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Franklin Rock & Recycle

Bandit Industries has announced a new partnership with Franklin Rock & Recycle, appointing the company as an authorized industrial dealer in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Franklin Rock & Recycle will now represent Bandit’s full line of industrial equipment, including whole tree chippers, horizontal grinders and slowspeed shredders.

As a trusted name in the recycling and aggregate equipment industry, Franklin Rock & Recycle brings  extensive experience, regional knowledge and a commitment to customer service that aligns with Bandit’s values. Through this partnership, customers across the tri-state region will have increased access to Bandit’s high-performance equipment, along with comprehensive parts, sales and service support.

“This dealer agreement strengthens our support network in a key region,” said Craig Davis, CEO of Bandit Industries. “Franklin Rock & Recycle has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and we’re excited to welcome them into the Bandit dealer family.”

Franklin Rock and Recycle is located at 703 E. Ingram Rd. Springville, IN 47462.

For more information, call 812/824-4100 or visit franklinrockrecycle.com banditchippers.com

Lano Equipment Expanding Coverage Across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota

Bandit Industries recently announced a new partnership with Lano Equipment, a trusted name in heavy equipment solutions across the Midwest.  This strategic collaboration expands Bandit’s dealer network and enhances product availability and service for customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Equipment will now offer Bandit’s full line of Industrial Equipment, including whole tree chippers, horizontal grinders, and slow speed shredders.

With decades of industry experience and a strong commitment to customer support, Lano Equipment is well-positioned to represent the Bandit brand and provides top-tier equipment solutions for land clearing, recycling, and forestry professionals across the region.

“Lano Equipment is a strong addition to our dealer network, and we’re confident their team will deliver the outstanding sales, service and support Bandit customers expect,” Craig Davis, Bandit CEO. “Their long-standing reputation for excellence in sales, service, and support makes them an ideal partner as we continue to grow our footprint in the Midwest.”

Equipment operates multiple locations in Minnesota and is expanding its reach to support customers throughout the Dakotas. Their knowledgeable team will provide sales, parts, and service support for Bandit’s powerful and reliable equipment.

For more information about

Lano Equipment, call visit

www.lanoequip.com

To find your nearest Bandit dealer, visit www.banditchippers.com/dealers

To read previous Bandit related posts click here.

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The post Bandit Announces Franklin Rock & Recycle & Lano Equipment as New Dealers appeared first on International Forest Industries.

The first production Tigercat X877 feller buncher was put through its paces in Canada. This new feller buncher is the next model built on the innovative sloped-tail platform to roll off the assembly line and onto a Canadian logging operation. Source: Timberbiz The X877 is a high-performance carrier with a closed loop drive system. As a result, the machine has excellent multifunctioning characteristics, well suited to highly skilled and experienced operators seeking maximum productivity. The sloped-tail platform provides excellent tail clearance when swinging over obstacles, while retaining clear and convenient access to daily service points and machine components. With a fully retracting roof enclosure, both sides of the engine, the valves, and the hydraulic pump area are exposed and easy to reach. The upper assembly is designed to house both the Tigercat FPT N67 and C87 engines for improved commonality. In-tank hydraulic filtration extends service intervals up to 2,000 hours. Long track frames and an integrated counterweight ensure excellent machine balance and stability. A newly designed ER boom system offers tighter tuck and a larger boom envelope. ER technology, developed exclusively by Tigercat Industries, reduces operator fatigue and conserves energy. The operator’s cabin is equipped with a comfortable parallel action suspension seat with integrated heating and cooling, and full adjustability. Clear sightlines and ergonomic positioning of controls reduce operator fatigue over long shifts.

The post High performance Tigercat X877 buncher appeared first on Timberbiz.

