion about the challenge of balancing the forest’s different values and how environmental values can best be weighed against social and economic values. The conclusion was that measures that are positive for some values may be perceived as negative for others. Lars-Olov Sarenmark from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency stressed the importance of adapting the management method to the site conditions. This means that some methods are better suited to certain conditions. For example, retaining a shelterwood in a wetter forest is sensible in order to preserve a “water pump” that helps keep water in check so that new seedlings can establish. Another example is that soil scarification and planting are not needed in areas that regenerate easily, in some sandy pine forests. But this requires very strong local forest knowledge, and today few people have that knowledge. In the third area, which the group did not have time to visit, timber was harvested in 2008 and the shelterwood was then thinned a few years ago to 25 stems per hectare, fully in line with the Swedish Forest Agency’s guidelines for postponed shelterwood in continuous-cover forestry. The group also visited an area of sparse, low-volume spruce forest with some older trees, where SCA had carried out selection system harvesting. “The selection system harvesting was carried out in 2024. The stand itself does not have high nature values, but it lies within a consideration area that contains a number of protected species. That is why we chose a continuous-cover method, where our first action was to harvest only in extraction trails, with a timber removal of around 20 per cent. In 15–20 years, we can reuse the trails and remove a certain proportion of larger trees beside them,” said Sandberg. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation questioned why the forest needed to be harvested at all. “According to SCA’s criteria, this is not forest with such high values that it justifies voluntary set-aside. But by using an alternative method, we can preserve the habitat for species while carrying out a cautious timber harvest. In this way, we avoid creating a clearcut yet still achieve a certain timber yield. At the same time, birds and plants that depend on forest, such as the Siberian jay or creeping lady’s-tresses, can remain,” said Sandberg. “Selection system is a gentle method, said one participant. This becomes a win-win situation, […]

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More and more summers with record heat and weeks of drought: forest and vegetation fires pose special challenges for fire brigades worldwide. Emergency vehicles must reach their scene reliably and safely, even in the event of large-scale fires in difficult terrain. Source: Timberbiz With the new MAN TGM 18.320 4×4, the company is offering a chassis for firefighting applications in the highest off-road category in accordance with DIN EN 1846-1 for the first time. The 18-tonne chassis with permanent all-wheel drive is specially designed for operations off paved roads. Special protective measures and equipment prepare the vehicle specifically for operations in forest and vegetation fires. With its high payload of up to 11.5 tonnes, tank firefighting vehicles with up to 6000 litres of extinguishing water and 500 litres of foam concentrate plus standard equipment can be built on the MAN TGM 4×4 chassis. The vehicle is powered by a 320 hp engine. Power is transmitted by the MAN PowerMatic automated transmission. The individual 14.00 R20 tyres on the front and rear axles support off-road capability. Depending on the body and cab variant as standard or double cab, different wheelbases and crew concepts can be implemented. “With the new MAN TGM 18.320 4×4, we are offering fire brigades and disaster control organisations around the world a vehicle that has been specially developed for demanding operations under the most difficult conditions. “Its high off-road mobility and wide range of configuration options make it the ideal basis for forest and vegetation firefighting. At the same time, the chassis is also suitable for numerous other tasks in civil protection and disaster control, wherever emergency services need to provide fast, safe and reliable support off paved roads,” said Martin Zaindl, Head of Sales Body Builder & Strategic Partners. For operations near sources of fire, the chassis has a special heat protection device. Air, electrical, AdBlue and fuel lines are designed in such a way that they can withstand a temperature of up to 130 degrees Celsius for a period of 10 minutes. In addition, there are mechanical protective measures for particularly exposed vehicle components. A hinged roof hatch between the driver’s and front passenger’s seats opens up additional application possibilities. A height-adjustable tread surface makes it easier to use the hatch and supports the crew when observing the surroundings or working from the cab. Even with the roof hatch, the cab meets the latest ECE R29-3 crash test standard in order to provide the occupants with the best possible protection, even in the event of serious accidents. The vehicle concept also enables extinguishing while driving according to the “pump and roll” principle. This allows the crew to fight fire areas along paths or during slow off-road driving. One of the key features is a tyre pressure control system that can be controlled from the driver’s workplace. This allows the driver to adapt the tyre pressure to different surfaces and operating conditions. The system is supplemented by a tyre pressure monitoring system and run-flat tyres. These make it possible to move the vehicle out of a hazardous area in a controlled manner, even if the tyre is damaged. With its water passage capacity of up to 950 millimetres, the vehicle can also be used on flooded roads and farm roads. The high level of off-road capability is supported by further technical adjustments. These include a mechanical protective cover for the transfer case, and an exhaust tailpipe raised behind the driver’s cab. At the same time, the optimised entrance situation makes it easier to access the crew compartment. The extensive modifications to the TGM 4×4 were implemented by MAN Individual in cooperation with ESTEPE, the specialist for cab modifications and chassis adjustments. First body variants for different application requirements Three MAN TGM 18.320 4×4 with different firefighting bodies show the range with which the new chassis can be adapted to different body, crew and deployment concepts. The TLF 4000-V from Schlingmann is based on a MAN TGM 18.320 4×4 BB CH with a TN cab and a wheelbase shortened to 3,300 millimetres. The cab is designed for a squad crew of three people and has a middle seat from MAN Individual. The equipment includes chassis adaptation for off-road category 3, heat protection, mechanical self-protection, swing roof hatch, tyre pressure control system, tyre pressure monitoring system and run-flat tyres. The TLF 4000-V from ITURRI has a DN cab and a wheelbase of 3,900 millimetres. It offers space for a squadron crew of six people. In addition to the protective and off-road functions, this variant has an exhaust tailpipe pulled up behind the cab. The vehicle from Schmitz Feuerwehrtechnik is also based on the MAN TGM 18.320 4×4 BB CH. It combines a TN cab with a wheelbase of 3,600 millimetres and a crew of three, including a centre seat, from MAN Individual. This variant also has adaptation to off-road category 3, heat protection, mechanical self-protection, a raised exhaust tailpipe and a revolving roof hatch. With the new MAN TGM 18.320 4×4, bodybuilders and fire brigades have a versatile basis for vehicles for forest and vegetation firefighting. The concept combines a high level of off-road capability with special protective measures and flexible options for cab, crew and body.

