Australian timber industry news

Kazakhstan and Finland have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in forestry, emphasizing innovative approaches to forest management. Source: Azernews This agreement was established during a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Azamat Abdraimov and Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essaya. Ambassador Abdraimov provided a detailed overview of ongoing initiatives in Kazakhstan aimed at advancing its forestry sector. He highlighted projects focused on sustainable forest management and discussed investment opportunities in environmentally significant forestry initiatives and the expansion of forested areas. The ambassador also addressed key topics for future collaboration, including forest regeneration, the creation of new green spaces, legislative enhancements, and strategies to preserve and expand Kazakhstan’s forested regions. Both parties acknowledged that enhancing bilateral cooperation paves the way for new partnerships in forestry, water resource management, and food security. By the end of last year, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Finland reached approximately US$210 million.

On the 17-18 October 2024 the 72nd edition of the International Softwood Conference was held at the UNAHOTELS Capo Taormina, Italy. The conference was hosted by the Federlegno Arredo, which co-organized the event with the two usual partners: the European Organization of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF). Source: Timberbiz The event drew around 230 people coming from more than 20 countries all over the world and it was opened by a macroeconomic overview provided by Marco Fortis, which showed that many factors, including geopolitical tensions and a slowdown of globalization, are having a negative impact on the global and European economy. Italy is a partial exception to this having done comparatively better than its European neighbours over the last couple of years. During the first day of the conference, information-packed sessions about the market trends were followed with attention by the audience. This year’s conference was marked by its truly global flair with presenters focusing not just on European markets, but on North America, China, Japan, MENA, India, Australia and New Zealand. While there were regional differences, in some cases significant, it is apparent that 2024 has been overall a challenging year for the softwood industry across the world but probably slightly better than expected at the end of 2023. The big question mark for operators in the sector is whether the market has bottomed out and 2025 can really be the year of recovery. After peaking in 2021, softwood production has significantly fallen over the last few years to adjust to the demand decline. If forecasts for 2024 are confirmed, at the end of the year production will be 12%lower than in 2021. Next year production is expected to grow by 2-3%. Morten Bergsten, Vice-President and Softwood Chairman of ETTF, and Herbert Jobst, President of EOS, delivered similar messages in their presentations from their respective vantage points of user and producer. Production in the sector has been curtailed to accommodate weak demand. Sawn softwood prices have sharply declined from the peaks observed during 2021 and 2022. This is mainly due to the downfall of the construction sector. However, there might be light at the end of the tunnel. As it was reported by numerous speakers at the conference interest rates have started falling across the world, which might trigger an upturn in the construction sector, which would be vital for sawmillers and traders alike. If the market does have already bottomed out, the recovery is expected to be sluggish at least in the short-term.

Sustainable Timber Tasmania is pleased to see the return of the migratory swift parrot to Tasmania. Every year, swift parrots travel from mainland Australia in search of forest areas with the richest food sources for foraging and breeding. Source: Timberbiz Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s proactive monitoring has confirmed that swift parrots are actively searching for potential nest sites in Tasmanian forests, with recent observations indicating the presence of some birds in the Eastern Tiers. To enhance monitoring efforts, Sustainable Timber Tasmania has deployed acoustic recorders throughout this area. These devices will assist in detecting different kinds of bird activity and enable us to adapt management activities where needed. In the coming week, monitoring will also take place in the southern forests. Sustainable Timber Tasmania remains committed to implementing effective conservation outcomes for the swift parrot in Tasmania’s public production forests and looks forward to providing further updates as monitoring efforts progress throughout the season.

A demonstration plant for biographite will be up and running in Finland in a couple of years. New-Zealand-based CarbonScape will start the sample production of biographite at Sunila in Kotka, Southern Finland. Source: Forest.fi Biographite is a more eco-friendly material used in the batteries of electric vehicles. Biographite is made of wood chips, available as a sidestream of forest industry. It can be used in lithium-ion batteries to replace mined or fossil-based synthetic graphite, the market of which is dominated by China. The lithium-ion battery in an electric vehicle weighs several hundred kilograms, and graphite makes up almost half of its volume (42%). According to CarbonScape, the performance of biographite is equal to the best-performing synthetic graphite and exceeds that of natural graphite. CarbonScape plans to start constructing the plant next year, and the sample production will begin in 2026. The partner in this project is the Finnish-Swedish forest industry company Stora Enso, an important producer of renewable materials. The production of carbon-based graphite in China is unethical and burdening on the environment, said Katariina Torvinen, Research Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, in an interview with the Forest Finland project in 2022. “In the current global situation, issues related to batteries are important. It is of great significance if the graphite produced unethically in China can be replaced with material from a sidestream of the Finnish forest industry,” said Ms Torvinen in an article on an advertisement page in the daily Ilta-Sanomat in 2022. The European Union has defined graphite as a critical raw material, and according to CarbonScape, the envisaged production complies with the EU’s sustainability goals. According to CarbonScape, the product is carbon negative. Compared to synthetic and mined graphite. It saves up to 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of material. The temperature required by the process is only half that required for synthetic graphite, and the production takes hours instead of weeks. The investment is estimated to cost about EUR 40–50 million. CarbonScape expects to reach a market share close to 20% in Europe and the US by 2035.