US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L Rollins has announced the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken the next step in the rulemaking process for rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule by opening a public comment period. Roads are a key prerequisite for large-scale logging and mining projects. Source: Timberbiz Secretary Rollins said rescinding the roadless rule would allow local land managers to make decisions on logging. “We are one step closer to common sense management of our national forest lands. Today marks a critical step forward in President Trump’s commitment to restoring local decision-making to federal land managers to empower them to do what’s necessary to protect America’s forests and communities from devastating destruction from fires,” said Secretary Rollins. “This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America. It is vital that we properly manage our federal lands to create healthy, resilient, and productive forests for generations to come. “We look forward to hearing directly from the people and communities we serve as we work together to implement productive and commonsense policy for forest land management.” The USDA Forest Service is publishing a notice seeking public comment on its intention to develop an environmental impact statement for the proposed rescission of the rule. The notice details the reasons for rescinding the rule, the potential effects on people and resources, and how national forests and grasslands are managed. “For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to action – prohibiting road construction, which has limited wildfire suppression and active forest management,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001. They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, mortality, insect-borne disease, and wildfire. “It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities. We encourage participation in the upcoming public process. Your input will help to build a stronger, safer future for our forests and the communities that depend on these forests for jobs, recreation, and clean water.” While the rescission would apply to roadless areas in Alaska, state-specific rules for Colorado and Idaho, which were part of the Administrative Procedure Act petitions, would not be affected by the proposal. In total, the 2025 rescission would apply to nearly 45 million acres of the nearly 60 million acres of inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. Ninety-six percent of the Forest Service’s inventoried roadless areas are located in 12 western states, Alaska has almost a third of the 45 million acres affected by the pending change. The proposal aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation to get rid of overcomplicated, burdensome barriers that hamper American business and innovation. It also supports Executive Order 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential which directs the Forest Service to exempt the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule. The public is invited to comment on the potential effects of the proposal to guide the development of the environmental impact statement no later than Sept. 19, 2025. Public comments will be considered during the development of the draft environmental impact statement. Additional opportunities to comment will occur as the rulemaking process continues.  

The post US roadless rule open for public comment appeared first on Timberbiz.

At the 2025 World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) in Brisbane, colleagues of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presented two new research papers showcasing the role of wood products in climate change mitigation as well as their potential contributions to a sustainable bioeconomy. Source: Timberbiz The papers presented at the WCTE underscored the importance of improved data, modelling tools, and policy frameworks to fully capture and support the climate and bioeconomy benefits of long-lived wood products and their full integration into national strategies. The first paper, ‘Wood Products for Climate Change Mitigation in the Asia-Pacific Region’ focused on the Asia-Pacific region, where both production and consumption of wood products is rapidly growing. This research was implemented by FAO under the IUFRO-WOOD for GLOBE initiative with the full research report to be released at a later date. Findings highlighted that, while long-lived harvested wood products currently make a modest contribution to total emissions reductions, they are an important part of a comprehensive approach to decarbonising key sectors such as building and construction especially when combined with more efficient processing, longer product lifetimes, recycling and reuse, and substituting wood for more energy-intensive materials like steel and concrete. The Asia-Pacific region, home to 55% of the world’s population and, with two-thirds of global new urban floor space expected to be built in China, India and Southeast Asia by 2050, is a key arena for scaling up sustainable timber use. The second paper then focused on Forest Product Demand and Supply in a Bioeconomy Transition: The possible role of timber for climate change mitigation.  This paper was jointly developed by colleagues from FAO, Bauhaus Earth and a range of international researchers to describe high-level findings on globally engineered wood product supply and demand trends in the construction sector until 2070 as well as their further potential implications for climate change mitigation. Preliminary results suggest that higher adoption of engineered wood products in construction, could reach 50% of emission savings as compared to business-as-usual scenarios. The full study is expected to be published by the end of the year as part of FAO’s Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025 Special Studies. The presentations sparked lively discussions, not only with engineers and architects but also with policymakers, industry voices, and academics from beyond the forest sector. The Asia-Pacific paper was presented in a highly technical session focused on structural engineering of timber in construction. Discussions around the paper centred on how to account for carbon sequestered in forests and timber products alongside fossil fuel reductions, and on the associated challenges in measurement, reporting, and accounting currently limiting widespread adoption in national climate strategies. The global supply/demand paper was presented in a session on architecture, engineering, and practitioner perspectives, which featured a broader set of topics such as education for wooden cities, green public procurement, and timber’s integration with concrete. Questions in this session were centred on the assumptions underlying the modelling approach used in the study, the trajectory of potential emissions reductions over time, and the scale of timber’s contribution relative to other mitigation measures. Participants were also interested in how increased demand might affect global timber supply, trade flows, and forest management practices. Keynote speakers at other WCTE sessions emphasized the environmental benefits of using more wood in buildings, but also pointed to hurdles: construction codes, product standards, insurance concerns, lack of skills in wood building, and the need to move wood use from niche projects to mainstream practices. Technical sessions underscored additional challenges, such as engineering issues with timber joints, combining wood with other materials, variability between species, durability and recycling, and efficient use of available resources. Addressing these barriers will be critical for scaling up wood as a climate solution. The engagement of FAO colleagues at WCTE 2025 provided a valuable platform to share global and regional insights and collaborate with the global timber engineering community. The questions and perspectives raised showed the value of engaging audiences beyond the forest sector and highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and cross-sectoral collaboration to advance policy advice on climate and bioeconomy. WCTE 2025 emphasized the vital role that wood products can play in building a low-carbon, sustainable future. The discussions in Brisbane reflected both the excitement and the complexity of scaling up timber in the built environment. As cities grow and the demand for sustainable materials accelerates, the findings presented at WCTE 2025 offer a clear message: when sourced and used responsibly, timber can help bridge the gap between climate ambition and practical action, turning our buildings into part of the solution for a resilient, low-carbon world. Furthermore, as FAO continues to strengthen data, modelling and policy guidance on wood products, strong partnerships can ensure that the benefits of wood are realised, without compromising forest ecosystems.