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JCB is accelerating investment in its future, with major commitments to British manufacturing and new production capacity in the United States. Source: Timberbiz The manufacturer is investing heavily in the transformation of its Staffordshire World HQ, while in the USA, JCB’s new factory in San Antonio, Texas – its largest in the world , opens next month, creating 1,500 jobs over the next five years. As JCB invests for its next chapter, George Bamford is to become Joint Chairman of the family company alongside his father, Lord Bamford. It is the first change at the top of JCB in more than 50 years, during which the business has grown from its Staffordshire roots into one of Britain’s largest privately owned manufacturers, with 23 factories and more than 20,000 employees worldwide. The announcement coincides with JCB reporting a resilient performance in 2025, despite mixed market conditions and geopolitical headwinds around the world. Sales turnover totalled £5.7 billion, profit before tax was £642 million and machine sales reached 113,498 units, while the business remained debt-free with no net borrowings. JCB also increased its global market share, despite flat demand in North America and a 12% market contraction in India. At the heart of JCB’s investment in Britain is the £100 million transformation of its Staffordshire headquarters – JCB’s home since 1950, when Joseph Cyril Bamford moved production into a former cheese factory in Rocester. A £60 million fully automated powder paint plant and a comprehensively modernised shop floor are part of the transformation, helping to secure the future of more than 8,000 UK jobs. In the USA, JCB’s new US$1 billion factory in San Antonio, Texas – at one million square feet, JCB’s largest factory in the world – opens next month. It will build Loadall telescopic handlers and access equipment for North America, the world’s biggest construction equipment market. Investment in factories is being matched by investment in innovation. Hydrogen-powered machines are now in production following JCB’s £100 million program to develop hydrogen combustion technology, making it the first construction equipment company in the world to bring a fully approved hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine to market. Meanwhile, the JCB Academy, a pioneering project championed by Anthony Bamford to address the UK’s engineering skills shortage, goes from strength to strength. This year 708 students applied for 314 places available this September, maintaining the Academy’s long-standing reputation for being heavily oversubscribed. Since opening in 2010, it has educated around 3,750 young people and boasts a 100% record of leavers progressing into employment or further education. This month a total of 116 new apprentices, undergraduates and graduates, selected from more than 6,300 applicants, also joined JCB.  

