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Following the closure of Tangiwai Mill in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand, Ernslaw One has found a solution to getting its logs out of Karioi Forest, to Napier Port. Source: Timberbiz Thanks to collaboration with KiwiRail, Napier Port, McCarthy Transport and Qube Ports, Ernslaw made its first log delivery by rail from Karioi Forest to Napier Port in late January. The parties acknowledged the efforts of Andy Watson, Mayor of Rangitīkei District Council, who was instrumental in facilitating discussions in the region. Steve Couper, SNI Regional Manager for Ernslaw One, says despite the mill closing, the company wanted to continue production and keep its contractors in work. “The move away from road cartage to rail has many advantages. It is a safety gain for the logging truck drivers, as well as for other road users and local residents.” Mr Couper said. “We approached KiwiRail and Napier Port to negotiate a deal that would make it feasible, and after some pencil sharpening, we’ve been able to get this agreement in place and get these logs on to rail.” Napier Port CEO Todd Dawon said it was a win for everyone. “It’s a great example of how export NZ benefits when everyone in the supply chain works together on sensible, efficient solutions that are sustainable and commercially viable for all parties,” he said. “Being flexible for customers is a Napier Port priority and we adjusted our landside logistics and port operations to receive Ernslaw’s logs by rail; cargo we previously received processed as timber, lumber and pulp from WPI. “We have increasing volumes of freight from the Central and Lower North Island, and rail is an important part of connecting these customers with the many international shipping services that call Napier Port.” KiwiRail Executive General Manager Freight and Rolling Stock Operations Paul Ashton said that the benefits to the region are huge. “Removing so many trucks from this road, which is complex to maintain due to its many bends and steep grades, will greatly reduce road deterioration,” he said. “The more freight carried by rail on long journeys, the lower New Zealand’s total transport emissions, and the lower the carbon footprint of KiwiRail’s customers. This is a great result, and we appreciate the collaboration of all parties who have worked together to market his possible.” Mike McCarthy managing director of McCarthy’s transport said that they were pleased to be operating the Tangiwai rail yard working alongside Ernslaw, Kiwi Rail, Qube and Napir Port. “With the Napier-Taihape Road deteriorating due to the increase in heavy vehicles carting wood across since the WPI mill closures, the Tangiwai rail is a good solution to continue to move the same amount of volume. We are in full support of this and look forward to getting started,” he said. The Rangitīkei District Council was concerned about having additional logging trucks on the roads, impacting roading wear and tear, and initiated discussions with all parties involved to assist in reaching a solution.

New home sales in 2024 strengthened compared to the previous year despite the headwinds of high borrowing, land and building costs, according to HIA Economist Maurice Tapang. 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. “Interest rate stability, low levels of unemployment, strong population growth and improvements in real wages helped boost new home sales from its trough, increasing by 8.2% in 2024,” Mr Tapang said. “It is now almost 15 months since the RBA last raised interest rates. New home buyers are slowly returning to market amid expectations of rate cuts this year. “The recent rise in new home sales has also been geographically dispersed, driven by those markets outside of the two largest states, New South Wales and Victoria. “Western Australia was the first market to see a notable increase in new home sales last year, with a slowdown in sales in 2024 coming as a result of capacity constraints. “Queensland and South Australia followed, recording the strongest growth in new home sales across all markets in 2024, off their troughs in the previous year. “The volume of new homes sold in Victoria was virtually unchanged in 2024 compared to the previous year. Sales in Victoria have yet to pick up remarkably since the pull-forward in sales in April 2024 due to regulatory changes. “New South Wales recorded an 11.8% increase in the 2024 calendar year, albeit from very low levels in 2023 when sales fell by more than 50 per cent. “The high cost of residential land, particularly in Sydney, is preventing New South Wales from seeing a stronger increase in new home sales despite ongoing population growth and acute shortages of housing. “The recent increase in new home sales in most markets is beginning to trickle through to approvals data, with 109,610 houses approved nationally in the most recent twelve months. “With new home sales and detached house approvals picking up in 2024, the improvement in the volume of new homes commencing construction is likely to be sustained, progressing further into 2025,” Mr Tapang said. New home sales in Queensland rose by 40.6% in the 2024 calendar year, the strongest increase across all markets. This was followed by South Australia (+25.8%) and New South Wales (+11.8%). Sales in Victoria were virtually unchanged (-0.6%), while Western Australia recorded a 7.1% decline in sales in 2024.

