Australian timber industry news

The State Government in Victoria says it is helping to create more jobs in former forestry towns, increasing employment and delivering a boost to the local economy. Source: Timberbiz, photo Four Peaks Pastoral Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced $50,000 for Four Peaks Pastoral Pty Ltd to expand its business and employ former forestry workers as part of Round 1 of the Forestry Transition Fund. The business utilises the local skilled workforce to provide farmers and producers around Omeo, Swifts Creek and surrounding district with agricultural services. Business owner Stewart Moroney started the business after seeing a need for workers with unique skill sets to supplement the agricultural workforce in peak periods. Four Peaks provides a range of agricultural services, including fencing, shearing, pest control and harvest support. The grant will enable Four Peaks to purchase equipment including tool kits, portable livestock handling equipment and a vehicle mounted spray system. The business will employ full time farm support workers with general skill sets for the initial start-up phase, with a preference to employ workers previously employed in the native timber industry. Round 2 of the Forestry Transition Fund is now open. Proposal must support job creation and business development in communities impacted by the end of native timber harvesting. A $20,000 employment incentive payment for the employment of ex-native timber workers is also available. Applications for Round 2 will close on 31 October 2025. For more information visit www.deeca.vic.gov.au/forestry or call 1800 318 182.

The Millari Group Australia is set to start producing LVL, plywood, and timber for the Australian Timber Industry after recently agreeing to acquire the 25-ha Juken Gisborne facilities in New Zealand, to be rebranded as Millari NZ. Settlement is currently expected to occur later this month. Source: Timberbiz The Gisborne manufacturing facility is located on the North Island of New Zealand and specialises in producing LVL, plywood and structural Radiata pine products. With a perfect mix of engineered products and solid pine framing, the mill will be an asset best suited to ease the burden on businesses in Australia, which have been forced to rely on imported products due to the lack of local manufacturing. True Blue Timber, which has been supplying high-quality and reliable imported products to Australia’s leading wholesalers, will now be driving local LVL and timber production for the Australian industry with the Millari NZ facilities. With a significant investment over the next three years to increase the current capacities, Millari NZ plans to establish direct LVL, plywood and sawmill production for the Australian industry, including LVL E14, E13, E10, and LVL Formwork; structural and non-structural plywood panels and MGP and F-graded Radiaita pine, and H2, H3 and H4-treated pine. Millari NZ will ship LVL, plywood and sawmill products with AS/NZS standards directly to Australia’s Eastern Coast, significantly decreasing Australia’s timber industry’s dependence on imports from Europe and Asia. “Our Millari NZ facility in Gisborne will be on track to increase the output capacity of LVL, plywood and timber production over the next few years as we invest in new machinery and technology for the 35,000m2 factory,” owner and CEO Ryan Yari said. “With these exciting facilities alongside our True Blue Timber operations, we will continue to offer the Australian industry a reputable and reliable ongoing source of high-quality EWP (engineered wood products) and timber products and deliver them directly with quick turnarounds.” The Millari NZ Gisborne facility was closed in March 2024 and will re-open in the coming months, providing jobs and opportunities to the Gisborne community of 38,000 people. “JNL Gisborne has been the cornerstone of the community for many years, and it will be Millari Group’s pleasure to restore it to its former glory,” Mr Yari said. “The Millari Group team is excited about the new challenge ahead and looks forward to being a part of the Gisborne community for many years to come.” Millari Group Australia includes True Blue Timber, True Blue LVL, and True Blue Plywood, and Millari NZ supplies FSC 100% timber products to Australia’s leading timber and hardware retailers. For more information visit https://truebluetimber.com.au/

A comprehensive report into the Limestone Coast timber industry has been released following a five-year review. The Select Committee on Matters Relating to the Timber Industry in the Limestone Coast released the 83-page document on Wednesday which also provided 17 recommendations. Source: The Border Watch The recommendations ranged from OneFortyOne’s plantation lease agreement to the pursuit of a National Forest Industry Code of Conduct. Other main recommendations included the definition of sawlog and pulplog be made consistent throughout the industry and there be a mandatory reporting of monthly export prices by all exporters to a government agency. The committee first formed about five years ago and despite a shift in committee members, there had been substantial evidence given from across the state. Throughout the years, 13 submissions were made to the committee as well as about 30 in person witness statements. Speaking on the outcome of the report, committee chairperson Nicola Centofanti said she was pleased the industry was finally seeing the results of a “significant body of work”. “The timber industry has had a proud 150-year history here in South Australia and is the product of generations of hard working and dedicated innovators, both big and small,” Ms Centofanti said. “This report acknowledges some of the challenges and opportunities the forest industry faces, and the committee has worked tirelessly to form evidence-based recommendations to government to ensure the continued success of this vital industry.” Other key areas of concern included water security, calling on the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate all aspects of water allocation planning. “Water resources are vital for the production of food and fibre and we need to ensure that forestry has equitable access to these resources in order to grow the forestry estate into the future,” Ms Centofanti said. A National Forest Industry Code of Conduct and further investment into road infrastructure was also highlighted. Minister for Forest Industries Clare Scriven said she welcomed the conclusion of the committee five years after its establishment in 2020. “The establishment of the timber select committee was done at a time when the timber industry in South Australia was experiencing a downturn in supply of timber for processors in South Australia,” Ms Scriven said. “Five years on and the challenges facing the industry have evolved with supply of timber stabilising across the industry.” She said the industry employs both directly and indirectly about 21,000 South Australians and contributes $3b to the state’s economy each year. A further 60% of Australia’s agricultural timbers, such as poles, posts and fencing and 48 per cent of the packaging and industrial grade timber originated from the South Australian Forest Industry. “The state government understands the forest industry is an enormous contributor to the South Australian economy,” Ms Scriven said. “As such, I will be considering all the recommendations along with further consulting with industry about the proposed recommendations before considering next steps.” She said regardless, many of the recommendations which were proposed by the committee were actions the state government were already addressing including further research funding, investment into tree breeding and advocating for the National Forest Industry Code of Conduct. South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) chief executive Nathan Paine also welcomed the report, stating it was involved in the inquiry. “We have provided submissions and oral evidence and we are pleased the committee has tabled this report,” Mr Paine said. “We have not yet had the chance to review it in detail and so we will be doing it in due course but as the industry moves to celebrate its 150-year anniversary of plantation forestry and industry we are pleased to talk about the importance of the forest industry to South Australia.” He said SAFPA had been working closely with the current government regarding a range of policy measures including the contribution to the Forestry of Excellence, artificial intelligent cameras at fire towers and the forestry masterplan. “Any opportunity for our leaders to be talking about forest industries is positive and, in this case, primary industries because that is contemplated…the focus really is about the four critical things at the moment which is the current soft economic conditions that the industry is facing and the challenges that has caused,” Mr Paine said. “If we look forward, we are focused on getting more trees on the ground so we have got more resources for processes, getting more support for small to medium processes to improve their recovery rates and be more competitive and driving more use of South Australian grown and processed timber in our built environment.” He said other items highlighted throughout the report such as education for careers within the forestry industry had already been addressed through the Woodwork campaign launched last year. “We are a foundational industry, we support the success of other industries and we will be as an association talking to both the government and the opposition as we head into the 2026 election,” Mr Paine said. “This includes the policy and solutions that this industry needs to not just continue but to grow, to create more jobs, to sequester more carbon and create more economic prosperity.”  