Australia’s supplies of folding box board and other coated cartonboard grades are all imported, with a few major countries dominating. Based on trade declarations, Australia’s imports of raw cartonboard fell 6.9% in 2023-24, to a little less than 123,000 tonnes. Source: IndustryEdge When matched with small volumes of exports, that led the apparent consumption of cartonboard down to a record low 119,000 tonnes. Yeah. Nah. There is no chance consumption of cartonboard is that low, and in such structural decline. So, if that’s right, where’s the Cartonboard? Here’s what we think is happening. Until 2014, Australia manufactured coated cartonboard. Manufacturing occurred in Queensland, at Amcor’s Petrie Mill, which closed in 2014. Prior to the end of domestic manufacturing, the apparent consumption of Coated Cartonboard fluctuated around, but generally just below the 190,000 tonnes per annum level. In 2013-14, the apparent consumption function declined to around 131,000 tonnes, but that was due to an estimated 50,000 tonnes of inventory being supplied into what appeared to be a stable market. Imports – which after 2013-14 accounted for 100% of supply, are broken into four main grades (actually there are eleven, but IndustryEdge wraps them up to support sensible analysis). The aggregated import volumes can be seen below. It is the ‘General Bleached Cartonboard’ and potentially ‘Coated Kraft Back’ imports, where there has been largely continuous under-reporting of imports. General Bleached Cartonboard is used in a wide variety of applications, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical and healthcare, cosmetics, technology and fast-moving consumer goods packaging. Think about the boxes on supermarket shelves as well as the box your perfume or mobile phone came in. Coated Kraft Back is used mainly in wet and humid environments like refrigerators, where it is used to hold beverages and similar products. This grade might contain some semi-chemical pulp. In 2023-24, the main importers of Coated Cartonboard – all grades – were China (25%), New Zealand (21%), Chile (22%), Korea (15%) and the USA (12%).  IndustryEdge’s analysis suggests the volumes from Korea and the USA are an under-representation of their actual contribution to the Australian market. The annual delivery of almost the same volume of imports for much of the last decade and now an apparently declining volume belies the growth in the market for Coated Cartonboard. The market for Coated Cartonboard remains larger than the apparent consumption function suggests. The involvement in the domestic market of the integrated US producers, Graphic Packaging International (GPI) and of West Rock, appeared to contribute marginally to more accurate recording of Coated Cartonboard imports for a time, but ultimately, reported consumption slipped back to the same lower than expected levels. Largely due to improved reporting by the reinvigorated Whakatane Mills Limited in New Zealand, imports and therefore apparent consumption, of Cartonboard were reported more appropriately in 2021-22. However, the steep decline in 2022-23 (-22.8%) and the subsequent 6.9% retreat in 2023-24 to the point where apparent consumption is at decadal lows, is not consistent with industry experience. Supported by end-users and forensic analysis of trade flows, IndustryEdge’s analysis is that Coated Cartonboard imports may be under-reported by as much as 40,000 tonnes per annum, but by at least 30,000 tonnes per annum. Where is the cartonboard? It is important to state, in this modern era, there is no ‘conspiracy’ here, just simply the impact of importing remarkably similar paper and paperboard under many different import codes, where the difference is not the material, but rather, the end-use application. In that context, some Coated Cartonboard imports are be mis-classified, most likely recorded as Medium Weight Coated (MWC) mechanical grades of printing and communication papers. There are also some imports of Coated Woodfree (CWF) Reels >150 gsm that are expected to be Coated Cartonboard grades. The particular and main ‘culprit’ is the MWC grade manufactured from >55% mechanical pulp. Heavier grades of this printing paper – above around 180 gsm according to industry converters – are able to be used as lightweight cartonboard. MWC imports above 220 gsm are more likely to be cartonboard than they are printing paper. One importer has advised IndustryEdge they receive the product as MWC grades, but routinely supply it to a major cartonboard customer. The main countries impacted, as we outlined earlier, are the US and Korea. We base this assertion on analysis of specific trade transactions, including volumes and prices and flows into each state that are unlikely to be for printers and more likely to be for cartonboard converters. As the table below shows, since exactly the period (2013-14) that local production of Cartonboard ended, Australia saw a sustained explosion in imports of MWC Reels (not Sheets) containing >55% Mechanical Pulp. Of roughly 33,500 tonnes of imports in 2023-24, the USA and Korea supplied a little more than 31,900 tonnes. If there is a concern in this recalculation of import volumes as we seek to assess the real size of the Cartonboard market, it is ultimately that nearly all the imports of MWC Reels >55% Mechanical Pulp are actually a packaging product. If that is the case, we can wipe more than 30,000 tonnes more printing papers from what is already a massively contracted market. More information at www.industryedge.com.au

