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Every year, around 400,000 tonnes of treated timber waste ends up in New Zealand landfills. Much of this is timber treated with copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA). But what if the solution isn’t about managing this waste better, but preventing it altogether? Source: Timberbiz A Marlborough sawmill is showing how the industry can break this cycle by combining arsenic free timber treatment, with renewable energy generation. It’s an approach that turns the traditional waste-to-landfill model on its head. “New Zealand’s construction and agricultural sectors have been grappling with this issue for decades,” says Sam Lees, Sales Manager at OneFortyOne Kaituna Sawmill. “With MCA treatment, we have a practical solution that works for everyone.” The shift centres on micronised copper azole (MCA) treatment – a copper-based preservative without arsenic. MCA timber is a tried-and-true solution that offers the same resistance to decay and mould as traditional treatments but opens up possibilities that CCA never could. Most significantly, it can be safely burned in Kaituna’s biomass boilers. This changes everything – it means timber offcuts and end-of-life MCA timber are now being repurposed in a boiler that runs on wood to create renewable energy. “Because MCA doesn’t contain arsenic, it changes the whole equation around disposal,” Lees explains. “Material that would’ve ended up in landfill now gets a second life, helping power our operations.” The sawmill has resource consent to include MCA-treated timber waste in its biomass fuel – combining it with sawdust and other wood residues to generate energy for kiln drying, creating a closed-loop, circular economy approach. Local builder Mark Thompson has seen the difference firsthand. “We’ve been using Kaituna’s MCA timber on decks and outdoor projects, and it’s really changed how we think about waste,” he says. “As builders, we generate a lot of timber offcuts, and honestly, it never felt great just dumping it all in landfill.” The environmental benefits have become a selling point with clients. “Now I can tell families that our waste timber goes back to Kaituna and gets turned into clean energy instead of rotting in a tip somewhere,” Mr Thompson said. The practical benefits matter too. “The offcuts get collected at no extra cost to us or the client. It’s doing the right thing environmentally without any financial penalty, which is pretty rare in construction these days,” Mr Thompson said. The shift is already making waves in the viticulture industry, where approximately 500,000 vineyard posts are replaced in Marlborough each year, many of which are currently dumped in landfills. Beyond vineyards, MCA-treated timber is gaining traction in residential and commercial construction. It qualifies for points under green building certifications like Green Star and Homestar, giving builders, developers and homeowners an alternative that doesn’t compromise efficacy or performance. Mr Lees, the next step is about shifting industry and consumer demand. “We’re seeing more builders and merchants asking about alternative timber options,” he said. “It’s about recognising that every project decision makes a difference – for our customers, our communities, and the environment.” Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7aT9zZTNrI&t=69s

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New Zealand’s largest Glulam timber manufacturer Techlam has been awarded the structural timber package for the Tonga Parliament redevelopment project by Westland Construction. Source: Timberbiz The contract includes the supply and fabrication of glulam timber components for the new NZ$60 million Fale Alea that will replace the original building destroyed by the 2022 tsunami. For Techlam, this represents an opportunity to once again showcase New Zealand-made engineered timber on the international stage, particularly in a building that will serve as the democratic heart of the Kingdom of Tonga. “It is not every day you get to contribute timber solutions to a building that will serve as the centre of a nation’s democracy,” Brett Hamilton, Techlam’s managing director, said. The project, which had been delayed after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, has been collaborative from day one. Techlam was part of the design conversation from early on, working alongside Westland Construction, Holmes Consulting and Warren and Mahoney. This early contractor involvement is core to how Techlam operates on every project. By engaging during the design phase, the team can influence the layout, structural approach and detailing decisions, all of which significantly impact both cost and buildability. “The value engineering sessions were incredibly collaborative,” Mr Hamilton said. “We brought our manufacturing expertise to the table early, suggesting approaches that would work better from a fabrication perspective, while the architects and engineers pushed us toward solutions that served the building’s cultural and functional requirements.” For the Tonga Parliament project, this meant Techlam could optimise the timber design from their Levin facility’s capabilities in a controlled environment, while ensuring components would integrate easily on the construction site in Nuku’alofa. The architectural requirements include curved and complex glulam structures. This is exactly the type of challenging work that gets the Techlam team excited. “Our Levin facility is set up perfectly for this kind of work,” Mr Hamilton said. “With over 7,500m² of production space, we can handle the scale and complexity. More importantly, our team has the experience with curved glulam that makes these challenging shapes possible.” The fabrication process will soon be underway to meet both the structural demands and the architectural vision that will define Tonga’s new parliamentary home. For a New Zealand company, working on projects across the Pacific is about strengthening regional connections and demonstrating what Kiwi manufacturing can achieve. “The parliamentary building isn’t just infrastructure; it’s where important decisions about the country’s future will be made. We are proud that New Zealand engineered timber will be part of that story,” Mr Hamilton said. As procurement and fabrication continue through 2025, the Techlam team is focused on delivering components that meet the exacting standards this project demands. “Every project teaches us something new,” he said. “Building on our experience across the Pacific, from Cassidy International Airport in Kiribati to the EFKS Saleaula in Samoa and Lomani Island Resort in Fiji, this project brings its own unique challenges around precision and cultural significance. It’s exactly the kind of work that keeps us passionate about what we do.” The project is expected to be completed by 2027, with the parliamentary complex opening to serve Tonga’s legislature processes for generations to come.  