Stora Enso and ECOR Global are paving the way for a new era in the board and panel industry by enabling a groundbreaking product that combines superior sustainability with less harmful chemicals. Source: Timberbiz By replacing fossil-based binders with its bio-based, formaldehyde-free alternative, NeoLigno, addresses the growing demand for safer, more environmentally friendly materials, setting a new benchmark for innovation and responsibility in the sector. Stora Enso said that its NeoLigno bio-based binder is an integral part of ECOR Global’s new product line, a groundbreaking fully bio-based, recyclable and formaldehyde-free board. This innovation meets the increasing demand for healthier, recyclable, high-performance materials, particularly in furniture and flooring manufacturing. The collaboration partnership between Stora Enso and ECOR Global underscores a shared vision for advancing sustainability and high climate ambitions. By replacing traditional fossil-based binders with NeoLigno, ECOR Global has successfully created a product free from formaldehyde and isocyanates, eliminating harmful chemicals while delivering performance. The two companies’ technical collaboration is leading to additional breakthroughs solidifying their commitment to sustainability. “This collaboration is an excellent example of how our bio-based solutions can unlock new opportunities for our clients doing good for the people and the planet,” said Tuomo Heikkinen, VP Head of Biochemicals and Lignin Applications at Stora Enso. “With NeoLigno, we’re helping companies like ECOR Global to lead the way in creating safer and more sustainable materials for their industries.” The new board offers versatility, making it ideal for furniture and flooring applications and exhibition materials at trade shows, as it is fully recyclable and reusable. Production is already underway.

JCB celebrated a major machine milestone with the production of its one millionth backhoe loader. The first JCB backhoe rolled off the production line in Rocester, Staffordshire in 1953. Source: Timberbiz In the first full year of production in 1954 just 35 of the machines were built and it took more than 20 years for the first 50,000 to be made. It took 59 years for the first half million JCB Backhoes to be manufactured but less than 13 years for the next half million to be produced, culminating in today’s celebrations. Hundreds of Backhoe Boader employees lined the road outside JCB’s World HQ, joining company Chairman Anthony Bamford to watch a cavalcade of 16 Backhoes from down the ages. These spanned a 1954 Mark I through to a 2025 3CX model. Also joining in the celebrations today was retired JCB employee Ken Harrison, aged 100, who joined JCB as a welder in 1952 when only 29 people worked on the shop floor. Mr Harrison, one of the last known survivors of the production team that built the first JCB backhoes, retired 36 years later in 1988. I am the only person in the business now who can remember the early days when we first started to make backhoes in what was a former cheese factory in Rocester. Looking back at that time, I could never have imagined that we would make one million of these diggers after such humble beginnings. JCB has always invested heavily in its Backhoe Loader range and an early catalyst for growth was in 1980 which saw the £24 million launch of the technologically advanced 3CX. Customers then went on to reap the fuel saving benefits of the launch of JCB Backhoes powered by the JCB Dieselmax, a development which saves up to 11% in fuel costs. Today’s 3CX Pro is the fastest Backhoe Loader in the world, capable of speeds up to 50kph, reducing travel time between sites. JCB Backhoes are manufactured in the UK, India and Brazil and the company sells the product in 120 different countries. The business unit which manufactures the machines has previously won six Queen’s Awards. The one millionth JCB Backhoe to be produced was a 4CX model, which was decorated in graffiti art by London-based artist and illustrator Dave Smith and presented to Lord Bamford.

In 2025, it will be 55 years since forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgren founded a forest machine factory in Vieremä, Finland. The anniversary year will start on a high note as the 21,000th PONSSE forest machine has been manufactured and will be delivered to Scheff Logging & Trucking from Minnesota, USA. Source: Timberbiz Scheff Logging & Trucking Inc. is a family business established in 1977. Today, Jhace Pearson, the company’s representative in the third generation, will come over to the Ponsse factory with his best friend Matthew Vosika to receive their new Ponsse Buffalo. Throughout its history, the Finnish family-owned company has focused on the development and production of cut-to-length forest machines and the provision of maintenance services for them. While all forest machines are still manufactured in Vieremä, Ponsse is at home in forests around the world, as the company currently operates in the logging sites of almost 40 countries. “Since the earliest days, Ponsse’s driving force has been the belief that only the best people, in cooperation with customers and stakeholders, can develop and manufacture the best forest machines in the world. “Still today, forest machines are developed and manufactured in the same way by more than 2,000 Ponsse employees. As a result of long-term cooperation, Ponsse has grown over the years to become the world’s leading manufacturer of cut-to-length forest machines,” said Jarmo Vidgren, Chair of Ponsse’s Board of Directors. In honour of the anniversary, we are going on a worldwide tour to meet our customers and stakeholders.” In accordance with the theme of the anniversary year “Logging together worldwide”, Ponsse is celebrating the milestone by inviting customers, stakeholders and Ponsse people to join the anniversary tour. The anniversary tour starts from Finland on 18 March and continues around the world during the year.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that there will be an event in Australia but for other event details visit: https://events.ponsse.com/

