Australian Forests & Timber - November 2021 featuring Forestry Now

NOVEMBER 2021

30 YEARS OF SERVICE 1991-2021

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY REPORT 32 PAGES OF INDUSTRY ANALYSIS AND FORECASTS

Award winner born into life in the forest

In the news

It’s a national issue

Need for national response Philip Hopkins

F

ormer Victorian Chief Fire Officer, Ewan Waller, has called for an urgent national approach to fighting bushfires, labelling the three most recent bushfire inquiries conservative and inadequate.

“Bushfire is now a national issue and it’s got to be approached that way.

What we need is really strong direction and policy, built largely around prevention, not response,” said Mr Waller, who has more than 40 years’ experience as a forester. “What we wanted was a table-thumping national direction and agreement on fire management, but we did not get it – just housekeeping and the status quo. Better communications, better equipment, will make a difference, but not the big difference we are looking for.”

He was giving an address via Zoom to the Forestry Australia national conference in Launceston.

Mr Waller was joined at the conference by Victor Steffenson, co-founder of Firesticks Alliance, who spoke on the vital role indigenous fire knowledge can play in land management.

Mr Steffensen said society could not continue the land management practices done since colonisation. “What was good for one generation may not be as productive or beneficial for the next,” he said. The lore of Mother Nature had already shown how people could live on country sustainably for thousands of years.

“Aboriginal people have achieved this over timeless generations and within that experience lay many key lessons and practices that can give today’s society the seed towards the inevitable task of reconnecting ourselves back to country,” he said. “There is much work to do and healing country will be a theme that will prove itself intergenerational for many years to come.”

Mr Waller said the report by the Forest Fire Management Group through COAG (Council of Australian Governments, now National www.timberbiz.com.au

What worries me is the Back Country, which is where the fires are coming from. Most came from the remote country, from the parks and forests. Unless you treat that and manage that for fire, the problems will be ongoing.

Cabinet), was accepted by the states in 2014. Its principles had not changed. “It was unashamedly about prevention and preparedness That policy, which was adopted by the federal, all state and territories, has never been properly enacted,” he said.

A strong policy decision was needed to break through the inaction, like Justice Stretton’s inquiry into the 1939 bushfires, and former Prime Minister John Howard’s radical action on gun control.

Mr Waller acknowledged improvements on the interface between developed areas and the bush in Victoria and NSW, more money would go into protective work.

“What worries me is the Back Country, which is where the fires are coming from. Most came from the remote country, from the parks and forests. Unless you treat that and manage that for fire, the problems will be ongoing,” he said.

Mr Waller said the Back Country needed a sensible but large burning program.

“It has to happen fairly soon – the regrowth is happening now. Otherwise, within three-to-five years, we will be back to where we were.”

He criticised academics who were “chasing logging”

when fire had a far more damaging impact than timber harvesting ever did.

Science, which provides evidence-based answers, was being devalued by scientists who “cherry pick” arguments. “No wonder governments and the community are confused about which way to go,” he said.

Mr Waller said climate change was making firefighting more difficult but was a longer-term issue. Climate change meant more fuel reduction burning to try and safeguard the forest.

Victor Steffenson, co-founder of Firesticks Alliance, • spoke at the Forestry Australia conference on the vital role indigenous fire knowledge can play in land management.

Mr Waller said we were in a conservative, risk-averse era. “That feeds into the politics. We have a stalemate, no action. Governments won’t move until pushed,” he said.

There was also a height-

ened anti-burning movement, with recent protests in East Gippsland. “The workers thought they were helping the community, but these people were turning on them. It is a real concern,” he said.

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In the news NOVEMBER 2021 Issue 7 – Volume 30 Established 1991 News 3 ― 11 My View 6 Tasmanian Timber Awards

11, 12 Forestry Now 13 ― 44 Machinery 46 ― 52 Mill profile 53 Front Cover: Tasmanian Timber Awards’ Trainee of the Year Meeghan Price. Story Page 12.

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Koalas numbers higher than expected and not reduced by harvesting A major report has settled beyond all doubt that koalas are safe and sound living and traversing the hardwood forests of northern New South Wales where highly regulated harvesting occurs.

A Natural Resources Commission report which took three years to complete has found that not only is koala density higher than anticipated in the surveyed forests, that density was not reduced by selective harvesting.

The research into the koala response to forestry has also found that the nutritional quality of trees is critical for koala survival and that selective harvesting did not have an adverse impact upon koala numbers on surveyed north coast state forests.

This is due to the types of trees left after harvesting as some trees such as tallowwood have higher nutritional quality than others such as blackbutt.

The existing forestry rule set mandates the retention

of priority koala browse trees as well as other habitat protections.

“This very significant finding totally vindicates the skilful ability of the forest managers to care for the land under their responsibility and protect koalas,” said CEO Maree McCaskill.

Not only do koalas successfully coexist with selective forest harvesting but the research found no difference in koala density between National Parks and the state forest harvest areas on the North Coast.

“That finding will upset the eco-warriors but will not surprise the forest industry,” she said.

“Enormous care and expertise is exercised by NSW forest ecologists and they deserve credit for the role they play.

“The public gets tired of environmental organisations who constantly predict catastrophe and extinction, causing panic and alarm. People like to know the truth and this independent scientific research should reassure everyone

• Maree McCaskill in NSW that the iconic koala is not in the least bit threatened by forestry.

“The industry rarely agrees with the NRC and its reports but on this occasion, we gave it a tick”.

The Natural Resources Commissioner, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, said koala density was higher than anticipated in the surveyed forests and was not reduced by selective harvesting.

“This research is the most comprehensive conducted of its type in NSW to date,” he said.

With support from a panel of experts in koala ecology and forest science, the Commission selected eminent scientific researchers from the Australian National University, Western Sydney University and the Department of Primary Industries Forest Science Unit to undertake the research.

The researchers investigated koala movement, occupancy, density, diet and the nutritional quality of koala habitat on state forests.

“This research suggests that it’s not so much about tree size but having a good tree species mix post-harvest to maintain koala numbers,” Professor DurrantWhyte said.

“However, north coast forests are diverse so I caution applying these findings to other areas without further research.”

The NSW Government tasked the Commission to deliver the independent research program in 2018.

The research was funded and undertaken as part of the whole-of-government NSW Koala Strategy 2018-21.

Koalas thriving, Leadbeaters need foresters, so who needs eco warriors?

S

o, despite all the silly protests, koalas on the north coast of NSW are not under threat of extinction from timber harvesting after all.

In fact – to quote the State’s Natural Resources Commissioner, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte - koala density is higher than anticipated in the surveyed forests and had not been reduced by selective harvesting.

“This research is the most comprehensive conducted of its type in NSW to date,” he said.

Three years it took to prepare that report. Three years, so it’s no quick assessment.

Timber NSW CEO Maree McCaskill is right in saying that findings totally vindicates the ability of the for-

Leadbeater’s Possum populations.

Again, will it end the debate and endless court casest managers to care for the es? Probably not.

But at least in both cases land under their responsithe forestry industry will bility and protect koalas.

The industry rarely agrees have facts and figures at with the NRC and its reports their disposal to combat the but on this occasion Timber emotional and often inaccuNSW gave it a big tick of ap- rate complaints against the industry. proval.