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One of Australia’s most important climate change fighting, job providing, cutting edge manufacturing and essential product creating sectors, was celebrated yesterday on National Forestry Day. Source: Timberbiz It was Australia’s 4th annual National Forestry Day – a day to celebrate the enormous and positive contribution Australia’s forestry and forest products sector and supply chain makes to Australia and the world. “National Forestry Day also aims to raise awareness about our industries among policy and decision-makers, elected representatives and the general public about the many and varied benefits the sector provides,” Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Richard Hyett said. “Everyone remembers the shortage of toilet paper during COVID – just look around your home and you’ll see and realise how important forestry is to everyday life. Timber house-frames, floorboards, furniture, benchtops, tissues and paper products. Even the cardboard box or wood-fibre packaging your latest delivery came in. It’s all around us and it’s critical that we keep growing and manufacturing in Australia,” he said. “Unlike many other everyday products, those made from timber and wood-fibre are environmentally friendly and fight climate change by locking up carbon. Think recyclable paper and packaging over single-use plastics or structural timber over steel and concrete.” Australia’s Former Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb on the release on the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) review said that “the only pathway known to science that has immediate capacity – to remove greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, from the atmosphere is photosynthesis”. So growing trees removes CO2 from the atmosphere and then using timber in houses instead of other materials that emit CO2 in their production means timber provides a double benefit for the environment. Some quick benefits to keep in mind: Our full supply chain, from tree growing and forest management, through to harvest, haulage and transport and the manufacture of different sustainable products is responsible for 80,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jos The total economic output from across the sector totals around $24 billion annually Carbon storage measurements vary, but to give an idea, your typical timber house frame absorbs 9.5 tonnes of CO2-e from the atmosphere. When you include other timber and wood furnishings like floors, decks and furniture items, the figure can grow to 25 tonnes of CO2-e Our national plantation estate stores 258 million tonnes of CO2-e – equivalent to the emissions avoided by 56 million cars driven for one year United Nations science recognises that native forests managed for sustainable timber production generate the largest carbon mitigation benefit. CEO of the Australian Forest Contractors Association Tim Lester said timber and wood fibre is so ubiquitous in our lives it often goes unrecognised. “In our houses and offices, we are surrounded by forest products. There’s the timber you don’t see in the frames, the timber you do see in the furniture and features, and the timber that has been transformed in paper and cardboard,” he said. “National Forestry Day gives us a chance to talk about and celebrate these wonderful products, where they come from and the terrific people and businesses involved right along the supply chain. “In particular we celebrate the forestry services businesses who maintain an essential and critical workforce with specialist skills and equipment to undertake high risk and complex operations in challenging circumstances. “They are true environmental defenders driven by long-term sustainability and a desire to protect the resource for the long term. Every fire season we see forestry services businesses called into action because of their capabilities and knowledge. “Forestry provides high quality jobs in rural and regional areas, ensuring security and stability for thousands of families. The social infrastructure supported by forestry means build communities as well as houses. “National Forestry Day is a great chance to recognise the contribution of this sector in its many forms,” Mr Lester said.