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For four years, OneFortyOne New Zealand has supported Cawthron Institute’s research on advancing seed-based restoration techniques using seagrass meadows in the Nelson region as a case study. Source: Timberbiz During that time, researchers have developed and refined techniques for collecting, storing and germinating seagrass seed, improved restoration success rates, and produced a blueprint to guide future restoration projects around New Zealand. Seagrass meadows filter water, stabilise sediment, provide habitat for fish and shellfish, and help store carbon. In the Top of the South, many seagrass meadows have greatly declined with some lost altogether, mirroring losses seen elsewhere in New Zealand and around the world. Until relatively recently, very little was known about seagrass flowering in New Zealand. Once researchers confirmed that our native seagrass produces flowers and seeds, attention turned to a new question: could those seeds be used to help restore lost meadows? Over the past four years, Cawthron’s Restore the Meadows program has helped answer that question. One of the program’s major achievements has been improving the efficiency of seed collection and propagation. Flower collection increased from around 600 flowers in the program’s early stages to approximately 24,100 flowers in 2025. Over time, researchers improved their understanding of flowering timing and learnt to target the most suitable flowers for collection. Germination success improved from 4% to 25% through research into environmental triggers such as freshwater pulse, temperature and oxygen levels. The first seagrass seedling was grown from seed in aquaria in 2023, with nearly 400 seedlings grown overall since then. The team investigated the best way to grow seedlings under different conditions relating to light, microbiome and sediment type. The team’s research has been captured in a seed-based restoration blueprint designed for community groups, iwi, councils and environmental organisations wanting to undertake restoration work in their own regions. A companion app is helping build a national database of seagrass flowering observations following a simple and standardised monitoring approach. The program has supported students and emerging researchers, strengthened links with Australian seagrass research experts, and contributed to international knowledge-sharing on seagrass restoration. Researchers have also seen a shift in public awareness. The team carried out over 590 outreach hours to increase knowledge of seagrass and coastal restoration and health. They reached 2,450 people including community, iwi, schools, environmental managers, scientists, universities and industry. As marine ecologist Dan Crossett notes, seagrass was once something many people simply overlooked. Today, community members are reporting sightings, asking questions about local meadows and taking an interest in its protection and restoration. The program has brought together researchers, volunteers, students and community groups around a shared goal, helping build both scientific understanding and local stewardship of coastal environments. OneFortyOne’s multi-year funding commitment provided certainty for the programme as it evolved. According to Cawthron’s Dana Clark, that long-term support helped the team take on a PhD student, continue seasonal flower collection and invest in community engagement and outreach alongside the scientific research. The partnership also extended beyond funding, with OneFortyOne employees joining field days and volunteering alongside the research team during flower collection. The blueprint developed through Restore the Meadows is intended to be a living document, continuing to evolve as new techniques are tested and shared. The long-term goal is for community groups, iwi, councils and government agencies to use these methods to restore seagrass meadows in their own regions. Four years of research have helped advance seed-based seagrass restoration from an emerging idea towards a practical tool. OneFortyOne is proud to have supported that work and the knowledge, partnerships and community capability it has created.

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WorkSafe New Zealand says businesses must regularly review machine safety systems and guarding arrangements after the sentencing of Pukepine Sawmills (1998) over an incident that left a worker with life-changing injuries. Source: Timberbiz The company was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court after a worker’s hand came into contact with a rotating edger drum while undertaking maintenance work in September 2022. The worker suffered serious injuries, losing his middle finger and part of his ring finger, and narrowly avoided losing his thumb and index finger. WorkSafe’s investigation found the machine’s guarding and safety controls did not adequately prevent access to hazardous moving parts while the equipment was slowing down. The edger drum could continue to rotate for approximately 15 minutes after power was switched off, creating a serious risk for workers carrying out maintenance activities. “The key lesson from this case is that isolation of power alone is not always enough,” says WorkSafe regional manager Nigel Formosa. “Businesses must identify all sources of hazardous energy, including momentum and run-down time in machinery, and ensure workers cannot access danger zones until equipment has come to a complete stop.” The investigation highlighted the importance of reviewing machinery against current industry standards and best practice guidance, particularly where older equipment remains in operation. “Effective machine guarding is one of the most reliable ways to prevent serious harm. Where workers need regular access for maintenance or servicing, businesses should consider engineering controls such as interlocked guards, guard-locking systems, or other measures that physically prevent access until machinery is safe.” The Court convicted and sentenced Pukepine Sawmills, ordering it to pay: NZ$34,300 in emotional harm reparation NZ$5,712.95 in consequential loss reparation A fine of NZ$210,000, payable to the Crown over three years NZ$5,000 in costs.   The Court adopted a fine starting point of NZ$300,000 before applying discounts totalling 30% for the company’s guilty plea, reparation and remorse, cooperation with WorkSafe, and remedial steps taken after the incident.