Meanwhile an IntergovMs McCaskill believes the finding will upset the eco- ernmental Panel on Climate warriors but would not sur- Change says sustainably managing our native forests prise the forest industry.

Will it shut them up for timber, delivers the best climate change mitigation though? Probably not.

The same probably ap- results.

As AFPA CEO Ross Hampplies to the Leadbeater’s ton pointed out this week Possum debate in Victoria.

Research led by VicFor- sustainably managing our ests has found that preserv- forests for timber producing and creating midstorey tion, as practiced in Australforest connectivity is in ia, is one of the best ways we fact critical to maintaining can tackle climate change.

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

He said anti-forestry activist groups often ignore scientific evidence to claim that we should lock up the small percentage of multiple-use public forests to tackle climate change.

But, he points out, this misguided ideology has led to disastrous policy decisions to shut down the native timber industry in Victoria and Western Australia on the false premise that it will lead to better climate change outcomes and fanciful tourism jobs.

As Australian Forest Contractors Association chairman Adan Taylor put it: “… it’s very interesting how they (the tourism industry) think they’re going to maintain the native forest access without the timber industry paying for it”. www.timberbiz.com.au

In the news

New directors for Forestry Australia F orestry Australia has appointed two new directors and re-appointed a third.

The trio was announced at Forestry Australia’s AGM held last night in Tasmania.

Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon welcomed new directors Mick Stephens and Jim Wilson who was elected after serving via a casual vacancy over the past 10 months.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to officially welcome two outstanding forestry professionals in Mick Stephens and Jim Wilson as our association continues to go from strength to strength under our new identity, Forestry Australia,” Mr Gordon said.

Mr Stephens and Mr Wilson join continuing directors Bob Gordon (President), Dr Michelle Freeman and Dr Kevin Harding (Vice Presidents), Blair Freeman, Jan Newport and Dr Lachie McCaw on the Board.

Board Observer Leon Holt

• From left: Leon Holt, Mick Stephens, Jim Wilson. has also been re-appointed.

Mr Gordon also paid tribute to outgoing director Dr Peter Volker, who has retired after 10 years on the Board over the past two decades, including serving as President between 2005 and 2011.

“Dr Peter Volker has made a more than significant contribution to our association over the past years as president, director and an active volunteer. I would like to thank him on behalf of the Board, and all the members he has served so well,” Mr Gordon said.

Forestry Australia CEO

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Jacquie Martin said the latest results from the 2021 Forestry Australia member satisfaction study showed the association has experienced significant growth over the past 18 months.

“Our latest member engagement studies show that member satisfaction within Forestry Australia is very high, and member retention is above 93 per cent,” Ms Martin said.

“Both these statistics demonstrate that the very ambitious three-year strategic plan is progressing well, with the association experience significant

growth and momentum over the past 18 months.”

Mick Stephens, CEO of Timber Queensland, is a resource economist based in Queensland with 30 years’ experience in policy development, advocacy and applied R&D in forestry and agriculture.

Jim Wilson’s career has been focused in the private sector and he has invested his recent years working with Forico in Tasmania, as well as providing significant service to the forest sector in advocacy and leadership. Jim is a registered Forestry Professional.

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Jim is also an active farm forester with both plantation and native forest in Tasmania. His experience and knowledge in these areas will bring a new dimension to the board and his recruitment is part of the Institute’s succession plans.

Leon Holt’s background is in native forestry and the public sector in Victoria. He was awarded the Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forest Management in 2019. He lives in northern Victoria with his young family and has recently begun establishing a farm forestry enterprise.

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Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

2/03/2021 1:46:44 PM

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My view

WA decision is wrong - here’s why W e were recently made aware of the news that the Amazon basin has switched from a carbon sink to a carbon source.

This was global news at the time, highlighting how the growing demand for forest products is fuelling unsustainable forestry practices in places like the Amazon and the negative impact this is having on the environment.

However, such news is ignored in populist politics, and it would seem by the Western Australian government, who have opportunistically announced they are ending native forestry in their state.

This decision is wrong and here’s why.

It is inarguable that forestry products are essential to our existence and that sustainable forestry is critical to our survival.

Timber is a natural, biodegradable and renewable material and well managed forests are one of the best ways we can help the planet; a fact recognised by the global experts at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who state: “A sustainable forest manage-

MY VIEW Nick Steel CEO, Tasmanian Forest Products Association

ment strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit.” IPCC 4th Assessment Stopping forestry, any sector, simply stops the renewable process of growing trees, drawing carbon from the atmosphere, harvesting it into environmentally friendly, carbon storing products, and then repeating the process all over again.

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No one is driving into the depths of the Tarkine and harvesting these sensitive areas and no amount of alarmist commentary will make that the case.

It also increases the sovereign risk of timber supply and drives our consumers, builders and manufacturers to a reliance on imported timber and it opens up markets for carbon intensive and non-renewable construction materials.

Have WA learnt nothing from the current construction timber shortage which is due in part to Australia’s reliance on imported timber?

Currently due to global demand, the 25% of our construction timber that we usually import is not hitting our shores, causing huge delays in the construction sector.

Do they really think the same reliance on imported hardwood window and door frames or flooring and stair treads won’t cause the same delays?

The WA Government has cynically attempted to cloak the real-life impact of their decision by also announcing a $350 million fund to expand plantations.

Don’t get me wrong, any investment in plantations is good news.

However, any government announcing such a political advantageous policy needs to be honest with the community.

The trees planted in plantations do not provide the hardwood timber which is used for floors, stairs, doors and windows.

It is a vastly different product.

This is a simple fact and organisations who claim that “plantation only” is the solution are not being honest about the significant differences between the two types of timber, their practical applications or what their substitute may look like or where it might come from.

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

The WA Government will find that demand of the world’s most environmentally responsible building material doesn’t stop due to this decision.

Demand will continue to grow. It’s just domestic supply that they will stop, alongside the local timber, the local jobs and the local businesses.

All due to the populist politics of “not in my back yard” for a few quick votes.

Removing local timber flooring from the market for example will drive consumers to either non-renewable and/or chemical rich flooring such as vinyl, carpet and tiles, or again, to imported timber, contributing to the problem and certainly not part of the solution.

Australian’s love building with timber. To import it or substitute it and call this a solution is an insult to the industry and to the public.

In Tasmania we are lucky, we have got the sustainability balance right and we are fortunate to have a mixed industry of native hardwood and hard and softwood plantation that can provide our construction needs domestically whilst more than 90% of our old growth forests are in reserves.

WA have made a poor decision and put populist politics and real climate solutions on a collision course that will have negative ramifications for decades to come.

It’s time to listen to the science and work with the industry so we can continue to innovate and produce quality, natural, biodegradable and carbon storing timber from our well-managed, renewable working native forests and our plantation estates. www.timberbiz.com.au

In the news Expanding plantation will grow jobs

P

lanting 400,000 hectares of new timber plantations won’t only help Australia achieve sovereign capability in timber and fibre supply – it would also help us achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and grow regional jobs, according to the Australian Forest Products Association.

Preliminary new AFPA modelling shows that planting an additional 400,000 hectares of timber plantation forests by 2030 would offset 200 million tonnes of CO2-e by 2050.