FSC Australia and New Zealand (FSC ANZ) sponsored the 25th Anniversary Katoomba Summit, themed ‘Real Value for Nature’, held in early October. This milestone event took place in Sydney ahead of the Global Nature Positive Summit. Source: Timberbiz Both events served as key platforms for advancing discussions on reversing biodiversity loss and scaling sustainable solutions. FSC ANZ’s CEO, Melanie Robertson, was actively engaged in the summit, representing FSC’s commitment to responsible forestry as part of a broader nature-positive vision. Founded in the late 1990s, the Katoomba Group has long been at the forefront of innovative environmental solutions. Comprising a global network of individuals and organisations from diverse sectors – government, finance, environmental groups, and academia – the Katoomba Group focuses on creating ecosystem service markets and driving sustainable investments. Over the last 25 years, the group has been instrumental in promoting ways to value natural capital, mobilise financing for conservation, and empower local communities and First Nations Peoples to steward their lands. This milestone summit, ‘Real Value for Nature’, celebrated their legacy and featured in-depth discussions on several critical issues: Pathways to Value: Highlighting the development of markets for ecosystem services and solutions that encourage sustainable investment. Risk to Value: Exploring strategies to manage climate and environmental risks while enhancing the resilience of ecosystems. Partnerships to Value: Promoting cross-sector collaborations to scale natural asset solutions and drive impactful change across industries. FSC’s sponsorship of the summit underscores its commitment to advancing sustainable forestry practices, aligning with the summit’s focus on innovative solutions for protecting ecosystems and supporting communities. In line with the discussions at the Katoomba Summit and Global Nature Positive Summit, FSC is pushing the boundaries of how forest impacts are monitored through its Verified Impact initiative. Verified Impact (formerly Ecosystem Services Claims) is FSC’s advanced system for capturing high-quality climate and nature data from FSC-certified forests. This system matches businesses, financial institutions, and governments to ecosystem-services projects that not only maintain but also enhance forest health. Through Verified Impact, project sponsors gain access to credible, verified data on the environmental and social impact of their activities, which can then be communicated to their stakeholders. This upgraded system is designed to help organisations disclose high-integrity forest data and demonstrate their true impact on climate, biodiversity, and local communities. The Global Nature Positive Summit convened global leaders on Gadigal Land (Sydney) to address the urgent need for a nature-positive future. With a strong emphasis on First Nations leadership, the summit sought to align efforts to reverse biodiversity loss and secure a healthy, sustainable future for all. FSC ANZ CEO Melanie Robertson attended the summit and highlighted the critical role of FSC in this global movement: “Sustainably managed forests, certified to FSC’s rigorous standards, play a crucial role in contributing to a nature-positive future. By safeguarding biodiversity, enhancing community livelihoods, and empowering Indigenous Peoples, FSC-certified forestry offers a pathway to addressing climate challenges while fostering resilience for generations to come,” she said. As the summit drew to a close, the call for action was clear: protecting nature requires cross-sectoral collaboration, strong leadership, and practical solutions like those provided by FSC’s verified sustainable forestry practices.  

Leading indicators of home building activity continue to show that market confidence in new home building is returning, as new home sales stabilise, and house approvals rise. 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. “New home sales in September were unchanged compared to August, which leaves sales over the past twelve months higher by 8.6% compared to the previous year,” HIA Economist Maurice Tapang said. “The increase in sales in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria offset the monthly decline in sales in NSW and Queensland in September. “Consumer confidence is slowly trickling back into the Australian economy, with the most recent Westpac-Melbourne Institute measure showing the best result in over two years,” he said. “This improvement in consumer confidence will take time to trickle through new home building, as consumers get greater certainty with interest rates and economic conditions. “Consumers tend to bide their time when it comes to big-ticket purchases, such as buying a new home, especially in a downward cycle. “Leading indicators of home building activity continue to suggest that the market has already reached its trough sometime in mid-2024, even as NCC changes distort and obscure the data. “New home sales in South Australia increased by 32.4% compared to August. NCC changes took effect from 1 October 2024 and pulled forward sales into September. “As was consistent in NSW in September 2023 and Queensland and Victoria in April 2024, this will likely leave a shadow of demand in sales in the months that followed. “While it remains to be seen, strong demand for housing will likely keep this pull-forward relatively modest, as economic and household conditions improve. “Strong population growth, low unemployment, real wages growth and the prospect of no further increases to interest rates will drive new home building activity out of the downward cycle,” Mr Tapang said. New home sales in the September quarter 2024 were 3.9% lower compared to the same time in the previous year, which is distorted by the strong pull forward in sales in NSW in September 2023. Sales in Queensland in the September quarter 2024 rose by 50.2% compared to the same time in the previous year, the strongest annual increase. This was followed by South Australia (+18.5%). The other states recorded declines in sales, led by NSW (-25.5%), followed by Western Australia (-18.4%) and Victoria (-11.7%).