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Cyclone Gabrielle hit Pan Pac Forest Products in New Zealand hard, its mill was buried beneath two metres of floodwater and mud, causing NZ$280 million in damage and lost production. Parent company Oji Holdings stood behind the rebuild and, in doing so, stood behind Hawke’s Bay. Source: Timberbiz HBRC Chair Sophie Siers joined Japanese Ambassador Makoto Osawa, Oji President and CEO Hiroyuki Isono, mana whenua, MPs Katie Nimon and Catherine Wedd, local mayors Richard McGrath and Wendy Schollum, and the Pan Pac whānau to mark the opening of the company’s new Central Support Hub at Whirinaki. Pan Pac’s presence in Hawke’s Bay is huge. It employs more than 850 people and contractors, generates 6% of regional GDP and is linked to around 40% of trade through Napier Port. Meanwhile, just down the road, there’s more good news for Whirinaki. The NZ$23.5 million flood resilience project is nearing completion – part of HBRC’s work to better protect this vital industrial area from future flooding. Speaking at the hub’s opening ceremony, Ms Siers drew on two ideas from opposite sides of the Pacific. First, the Japanese principle of moral management – the belief that commercial success should be grounded in social integrity and ethical responsibility. Then the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga – the responsibility for care for what has been entrusted to us, including generations not yet born.

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Gisborne District Council in New Zealand says forestry is an important part of the region’s future, while also needing to manage environmental risk and protect communities. Source: Timberbiz Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann says recent public discussion has highlighted concerns about how Council’s forestry consenting and compliance system is working and the ability of forestry to continue harvesting. “We are listening to those concerns, says Ms Thatcher Swann. “More than 2,800 hectares of red zone land has been consented under the new conditions over the past 15 months. “We want forestry to succeed in Tairāwhiti, we need harvesting to continue, and we need land that is no longer suitable for plantation forestry to transition safely over time. “We also have communities, waterways and infrastructure downstream of some of the most erosion-prone land in the country. “We need a way forward that deals with both the economic and environmental realities of our region.” An independent assurance review, chaired by Hon Christopher Finlayson KC, is testing Council’s forestry consenting and compliance system, including the effectiveness and application of the new consent conditions. “There are genuine questions about whether the current system is proportionate, practical and efficient,” says Ms Thatcher Swann. “The purpose of the review is to independently test whether our requirements are as efficient as they reasonably can be. “If there are requirements or processes that can be simplified without significantly compromising environmental and community outcomes, we will make them. “Equally, where requirements are justified by the risks we face, that needs to be understood too.” Council has progressively strengthened its forestry consenting, monitoring and enforcement capability since 2018, following the Queen’s Birthday floods and successive severe weather events including cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. It has also implemented recommendations arising from the 2023 Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use. That work has included dedicated forestry expertise, increased aerial and ground monitoring, stronger enforcement where serious non-compliance has occurred, new standard consent conditions. “Our region has some of the most highly erodible land in the country, combined with steep terrain and exposure to severe weather. When land or woody debris moves, there are communities and critical infrastructure directly in its path,” says Ms Thatcher Swann. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t test whether our requirements are proportionate and workable. But it does mean the consequences of getting the settings wrong can be significant. “There is a trade-off here that we need to be upfront about. If we loosen requirements, we potentially accept more risk for our communities and environment. “We have heard loud and clear from our communities that they are not prepared to go back to the level of risk they have experienced in the past. “Equally, forestry supports jobs, families and our regional economy. The Government has been clear that it sees a future for forestry and wood processing in Tairāwhiti, and we agree. We need people in employment, and we need a viable industry. “The challenge is finding the settings that allow that industry to operate while managing the level of risk our communities are prepared to accept.” Council is also continuing to work with Government facilitator Doug Leeder, iwi, landowners, industry and other stakeholders on the wider challenges facing the region. Further practical work is underway, including development of a nationally consistent framework with the New Zealand Institute of Forestry for recognising suitably qualified forestry professionals, and work with Government and industry on a pilot pathway for forestry-related discharges. “These are practical issues where we should be able to work together and find solutions.” Ms Thatcher Swann says the challenges facing forestry in Tairāwhiti extend well beyond the consenting system. “This is bigger than consenting. It is about safely harvesting existing forests, managing legacy risks, transitioning our most vulnerable land and retaining a viable forestry and wood-processing sector through that change. “No one party can solve that alone. Council, Government, iwi, landowners and industry all have a role. “Our focus is on getting the evidence on the table, working through the issues and finding a practical and sustainable way forward for Tairāwhiti.”