Scion believes gene technology is key to delivering significant benefits for New Zealand, and we support proposed regulatory changes to better enable its development. Source: Timberbiz In its submission on the government’s Gene Technology Bill, the Crown Research Institute says the changes will help New Zealand remain competitive on a global scale. “Other countries are already adopting gene technologies to generate economic benefits and protect human and environmental health while developing cleaner and more sustainable processes,” Dr Alec Foster, Scion’s acting General Manager – Forests to Biobased Products said. “To remain competitive, New Zealand needs a regulatory framework that enables collaborative advanced technology development while honouring our unique cultural heritage and environmental stewardship responsibilities.” The Bill’s purpose is to enable the safe use of gene technologies and regulated organisms by managing the risks they pose to people and the environment. Dr Foster says it will facilitate a collaborative, co-ordinated science approach that will give New Zealand a pathway towards economic prosperity, social advancement and environmental innovation. “These proposed regulations lay the foundations for New Zealand’s future bioeconomy – where advances in food and fibre production and sustainable technology drive economic growth and tackle global challenges.” Consultation on the Bill is open until 17 February and Scion encourages people to share their views as part of this process. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently announced plans to ease restrictions on gene technologies by the end of 2025 to enable research and product development. This change will boost New Zealand’s productivity and innovation across healthcare, climate solutions and export markets. “New Zealand has historically relied on imported gene technology products, while our regulations have constrained domestic research and innovation,” Dr Foster said. “Now, as technologies advance and global regulations evolve, New Zealand is modernising its regulatory framework to capitalise on these opportunities.” As New Zealand’s leading institute for industrial biotechnology and forestry, Scion is pioneering multiple gene technology projects. This research delivers sustainable solutions across biofuels, bioplastics, high-value chemicals and nutraceuticals, using waste biomass and greenhouse gases as feedstocks. “We’re advancing research on enhanced carbon sequestration in trees and conducting world-first field trials of gene-edited conifers designed to improve forest productivity and enable future biorefinery applications,” Dr Foster said. These and other initiatives help showcase the direct benefits of gene technology in addressing complex environmental and economic challenges, particularly across the forestry and industrial sectors.

Berninneit, the Cowes, Victoria cultural centre, whose internal design is dominated by Gippsland native hardwood timber, has won yet another award – the Public Building category in the 2024 Sustainability Awards. Source: Gippsland Times, Philip Hopkins The building defeated entries from the City of Sydney, upgrades to Redfern station, the Northcote Aquatics and Recreation Centre and an animal rehoming centre in Blacktown. The Sustainability Awards is described as Australia’s longest running and most prestigious award program dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating excellence in sustainable design and architecture. ‘Berninniet’ – ‘Gathering Together’ in the Boon Wurrung indigenous language encompasses a 260-seat performing arts theatre, a cinema, gallery, library, historical museum, events spaces and community meeting rooms. Sitting at the heart of it is glue-laminated timber (MASSLAM) huge beams 5.9 metres long and columns 4.2 metres high, all 42cm wide from Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield. There were more than 250 entries submitted to the 2024 awards from all across Australia. This was the fifth award for the building. Others were: The 2024 National Architecture Award for Public Architecture. The William Wardell Award for Public Architecture Awards at the 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards and was shortlisted in three other categories: Regional Architecture, Sustainable Architecture and Interior Architecture. Bass Coast Shire Council and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation received an Excellence in Geographic Place Naming award at the 2024 Victorian Geospatial Excellence awards; and The Australian Interior Design Award for Public Design. MASSLAM 45 is the proprietary strength of ASH’s uniquely strong hardwood glulam. “Vic Ash glulam timber is the essential structural element for the building,” Thom McCarthy, an interior designer with Jackson Clements Burrows, the project architects and designers, told the Gippsland Times last year. “They formed the Grand Hall, the spine of the building connected to all the rooms – the artistic and library at each end, and the function rooms in the centre. They were the three major tenants of the community facility. “Glulam columns are very striking; we have had tremendous experience with them in student residential projects. We were keen to express them as much as possible. They formed a lot of the internal pallet, and at the library end.” The award for Berninneit was one of three won by Jackson Clements Burrows, who won ‘Best of the Best’ and the award for Commercial Architecture for their T3 commercial building in Collingwood. ASH’s Masslam was also extensively used in the T3 building. Design work on Berninneit began in 2015. Several schemes followed before JCB took on the job in 2020.  

Professor Jeff Morrell has commenced as the first Director of Mount Gambier’s Forestry Centre of Excellence, ready to lead the centre into its next chapter as an international leader in forest industries for research, education, product and market development. Source: Timberbiz Globally renowned for his distinguished career in wood durability, Professor Morrell was selected following an international search. Professor Morrell has spent more than three decades leading the durability program at Oregon State University in the United States. He was also the director for the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life based at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from 2018 to 2023. The centre is a collaborative project between the State Government, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the forest industry. The Centre is on the same site as the UniSA Mount Gambier campus, the new Mount Gambier Technical College, and the Mount Gambier TAFE – providing a unique opportunity to create an education, training, and research precinct. Vital research has already been underway including projects on: structural timber market access improving safety fire detection from cameras and satellites suppression, recovery, and analysis of digital forestry data using artificial intelligence immersive data analytics using VR and AR to understand the implications of climate change on plantation growth yield and water use. “I’m very pleased to join the team at Mount Gambier to help move the Forestry Centre of Excellence forward and I’m honoured to have been chosen to help direct the centre,” Prof Morrell said. “It’s an exciting time to be in forestry in Australia with the resurgence in interest in our discipline over the past few years and the support for the centre from industry, the State Government and Federal Government highlights the growing importance of our forests. “I am excited to work across the discipline to help create a vibrant Forestry Centre of Excellence that builds upon the many excellent projects already underway and contributes to the state. “I thank (Forestry Minister) Clare Scriven for her very dedicated support for establishing the centre as well as the various advisory bodies that have fostered this process. I look forward to working with her to help make the Centre a credit to the University, Industry and State.” Ms Scriven said Prof Morrell’s commencement as director is the latest in a series of exciting milestones for the Forestry Centre of Excellence following the successful launch late last year and imminent start of construction on the new facilities. “The Forestry Centre of Excellence will consolidate the Green Triangle’s strengths which have been built over generations and maximise the wealth of local knowledge, expertise and skills. “The (centre’s) focus on delivering global leading research, development and education will enhance the competitiveness, diversification and prosperity of the Green Triangle regional economy and communities, while building overall resilience in the Australian forest industry,” she said.