“In real terms that is equivalent to the total emissions produced by almost 50 million cars in a year,” AFPA CEO Ross Hampton said.

“This new modelling shows that growing Australia’s timber plantation estate is key to reaching net zero by 2050 and boosting our self-sufficiency for much needed sustainable timber products, like new house frames, of which we will be 250,000 short by 2035 if we don’t plant more trees,” he said.

“Australia’s renewable forest industries cannot be left out of the Federal Government’s plan for reaching net zero, because the reality is the target will be almost impossible to achieve without growing nature-based solutions.”

Mr Hampton said the Federal Government’s A Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth national plan, which commits to growing Australia’s timber plantation estate by one billion trees in key timber processing regions by 2030, is a welcome start to achieve this goal.

“Australia’s forest industries are ready to grow more timber with the right policies to achieve sovereign capability and fight climate change,” he said.

“The Federal Government has the opportunity to deliver a win/win/win scenario by boosting our declining plantation estate, growing regional jobs and contributing to Australia’s future economy,” Mr Hampton said.

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Forico issues Natural Capital Report with net value at $3.4b

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asmania’s largest plantation forestry manager, Forico, has released a world-leading and Australian first Natural Capital Report, which puts the net value of its forest ecosystem at $3.4 billion and the value of sequestered carbon as high as $9.2 billion.

The report sets a benchmark for business and industry in environmental stewardship and corporate sustainability reporting.

Natural Capital Reporting measures the value of natural assets alongside traditional metrics of production volumes and profit and loss. Essentially, it puts a dollar figure on how much the natural environment matters.

For the first time, Forico’s Natural Capital Report looks at the company’s core business of high-quality fibre production in the context of the broader social and ecosystem value functions including carbon sequestration, water filtration and providing habitat for biodiversity.

Forico Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Hayes, says the report demonstrates an overall net positive contribution to the environment from sustainably managed plantation and natural forests.

“Forico’s Net Natural Capital Value for 2021 has been conservatively estimated at $3.4 billion, which can be split between $400 million to business and $3 billion to society,” Mr Hayes says.

“Assigning a financial value to the importance of habitat, vegetation and biodiversity is evolving fast, and leading government

Key Points 1.7 million Green • 1Metric Tonnes (GMT) offset schemes would value our natural forest areas at more than $7 billion.”

Mr Hayes says natural capital accounting has revealed Forico has sequestered more than 128 million tonnes of CO2-e from the atmosphere, with a further 54 million tonnes expected to be sequestered by the standing plantation estate before harvest.

“Using the social cost of carbon derived by the US Environmental Protection Agency – which is estimated at AU$68 per tonne of CO2e – the value of carbon sequestered on Forico’s estate could be as high as $9.2 billion,” he says.

Mr Hayes says effective forest management as well as the sustainable production of forest products could make a positive contribution to the mitigation of climate change and the transition to a true circular economy.

“Forico believes it has a positive role to play in enhancing our knowledge of climate change impacts and to support greater climate resilience in Tasmania’s economy, environment and society,” he says. “As a custodian of the natural environment, trusted to protect our natural resources for future generations, we are committed to understanding the value of the lands we manage and our impacts on the natural world, which has driven our Natural Capital Reporting journey.”

of standing timber in Forico’s plantations

otal forest • Tmanagement area

of 174,349 hectares, representing three per cent of Tasmania’s water catchments

f this total, Forico • Omanages 77,552

hectares of native forest purely for its natural values.

These forests have been independently assessed by ecologists as being relatively untouched

orico protects 21,960 • Fhectares of riparian corridors within its estates

his includes more • Tthan 4,500 kilometers

of streamside reserves

he reserves have • Tprevented 7,185 tonnes of erosion

Global attention to protecting and enhancing nature is accelerating alongside the push to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It is increasingly recognised that businesses and investors need to align their activities with “nature positive” outcomes, supporting net gains in nature by 2030 and full recovery of nature by 2050. To achieve these outcomes, business will need to identify key areas of nature action, measure and value both their negative and positive im-

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

pacts on nature and engage in disclosure and reporting.

This Natural Capital Report is an important step in Forico’s journey to understand its operational impacts on, and ability to preserve and enhance, the natural environment in which the Trust operates and to quantify the value of Natural Capital.

Having measured what matters, he says Forico is now seeking to monetise the company’s important ecosystem services to reward responsible investment in environmental stewardship.

“Importantly, we hope this work will inspire other companies to tell their own stories of value preservation, creating a global movement that appreciates and acknowledges the critical importance of our natural world and how businesses can be truly sustainable,” concludes Mr Hayes.

Tasmanian’s Resources Minister Guy Barnett said the report and the forestry sector’s broader commitment to sustainable and responsible management practices showed the state’s forestry and timber sector was setting a high benchmark.

“This is a tangible example of the Tasmanian timber industry’s commitment to responsible and sustainable management of our forest assets,” he said.

Labor’s resources spokesman Shane Broad said it showed how important forestry was to the Tasmanian economy and how not only could it be a source of revenue, but it could also play an important role to help combat climate change. www.timberbiz.com.au

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Research

R&D – A vital piece of the timber puzzle Tony Pasin Member for Barker, South Australia

I

n a carbon constrained future, the forest and forest products industry is one of very few carbon-positive industries and enjoys bullish prospects.

Current timber supply constraints have demonstrated the urgent need to get more trees in the ground but it’s not the only action that needs taking.

To ensure our Australian industry is sustainable and can realise its potential as an innovative, internationally competitive industry that contributes significantly to economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability we need increased focus on research and development.

The industry faces many new opportunities for carbon sequestration, biomass as well as expansion of wood products to meet demand driven by population growth, environmental and social trends.

These opportunities are not exclusive to Australia.

These are global trends driving global demand and presenting global opportunities. The opportunities and challenges presented to the Australian industry will require nationally coordinated research and development to put Australia in a

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way for increased research and development in the sector with the announcement of a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI), in partnership with states and industry.

The initial two NIFPI centres located in Mount Gambier and Launceston received $2 million each in Federal Government funding, matched by $2 million from their respective state Government’s and $10.5 million in industry co-funding.

A new NIFPI centre in Gippsland, Victoria was established in 2020. Again, this centre received funding of $2 million from the commonwealth and $2 million from the Victorian Government and to date $2.075 million industry co-funding.

A UniSA research team at work in South Australia’s pine Some of the research unforests. dertaken by these three competitive position. laminated vaneer lumber, NIFPI centres since 2018 Benefits of research and l-beams and open web floor includes; • developing structurally development are hard to joists. reliable glue laminated quantify but we know it Moving forward, R&D is products from fibreleads to the creation of new going to be essential for managed plantation hardproducts, new markets, maximising forest product wood logs, more efficient processes use and adding value to and importantly, mainte- wood residues to unlock the • implementation of singlestep genomic selection of nance and growth of a pool potential of forest products eucalypts to improve tree of knowledge and expertise in the emerging and lucrabreeding, to enable effective respons- tive global bioeconomy. es to future challenges.