A clear-fall operation is set to start soon in Armidale State Forest to remove dead and dying pine trees, which present a public safety risk. Source: Timberbiz The northern section of the pine plantation in Armidale State Forest has been closed due to safety concerns over the instability of pine trees that died during the 2019-2020 drought. Northern Regional Manager Gary Pearson said a previous harvest operation selectively removed dead and dying trees in the forest and aimed to leave as many trees as possible. “Further trees have since died and storms have impacted the compartment increasing the risk to the public of overhead hazards from falling branches and leaning trees in this section of the plantation forest,” Mr Pearson said. “A clear-fall operation is anticipated to start mid-February with harvested trees to be supplied to various markets. “Once the area has been cleared options to replant sections of the compartment or allow pine regeneration to naturally colonise the site will be considered,” Mr Pearson said. It is anticipated the operation could be completed by mid to late April allowing for the reopening of the road through the harvested area. Once clearing operations commence the forest will be closed again, for short periods, while these activities occur. The eastern section of the forest, comprising younger pine trees may be thinned at the same time. This operation will depend on the salvageable product available. Since closing sections of the forest to the public Forestry Corporation has worked with permit holders and forest users to ensure access around the closed areas.

All plantation forests north of Townsville are now closed to public access due to heavy rainfall. The situation will be reassessed on Thursday, 6 February 2025. Source: Timberbiz The closure includes HQP’s Ingham, Cardwell, Atherton and Kuranda plantations. Conditions may be unsafe and damage to the road network can be extensive when conditions are this wet. Several North Queensland rivers are flooding and warnings are in place from Tully to Ayr, with a severe thunderstorm warnings for Cairns. More heavy falls are forecast across parts of North Queensland that have already recorded more than 500 millimetres of rain in recent days. Catchments are at bursting point with roads awash and flights cancelled. A period of sustained dry weather will be required before plantations roads can be traversed safely and without causing further damage. HQP is urging all recreation users to respect these closures so that safe and responsible access to the plantations can be restored as soon as possible. Plantation forest closures fall under the Forestry Act 1959 and can be enforced by police, QPWS rangers and plantation officers. Fines for non-compliance currently range from $276 to almost $1,400. Driving through mud on plantations roads at any time is also unlawful and penalties apply. State and local government-managed roads through plantations remain open unless otherwise indicated by closed gates, road signage or police. Please refer to the Parks and Forests website www.parks.des.qld.gov.au for restrictions in relation to campgrounds and other areas managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in this area.

Under a Greens’ plan, the NSW Government will be able to access $140.4 million of Commonwealth funding per year, for 20 years, contingent on an end to all native forest logging in the state. Source: Timberbiz They say the funding will go directly towards ecological restoration and ensuring a just transition for communities and workers. The Greens say they will pay for this plan by making the big corporations pay more tax. The Greens will advocate for this funding to contribute to establishing the Great Southern National Park, which they say will ensure the protection and enjoyment of our forests by all for generations to come. Under this proposal, there is the potential for more 400,000 hectares of state forest to be added to the reserve system once native forest logging ends. They say funding could go towards rehabilitating and restoring forests, creating sustainable communities and jobs, working with Traditional Owners, supporting sustainable plantations, and increasing disaster resilience and management capability, including remote area firefighting Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Nick McKim, Greens spokesperson for Forests, and Sue Higginson MLC, NSW Greens spokesperson for the Environment, were in Batemans Bay to announce the Australian Greens’ plan to end native forest logging in NSW and create the Great Southern Forest National Park. “Ending native forest logging once and for all and restoring them is necessary for our environment, climate and community. Logging native forests is not just unsustainable, it’s untenable,” Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens said. “The NSW South Coast forests and communities have been through devastating bushfires and logging continues to destroy the habitat of endangered species like the greater glider. Creating the Great Southern Forest National Park will ensure the protection and restoration of our precious forests and the wildlife within for generations to come. If we don’t step up for nature now – the ancient living breathing forests will become graveyards. “By not ending native forest logging the Federal and NSW Labor governments have failed our environment, climate and communities, all to serve corporate interests over people and the planet. “Our magnificent forests should be a sanctuary for wildlife like the Greater Gliders, not a sacrifice to industry. Yet, Federal and State Governments have sanctioned native forest logging and stood by and watched the trees fall. “It is time for the government to stop siding with industry and start protecting our forests, climate, water, and our future.” Senator Nick McKim, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Forests said that ending native forest logging is a huge opportunity for the people of NSW, particularly regional communities. “We can protect nature, take climate action, and create thousands of new, well paid, skilled jobs in firefighting, rewinding and environmental restoration and management,” he said. Sue Higginson MLC, NSW Greens Spokesperson for the Environment said that it was past time that native forest logging ended in NSW. It is driving the extinction and climate crises, and our precious forests need to be protected and regenerated. “Stitching together the unfinished Great Southern Forests is just part of the fantastic project that is protecting and regenerating all native forests in NSW – and the Greens are putting our plan to fund it on the table,” she said. “If the NSW Minns Labor Government wants to recover any of their credibility on the environment and forests, then they should grab this opportunity with both hands.”