The post Papers at Brisbane world timber engineering conference show importance of good data appeared first on Timberbiz.

Demand for wooden furniture and upholstered seat products peaked in 2020-21, fuelled by increased consumer spending on home upgrades and renovations during and after pandemic lockdowns according to a new report from IBISWorld. Source: Timberbiz The report titled Wooden Furniture and Upholstered Seat Manufacturing in Australia states that Australia has faced ups and downs since Covid. Since then, the industry has encountered several challenges to maintaining consistent revenue growth. Import competition, especially from countries like China, Vietnam and Malaysia, continues to pose a significant challenge. Furniture retailers sourcing from these countries benefit from lower manufacturing costs, allowing them to offer competitively priced products. These low-cost furniture products are especially attractive to consumers dealing with limited discretionary income and rising living expenses, making it difficult for domestic manufacturers with higher production costs to compete effectively. Rising timber prices over the past five years have exacerbated demand downturns, with manufacturers often reluctant to fully pass on these higher costs in a market dominated by imports. As a result, domestic manufacturers have increasingly focused on premium and bespoke products, moving away from the unprofitable, low-cost segment now largely controlled by imported furniture. Although industry revenue is anticipated to grow at an annualised rate of 1.0% over the five years through 2025-26, reaching $4.5 billion, increased import competition and ongoing discretionary income pressures are expected to cause a 0.6% drop in revenue from 2024-25. High import pressure continues to challenge local manufacturers, especially those producing budget furniture ranges. By shifting focus to premium, customised products, domestic manufacturers have better defended market share against foreign competition and maintained a loyal clientele. Increased demand for public transport has led to a rise in production of upholstered seats for public transit systems. Government investments in rail infrastructure and a growing consumer preference for sustainable transportation alternatives have driven this demand. Manufacturers tend to be based in populated areas, favouring locations near transport facilities and retailers that allow them to cut down on transportation time and costs. That’s why establishments are predominantly concentrated along the eastern seaboard. The industry remains highly fragmented, dominated by small-scale manufacturers and sole traders. With over 97% of enterprises employing fewer than 20 people, diverse preferences and low entry barriers ensure no single firm holds significant market share. For more information visit: https://www.ibisworld.com

The post Ups and downs in Australia’s wooden furniture appeared first on Timberbiz.

The New Zealand–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has officially entered into force, opening the door to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, New Zealand Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced. Source: Timberbiz “The NZ–UAE CEPA is New Zealand’s fastest-ever trade agreement. Negotiated in just over four months, it delivers up to an estimated NZ$42 million in tariff savings per year for Kiwi exporters and the wider economy,” Mr McClay said. “From today, 98.5% of New Zealand’s exports to the UAE will enter duty-free, rising to 99% by the start of 2027. This is one of the best goods market access packages we have ever secured.” Key goods such as dairy (NZ$766m), red meat (NZ$52.5m), apples (NZ$34.9m), kiwifruit (NZ$7.8m), seafood (NZ$15.5m), forestry products (NZ$9.4m), and honey (NZ$5.2m) will all enter duty free from today. The UAE is one of New Zealand’s largest markets in the Middle East and a gateway into a US$500 billion economy that is growing and diversifying rapidly. With two-way trade already worth NZ$1.44 billion a year the CEPA creates a platform to go much further. The UAE imports 90% of its food, meaning strong new opportunities for New Zealand’s world-class producers. “Beyond goods this agreement creates a platform for two-way investment, digital trade, and services opportunities that will generate jobs, lift incomes, and boost the economy for all New Zealanders,” Mr McClay said. “The CEPA strengthens our relationship with a key Gulf partner and takes us a step closer to the Government’s goal of doubling the value of New Zealand’s exports in 10 years.”