Nationally co-ordinated • Wedge-tailed eagle management strategies, Genetic improvement, research and development better site selection meth- will increase our sovereign • sensing technology and digital tools to support ods, advances in silviculture capability and bolster our decision making in hardand site resource manage- national modern manuwood timber drying, ment have all been prod- facturing initiatives. In state-of-theucts of R&D. It’s also led to contrast, holding back on • installing art hyperspectral and a better understanding of research R&D and weak thermal sensors on light water catchment areas and adoption of innovation will aircraft for detecting nuwildlife management, bush- stifle Australian industry, trient deficiencies and fire mitigation and biosecu- making us less competitive stress in radiata pine rity for our plantation sec- internationally in a sector plantations and tor. R&D has also seen new where we are already a net preparing a feasibiltechnologies in kiln drying, importer of wood products. • ity and cost benefit study machine grading and enIn 2016 the Federal Govfor innovative forest fire gineered products such as ernment initiated a path-

•

Australian Forests & Timber News September 2021

detection technological solutions and optimising forest fire controlling decision making.

A hub and spoke model that sees national coordination and guidance through an Australia-wide NIFPI together with continued and indeed increased funding for the existing and future additional NIFPI centres will ensure that the industry can realise it’s potential.

It would link all the major research providers into a single strategic framework, outline strategic priority settings and decision-making between key stakeholders and ensure we can grow our industry in the right direction.

An industry that directly employs 80,000 people and contributes $24 billion to the National economy deserves the support to see it grow to be the powerhouse industry we know it can be.

The feasibility study funded with $1.3 million by the Federal Government in the 2021-22 budget is due to report to Government later this year and will inform policy direction.

Without pre-empting this important piece of work, as someone who grew up in a timber town and now represents this region on a National stage I’m confident that it will tell us what the industry has been saying for sometime.

Building upon the R&D policy initiatives already in place since 2018 will ensure our industry can continue to contribute to our national economy in a significant way into the future. It’s a vital piece of the puzzle that cannot be ignored.

www.timberbiz.com.au

Awards night

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Tasmanian Timber Awards The winners were:

Timber Processing Excellence - Cusp Building Solutions Harvesting Excellence Orana Enterprises Regional and Community Development (presented by TimberLink) - Forico Forest Growing and Management Excellence (presented by the Tasmania Forestry Hub) - Malcolm Larner Excellence in the Design and/or Use of Tasmanian Timber (presented by Sustainable Timber Tasmania) - Denman Marine Highly Commended: Neville Smith Forest Products Distribution and Logistics Excellence (presented by E.E. Muir & Sons Pty. Ltd.)

- Padgett Group (Organisation), Bradley Woodfield (Individual) Innovation and Technology Award (presented by Neville Smith Forest Products) - Cusp Building Solutions (Organisation), Judith Nantongo (Individual) Workplace Health and Safety Excellence (presented by Cusp Building Solutions) - MechLog (Small Organisation) Sustainable Timber Tasmania (Large Organisation) Environmental Excellence (presented by Forico) - North East Bioregional Network (Small Organisation), TimberLink (Large Organisation).

Skill Development and

1. Daniel Thorpe, Kama Thorpe, Andrew Walker, Kristie Walker, Alicia Turnbull, Josh Turnbull.

2. Suzette Weeding, Theresa Weller, Emma and Danny Barker.

3. Jo Quigley, Brett Stevenson and Greg Hickey.

8 www.timberbiz.com.au

Training Excellence (presented by ForestWorks) Forest Practices Authority (Large Organisation), The Safety Process (Small Organisation) Outstanding Contribution to the Timber Industry Female (presented by Reliance Forest Fibre - Jillian Aylett, Brown.

Outstanding contribution to the Timber Industry, Male - Michael Lee Highly.

Trainee of the Year (presented by Timberlands Pacific) - Meeghan Price (Small Organisation), Kylie Kemp (Large Organisation).

Tree Farmer of the Year (presented by Private Forests Tasmania) - Graham Freeman.

4. Mike and Sophie Ross.

5. Gala dinner MCs, Rachel Williams and Rick Fontyn.

6. Tony Price and David Bartlett.

7. Jarrod and Melissa Burn.

8. Yezera and Mimi Brown

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Profile

Born into a life in the forest A career in forestry was not Meeghan Price’s original plan.

Born into a family embedded in the forestry industry, she originally had other ideas.

But the fifth-generation logger who epitomises the word excellence, has “sawdust in her blood”, and this year won the Tasmanian Timber Awards Trainee of the Year prize.

TP Bennett & Sons which operates in the Huon Valley in Tasmania currently has about 17 employees at the moment.

The company has a native timber operation harvesting about 40,000 tonnes a year and plantation operation harvesting about 60,000 tonnes a year.

The company runs its own fleet of trucks as well as few contractors, a workshop engineering component and a hydraulic hose franchise.

“When I was a kid of all things I wanted to be a cooking teacher and then in high school, because we’ve 3500 acres in the Huon with beef cattle on it I wanted to study agriculture,”’ Meeghan said.

But then she got a taste of the timber industry and fell in love with that.

Meeghan believes she has a good balance of work at the moment working in

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Meeghan Price with her father Harry Price, mother Tammy and family friend Eva James at the Tasmanian Timber Awards presentation, and (below) Meeghan happy at work in the bush.

the office, in the bush, and when needed working with the cattle.

Meeghan entered the industry young and would often be found out in the field visiting contractors or doing forest health surveillance.

She would spend most of her non-school time on the family farm at Ranelagh with her grandparents quickly gained an understanding of the challenges faced in the logging industry.

In a typical (non school) day, she would be working with her grandfather, Tony Bennett in the workshop or on the farm and accompany him to suppliers seeking parts or attending important meetings such as contract negotiations.

One of her earliest memories is walking from bank to bank with her grandmother, Carol, doing the fortnightly pay run.

Meeghan officially started work as a casual on the native forest operation during her school holidays driving the cable Logging machines, segregating product and assisting in sawlog production and presentation.

She quickly gained her Forestworks Licence initially covering FPC for Machine Operations, FPC for Cable Operators, Machine Familiarisation, Fire Weather Evaluation and Cable Chaser.

It was noted she was the youngest licence holder in Tasmania and most possibly Australia wide – and being a female in a traditional male-dominated industry was certainly turning some heads.

Meeghan continued to gain skills to add to her

Australian Forests & Timber News September 2021

Forestworks license whist she continued to finish school.

Meeghan completed Year 12 in November 2018 – and began work full time one week later in the planation operations of TP Bennett and Sons under the management of her Uncle Adrian.

Meeghan began her Certificate III in Harvest and Haulage in January 2019 and quickly worked through the modules under the guidance of Garry Owens and Gerard Bennett. She completed her traineeship in November 2020 and currently has 19 endorsements on her FOLS license.

Meeghan began driving the Forwarder and can now achieve up to 15 load a day.

She has also graduated to operating the processor and can achieve up to 250 stems in a day as a relief operator.

Her skill list goes on, all with that keen eye for detail.

“That night I had all these owners of companies and directors coming up to me, introducing themselves, and saying we need more people like me in the industry,” she said.

“I think that was what I took away the most.” www.timberbiz.com.au

The past two years has been a period of upheaval within the timber industry nationally with bushfires, COVID lockdowns, China, plans to halt the native timber industry in at least two States and legal challenges to the timber industry as a whole. We believe the time is right to take a snapshot of where we are and where we may be heading. FORESTRY NOW is a State of the Industry Review which includes observations from the industry’s key players on the industry as they see it.