South Australia is celebrating a major milestone in its history with 2025 marking the 150th anniversary of the state’s forest and timber industries. Acknowledging this remarkable milestone, Members of Parliament, industry leaders and stakeholders gathered at the 2025 Parliamentary Friends of Forestry event to celebrate the foundational legacy of the industry and recognises South Australia as the birthplace of the nation’s commercial plantation forests. Source: Timberbiz From the first hectare of trees planted in 1875 in the Bundaleer Forests in the Mid-North, the industry has grown to 176,000 hectares, directly and indirectly supports over 21,300 jobs, processes the fibre that supports new homes, pallets that move the products we buy and many other industries. Our plantation forests are the foundation of our state’s future. South Australia has long been at the forefront of innovation and sustainable forest management and the launch of the 150th celebrations mark a proud reflection of the industry’s enduring success and its growing importance to the State’s economic value chain, regional development, and environmental sustainability. As part of the celebrations, the official 150th anniversary logo was unveiled which beautifully represents both the softwood and hardwood plantation species, while also capturing the essence of the sunrise industry that is the forest industries. “South Australia is proudly the birthplace of the nation’s commercial forestry plantations, with 2025 marking the 150th Anniversary since the State embarked on a journey of sustainable plantation forestry, and it was great to kick start the year-long celebrations with Members of Parliament, industry leaders and stakeholders at the Parliamentary Friends of Forestry event,” Tammy Auld, Chair of the South Australian Forest Products Association said “The forest industries are all around us and have been building our state and our nation over the last 150 years.  It is a critical industry for the nation’s future, and SAFPA, with support from the Government of South Australia, is pleased to coordinate celebrations to acknowledge the legacy and future opportunities of South Australia’s forest industries. “Understanding that forest products are embedded in our everyday lives and to connect the plantation forest tree to the product, SAFPA started the celebrations by sharing with all Members of Parliament a biodegradable bag full of products that are supported by our sustainable fibre – such as toilet paper, wine, eggs, and fruit and veg, wooden chopping board and pallets – all essential everyday items that are sustainably grown from our forest industries, the ultimate renewable.” Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the anniversary served as a reminder of South Australia’s pivotal role in shaping the forest and timber industries in Australia and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future contributions of this resilient and pioneering industry. “The Government have invested more than $19 million into the forest and timber industries and understand the forestry supply value chain is crucial to our State’s economic and environmental success.” The Shadow Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Nicola Centofanti said she was proud to stand with SAFPA in celebration of this historic milestone. “Primary industries are crucial to the South Australian economy, and commercial forestry has been a cornerstone of our production for 150 years. It is a testament to the dedication of the people who created this sector, which today supports over 21,300 jobs and covers over 176,000 hectares of commercial plantings,” she said. “Timber is an essential product across multiple aspects of daily life and it is vital we support the businesses that ensure we create enough hardwood, softwood and fibres to not only meet our needs, but allow multiple related sectors to thrive. “There are fantastic career pathways in this sector, and I want to see more young people involved in the sector to ensure South Australia remains a strong player in this space. “Forestry is a fundamental part of the cultural fabric in many of South Australia’s regional towns, and I look forward to supporting these workers and their communities, well in our state’s future.” This monumental occasion also provides a unique opportunity to highlight how our industries touch our everyday lives in ways we might not recognise through showcasing a range of products that are supported by the forest industries. From paper bags to wine, eggs, fruit and vegetables and even the humble roll of toilet paper, the forest industries are a foundational element of our everyday lives. Throughout 2025, SAFPA will be shining a spotlight on our sustainable forestry industries and exploring the future of plantation forestry in South Australia, including the centrepiece Gala Dinner which will be held on 13 June 2025 in the heart of the Green Triangle, Mount Gambier. Forestry has been building our nation for the last 150 years and is a critical industry for the future and the next generation as we, as a nation, work towards building new homes, delivering a net-zero economy, replacing fossil fuel-based plastics, and exploring opportunities in biofuels and bioenergy.

With the likelihood of a Federal Election being called possibly within weeks, the Australia’s forestry and timber sector is reminding the members of the 47th Parliament and candidates hoping to be elected to the 48th Parliament that it can help ease the national housing crisis and build the homes of tomorrow. Source: Timberbiz The reminder comes at the same time new figures show the country fell almost 70,000 new homes short of its 2024 target. “Following the building boom spurred by COVID and subsequent downturn, Australia’s timber manufacturers have timber ready now to help build the new homes our country needs. Not only is our locally grown and processed timber a quality building material, but it also stores carbon, helping Australia fight climate change,” Australian Forest Products Association CEO Diana Hallam said. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Australia fell 68,606 homes short of its 2024, 240,000 target – with detached housing approvals falling 2.8% in December. The Federal Election must be held no later than 17 May, with 12 April being widely tipped as the likely date. “As the Federal Election draws closer – Australia needs policy solutions on the table that will help drive construction of the new homes Australia needs for the future,” Ms Hallam said. “When you use Australian timber to build those homes the benefits multiply quickly. “You’re using a local and quality product that harnesses local industry and workforces – with many located in regional communities,” she said. “You then have the added benefit of significant carbon storage in the home and structural timber is a far more climate-friendly construction material than energy-intensive steel or bricks.” Last year AFPA launched in conjunction with Master Builders Australia (MBA) How Timber Can Help Solve Australia’s Housing Crisis showing the local forestry and timber sector’s capacity to help build 50,000 new homes annually. That capacity remains and stands ready and waiting with recent figures showing local structural sawn softwood sales at a nine-year low in 2023-24. “Our sector has the product ready to go to build new homes. We do however require effective national, state and local government policy to help boost the construction sector and encourage an uptick in building new homes with timber products,” Ms Hallam said. “AFPA will continue working with both the Albanese Government, Coalition and key crossbenchers in the Parliament to ensure as much of our wonderful home grown, sustainable timber goes into Australia’s new homes of tomorrow, supporting local economies, communities and helping fight climate change,” she said.