Victoria’s government is seeking feedback on draft updates to the Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land. Source: Timberbiz A consultation is live on Engage Victoria for the community to have its say on draft updates to the code. The Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land 2012 (amended 2022) is a legislative instrument made under the Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1987 (CFL Act). It supports DEECA to meet its legislative responsibilities for fire prevention and suppression in State forests, national parks and on protected public land. The current code is 10 years old and is due to expire in December. Updates to the code will ensure bushfire management on public land in Victoria meets modern needs and expectations and will align the code with current bushfire management policy and practice, including Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy. The Bushfire Code only applies to national park, State forest and protected public land. It does not impose responsibilities on individuals Updates to the Bushfire Code will help to: Outline how we work with other agencies to collectively manage bushfires. Reflect the different ways we manage different landscapes (e.g. through Fire and Fuel Management Zones). Expand the scope of the Bushfire Code to reflect the range of bushfire management tools. Embed Victoria’s commitment to Aboriginal self-determination in bushfire management. Track and report on our progress against Victoria’s monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework. Align the Bushfire Code with key strategic and operational documents. This includes Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy and the State Emergency Management Plan The Bushfire Code only applies to national park, State forest and protected public land. It does not impose responsibilities on individuals. The current Bushfire Code expires in December 2024. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 3 November 2024. https://engage.vic.gov.au/Code-of-Practice-for-Bushfire-Management-on-Public-Land  

The threat to Tasmania’s renewable regrowing forestry sector is at risk once again with Labor and the Greens set to jump back into bed with each other. Source: Timberbiz Reports that a secret deal has been made with the Greens in a bid to keep Labor in power will decimate the jobs of thousands of Tasmanian workers and their communities. Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the threat must be actively opposed by all State and Federal Tasmanian Labor politicians. “We know South American hardwood is already being imported to Australia to replace Australian native timber now locked up by Labor,” Minister Abetz said. “And the carbon miles of these imported products just adds to the environmental vandalism of such a move. The virtue signalling Bob Brown Foundation, which relies on donations from mainland activists, must know their policy is destructive of everything other than their bank account. “This a real and present threat which must be opposed by all Australians who believe in genuine wellbeing of our environment and jobs. “State Labor cannot remain silent on this as they have on too many other matters. “This is about putting Tasmanian jobs first.” “If State Labor refuse to condemn this deal, we know their jobs mantra is nothing but a joke.”  

Stora Enso’s carton board solutions are transforming the packaging landscape and helping customers reduce plastics in their products. Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica sought carton board that would mirror their customer’s sophisticated perfume with extraordinary packaging. Source: Timberbiz By choosing Performa Brilliance as the packaging material, Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica was able to create an elegant packaging solution perfectly fit for the product. As a testament to this successful collaboration, Stora Enso and Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica were awarded Carton of the Year at the 2024 European Carton Excellence Awards. The European Carton Excellence Awards winner, the Origen Flor Natural cardboard case exemplifies sophisticated design by seamlessly blending elegant die-cutting with unmatched functionality combining some of the innovative aspects that Stora Enso boards can offer. “The outstanding 3D effect and structural excellence of the packaging highlight why the customer chose Performa Brilliance for their packaging as the material has high standards for visual impression, printability and runnability,” Merche Casado Sales Manager, Stora Enso said. “Our innovative materials empower converters and designers to push the boundaries of packaging design, seamlessly blending creativity with sustainable packaging materials. This allows us to create packaging solutions that not only meet consumer expectations but also significantly reduce environmental impact.” In the same awards Stora Enso materials received also other notable achievements. The company contributed to Platinum award-winning Rafeira – Cerveja Artesanal by Alzamora Group with CKB Carrier, and the Promis Care Bundle Holder Brush with Performa White. Additionally, its luxury packaging material, Ensocoat was part of the Gold award-winning Duvel x Magritte – Limited Edition by Van Genechten Packaging.