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Forestry shows fight that has built Australia T

he Australian Government is proud to be a strong supporter of all parts of the Australian timber industry and the contribution it makes to our regional economies and communities.

Over the past three years the industry has faced a number of trials. The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, ongoing trade interruptions and the global pandemic have combined with long-term structural developments to test our resolve and resilience.

In response the industry has shown, in typical fashion, the fighting and innovative spirit that has built Australia into the country it is today. While we are not through the woods yet and challenges remain, the forestry sector is on track to deliver $2.4 billion in gross value of production in 2021-22, along with almost $3 billion in forestry products export value (ABARES Agricultural Commodities Report, September 2021).

The forestry industry also continues to employ over 65,000 people across the country.

This is a remarkable achievement, but we cannot stop there. I am committed to working with both industry and state and territory

SENATOR THE HON JONATHON DUNIAM Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Assistant Minister for Industry Development Senator for Tasmania

governments to continue to grow the sector. The timber industry plays a crucial role in the delivery of regional employment and economic growth in Australia, and the Australian Government wants to keep it that way.

While it is industry who kick the goals, the Australian Government is doing what it can to support the industry and deliver on our commitments through the National Forest Industries Plan – a long-term plan to grow the plantation estate and the forestry sector more broadly.

Through this plan we are responding to the core needs of industry. We have committed more than $19 million to the Regional Forestry Hubs, which are delivering strategic planning, research and analysis in key regions around the country.

We have provided $1.3 million to undertake a feasibility study to expand the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation to promote and encourage innovation in Australia’s forest and wood products industry.

To assist with the recovery from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires – which affected 2 million hectares of multiple-use public native forest and 130,000 hectares of commercial plantations – over $80 million in federal funding has been made available for bushfire-related measures.

This has included through programs for the transport and storage of bushfire affected logs and the delivery of innovative new technologies to improve our wood processing capability.

Finally, we are creating new pathways for the private sector to extract economic value from their forestry activities using methods such as carbon credits. We have amended the water requirements of the Emissions Reduction Fund for plantations to allow greater access to carbon credits, and the Clean Energy Regulator is in the process of co-designing a new plantation forestry method to offer more opportunities for the plantation

forestry industry to deliver low-cost abatement.

Despite the challenges, there are many reasons to be positive about the future of the forestry and timber industry in Australia. I strongly believe the industry can find a pathway for growth into the future by focusing on innovation and by promoting Australia’s sustainable and environmentally friendly forestry practices.

Our future is what we make it, and I believe our

future is bright. Throughout my time as the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, I have seen an industry that is resilient, innovative, and has great potential to be the forerunner of new technology as we look to ways to grow and be more productive.

I would like to thank everyone in the industry for doing what they do to make it one of the world’s best.

I could not be prouder to represent Australia’s timber industry.

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FORESTRY NOW 2021

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State of the industry A

ustralia’s total commercial plantation area in 2018–19 was 1,933,400 hectares, based on the most recent Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences numbers.

This area is 9,300 hectares (0.5%) less than the area recorded in 2017‒18, and 86,800 hectares (4.3%) less than the area recorded in 2008–09.

The total area of softwood plantations increased marginally in 2018–19 to 1,039,700 hectares, and accounted for 54% of total commercial plantation area. The total area of hardwood plantations decreased to 884,000 hectares in 2018–19 and accounted for 46% of total commercial plantation area.

In 2018‒19 Victoria continued to have the largest total area of commercial plantations in Australia (418,500 hectares), followed by New South Wales (393,200 hectares) and Western Australia (359,900 hectares).

ABARES estimates that a total area of 130,200 hectares (6.7%) of Australia’s commercial plantations was in the fire extent of the 2019–20 bushfires in southern and eastern Australia. Most of the plantation area in the fire extent was in New South Wales (71%) and South Australia (13%). The effects of the bushfires on Australia’s commercial plantation estate are not reflected in the 2018–19 data in this report but will be

accounted for in the 2019–20 comprehensive spatial stocktake report.

A total of 2,800 hectares of new plantations were established in 2018–19, comprising 2,750 hectares of softwood plantations and 50 hectares of hardwood plantations.

Around 92% of new plantations established in 2018–19 were publicly owned and 8% were privately owned.

In 2018–19 a total of 58,500 hectares of plantations were replanted, comprising 33,900 hectares of replanted softwood plantations (58%) and 24,600 hectares of replanted or coppiced hardwood plantations (42%).

A total of 12,100 hectares of Australia’s plantation estate was converted to another land use in 2018–19, comprising 12,000 hectares of hardwood plantations (99%) and 100 hectares of softwood plantations (1%). Most converted plantations were in South Australia (52%), followed by Western Australia (29%) and Victoria (19%).

In 2018–19 a total of 1,459,900 hectares of plantations were privately owned, representing 76% of the total plantation estate. Public plantations accounted for 21% (402,600 hectares) of the total plantation estate and jointly owned ( joint partnerships between state forest agencies and leasehold and freehold landowners) plantations represented 3.7% (71,000 hectares).

The ownership structure of

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ALITY, PURPOSE-BUILT FORESTRY Australian EQUIPMENT Australian Plantation Australian Plantation Plantation Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Department Department of Agriculture, of Agriculture, ABARES Water and Water the Environment and the Environment ABARESABARES Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Department of Agriculture, ABARES Water and the Environment ABARES

Australian plantation statistics 2020 update plantations remained relatively unchanged between 2017‒18 and 2018‒19. In 2018–19 institutional investors owned 49% of the total plantation area, governments owned 21%, farm foresters and other private growers owned 21%, managed investment schemes owned 5%, and timber industry companies owned 4%.

In 2018–19 the hardwood plantation estate was dominated by Tasmanian blue gum (50%) and shining gum (26%), both of which are managed primarily for pulplog production. The softwood plantation estate was dominated by radiata pine (75%) and southern pines (15%), both of which are managed for sawlog production.

LOG AVAILABILITY The forecast log availability from 2015–19 to 2054–59 is the annual average merchantable volume potentially available from Australia’s commercial plantation estate for each five-year period.

Variations in the plantation area planted from year to year lead to peaks and troughs in the forecast of log availability. Market demand and supply for wood products influence the actual volumes that are harvested at a particular point in time, and plantation managers will periodically adjust silviculture, log harvest scheduling and operational management accordingly to

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment ABARES

Statistics Update 2020 Australian Plantation Statistics Statistics Update Update 2020 2020 Australian Plantation Statistics Update 2020 Statistics Update 2020 Australian Plantation Statistics Update 2020