The ‘Ballast’ Myth – A lazy belief that came from an old yarn and is popular with web content providers looking for the exceptional and the ironic as a tagline for a timber story. “The past actually happened, but history is only what someone wrote down.” Comedian A. Whitney Brown As someone interested in history, I’m drawn to how people in the past saw their own lifetime – rather than how we see their lifetime through the lens of subsequent change. Without an interrogatory approach to the past, history may be stripped of its complexity, and the events of the past reduced to simple constructs and repeated myths. The timber industry has quite a few, and one of the more dogged myths about timbers like Oregon and Baltic Pine is that they arrived in Australia as ballast on sailing ships. Unfortunately, for tireless promoters of the theory on websites and in design magazines, it is a myth. It lacks both gravitas and relevance and it fails to address the realities of maritime trade in Australia from an early colony to the later era of building towns and cities. Here’s a working definition of ballast: Ballast is used to stabilize a ship in transit. Wooden sailing ships were extremely buoyant, and tall masts made them top-heavy. Ballast was added or removed from the hold at the bottom of the vessel depending on how much cargo, supplies, people, and weapons were on the ship to make sure the ship stayed upright in heavy seas. Once a ship got close to its destination, the ship would dump the ballast, often just outside the harbor. Ballast had to be heavy, available, and very cheap to procure. Otherwise, it needed to be saleable at a ready market price at the destination. Rock was obviously popular, but the dumping of ballast was eventually banned in many ports, and ships’ captains turned their gaze towards cargos that could be easily on-sold like ore, bricks, coal, terracotta tiles, or crates of cast iron products that could be stored low on the keel and not move about in heavy seas. If it wasn’t placed low on the keel, it wasn’t ballast it was simply cargo. But if it was cargo used as ballast, it was essentially still just cargo for anyone who wasn’t present on the sea voyage. The strategic placement in the ship’s hold was unimportant to an Australian buyer of heavy cargo. It was left to the bosun to work things out in the hold. And would he have kept a log of this activity or seen it as nobody’s business bar him and the cap’n? Should it hold any fascination for the eventual owner of the timber a century and more later? Can anyone nowadays be sure any item of cargo had a ballast function on the trip over? It’s unlikely. There is online just a broad assertion the cargo was ballast – with a minimal understanding of the business of mercantile sailing. There is not much ‘awesome’ here to go ‘wow’ about. It might have been more fascinating if the cargo had been up on a moonlit deck, which is precisely where timber was carried. On the deck. For timber arriving from Washington State in North America, special schooners were built in the late 19ce to suit the timber trade, and it is likely the cargos were a dedicated timber-only load on the outward leg to Australia. Sailing historian Hewitt Jackson notes that these lumber ships were built without the between-decks of the conventional schooners, and close to half their cargo was stowed on deck. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_lumber_trade) The other element of this ‘Ballast’ Myth is inferred but never clearly stated. It ignores the essential requirement of ballast that it needed to be heavy and softwood timber isn’t yet implies that it arrived as free goods or for minimal cost or charge. You hear: Cost me an arm and a leg but it originally came out as ballast! The problem with this claim is that it’s too vague. The essential detail is missing and here’s the probable detail. In the early 19th-century shipping trade, if a ship was unlikely to get viable or profitable cargos on the ballast leg of a return trip, a ‘ballast bonus’ was sometimes paid as part of the freight cost on the other leg. The money leg. It meant the ship’s captain could be competitive with pricing cargos on the ballast leg since he already had a retainer and perhaps merchants of cast iron goods in Melbourne paid less for their heavy cargo inbound than wool buyers paid in Liverpool per pound or bale outbound. A sort of trade imbalance characterized shipping to the colony before the repeal of the British Navigation Act in 1848. Up to that date, trade could only be conducted by British ships, and Australia, as a small colony, was powerless to explore markets using foreign ships. However, according to John Bach in A Maritime History of Australia, the trading ban was enforced with less rigor in the last years of the Act. All sorts of private arrangements emerged. The ‘ballast bonus’ and variations of it, may have originated the ‘Ballast’ Myth regardless of the uncertainty about whether shippers passed on any discounts to the buyer or retained them. It should be remembered that trade in timber in this early colonial period up to 1848 was small in volume. The era of building growth and expansion in Australia that brought the Pacific trade and increased European trade spanned 1860 to 1901 in the colonial period and then post-1901 – the Federation era – when Australia had the freedom to pass her own Navigation Act. The west coast Oregon trade by sail was strongest in this new 20th century. In summary, timber cargo is unlikely to have arrived as true ballast in Australia even in the early colonial period. It wasn’t heavy enough in comparison to other cargo types carried concurrently. Most imports to Australia weren’t ballast. Some were. […]