Teleo, a company building autonomous technology for heavy construction equipment is expanding its strategic focus to deploy autonomous heavy machinery such as wheel loaders, terminal tractors, excavators, and more into new industries beyond construction. Sources: Timberbiz, PR Newswire The company has secured orders for 34 machines and has secured nine new customer deals in the pulp and paper; logging; port logistics; munition clearing; and agriculture industries. Teleo is also targeting expansion into other industries such as airports; waste and recycling; logistics; warehousing; and more. Additional orders have been placed that expand Teleo’s presence in the snow removal and construction industries, including the company’s entry into the Australian market. Teleo converts any make, model, and vintage of heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and more, into autonomous robots. Teleo’s Supervised Autonomy keeps human operators involved, enabling one human to oversee multiple autonomous machines at once. The human operator acts as a supervisor with the ability to step in remotely to control the machine if needed. Teleo is moving the operator out of the cab of the machine and away from the harsh job site environment, and into a remote central command centre, making the operator’s role safer, comfortable, and more accessible. Teleo’s technology helps address the growing labour shortage that is currently plaguing many industries. “From day one, we have been obsessed with building a platform both hardware and software that is universally applicable to any make and model of heavy machinery and use case, opening doors to new industries,” said Vinay Shet, Co-founder and CEO, Teleo. “While construction remains a core industry for us, it’s evident that our technology offers significant value across a broader range of sectors. Our machine-agnostic and industry-agnostic approach ensures quick and easy deployment, allowing us to launch at diverse job sites, from remote and bustling to large and small, and from indoor to outdoor environments.” US based RYAM is a global leader in paper milling. The company has placed orders to outfit three Caterpillar wheel loaders of diverse vintage, a 988K, a 980M, and a 988H, with Teleo Supervised Autonomy. RYAM will deploy the Teleo-equipped machines to haul bark and wood chips 24/7 at its pulp and paper mill in Florida. An operator remotely operates one wheel loader to load bark and then it is autonomously hauled by the machine to an incinerator that burns it to produce energy that powers the facility. A second wheel loader is operated remotely to load wood chips that are then autonomously hauled to a bin for processing for paper manufacturing. The third Teleo-equipped wheel loader will be rotated in as needed to ensure continuity of 24/7. Two of the three machines are deployed and beginning in late fall a single operator will oversee the machines from one of two command centres. “Teleo’s incremental approach to autonomy enables us to integrate technology that improves our productivity and run our around-the-clock operations more efficiently,” said Daniel Porter, Senior Manager of Process Automation, RYAM. “The central command centre also provides a more accessible and safer environment for our operators, who can oversee multiple machines from the comfort of an office.” Teleo global partner network dealer Dobbs Positioning Solutions was responsible for introducing the technology to RYAM and facilitating the deal between the companies. Finland-based Fin-Terpuu Oy, one of Europe’s largest logging companies, has deployed Teleo’s Supervised Autonomy on a Volvo L350F wheel loader for operations. This is the world’s first logging yard with autonomous operations. The company is conducting autonomous tramming, or hauling of materials from one point to another, of logs from their arrival point to a processing yard. Pick-up and drop-off activities are remote operated. Fin-Terpuu’s active logging sites are complex and harsh environments, with around-the-clock operations happening in snow and cold weather, and often complete darkness as the Finland site experiences three months with no sunlight. The company chose Teleo’s solution as a way to overcome an ongoing labour shortage and to improve overall operational safety. Teleo global dealer network partner Sumirai, formerly called SR-O Technology, facilitated the collaboration with Fin-Terpuu Oy.

The state of British Columbia’s forest sector and the global forest products industry and market overall will be the topic of the first Global Wood Summit in Vancouver later this month. Source: BIV News BC forestry consultant Russ Taylor and ERA Forest Products Research have teamed up to organize the two-day summit which takes place 29-30 October at the Sutton Place Hotel. Industry experts on markets in the US, Sweden, Russia, China and Japan will discuss global forest products and pulp and paper markets and trade, and emerging sectors such as engineered wood manufacturing. “It’s about the whole supply chain, from the forests all the way through to the markets and looking at global supply and global markets,” Mr Taylor told BIV News. The summit will include a panel on the Chinese and North American lumber markets, and sessions on pulp and paper, Panel experts will include John Brink, the BC wood manufacturing veteran who recently announced plans to acquire shuttered Canfor mills and associated tenures in Vanderhoof, Fort St John, Houston and Bear Lake. Experts in mass timber from Europe and Eastern Canada will be among the speakers. “If you hear what’s going on in Europe (with mass timber), they’re 15 years ahead of us, so they have a lot more insights,” Mr Taylor said. The summit will also feature a session on timberlands and fibre supply in BC and a session on transportation and logistics. Mr Taylor said the summit will also hear some predictions for what lies ahead for the forest sector in 2025. As he notes, 2023 and 2024 has been rough for the forest sector, particularly in B.C., which has sustained major blows from the shuttering of several major sawmills and pulp mills. “Companies are bleeding ink right now,” Mr Taylor said. “The third quarter results have come out – they’re going to be horrible. But prices are now picking up, so we’re trying to figure out what’s next.”  