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The Housing Industry Association has welcomed the Federal Government’s $300 million to support Australia’s future wood supply to meet increasing housing needs across the country. Source: Timberbiz “Australia’s forestry industry is a key part of Australia’s national economy and is critical to supporting our local manufacturing sector and delivering more housing in both our cities and across regional Australia,” said HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin. “Timber is a valuable resource, widely used in Australia’s construction sector, with over 70% of all house frames constructed with timber framing. “Demand for timber in housing construction is expected to grow by about 50% by 2050 as the population increases, therefore, it is critical to set the plans in place now to meet this future growing demand. “The housing industry needs certainty to plan out for the future, and a key part of this is delivering a secure ongoing supply of locally grown timber matched to increasing demand. “We know that with a growing population it will mean an increased demand for use of timber and wood-fibre, and it is essential for Australia to have a steady supply of sustainably sourced timber and wood-fibre resources.” Ms Martin said the announcement was timely given it was made on National Forestry Day and folloewd the recently released Timber Fibre Strategy, which sets out a pathway for the future growth of Australia’s forestry industry. “HIA remains committed to working with the government in delivery of the Timber Fibre Strategy which will play an important role and key input into tackling our national housing challenges,” she said.

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The Victorian State Government is fast tracking the establishment of timber plantations in Victoria, helping to boost local timber supply for construction and manufacturing and create more jobs. Source: Timberbiz Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence this week announced $10 million as part of the Victorian Plantation Support Program to establish new long-rotation timber plantations. “Demand for timber is expected to quadruple globally over the next 50 years, and we’re making sure Victoria has a secure supply,” Minister Spence said. “Victoria is already home to the nation’s largest plantation estate, and this funding will continue to strengthen our thriving and resilient timber industry.” This additional funding will be for projects approved under select rounds of the Commonwealth’s Support Plantation Establishment Program. Victorian growers looking to develop new plantations can receive up to $1000 per hectare under the program to assist with plantation establishment activities. Combined with the Commonwealth program, new plantations of 20 hectares or more in Victoria can receive up to $3000 per hectare, with a cap of up to $200,000 per project. As the winter planting season draws to a close, approximately 2.4 million tree seedlings have been planted this year through the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program by Hancock Victorian Plantations. This year’s planting has brought the total number of trees planted to more than 3.5 million. This program is the single largest investment in plantation establishments in the state’s history and will see up to 16 million trees planted over a 10-year period. The timber will create wood supply that will build Victoria’s future homes, create regional jobs, and produce paper and packaging products to replace single use plastics. “The planting of 2.4 million trees this year through the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program is a clear demonstration of what’s possible when government and industry work together,” Victorian Forest Products Association CEO Andrew White said. “This is a terrific new initiative that will help overcome the upfront barriers to new plantation establishment. This investment is critical to securing the timber required to build more homes for Victorians.” The government’s $190 million investment to expand Victoria’s plantation estate is delivering its goal of creating new plantations across the state.