The economic landscape of North America is experiencing one of the most intense periods of trade tension in its history. President Trump’s announcement of new tariffs to the tune of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada has sent ripples through global trade, and the effects will hit several sectors hard. Sources: Timberbiz, ResourceWise. Among the products listed, Canadian lumber plays a pivotal role. Its implications are profound for the US lumber market. President Donald Trump declared an economic emergency to enforce a tariff policy, introducing a 25% duty on imports from Canada, one of the United States’ most significant trading partners. These tariffs target key goods such as energy oil, natural gas, and electricity as well as timber and lumber products exported from Canada to the US. On August 13, 2024, the US Department of Commerce released the final results of its Fifth Annual Administrative Review concerning the antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duty orders on Canadian lumber exports. The review set a new combined duty rate of 14.54% for most Canadian lumber exports, almost doubling the previous rate of 8.05%. This new rate applies retroactively to lumber exports made in 2022, as well as to new shipments. For the Canadian softwood lumber sector, which is already the largest foreign supplier of softwood lumber to the US, these developments present a significant challenge. Many industry professionals believe that the 25% tariff introduced under the economic emergency will be imposed in addition to the newly adjusted duty rate. If this proves to be the case, Canadian lumber exports could face a combined effective tariff of 39.5%. The impact of these measures stretches deeply across the operations of lumber producers and forest products professionals, affecting businesses on both sides of the border. Although the announcement of a one-month delay on these tariffs was made, understanding the potential impacts remains crucial. There are substantial implications for both Canada (supply side) and the US (demand side). While both sides of the border are grappling with low operating rates and difficult economics, the US is likely to fare better in the long run. Here is why. ResourceWise estimates that approximately 1.3 billion board feet of lumber capacity in British Columbia is now at risk due to these tariffs. The added costs make it increasingly difficult for Canadian producers to export lumber to the US profitably. Canada is a Spruce-Pine-Fir market. Historically, when US demand was not satisfied from Canada, Pacific Northwest (PNW) lumber producers stepped in first to fill the gap, followed by imports from Scandinavia. Currently, European lumber imports represent about 6% of US lumber demand. With higher tariffs in place, we expect both PNW producers and European exporters will be positioned to benefit from this. However, as domestic production in the PNW ramps up to offset reduced Canadian imports, log supply in the region will tighten. This imbalance will lead to higher log costs, increasing pressure on sawmill profits. Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), while not a direct substitute for SPF in framing applications, may see a slight uptick in demand, which the South would benefit from. Yet, we do not expect log prices to increase due to an overabundance of pine sawtimber. To compensate for the reduced Canadian supply, these three scenarios could likely play out in some proportion. Increased Production in the Pacific Northwest (PNW): The operating rates in the PNW are historically low. We expect operating rates to increase from the low 70% range to nearly 80%, resulting in a 5% to 10% boost in lumber production from existing sawmills. This would increase total annual production by 0.6 billion board feet to 1.3 billion board feet. However, we expect some upward price pressure on logs prices to accompany the new demand. Scaling Up Production in the South: Southern sawmills may also step up production to help bridge the gap. If PNW production lands on the lower end of its projected range (5%), it would only cover half of the 1.3 billion board feet shortfall. The remaining deficit would likely require a 3% increase in Southern production. As mentioned earlier, there is no strain on the sawlog supply, so sawtimber prices would stay stable. European Imports: A third option involves boosting lumber imports from Europe. Again, if PNW production lands on the lower end of its projected range (5%) – to fill the deficit, European exporters would need to increase their shipments to the U.S. by 22%, raising their market share from 6% to 7%. While we expect import volumes to increase, lumber prices would have to increase sustainably for incremental volume to arrive profitably. What Comes Next for Forest Products Professionals? The full impact of these tariffs on lumber markets will not be immediate, but the long-term effects could reshape industry dynamics. Reduced Canadian imports could mean shuttered mills and a permanent loss of capacity. The supply would then shift to US producers or European importers. For global buyers, diversification of sourcing strategies will become increasingly important. European and other international suppliers may see opportunities to fulfill growing demand in the US market. However, geopolitical and economic factors mean this diversification strategy also carries risks. The US-Canada trade tensions highlight the fragile interconnectedness of global markets. For forest products professionals and lumber producers, these tariffs are both a challenge and an opportunity.

Uncertainty still hangs over the Canadian economy despite US President Donald Trump announcing a 30-day pause in tariffs that were to take effect today. Global News www.globalnews.ca The temporary reprieve halts — at least for now — a continental trade war that economists on both sides of the border warned would raise prices. Trump’s decision meant Canada and the provinces also halted their moves to retaliate including with tariffs and bans on US alcohol sales north of the border. Trump signed an order to impose 25% across-the-board tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, with a lower 10% tariff on Canadian energy. On Monday, following two phone calls with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said the tariffs would be off the table for 30 days to see if the two countries could reach a “final economic deal.” In his own social media post, Trudeau outlined his government’s Can$1.3 billion plan to address Trump’s stated concerns about border security that Canada unveiled in December. He also said nearly 10,000 front-line personnel “are and will” be protecting Canada’s border and announced Can$200 million in new initiatives to address fentanyl trafficking including a “fentanyl czar.” Canadian Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Terry Duguid, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, will join Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew later this morning at the Emerson port of entry, where they’ll see how the Canada Border Services Agency detects fentanyl and other toxic materials. They’ll also see a Black Hawk helicopter which the RCMP is now using to patrol the Uborder in the province. But the tariffs delay is not a long-term comfort for many in Canada’s labour and business communities. Unifor, the country’s largest private sector union, insists that Trump’s threat of tariffs remains in effect, threatening Canadian jobs. National President Lana Payne calls for Canada to “use every single available lever to build a strong, resilient, and diverse economy.” But the tariffs delay is not a long-term comfort for many in Canada’s labour and business communities. Unifor, the country’s largest private sector union, insists that Trump’s threat of tariffs remains in effect, threatening Canadian jobs. National President Lana Payne calls for Canada to “use every single available lever to build a strong, resilient, and diverse economy.” The Business Council of Canada also notes that “with a 30-day delay, much uncertainty remains.” President and CEO Goldy Hyder said it remains clear that Canada must “act with urgency to improve our long-term economic prospects.” Quebec Premier François Legault complained that “what’s annoying” about dealing with Trump “is that there’s always this sword hanging over our heads.” He believes the events of the last few days emphasize the importance of diversifying markets and limiting Canadian dependence on American exports. Canada has spent the last three months on a full-court press in Washington, DC and Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort, trying to push its case against tariffs. Despite the pause, that work continues.