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Komatsu Forest recently hosted a demonstration of the new Komatsu 895 Firefighter, a forwarder equipped with the RL21 firefighting kit, developed by Rodwell Logging of Bombala, NSW. Source: Timberbiz The event, held at the HVP headquarters in Rennick, Victoria, drew strong interest from across the local forestry and fire management sectors, with nearly 50 attendees present. The demonstration began with a general introduction, followed by a key presentation from Peter Rodwell, the principal designer of the RL21. Mr Rodwell provided an insightful overview of the development, design, and practical application of the RL21 system, drawing on Rodwell Logging’s firsthand experience using the equipment in wildfire response. A standout feature of the RL21 is its quick-mount design, which allows it to be easily installed or removed from a standard Komatsu 895 forwarder. This flexibility enables the machine to be quickly converted between fire response and conventional forwarding operations. The RL21 is equipped with a custom-designed 20,000-litre water tank integrated into the forwarder’s log bunk. A high-pressure pump powers dual water cannons mounted on either side of the headgate, capable of delivering up to 450 litres per minute with a range of up to 40 metres. For added safety, a 3,000-litre emergency reserve tank can be activated from the cabin to douse the engine and cab, giving the operator a critical window to retreat from danger if required. Following the presentation, the machine was started up by Steve Witherow MD of Tabeel Trading and driven along a fire break near the HVP facility, where the water cannons were demonstrated in various configurations. Afterwards, the machine was parked and its access panels opened, giving attendees the chance to inspect the inner workings and system components up close. Garry Kennedy from Kennedy Trailers was on hand to answer any queries on the RL21 water tank fabrication process. The demonstration was well received by the diverse audience, which included forest owners and managers, fire department personnel, and resource management professionals from companies such as HVP, OneFortyOne, PF Olsen, AKD, CFA Victoria and Green Triangle Fire Alliance. Brett Jones, Managing Director of Komatsu Forest, took a very keen interest in the RL21’s development by visiting Rodwell’s to inspect the prototype, and finalised a marketing agreement with Rodwell Logging in late 2024. Since then, momentum has accelerated. Komatsu Forest delivered its first RL21 Fire Tanker in December 2024, and a second unit on a Komatsu 895.3 Speed Shift was delivered in June this year. Komatsu Forest currently has a third RL21 in stock with two more units in production for future sales. “The RL21 Fire Tanker will be a game changer in Australia for fire prevention and fire management,” Mr Jones said. “The key is the machine’s versatility to access a fire at ground level, which has not been possible with conventional road vehicles.” Rodwell Logging’s innovation highlights the vital role of local expertise in addressing complex environmental challenges. Their commitment to community safety, practical engineering, and resilience sets a benchmark for bushfire preparedness in Australia.

The post Demo of new Komatsu Firefighter attracts interest of major forestry companies appeared first on Timberbiz.