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Sustainable Timber Tasmania recently hosted a tour to Geeveston for AFPA, which provided invaluable insights into the company’s operations, products and innovations. Source: Timberbiz There are very few places where you can literally touch Tasmania’s rich timber and forestry heritage, and Island Specialty Timbers (IST) is one of them. During a recent visit to IST’s Geeveston site, in southern Tasmania, AFPA members were able to touch the beautiful Huon Pine, Blackwood, Celery Top Pine and majestic marbled Sassafras to gain a first-hand understanding of how some of the most prized speciality timbers are sourced, milled and prepared. Part of Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT), IST combines traditional and time-honoured craftsmanship and modern forestry, connecting customers with unique timbers and supporting local, craftspeople, industry and Tasmania’s cultural heritage. Long-serving Manager Chris Emmett said the team was fully committed to preserving the long legacy of Tasmania’s forests while providing premium materials for local craftspeople and builders. “At Island Speciality Timbers, we’re fully committed to preserving the rich history of Tasmania’s forests while providing premium materials for craftspeople today and tomorrow,” Mr Emmett said. “Everything we do ensures our finest quality specialty timbers are sourced, milled and retailed with the highest standards and excellence.” The speciality timber and logs are sustainably harvested or carefully salvaged from Tasmania’s Permanent Timber Production Zone (PTPZ) land. These public production forests are responsibly managed by IST for future generations, with the timber reflecting the wonderful character and beauty of Tasmania’s landscape. IST also strongly supports local craftsmanship by providing end-to-end access to rare and speciality timbers for small and medium-sized customers, including furniture and craft makers, woodturners, landscapers and wooden boat builders. “We sell high-quality, lightweight King Billy pine and Huon Pine to local boat builders, who craft exquisite boats and dinghies, and some are regularly featured in the popular Australian Wooden Boat Festival each year,” Mr Emmett said. “Wooden boat building has a long history dating back generations in this region.” The state government-owned business also complements local commercial sawmills while helping preserve Tasmania’s cultural heritage and tourism values. With quality, craftsmanship and respect for the forest at its heart, IST ensures every piece of timber has a unique and special story to tell and share with visitors and the community. There are four main IST sites across the state, with the largest at Geeveston providing custom mill logs to meet requirements using a modern bandsaw sawmill. The Strahan site provides Huon pine craft logs, limb wood, stumps and craftwood. The Derwent Park office has a small range of seasoned, dressed specialty timbers processed at Geeveston.

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New home sales fell by 17.5% in the September quarter 2026, reversing the recovery that commenced in 2025 according to HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon. Source: Timberbiz The HIA New Home Sales report is a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states and is a leading indicator of future detached home construction.
 