A US company that specialises in the defence, national security and global markets has successfully executed a multi-week demonstration of its self-driving truck platooning system technology with a Canadian research and technology organization that assesses, adapts and delivers solutions to Canada’s forest industry’s total value chain. Source: Timberbiz Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Unmanned Systems Division worked with FPInnovations on the project. The Kratos developed self-driving system “kit”, which enables vehicles to be capable of autonomous driving, was deployed for evaluation in forestry operations in northern Québec, Canada. Deployment of this technology is intended to mitigate driver shortages, improve safety protocols, boost rural economic vitality, and contribute to the development of a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. The automated platooning technology performed exceptionally well in the challenging forestry environment and hauled both unloaded and loaded timber trailers. The Kratos system demonstrated precision navigation in automated platooning mode along complex off-pavement roadways with degraded access to GPS, steep grades, severe visibility-limiting dust, sub-freezing temperatures, rain, and under variable day/night/twilight lighting conditions. The Kratos platoon deployment featured two class-8 tractor-trailers, with one human-driven Leader truck collecting navigation data along the way and transmitting the data to one self-driving Follower truck. Both trucks were retrofitted with Kratos automated driving systems, enabling the Follower to follow the Leader’s navigation data with only a Safety Rider onboard for this initial testing/demonstration. The human driver in the Leader truck plays a critical role optimizing performance of the driverless follower by adjusting vehicle speeds, gaps, and maneuvers to adapt to rapidly changing environmental or operational conditions. This human-in-the-loop decision-maker provides added safety and deployment flexibility by enhancing navigation performance of the driverless vehicle versus relying solely on complex and often unpredictable AI and Machine Learning algorithms, as employed by other systems. The combination of a human-driven Leader and a driverless Follower, powered by advanced sensors, navigation, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, and automated systems, has proven to be an effective driverless truck deployment model across multiple industries. “The successful deployment of our self-driving truck platooning technology in the Canadian forestry industry demonstrates the ability of the system to navigate complex situations in challenging environments,” Maynard Factor, Vice President of Business Development for the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said. “This is a game-changing effective and viable solution for maintaining critical business continuity even under the current driver shortage situation. “By pairing a human-driven leader truck with a driverless follower, we’ve developed a flexible deployment model that prioritizes both safety and productivity. “The human driver of the Leader can adjust driving behavior in real-time as needed to optimize performance of the self-driving Follower to navigate complex edge- and corner-case situations safely,” he said. “We are driving innovation for our clients by leveraging a unique deployment model using field-proven technology to offer real solutions for ensured supply chain reliability.” Regulatory agencies, trucking contractors, and industry stakeholders were welcomed to evaluate the technology and ride along in Leader and Follower vehicles to see first-hand how the system performed on the forest roads within the operational environment. Feedback was very positive, with many highlighting the system’s performance and potential to support forestry and other industries across Canada. Discussions regarding follow-on deployment opportunities are already underway, reflecting strong interest and confidence in the capability of the Kratos platooning technology.  

Arbre is holding an open day where you can experience demonstrations of a new tracked harvester simulator and learn about Abre’s new pre-employment program. Source: Timberbiz The event will be held on 13 March at RDO Equipment in Rocherlea, Tasmania. At the event there will also be information about Arbre’s new Forestry Operator Pre-Employment Program run in conjunction with Timber Training Creswick (RTOID 4168). This is an entry level 5-day training program and will provide three Certificate II units of learning, which are: Follow workplace health and safety policies and procedures in forest and wood products operations Follow environmental protection procedures in forest and wood products operations Operate a forest machine simulator in a virtual environment. The first program will be run from 24 – 28 March 2025, and registrations are now open. There is no need to RSVP. For more information contact Denise DeBattista hub@arbre.net.au or call 0419 130 557. The event is at RDO Equipment 4 Australis Drive, Rocherlea, Tasmania.  

New Zealand’s Minister of Forestry Todd McClay has welcomed a decision by forestry sector representatives to drop Judicial Review proceedings related to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees. Source: Timberbiz “The Judicial Review was initiated in response to the excessive fees imposed on the forestry sector by the previous Government,” Mr McClay says. “The previous Labour government made a number of decisions that drove up the cost of ETS Registry and they expected the forestry sector to blindly pay for their mistakes. “The National-led coalition Government has worked hard to rebuild confidence in the forestry sector over the past 12 months. “We have been working collaboratively with the sector to ensure we get the settings right to restore trust to the over 4,300 forestry participants in the ETS registry. “Last year we announced that the cost of participating in the ETS registry would be reduced by 50 per cent for forest owners, and the formation of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to find more cost savings over the next year. “This Government backs forestry, it will continue to play a key role in achieving our ambitious target of doubling exports by value in 10 years and helping New Zealand meet its climate change obligations,” Mr McClay says.

The largest union representing 270 white and blue-collar workers at the Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill has endorsed the restructure of the company. Source: The SE Voice www.sevoice.com.au The workforce was informed by management on Thursday the American owners were creating a new company called Kimberly-Clark IFP ANZ Pty Ltd. It would run its Australian operations including the Millicent Mill for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation of the USA. Lawyers from the Construction, Forestry, Manufacturing, Mining and Energy Union have examined the new arrangements and raised no objections. The SE Voice has seen the memo to Millicent Mill employees which states there will be no changes to their status, service record, location, job title, salary, leave entitlements, severance pay and other aspects of their enterprise bargaining agreements. In effect, they would have to resign from KCA and join the new entity which comes into effect on 1 April 2025. If employees are unwilling to commit by 28 February, the company memo states a notice of termination from the Millicent Mill might be issued. In these cases, severance and termination payments would not be made. The CFMMEU informed its 270 Millicent Mill members yesterday of its opinion of the restructure. “(We are) confirming that our legal team have no issues regarding the Kimberly-Clark corporate restructure and your completion of the documents,” wrote Denise Campbell-Burns in a memo obtained by The SE Voice. Ms Campbell-Burns is the CFMMEU Manufacturing division president and the Pulp and Paper Workers District secretary and is expected to take a key role in negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement which is due on July The SE Voice sent a number of detailed questions to the KCA headquarters in Sydney and received a statement from a spokesperson. “There are no changes to the running of the Millicent Mill,” the spokesperson said. “In 2024, K-C launched its Global Powering Care strategy to simplify our structure and enable us to act with speed and agility through a new, focused segment structure. “As is often the case with structural changes of this kind, system changes are required to enable the two segments – International Personal Care and International Family Care & Professional – to operate efficiently and sharpen focus on their respective categories. “As part of this process, we have introduced a new legal entity called Kimberly-Clark IFP ANZ Pty. Ltd.” The Federal Government’s Australian Business Register states Kimberly-Clark IFP ANZ Pty Ltd was registered as an Australian private company on 4 September last year. The Kimberly-Clark Corporation released its annual worldwide results a week ago and noted production levels had increased at the Millicent Mill over the 2024 calendar year.