Forestry Corporation has announced the start of the plantation fire threat period on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Source: Timberbiz The Bathurst Management Area has introduced a solid fuel fire ban from October 2024, until March 2025, unless otherwise advised. Forestry Corporation Community Programs Coordinator Nikki Bennetts said the move aims to safeguard the region from the threat of bushfire. “As one of four fire authorities in NSW, Forestry Corporation apply this ban during periods of high fire danger in State forests of NSW,” Ms Bennetts said. “Campfires and barbecues using wood, charcoal or other solid fuels are banned until further notice. “Gas barbecues or similar gas appliances are allowed unless a Total Fire Ban (TOBAN) is declared. “Please help us keep our local communities, forest visitors, plantations and native forests safe this fire season. “Report any fires to 000 immediately. Download the Hazards Near Me App to stay aware of any incidents and visit Forestry Corporation – Home for any forest closures and notices,” she said. Failure to comply with the Solid Fuel Fire Ban carries an immediate penalty of $550 and a maximum penalty of $2,200. For more information about Forestry Corporation of NSW, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au

Aratu Forests Ltd in New Zealand has announced plans for the first of three Swiss-designed high strength steel debris nets which aim to reduce the amount of woody debris flowing into catchments following storm events. Source: Timberbiz Aratu plans debris nets at private properties bordering Te Marunga, Waimanu and Wakaroa forests. These will be subject to a resource consent process. The first is planned to span a waterway near Wakaroa Forest on a site straddling two properties. These will complement a range of other measures within the forest that have already been implemented or are planned. “We’re committed to being a responsible custodian of the environments we operate in, so we’re pleased to be advancing our plans with today’s announcement,” said Neil Woods, Aratu Chief Executive. “Debris nets are one part of a toolbox of measures we are using and plan to use to minimise woody debris accumulating in plantations and migrating down waterways after storms. “The nets are an extra layer of protection that have been successfully used overseas and in New Zealand. They’ve proven to be very effective at saving lives, buildings and land from the impacts of woody debris and rock falls. “We’re proud to be partnering with Swiss-based Geobrugg, the pioneer of debris net technology. In the last 10 years Geobrugg has installed over 250 debris flow barriers of the kind proposed by Aratu in more than 25 countries including New Zealand. “The planned net will be the first of its kind in Tairāwhiti. One installed in 2021 in northern Hawke’s Bay has worked well to date to trap debris after storms. “The region paid a high price for the devastation caused by cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. Like all forestry companies in Tairāwhiti, we work in a very challenging environment with many trees planted on highly erodible soils on steep hill slopes. “We have learnt much from the cyclones and are determined to keep lifting our game to limit the impacts from our operations.” Since taking over the forests in 2019, Aratu has introduced a range of measures to improve the management of woody debris. “We look forward to progressing the resource consent process with the Gisborne District Council so we can get on with doing our bit to better manage woody debris in Tairāwhiti,” said Mr Woods.

The rumour mill is rife, after reports emerged that the Maryvale mill was running at a financial loss of $4.5 million per month and faced potential cessation of operations. Opal has since admitted that it has faced financial issues since VicForests stop supplying wood to the mill. Source: Latrobe Valley Express “The Maryvale Mill’s operations were severely impacted when the Victorian government-owned VicForests stopped supplying wood to Opal. With no viable alternative wood supply, Opal was forced to close its white pulp and paper production,” an Opal spokesperson said. “As a result, the Maryvale mill lost almost half of its production volume and hundreds of Opal team members lost their jobs. “The commercial damage to Opal has been profound and the Maryvale Mill is in an extremely challenging financial position.” Due to its financial position, Japanese paper manufacturing company, Nippon Paper Industries, has significantly been investing in Opal. “Despite the challenges, Opal remains focussed on securing the long-term future of the mill,” the Opal spokesperson added. “The site continues to transform to solely produce brown packaging paper, with the goal of achieving sustainable operations. “The Maryvale Mill is an important asset for Opal, in pursuing market growth in Australia and New Zealand.”

Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) is celebrating a year of renewal and progress, with a series of leadership changes, new initiatives, and key achievements in its mission to support sustainable forest management across the state. Source: Timberbiz With the appointment of new CEO Dr Elizabeth Pietrzykowski, along with Operations Manager Jarrod Burn and Director Bob Rutherford, PFT has reinforced its leadership team. Jim Wilson was appointed Chair of the Board, following the retirement of Evan Rolley, contributing to the organisation’s refreshed focus on delivering its strategic goals. Over the past year, PFT has continued to support private forest owners and stakeholders while implementing key projects that address critical issues, including wood supply strategies, legislative reforms, and the enhancement of communication tools. PFT launched two innovative tools: the Tree Alliance Knowledge Hub, an interactive platform designed to help Tasmanian landowners understand the benefits of integrating commercial trees into their properties, and the Farm and Forest Mapper, which simplifies the farm-planning process for landowners, consultants, and planners. PFT has actively participated in shaping policies related to forest practices, threatened species, fire management and carbon emissions reduction. Key contributions include involvement in the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement, regional forestry hubs and local government planning reforms. PFT secured $600,000 in grant funding from the Department of Renewables, Climate, and Future Industries Tasmania to plant 288 hectares of commercial trees in winter 2025. The project will emphasise carbon outcomes, with results to be communicated upon completion. Several research projects that are aimed at improving private forestry practices were also supported. These projects address priorities such as increasing agroforestry uptake, optimising plantation productivity, and adapting management practices to climate change. As of December 31, 2023, Tasmania’s private forest estate covers 1.09 million hectares, accounting for 33% of the state’s total forest area. Private plantations remain dominant, supplying 96% of the total private forest harvest. Despite a slight overall decrease in harvest volumes, the private native forest harvest increased by 27,000 tonnes, highlighting the ongoing importance of sustainable private forestry in Tasmania’s forest products sector. PFT remains committed to supporting landowners and delivering programs that strengthen the private forest sector, focusing on sustainability and long-term economic benefits. Read the Annual Report 2023-24 below and previous annual reports at https://pft.tas.gov.au/annual-reports