New plantations (ha) Replanted area (ha) Plantation removals (ha) Total plantation meet market demand. New plantations New plantations (ha) (ha) Replanted Replanted area (ha) area (ha) Plantation Plantation removals removals (ha) (ha) Total plantation Total plantation area (ha) area (ha Total 2,800 Replanted Total area (ha) 58,500 Total 12,100 Total 1,933 The potential log availNew plantations (ha) Plantation removals (ha) Total plantation area (ha) Total Total 2,800 2,800 Total Total 58,500 58,500 Total Total 12,100 12,100 Total Total 1,933,400 1,933,400 ability from Australia’s comHardwood 50 Hardwood 24,600 Hardwood 12,000 Hardwood 8 New plantations (ha)2,800Replanted area (ha)58,500 Plantation removals (ha) Total plantation area (ha) Total Total Total 12,100 Total 1,933,400 Softwood 2,750 Softwood 33,900 Softwood 100 Softwood 1, 50 (ha) 50 Hardwood Hardwood 24,600 Hardwood Hardwood 12,000 Hardwood Hardwood mercial plantation Hardwood estateHardwood New plantations Replanted24,600 area (ha) Plantation removals (ha) 12,000 Total plantation area 884,000 (ha) 884,00 Softwood 2,750 2,750 Softwood 33,90033,900 Softwood 10012,000 100 Softwood Softwood 1,039,700 1,039,70 Total 2,800 Total 58,500 TotalSoftwood 12,100 Total 1,933,400 Hardwood 50 Softwood Hardwood 24,600 Hardwood Hardwood 884,000 was forecast to increase toSoftwood Total 2,800 Total 58,500 Total Total 1,933,400 Softwood Softwood 24,600 33,900 Softwood12,100 100 Softwood 1,039,700 an annual average of 29.7 Hardwood 50 2,750 Hardwood Hardwood 12,000 Hardwood 884,000 50 Hardwood 33,900 24,600 Softwood Hardwood 12,000 Hardwood 884,000 SoftwoodHardwood 2,750 Softwood 100 Softwood 1,039,700 million cubic metres in the TerritorySoftwood Softwood 2,750 Softwood 33,900 Softwood Northern100 1,039,700 2015–19 period, followed by NorthernNorthern TerritoryTerritory Northern Territory National Plantation Inventory Regions a decline to an annual avPlantation Plantation Inventory Inventory Regions Regions Northern Territory Total plantation area (hectares) erage of 27.0 millionNational cubicNational Northern Territory Plantation Inventory Regions plantation TotalNational plantation area (hectares) area (hectares) metres a year for theTotal 2020– <25,000 Total plantation area (hectares) NationalNational Plantation Inventory Regions Plantation Inventory Regions 24 period. <25,000 <25,000 25,001–50,000 Total plantation area (hectares) plantation area (hectares) <25,000 The majority of the Total de25,001–50,000 25,001–50,000 50,001–100,000 <25,000 cline in total log availability<25,00025,001–50,000 50,001–100,000 50,001–100,000 25,001–50,000 North Queensland 100,001–200,000 50,001–100,000 was because the expected25,001–50,000 50,001–100,000 North Queensland North Queensland 100,001–200,000 100,001–200,000 200,001–400,000 yield from hardwood plan-50,001–100,000 North Queensland 100,001–200,000 North Queensland 100,001–200,000 200,001–400,000 tations is forecast to 200,001–400,000 de-100,001–200,000 North Queensland 200,001–400,000 200,001–400,000 cline, as a result of low com-200,001–400,000 Sou Northern Tablelands Qu merciality plantations not South South East South East East South East Northern Northern Tablelands Tablelands Tablelands Queensland Queensland NorthernNorthern Tablelands Queensland being replanted and some Queensland Central Tablelands South East Northern Tablelands Central Tablelands Central Tablelands lease agreements with landQueensland Central Tablelands Central Tablelands Nort holders not being renewed.

NorthNorth Coast North Coast North Coast Coast Central Tablelands Murray Valley

Murray Valley Murray Valley MurrayValley Valley Mount LoftyMurray Ranges North Coast Southern Ta Mount Lofty Ranges and Ranges Kangaroo Island Mount Lofty RangesMurray Southern Tablelands Mount Lofty Mount Ranges Lofty Valley and Kangaroo Island Southern Tablelands Southern Southern Tablelands Tablelands Western Australia and Kangaroo Island and Kangaroo and Kangaroo Island Island Western Australia Mount Lofty Ranges Western Australia East Gippsland WesternWestern Australia Australia Tablelands Gippsland–Bombala and Kangaroo Green IslandTriangle Green Triangle EastSouthern East Green Triangle Triangle East Gippsland–Bombala EastGippsland–Bombala Gippsland–Bomba Western Australia Central Gippslan Green Triangle Green Central Victoria Central Victoria Central Gippsland Central Gippsland East Gippsland–Bombala Central Gippsland Central Gippsland Green Triangle Central Victoria Central Victoria CentralTasmania Victoria Central Gippsland Tasmania Central Victoria Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania

KEY POINTS

Eighty-five per cent of the forecasted log availability volumes in ABARES’ latest report were derived directly from data provided by the Tasmania owners and managers of Total and new plantation area, New plantations and removals, Total and new plantation area, New plantations and removal plantation estates. The re1998–99 to 2018–19 2008–09 to 2018–19 Total and new plantation area, New plantations and removals, and Totalnew and plantation new plantation area, area,2,500 New plantations New plantations and removals, and to removals, 1998–99 to 2018–19 2008–09 2018–19 mainder are ABARES yield Total 150 80 1998–99 to 2018–19 2008–09 to 2018–19 Total and1998–99 new area, New plantations and removals, 1998–99 toplantation 2018–19 to 2018–19 2008–09 to 2018–19 to 2018–19 estimates based on yield ta2,500 60 150 80 2008–09 2,500 150 1998–99 to 2018–19 2008–09 to 2018–19 80 2,000 120 bles, age classes and expert 2,500 2,500 150 150 80 80 2,500 150 60 80 40 60 1,500 2,000 2,000 knowledge.

90 120 120 60 60 2,000 2,000 120 120 20 60 40 ABARES estimates that 120 2,0001,000 40 60 90 1,500 1,500 90 ’000 40 ha 40 the total commercial plan-90 40 20 1,500 1,500 90 20 1,500 500 30 tation estate may decrease 90 1,000 1,000 60 60 20–20 20 20 ’000 ha ’000 ha by around 80 000 to 100 00060 60 60 ’000 ha 1,000 ha –40 1,000’0001,000 ’000 ha ’000 ha 500 30 1998 ’000 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 500ha 302000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 hectares over the next 10 to –99 –01 –03 –05 –07 –09 –11 –13 –15 –17 –19 –09–20 –11 –20 –13 –15 –17 –19 500 500 500 15 years as new plantation30 30 30’000 ha’000New –20 –20 –20 ’000 ha ’000 Hardwood removals Total plantations (right axis) –40 Hardwood ha plantations (left axis) ha –40new establishment will not ’000 beha’000 ha’000 ha 1998 2000 Softwood new2010 Softwood 2012 2014 20162014 20182016ha2018 2008 2012 2014 2016 2018 1998 2002 20002004 20022006 20042008 20062010 2008 2010 2012 2008 2010 removals 2012 2014 2016 2 ’000 ’000ha ha ’000 –40 –40 –09 –99 –01 –11 –13 –15 –17–15 –19–17 –99 –03 –01 –05 –03 –07 –05 –09 –07 –11–09–13–11 –15 –13–17 –15–19 –17 –19 –09 –11 –13 sufficient to offset removals 1998 2000 1998 20022002 2000 2004 2002 2006 2004 2008 2006 2010 2008 2012 2010 2014 2012 2016 2014 2018 2016 2018 2008 2008 2010 2010 2012 2012 2014 2014 2016 2016 2018 2018 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Note:1998 Total 2000 plantation area includes other plantations.