The latest Housing Industry Association forecasts show that recent policy announcements will see more than one million new homes commencing construction over the next five years. Source: Timberbiz The HIA recently released its quarterly Housing and Economic Outlook Report, covering forecasts for residential building activity across Australia. This HIA Outlook has revised the forecast for the number of new homes to commence construction in the five years to June 2029 from 986,000 to 1.01 million considering recent policy decisions. “Higher than previously anticipated population growth, and changes to government policy, have resulted in an upgrade to our forecasts for the number of homes that will commence construction over the next five years,” HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon said. “Despite the upgrade in the Outlook, policy settings remain too restrictive to achieve the goal of 1.2 million new homes over the next five years. “The decline in the cash rate has seen home building activity pick up, but this improvement is not evenly spread across regions or building types as government policies remain the main determinant of the volume of home building,” he said. “Indications are that Australia’s population growth will remain elevated and exceed 30 million before the end of 2030. This will force up the price of established homes and increasingly see new home construction as a cheaper alternative to purchasing an established home.” Mr Reardon said that changes to government policies were starting to focus on reducing the costs and barriers to new home building and would add further to the supply of new homes. “In this Outlook there is an upgrade to the forecast number of homes to commence construction in New South Wales due to recent changes announced in this year’s state Budget,” he said. “A plan for the government to underwrite apartment sales, the pattern book and fast-tracking approvals will have a tangible uplift in commencements in New South Wales over the next few years. “The announcement by the Australian Government to lower the cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (5% deposit) will also see an ongoing increase in first home buyers building a new home. This policy could add as much as 10,000 new homes, per year, to supply. Further reform of macro-prudential restrictions introduced since the GFC also warrant review and could add further to the supply of new homes.” Mr Reardon said that home building activity would flow to those regions with the lower cost of delivering new homes to market. “For this reason, home building activity increased first in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. New South Wales and Victoria remain laggards given the significantly higher cost of land and home supply in those states,” he said. “Upside risks could emerge in other regions if governments remove constraints on new home supply. “Interest rates will remain the most significant cyclical factor affecting new home building volumes. Structural factors such as population flows and policy decisions will determine which regions capitalise on this opportunity.” Forecasts: Detached houses: There were 28,620 detached houses that commenced construction in the March quarter 2025, with a similar 28,240 forecast for the June quarter, working its way back up to 29,470 by the final quarter of 2025. This will produce a 2025 calendar year total of 115,070 detached house starts, 7.2% up on 2024. A steady improvement is expected to continue from here, reaching a 2027 peak of 125,840, before moderating back to 116,370 in 2029 as land constraints become more binding and new multi-units become relatively more affordable. Multi-unit dwellings: There were 19,450 multi-unit dwellings that commenced construction in the March quarter 2025, which is expected to moderate back down to 17,440 in the June quarter and remain relatively steady for the rest of the year. This will produce a 2025 calendar year total of 72,070, up by 17.2% on 2024’s 13-year low. A modest further improvement is expected to 76,570 in 2026, before accelerating towards 96,910 by 2028 and 99,960 in 2029, as rising prices in the established market catalyse the feasibility of new apartment projects.

The post HIA’s Housing and Economic Outlook Report – one million homes in five years appeared first on Timberbiz.

The Hyne Group, through its national Hyne Pallets network, has announced its acquisition of Seapal Pallets & Crates located in Kilcoy, South-East Queensland. This marks the sixth pallet manufacturing acquisition in less than two years and the second in Queensland. Source: Timberbiz Hyne Group CEO, Jim Bindon, acknowledged the history of Seapal which has been in operation since 1998 under the current ownership of Trevor Carter. “As we continue to grow our national pallet network, we welcome Seapal, which, like the Hyne Group, has a long history across Queensland and Northern NSW. In addition to standard pallet manufacturing, the business delivers custom solutions to service the unique freighting requirements such as those of large manufacturing businesses. “We see some strong, future synergies with our Express Pallets & Crates business located close by in Narangba. This includes fibre supply, freight, staffing & management, production planning and raw material scale efficiencies.” Mr Bindon said. Seapal has an extensive network of customers across the mining, agriculture, logistics and food sectors, with Peter Hyne recently addressing staff on site and welcoming them to the Hyne Pallets structure. Timber supply for the Seapal business will continue from the co-located sawmill, ownership of which will be retained by Trevor Carter. But this will be complemented by Hyne’s leading Queensland sawmill business at Tuan, one of the largest sawmills in Australia. This supply capability and flexibility, ensures certainty and consistency for all existing and future customers. The Seapal trading name will remain the same and the team will transition across to Hyne Pallets at completion. The acquisition of Seapal Pallets & Crates will finalise on 1 October 2025, subject to all Completion Precedents being met. The Hyne Pallets network now consists of Seapal Pallets & Crates, Kilcoy, QLD; Express Pallets &Crates, Narangba, QLD; Newcastle Pallets, Newcastle, NSW; Rodpak, Melbourne, VIC; Pallet & Bin, Shepparton, VIC and Pinetec, Perth, WA.  

The post Hyne acquires its sixth pallet manufacturer in two years appeared first on Timberbiz.