Contractors called on to reduce the bushfire risk in Victorian forests are contemplating selling expensive heavy machinery presently sitting idle due to no work. Source: The Weekly Times www.weeklytimesnow.com.au The Victorian government has confirmed a reduction in work for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action panel of contractors was a “temporary variation” and promised work would return later in the financial year. But the lack of work has already led to two Gippsland contractors shedding staff with the fate of their machinery including bulldozers used to maintain forest fire access roads and other specialist works, the next consideration. “We’re sitting here twiddling our thumbs wanting work,” said one contractor who would only comment to The Weekly Times on the basis of anonymity. “We’ve put off all our employees. “It doesn’t leave us with many options other than to start selling machines. “What it has done is create a lot of uncertainty. “If there is a big fire, who do I go and employ?” East Gippsland MP Tim Bull raised the lack of work with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos and recently received a response confirming the “temporary variation”. The type and volume of work fluctuates based on various factors, including funding allocated for government priorities or initiatives; seasonal conditions and risks; and statutory planning and approval processes, Mr Dimopoulos said. It coincides with employment of harvest and haulage contractors doing similar work following the demise of the native timber industry. Another contractor said, “the pie hasn’t got any bigger, in fact it’s only got smaller”. “Good luck to the logging guys because they should never have been kicked out of the bush in the first place,” he said. “But what we were doing previously was a significant part of our income. “We’ve also had to let staff go. “The consequence of all this is when the proverbial hits the fan, they’re not going to have the experienced operators or knowledge around. “We’ve got machines grazing and not doing much at the moment. “We just hope we can ride things out.” Mr Bull said it was a disgrace the Victorian government had starved work from family-run businesses, after being promised similar volumes as previous years. “These contractors are small business operators who have to maintain very expensive equipment and be on standby for when they are called to help out in the event of a bushfire,” he said. “Having the tap turned off on all work without notice hits them hard. “The region simply can’t sustain any further loss of this skilled workforce. “Especially in the wake of the native timber industry shutdown.”

As the construction industry shifts to address its contribution to climate change, timber framing offers one of the lowest carbon footprints, sequestering carbon and reducing environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Source: Timberbiz The construction industry plays a central role in tackling climate change and preserving the natural environment. Based on data published in the National inventory by economic sector 2019, the construction industry in Australia accounted for about 2% of direct emissions as a sector in 2019. This was an increase from 1.4% in 2010 to 1.9% in 2019. As the construction industry advances, innovations are consistently reducing the environmental impact of energy-intensive material production. However, when it comes to sustainability, nothing compares to the benefits of building with renewable, natural timber framing. Of the global CO₂ emissions attributed to the construction sector, 28% result from energy use during a building’s operation (operational carbon) and 11% from the building materials and the processes involved in its construction (embodied carbon). In Australia, timber framing has one of the lowest embodied carbon footprints among construction materials, as sustainably sourced timber sequesters carbon during its growth, offsetting much of the emissions from harvesting, processing, and transportation. New technology and innovations across forestry and sawmill operations are working to increase yields from every log and decrease waste. After installation, timber framing acts as a natural insulator. Tiny air pockets in timber framing add resistance to heat flow throughout a home, and with good design, timber-framed buildings can better regulate their internal temperature and reduce household energy use when it comes to heating and cooling. It’s not just timber framing’s low embodied energy that makes it the go-to for ESG-conscious builders, fabricators, architects, engineers, and homeowners, but its carbon storage properties too. Both embodied energy and stored carbon make the timber in framing carbon positive, which means its production process from sapling to installation, removes more carbon than it emits. Timber framing is a natural way to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Trees grow for around 30 years before they are harvested, allowing them to capture large amounts of CO₂. Approximately half the dry weight of timber framing is stored carbon, which is locked up and stored for the life of your timber frame. According to the latest State of the Forests Report in Australia, as of 2021, the total stock of carbon in Australia’s forests was approximately 19,417 million tonnes. This figure represents a 0.05% increase since 2016. When wood is transformed into timber products, like timber framing, it continues to store carbon for its life. The average lifespan of a timber-framed home in Australia, when constructed and maintained appropriately, is often over 100 years. Timber framing’s durability has been demonstrated by numerous historical homes that remain structurally sound today. Modern timber frames, especially when treated to resist termites and decay, offer reliable longevity comparable to other construction materials when maintained in line with building standards. Timber framing not only acts as a carbon store throughout its lifespan but also offers environmental advantages at the end of its lifecycle. Whether repurposed, recycled, or even sent to landfill, timber can continue to minimise environmental impact, further enhancing its sustainability credentials by storing carbon. Timber framing can often be dismantled and reused in various ways, ensuring its environmental benefits extend beyond its original use. Timber from deconstructed frames may be repurposed into new wood products, such as furniture or construction materials, and even processed into wood chips for additional applications. While untreated and unpainted timber is easier to recycle, treated wood can also be managed responsibly under specific recycling protocols to minimise environmental hazards. These practices help retain the carbon stored in the wood. According to research presented by Forest & Wood Products Australia, wood products in Australian landfills act as a long-term carbon reservoir. Scientific studies, including excavations and laboratory experiments, have found that carbon loss from timber in landfills is minimal, only about 1.4% over extended periods. The remainder of the carbon is effectively stored indefinitely. This dynamic, positions wood products disposed of in landfills as a key component of Australia’s carbon storage strategy, contributing to a cumulative reservoir of approximately 51.5 million tonnes of carbon. Learn more in WoodSolutions design guide on The Role of Wood Products In Zero Carbon Buildings at https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/publications/role-wood-products-zero-carbon-buildings