CMTP, a leading provider of pallet manufacturing and supply chain solutions in Australia, is has announced its acquisition of Palletmasters in Queensland, a well-respected name in the pallet manufacturing industry. Source: Timberbiz This strategic acquisition strengthens CMTP’s position as a market leader and enhances its capacity to deliver high-quality, reliable, and sustainable pallet solutions to its growing customer base across the country. Founded in 1976, CMTP is Australia’s leading manufacturer of pallets, crates, and timber packaging solutions. Known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation, CMTP serves a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. The integration of Palletmasters into the CMTP family marks a significant milestone in CMTP’s growth journey. Both companies share a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, making this partnership a natural fit. With more than 85 years of combined industry experience, the acquisition is set to expand CMTP’s footprint, boost production capabilities, and diversify its product offerings to better serve the evolving needs of its clients. “We are thrilled to welcome Palletmasters into the CMTP group,” said Travis Meade, Managing Director of CMTP. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our long-term strategy of growth and innovation. Palletmasters has built a strong reputation for quality and service, and we look forward to combining our strengths to offer even greater value to our customers.” This move will also create new opportunities for employees, customers, and suppliers, fostering further development within the pallet manufacturing and logistics sectors. As a unified entity, CMTP remains committed to upholding its core values of delivering reliable, responsive packaging solutions to businesses across Australia. Customers of both CMTP and Palletmasters can expect seamless service throughout the transition, as well as enhanced capabilities in custom pallets, crates, and related logistics services. The acquisition will be effective from the 1 November 2024, subject to conditions being met.

Architects Bates Smart, one of Australia’s oldest architectural firms, has won the overall Australian Timber Design Award for their outstanding Embassy of Australia in Washington DC. Source: Timberbiz, photos Joe Fletcher The awards, now in their 25th year, were announced on Wednesday night in Sydney with the Professor of Architecture at the University of Tasmania’s School of Architecture and Design and Director of the University’s Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood Greg Nolan acting as MC. The design of the new Embassy of Australia in Washington DC was complex, necessitating a delicate balance between cultural representation, iconic civic presence and practical security considerations. The inspiration came from Australia’s iconic landscape and embodies the essence of the vast continent. The building’s transparency was intended to capture the inherent Australian values of welcomeness and trust, while the interior’s expansive atmosphere embodies the vastness of the Australian landscape. At the heart of the 20,000 square metre building, a large atrium serves as an orienting space displaying a powerful connection between the ground plane and the sky. This central atrium establishes a north south axial arrangement of representational spaces where every visitor is granted an equally immersive experience on entry. The main representational spaces are defined by strong materiality with Australian timber wall panels, that provide both air reticulation and sound absorption, organised around a series of textured horizontal bands that transition from rough to smooth. This mirrors the protective qualities of the bark during the eucalypt forest’s cycle of growth, burn and regrowth. Intricate metallic filigree screens have been sensitively deployed to mediate the interplay of light and shadow in social breakout and office spaces. Award winners: Overall Winner – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart Merits: People’s Choice – Michael Kirby Building – Macquarie University Law School by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Sustainability – Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre by Jackson Clements Burrows International Projects – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart Rising Star – Sarah Shearman from Brother Nature Design for River House Excellence in Timber Applications: Residential Class 1 – New Building – Taroona House by Archier Residential Class 1 – Alterations & Additions – Verandah Terraces by Phorm architecture + design Fit Out – Residential – Northcote House by LLDS and Power to Make Standalone Structure – Fernery at Ballarat Botanic Gardens by BALANCE Architecture & Interior Design Commercial Building – T3 Collingwood by Hines, AECOM, JCB and Icon Public Building – Michael Kirby Building – Macquarie University Law School by Hassell Studio and FDC Construction (NSW) Fit Out – Commercial and Public – Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. by Bates Smart Furniture & Joinery – Holocene House by CplusC Architects + Builders Excellence in Timber Products: Australian Certified Timber – Irrawaddy by Incidental Architecture Recycled Timber – First Steps Count Child and Community Centre by Austin McFarland Architects