Heat-stressed Victorian mountain ash forests are thinning fast, turning from carbon sinks to carbon sources, new research reveals. Published in Nature Communications, the research shows forests will lose a quarter of their trees by 2080 due to global warming. Source: Phys Org Mountain ash forests are currently one of Earth’s most effective ecosystems for storing carbon, they store more carbon per hectare than the Amazon. But researchers say these forests will store less carbon in the future as warming causes more trees to die and decompose. Scientists from the Universities of Melbourne and New Hampshire (US) analysed almost 50 years of data from Australian forest monitoring plots. The researchers found that increasing temperatures are thinning mountain ash forests rapidly, threatening their long-term potential to store carbon and slow global warming. Lead researcher, University of Melbourne Dr Raphael Trouve explained that the forests’ natural thinning response to temperature stress means that the ability of large-scale tree-planting initiatives to reduce atmospheric carbon levels may decline over the coming decades. “Australia’s mountain ash forests are one of Earth’s most carbon-dense ecosystems, but our study reveals how climate warming could turn them from carbon sinks into carbon emitters as excess tree deaths and decomposition release stored carbon,” Dr Trouve said. “Data collected in forest studies since 1947 shows that warming is intensifying competition among trees for limited resources, mainly water, and causing around 9% tree loss in mountain ash forests for every degree of warming.” A projected rise of three degrees Celsius by 2080 could reduce tree density in these forests by 24%. Making up for this carbon loss would require establishing hundreds of thousands of hectares of new forests. “As more trees die and decompose, they will emit carbon dioxide, with an impact equivalent to driving a million cars 10,000km per year for 75 years,” Dr Trouve said. “This predicted forest loss does not include the impact of bushfires, which is also increasing. “A growing tree needs space and resources to survive. Under resource-limited conditions, such as water stress, a big tree will outcompete smaller, surrounding trees, causing their deaths.” Dr Trouve said recent research has shown how natural thinning in forests changes streamflow and water yield. “Natural thinning of the mountain ash forests will likely impact Melbourne’s water supply,” he said. “One promising management option is reducing stand density: selectively thinning some trees to give others a better chance of survival. This would accelerate the natural self-thinning process and give the rest of the trees more water, nutrients, and space to grow. “Decades of research around the globe has shown that thinned forests are more resilient to drought, and the trees in them grow faster and survive better during dry periods.” Native to south-eastern Australia, soaring to over 90 meters, the mountain ash or Eucalyptus regnans is one of the tallest tree species in the world. “The trend in natural forest thinning may depend on regional climate as well as tree species,” Dr Trouve said.

The post Victorian mountain ash forests thinning too fast appeared first on Timberbiz.

When the Andrews–Allan Government promised timber towns would be looked after through the forestry shutdown, people breathed a sigh of relief. They thought at least the transition would be fair. Instead, it’s turned into one of the most disgraceful stitch-ups regional Victoria has seen. Contractors in towns we all know – Noojee, Heyfield, Orbost, Cann River and Powelltown to name a few, built their lives on Timber Sales Agreements, the contracts that kept families afloat for decades. People bought gear, hired staff, and invested in their towns on the back of them. But when the payouts came, it was a circus. Some got most of what they were owed, while others with the exact same contracts got nothing. No reasons. No consistency. Just bureaucrats hiding behind “discretion” and hoping people would cop it quietly. To make it worse, many were told their contracts had no value at all. That’s rubbish. Those agreements carried businesses for decades. To suddenly declare them worthless isn’t just bad policy — it is cruelty dressed up as governance. Take the case of my friend, a former VicForests contractor (who wishes to remain anonymous due to potential governmental retaliation). He has spent years collecting Alpine Ash seed, the very seed that’s been used to reforest our mountains after harvesting and bushfires. His work has been vital to keeping these forests alive for the next generation. And yet what has the Allan Government offered him? A package so poor it would leave him with nothing for his investment, his skill, and his service to this state. A bloke who helped rebuild the bush is now being hung out to dry by the same government that bragged about reforestation using his seed. That’s not just unfair, it’s shameful. Premier Jacinta Allan should hang her head. Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos is missing in action, more interested in press conferences than people. And the bureaucrats who signed off on this disgrace? They’ve backed in a scheme designed to save the State money by ripping off small family businesses in the bush. This whole “transition” has been a con job. Dan Andrews told people to plan for 2030. Contractors believed him, invested millions, and built their lives on that promise. Then the rug was pulled. Now families are saddled with debt, stranded machinery, and so-called “support packages” that are nothing more than insult payments. Behind all the spin, this is what it means: families facing ruin, workers walking away with scraps, and country towns losing yet another heartbeat. The demands are simple and fair: Publish the criteria for how VicForests contracts were valued. Review the decisions that left people with nothing. Reassess cases where families and workers were misled. And hold Jacinta Allan, Steve Dimopoulos, and their bureaucrats accountable for this betrayal. Because this isn’t just a line in the budget. This is real people, real livelihoods, and real communities. And right now, the government that promised to look after them is the one that’s continually kicking them in the guts. Mick Harrington is a third-generation firewood contractor, former executive officer of Forest and Wood Communities Australia and a Gippslander.

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