–01 –99 –03 –03 –01 –05 –05 –03 –07–07 –09–09 –07 –11axis) –09 –13–13–11 –15 –17–17–15 –19 –09 –09 –11 –11 –13 –13 –15 –17 –19 –19 –99 –01 –11 –15–13 –19 –17 –09 –11 –13 –15 –17–15 –19–17 Hardwood new Hardwood removals New plantations (left Total plantations (right –19 axis)(right axis) Source: ABARES Hardwood new Hardwood removals New–05 plantations (left axis) Total plantations of low commerciality plan- –99 Note: Total plantation area includes other plantations.

Softwood new Softwood removals Downham, R &plantations Gavran, Maxis) 2020, plantation update,axis) ABARES, Canberra, June, CC BY 4.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa Softwood new Softwood removals Hardwood Hardwood removals plantations (left Total plantations (right2020 axis) Hardwoodnew Hardwood new new Hardwood Hardwood removals removals NewNew plantations New (left axis) (leftAustralian axis) Total plantations Total statistics plantations (right axis) (right tations unless there are new Source: Softwood Softwood removals Softwoodnew new Softwood new Softwood removals Softwood removals Total plantation area includes other plantations. drivers to expand or main-Note:Note: Total plantation area includes other plantations.

Source: ABARES Note: Source: Total area plantation areaother includes other plantations.

ABARES tain the current plantation Note: Total plantation includes plantations.

Note: TotalNote: plantation Total plantation area includes other includes plantations.

Note: Total area plantation area includes other plantations.

Source: Downham, R& Gavran, Mother 2020,plantations.

Australian plantation statistics 2020 update, ABARES, Canberra, June, CC BY 4.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa Source: ABARES Source: ABARES Source: ABARES Source: Downham, R &plantations.

Gavran, M 2020, Australian plantation statistics 2020 update, ABARES, Canberra, June, CC BY 4.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa Total plantation area includes other estate.

Note: Note: Total Note: plantation Totalarea plantation includes area other includes plantations. other plantations.

Source: Downham, R & Gavran, M 2020, Australian plantation statistics 2020 update, ABARES, Canberra, June, CC BY 4.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa Source: Downham, Source: Downham, R & Gavran,RM& 2020, Gavran, Australian M 2020, plantation Australian statistics plantation2020 statistics update, 2020 ABARES, update,Canberra, ABARES,June, Canberra, CC BYJune, 4.0. DOI: CC BYhttps://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa 4.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25814/5ecb5411d91fa

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Plant more trees so future generations can build homes T

he COVID pandemic has taught us a lot about our own lives, our country and how the economy works. There are certainly lessons for Australia’s forest industries as well.

After the shock of the initial lockdown in early 2020 and the implementation of measures like JobKeeper and JobSeeker to help keep the economy afloat, the Federal Government rightly decided to stimulate the nation’s building and construction industry directly, with the hugely popular and ultimately oversubscribed HomeBuilder scheme.

With Australians stuck at home looking at the four walls of their living rooms and having to put off planned travel and other events, many decided to act on home improvements.

Thus, the COVID induced building boom took off and people took advantage of the incentives on offer to either build new homes or

VICTOR VIOLANTE Acting CEO Australian Forest Products Association

undertake renovations and extensions to existing properties.

Of course, the demand for locally sourced timber sharply increased, prompting Australia’s major sawmillers to add overtime and weekend shifts to process timber, doing what they could to meet demand from builders and frame and truss manufacturers nationwide.

At the same time, imported structural timber

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dried up as global demand surged, exposing Australia’s over-reliance on timber imports to fill supply-demand gaps as they had in the past.

Inevitably, this led to delays to projects and a product like timber became like what we associate with gold.

There were even stories of timber products going missing from building sites.

We’ve known in forest industries for a long time that our plantation estate has been declining and that more production trees need to be planted. AFPA has been banging on about this for years.

The difference in the past year though, is that many Australians can now see, and many have felt the effects of what it will be like if we don’t plant trees to meet the timber demand in decades to come.

The truth is that sovereign capability in timber and fibre is just as important as food and fuel security. Timber frames build shelter to

IMAGE: FWPA

keep us out of the elements and fight climate change at the same time.

AFPA recently released a joint analysis with Master Builders Australia which showed that by the year 2035 Australia will be 250,000 house frames short of demand. That’s cities the size of Geelong and Newcastle combined that we will be short!

Australia imports about a quarter of its timber needs.

The pandemic has also taught us that when world demand increases, we cannot always rely on imports, especially when other countries are experiencing the same demand trends as us. Just another reason to achieve sovereign capability for the future.

AFPA is working closely with the housing construction sector to call for 400,000 hectares of new plantations to be established by 2030 under the Commonwealth’s ‘Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth’ Plan that

was launched in 2018. That is what’s needed to keep up with demand in the decades ahead.

Federal Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Senator Jonno Duniam, recently convened a meeting with his state and territory counterparts to initiate a greater dialogue with state and territory jurisdictions in an attempt to drive progress in plantings. This is an important step as all major timber plantation programs in Australia in the last 60 years have been the result of state and federal government initiatives. However, it must be led by the Federal Government because this is a national issue that needs national leadership.

AFPA will stay on the ball here and continue to make the case for expanded plantations. However, the Commonwealth and states and territories really need to come to the table to encourage more production tree plantings.

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FORESTRY NOW 2021

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Extending our ‘forest products family’ F

orest industries are a key industry in NSW, employing 21,000 people across the value chain and adding $7 billion of economic activity annually.

The major forestry regions of NSW are the North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, South West Slopes, and the South Coast, including Eden and Bombala. The industry can be broadly divided into softwood plantation and native hardwood timber-based industries, each with its own supply chain, who produce timber-based products and packaging materials including cardboard and liner board.

In NSW there are 63 hardwood mills and 13 softwood mills who usually process more 4.1 million cubic metres of sawlogs. Operations

20

mand and supply equation has been balanced, with some mills working beyond capacity, especially when there was access to salvage logs. The timber shortage has bitten, as demonstrated by the recent NSW Government initiative to make timber in the north of the state, originally earmarked for export, available to the southern-based industries.

As part of the bushfire recovery efforts, both industry members and Forestry Corporation NSW have had a record-breaking planting season. It is estimated that around 20 million trees have been impacted by the have been planted in the national timber shortage state, with the majority in resulting from increased the softwood sector.

Wood fibre processors national demand and exacerbated in NSW by the usually process around 1.5 Black Summer bushfires of million cubic metres of pul2019/2020. At times the de- plogs, and residues from

SUE GRAU CEO AFPA NSW

FORESTRY NOW 2021

sawmills are used for pulp and paper manufacturing, with availability of timber obviously impacting on these areas of the supply chain. This sector has been vital for producing essential products like food packaging and household tissues and toilet paper during the extensive lockdowns experienced in the state.

AFPA NSW is well placed to coordinate and advocate for industry players throughout the value chain. An important focus for the future will be to promote the benefits of our industry in NSW, the services it performs and the goods it produces. This includes: • fighting climate change through carbon storage in forests and products.

• fire fighting and weed and pest control.

• multi-use forests providing the environment and community with biodiversity benefits along with recreational opportunities.