“Despite a small 3.4% increase in September, new home sales remain at their lowest quarterly level in 18 months,” Mr Reardon said. “The recovery in new home sales that followed the interest rate reductions in 2025 has now reversed, with sales in the September quarter now 16.4% lower than a year earlier. “This deterioration has occurred amid higher interest rates, increased taxes and broader economic uncertainty. “It is also likely that the increase in the cash rate in the month of September 2026 will further weigh on new home sales. “The modest increase in sales in September should not be mistaken for a turning point in the market. Industry feedback indicates that display village visits, enquiries, leads and conversions remain very weak. “The cancellation rate has increased from below 10% early this year to 13.6% in September. A rise in cancellations is typical when interest rates are rising as home buyers that had conditional finance to build a new home, have that finance removed. “There are significant lags between the sale of a new home, building approval and the commencement of construction. The increase in new home sales during late 2025 and early 2026 created a pipeline of work that is only now appearing in the ABS building approvals and commencements data. “The recent improvement in commencements is welcome, but it should not be mistaken for evidence that the industry has entered a sustained recovery. “The deterioration in new home sales suggests that the improvement in home building activity will be short-lived unless market conditions improve. “This is particularly concerning when Australia commenced construction of just 204,500 homes in 2025/26, well below the 240,000 homes required annually to meet the Housing Accord target. “The underlying shortage of housing has not been resolved. Falling established home prices and rising costs of delivering new homes are making new construction increasingly difficult to justify. “Putting the industry through another boom-bust cycle will only make it harder and more expensive to increase housing supply when market conditions recover. “Higher interest rates will not build more homes. Nor will increasing the tax and regulatory burden on new housing. “Without reforms that reduce the cost of delivering new homes, Australia will continue to move further away from achieving its Housing Accord target,” concluded Mr Reardon. All states recorded a decline in new home sales in the September quarter 2026. The largest decline was in Queensland (-26.3%), followed by Victoria (-23.3%), New South Wales (-17.4%), South Australia (-7.6%) and Western Australia (-1.7%).

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The Australian Workers’ Union has welcomed the Victorian Auditor-General’s report into the management of Victoria’s firefighting fleet, saying it confirms what frontline firefighters and the union have been telling the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for years. Source: Timberbiz The AWU raised concerns with DEECA when the G-Wagen fleet was first purchased and has repeatedly sought meaningful consultation on the fleet and the risks it poses to the workers who drive it into fires. When systematic chassis cracking was identified across the fleet late last year, the AWU pressed for urgent action from a department that was initially unwilling to confront the problem. It took AWU Health and Safety Representatives tagging vehicles out of service and issuing Provisional Improvement Notices before remediation began. “Our members told the Department this fleet was a problem from day one, and they were ignored. It should not take the Auditor-General, tagged vehicles and formal safety notices for DEECA to listen to the people who drive these trucks into a fire,” AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Ronnie Hayden said. “The report vindicates our firefighters and our Health and Safety Representatives. Now the Department must act on it.” The report identifies significant weaknesses in fleet management, maintenance, and long-term planning. It records that 54.4% of DEECA’s firefighting fleet was taken out of service leading into the 2025-26 fire season and returned only after remediation, with ongoing monitoring and repairs still required. “We welcome the Auditor-General’s findings. This report highlights the real concerns our members have been raising about the fleet for a very long time,” AWU Victorian Branch President Ross Kenna said. The Auditor-General also estimates that Victoria’s fire agencies need around $1.5 billion for critical fleet replacement and upgrades between 2024-25 and 2033-34. The combined State Budget, capital and grant funding identified in the report covers just 26.7% of that need. “We acknowledge the Government has put extra funding into the Department to fix problems created by DEECA leadership, but funding alone will not solve this,” Mr Kenna said. “We call on the Government to accept the Auditor-General’s recommendations in full, and we expect the Department to work with the AWU and our members so the workers who protect Victoria are as safe as they can be at work.” Funding must be matched by transparent accountability, effective maintenance systems, sound engineering and quality assurance, and a properly funded long-term replacement strategy. The AWU is calling on the Victorian Government to accept and implement every recommendation in the report, and on DEECA to consult the AWU, frontline firefighters, fleet maintenance staff and Health and Safety Representatives on all matters affecting vehicle safety, maintenance, and remediation. Workers who protect Victorian communities should never have to resort to formal health and safety action to get serious equipment risks fixed. The AWU will continue to fight for safe, reliable firefighting vehicles and genuine worker consultation. The Australian Workers’ Union Victorian Branch represents thousands of workers across Victoria, including the forest firefighters, field crews and fleet maintenance staff who protect the state’s public land every fire season.

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