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Fifteen new projects worth a combined $19 million and spread across NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory have been announced in Round 3 of the Support Plantation Establishment Program. Source: Timberbiz “From expanding Australia’s future wood supply to meet increasing demand, to helping grow a skilled and sustainable workforce, the Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million into the long-term future of Australia’s forestry sector,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said. The funding will bring the total number of new hectares planted under the program to around 25,000 hectares. Total funding under the $73 million SPEP arrives in at over $46 million to date. “From expanding Australia’s future wood supply to meet increasing demand, to helping grow a skilled and sustainable workforce, the Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million into the long-term future of Australia’s forestry sector,” Minister Collins said. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AFPA Richard Hyett said that over the past decade, the AFPA and the broader industry had advocated for government initiatives to assist in growing more production trees for Australia’s future and to meet future demand. He said that at the 2022 Federal Election both sides of federal politics committed to what is now the SPEP to encourage more production plantings. “We expect global demand for timber and wood-fibre to quadruple by 2050, and we must make sure that Australia has the sustainable resource growing in the ground to service our own needs as governments seek to decarbonise the economy, but also potentially to help the world with its growing demand,” he said. “A big thank you to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins who has championed our industry’s causes and understands the importance of sustainable timber and wood-fibre resources for the climate, environment, to support our full supply chain and for essential consumer markets.” Mr Hyett said that while the SPEP had some way to go before all funds were exhausted, the AFPA would continue working with the Federal Government to secure further, ongoing funding to support plantation expansion over the next few years. “We know that increased use of timber and wood-fibre in the economy is essential for Australia and the world to meet emissions reduction targets and a steady supply of sustainably sourced timber and wood-fibre resource is essential to make that happen,” he said.

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National Forestry Day was usually a time to celebrate the achievements of Australia’s forest and timber industries, with this year marking 150 years since George Goyder mapped out South Australia’s first plantation. Source: Timberbiz The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins said that National Forestry Day was an excellent time to highlight the importance of our forestry sector, from the jobs it supports in our regions to the significant impact it has on our national economy. “Today is also an opportunity to look to the future of this great sector, which plays an important role in supporting our Net Zero ambitions, and providing sustainable, high-quality, carbon-sequestering products that Australians need,” she said. But despite this milestone, the industry faces an uncertain economic future, according to South Australian Forest Products Association Chief Executive Officer, Nathan Paine. “South Australia is proud to be the birthplace of Australia’s plantation forestry industry,” he said. “For 150 years, generations of South Australians have grown and processed the timber that builds our homes, supports our manufacturers and retailers, underpins our farms, and sustains our economy and way of life. “Yet today, our timber processors are under unprecedented pressure from both soft domestic demand and the growing threat of surging imports,” he said. The United States had now lifted tariffs on Canadian timber to 35.19%, escalating a broader global trade shift with Canada explicitly identifying Australia as a key new market for its diverted supply. “The scale of potential trade diversion is alarming, especially as Canada exported an estimated 28 million m³ of lumber to the US in 2024 – equivalent to almost 2 million homes,” Mr Paine said. “And, even if 5% of Canada’s displaced supply were redirected to Australia, it would mean an additional one million m³ flooding into our market – a volume large enough to destabilise local processors and trigger mill closures.” This was not just a trade issue; it was a sovereign capability issue, and to protect Australia’s timber future, SAFPA has released its Our Timber. Our Jobs. Our Future. policy paper, calling for urgent government action. Key recommendations include: Maximise South Australian grown and processed fibre content in all State Government property projects and advocate for the Federal Government to adopt the same approach. Establish a State-level Supporting Domestic Manufacturing Strike Force to safeguard local capability. Promote retailer-led procurement of South Australian and Australian processed wood products. Support country-of-origin labelling for imported fibre in government projects. Invest in sovereign fibre and manufacturing capability while securing future plantation expansion and fibre supply. Mr Paine said that South Australians knew too well the cost of stepping in when an industry was on the brink of collapse. He said Whyalla was a stark reminder. The Whyalla steelworks is facing severe problems, primarily due to financial mismanagement and operational issues under the ownership of GFG Alliance. These problems have led to the plant being placed into administration, halting steel production for months and threatening thousands of jobs. The South Australian government has stepped in, forcing the plant into administration and pledging support to find a new operator. “While our industry remains solid, we cannot afford to ‘wait and see’ with Mount Gambier, the heart of Australia’s softwood industry,” Mr Paine said. “National Forestry Day should be a moment of pride, and it is. “But it must also be a call to action. SAFPA is working with industry to protect our sovereign capability, secure regional jobs, and ensure that the next 150 years of Australian forestry are defined by resilience, innovation, and sustainability – not disinvestment and decline. “Industry acknowledges the Government’s ongoing engagement and looks forward to working together to protect – and grow – our timber industries into the future. SAFPA will be seeking urgent discussions with the Government to secure support for these recommendations,” he said.

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