Rare it is to have a definitive historical date and place for the discovery of a natural renewable resource that is the foundation of an industry which prospers to the present day. Source: Dr Gary Bacon AM. Australian Rural & Regional News Tuesday 21 September 1824 is that note-worthy date, and we have a precise record of that discovery on the banks of the Brisbane River. The King’s Botanist, Allan Cunningham, accompanied by the Surveyor General of the NSW Colony, John Oxley, had left their stranded boat on the drought affected river and took off on foot aiming at a mountain vista clothed with stately trees. They had to fiord the river three times to reach their destination. Both men of reserved character could barely contain their enthusiasm for the splendid sylvan view at hand. Here are the botanist’s words from his journal (held at NSW State Archives): ‘Hitherto in our examination of this River, we have been only gratified with a distant view of the Pine; immediately we approached one of magnificent stature, the Monarch of these woods. It was a healthy well-grown tree, exceeding 120 feet in height with a trunk 3’6” diam. It was totally impossible not to halt a few moments to admire this noble tree. Here are the surveyor’s words from his diary (held at John Oxley, Qld State Library): ‘We penetrated through a very thick brush abounding with stately and magnificent pines, which towered far above the other timber of the hill.  Mr C(unningham) procured a couple of young cones, which satisfactorily demonstrated that the tree which had excited so much admiration was an entirely new species of the genus Auricaris (Araucaria !) being the first discovered in New South Wales, and decidedly the growth of the interior and not a coast tree. We measured one, the first we came to, the circumference of which was 10 feet. Many others were of greater magnitude, which was carried up perfectly straight without a branch to a height of from 50 to 100 feet, the whole height in the full-grown trees being at least 150 feet. To this stately tree Mr C gave the name of the Brisbane pine.’ Their effusive discovery words travel the timeline and elate us today. Foliage and cone samples were collected in situ and eventually reached Kew Gardens in London where the taxonomists named the Moreton Bay Pine, now known as Hoop Pine, Araucaria cunninghamii, after the botanist who determined this was a new tree to science. The Brisbane River exploration was part of the investigations undertaken in association with the establishment of the first penal settlement at Red Cliff Point in September 1824. When the brig Amity left for the return trip it had on deck hoop pine logs for assessment in Port Jackson. From then onwards Hoop Pine became a most desirable and valuable construction, furniture and naval timber. Indeed, the relocation of the fledging settlement to the present-day Brisbane location in May 1825 was aligned to ‘facilitate the loading of timber that may be procured in the Brisbane River’. By 1830 there were 26 sawyers cutting in the district. By 1835 there were ‘no ship spars within 20 miles of the anchorage’. Hoop Pine became the foundation of the Queensland Forest Products Industry for the next 100+ years and also after the establishment of the Queensland Forest Service the foundation of the Queensland Forestry Plantation enterprise. Today there are 47 000 ha of planted hoop pine on State Forests of Queensland. Postscript. Using the recorded traverses of the two principal explorers Gary has designated the location of discovery and sampling on private property near Pine Mountain and selected a veteran specimen hoop pine for entry into the Queensland Herbarium records. Dr Gary Bacon AM is a retired forest scientist, CEO Queensland Forestry, JAS_ANZ auditor and Adjunct Professor in Environmental Futures at Griffith University. He has a particular interest in the King’s Botanist, Allan Cunningham who was sent to Australia in 1816 by Sir Joseph Banks to collect plants for the King’s botanic gardens at Kew.

The EU is launching an anti-dumping investigation in plywood imports. Producers in the EU are citing a surge in cheap hardwood plywood which they say is coming from China, but they believe originates in Russia. Source: Timberbiz The Greenwood Consortium representing forest owners, loggers and suppliers say the investigation is critical to protect the EU industry. The plywood is cheap and comes from conflict timber areas, Russian timber is banned in the EU. It was the Greenwood Consortium that initiated the complaint against China in late August this year stating that Chinese imports are being sold at very low prices undercutting European companies. There has been a significant increase in Chinese plywood imports into the EU. Russia is said to be exporting hardwood into China which is being used in the production of the plywood. EU has countries such as Poland, Finland, the Baltic States and France producing plywood, and the industry is said to employ around 10,000 people. Tariffs are already in place on birch plywood imports from Kazakhstan and Turkey as they included Russian content. The EU Commission will examine if pricing misrepresentations have resulted in damage to the EU producers who claim declining sales are hurting the industry. The investigation is likely to take more than 12 months. However, all Chinese plywood imports will be registered at EU borders so that future tariffs may be imposed retrospectively. Other countries such as Morocco, the US and South Korea have tariffs on Chinese wood imports.