Extending our “forest products family” is key to promoting these benefits and reclaim the momentum for industry support. This forms an important base for demonstrating the urgent need to grow the plantation estate through a national One Billion Trees strategy.

AFPA NSW is a new peak body looking after the long and diverse supply chains from seed to trees to the timber and wood products loved and used every day.

This includes NSW timber for house frames and highquality furniture, flooring, decks and doors, and wood fibre products like cardboard and paper.

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Victoria facing changes and challenges V

ictorian native forestry is at the cusp of massive changes.

By 2030, the Victorian Government has decided that harvesting native trees will cease, with a significant step down in 2024.

The Government did commit $110M for softwood plantation in Gippsland and $120M for a transition package.

The Victorian Opposition has stated publicly that it would overturn this decision should they be successful in being elected at the 2022 election. The decision no doubt pleased environmentalists but poses some obvious supply challenges for native wood products.

An obvious challenge across Victoria is the lack of knowledge about our industry amongst the broader population, and an ideologically driven environmental activism agenda.

This makes having our voice heard difficult but a

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DEB KERR CEO VFPA

IMAGE: FWPA

challenge that our industry must rise to.

Resource Security Recent supply challenges for housing and construction timber highlights the need for sovereign softwood and hardwood plantations.

Looking forward to 2035, the current crunch will see Victoria hardest hit. A recent report by Master Builders Australia and the Aus-

tralian Forestry Products Association found that Victoria will be over 76,000 timber frames short by 2030.

Trees planted today will benefit our children and grandchildren as these will reach harvestable age after 2040.

As advocates for the Victorian forestry industry, we must work with our members to find answers to the challenges of our industry that find government support and are sustainable in the long run.

FORESTRY NOW 2021

The answer partly rests with good relationships with key decision makers.

Our sustainability and ecological obligations are the highest in the world.

What is needed is a political will and vision to invest, in the continued operation of the forestry industry.

That means the planting of trees – lots of them.

Dramatic action is needed to tackle the substantial timber shortage. Australia-wide, this requires the planting of 400,000 new

hectares of plantations by 2030.

The benefits are obvious; creating jobs, increasing and maintaining sovereign capability while providing consumers with Victorian forestry products that follow the highest sustainability standards.

We already provide the ultimate renewable material. The Victorian forestry stands at the ready to work with all stakeholders towards growing a sustainable future.

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Despite hurdles, industry booming on the island state T

he Tasmanian forestry industry has certainly had its share of ups and downs over the past decades but the good news is, forestry and related industries on our island state are booming.

The driving force in Tasmania’s resurging industry is one of “on island processing” mentality. Because of this we are seeing an era of great innovation and value adding of both plantation and native timbers. This innovation is all happening locally and is resulting in significant capital investment and accompanied by a growing number of skilled jobs.

Highly valued timbers continue to be processed here at our sawmills, who are venturing out to produce high quality veneers, construction ply, glue lam and wood/plastic composites.

We are seeing investment into research and trials to develop new applications for eucalyptus nitens hard-

NICK STEEL CEO Tasmanian Forest Products Association

wood plantations. This is happening in the areas of cross laminated timber for construction and ongoing work into plantation timbers for appearance products such as veneer panels, furniture, flooring and kitchens.

All this good news has not stopped our detractors as we face a huge disconnect between the products

VICTORIA - HEAD OFFICE 8 Wallace Avenue, Point Cook Victoria, 3030 Peter Randalls 0418 356 306 Peter O’Malley 0437 541 154 Phone (03) 9369 8988 Email randalls@randalls.com.au Web www.randalls.com.au

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people use everyday and an “anything but forestry” attitude that leads to the adamant belief that plantations can be a substitute to all timber products.

To address this, we have embarked on an education campaign seeking to connect people with the forestry products they use and interact with every day. The campaign is called “This is Us” and more information can be found at tasmaniantimber. com.au and on our social media channels.

The Tasmanian industry is working hard to continue to innovate and we believe we have struck the right balance with some of the highest levels of forest protection in the world, a sustainable model that sees every native tree harvested resown for the future and a booming plantation sector producing hardwood fibre and much needed pine for everyday construction throughout Australia.

TASMANIA 2/5 Legana Park Drive, Legana Tasmania, 7277 Anthony Williams 0487 700 306

NEW SOUTH WALES 14 Wembley Place, Bathurst New South Wales, 2795 Jake Graham 0417 725 092

NEW ZEALAND STH 28 Paterson Street, Invercargill New Zealand, 9810 Brett McIntyre 0272 014 149

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 17 Bodey Circuit, Mount Gambier South Australia, 5290 David Herrewyn 0419 594 043

QUEENSLAND 715 Kandanga-Imbil Road, Imbil Queensland, 4570 Adrian Hartwig 0409 785 536

VICTORIA-GIPPSLAND 9 Rovan Place, Bairnsdale Victoria, 3875 Mike Cooper 0409 459 870

FORESTRY NOW 2021

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SA to suffer if trees aren’t planted S

outh Australia’s was the birthplace of Australia’s plantation forestry industry almost 150 years ago and today the industry in South Australia directly and indirectly employs over 18,000 people across the entirety of the value chain and contributes over $3 billion to the state’s economy annually.

The epicenter of the industry is the Green Triangle which delivers: - 35 per cent of Australia’s locally produced house framing and interior sawn wood; - 25% of the nation’s particle board; - 48% of the packaging and industrial grade timber; and - 60% of the poles, posts, fencing and similar products used in the agriculture, horticulture and external environments.

In any ordinary year, the forestry or timber industry would not be of note but COVID has not just brought us news of woe and pain

will soon hit the unenviable milestone of losing 30,000 hectares of our plantation estate in the Green Triangle due to water policies and on Kangaroo Island we have lost a further 20,000 hectares of estate due to a failure of Government to provide the necessary regulatory support.

For a long time, the South Australian forestry industry has been very much a long-term success story but without radical and urgent changes to State Government policies, it is an industry that will suffer into the future unless we get more from across the globe but trees in the ground.

Global trends show us also never before known shortages of critical build- that the future will be fiber ing supplies such as struc- constrained and in losing tural timber and engineered this estate, we will also lose the opportunity that comes wood products.

As a result, timber and with being able to grow forestry is now being recog- trees, sequester carbon nized by our political lead- greening the environment ers for its intrinsic impor- and building the homes for tance to the community and our children and their children after the. the broader economy.

But there is positive news In South Australia, we

NATHAN PAINE CEO South Australian Forest Products Association

But there is positive news on the horizon with the current timber shortages shining a spotlight on the forestry industry and the importance place we hold in the economy and community.

on the horizon with the current timber shortages shining a spotlight on the forestry industry and the importance place we hold in the economy and community.

South Australia will go to the polls on 19 March 2022 and SAFPA is driving a bold policy agenda firmly placing the forest products industry front and center of the election campaign in a way it never has before.

SAFPA is coordinating and advocating for the industry value chain. An important focus for the future will be to promote the benefits of our industry in South Australia, the services it performs, the goods it produces, the development it enables and the greener future it delivers. This includes:

- Delivering a green future and fighting climate change through carbon storage in forests and products.

- firefighting and protecting our estate.

- Increasing the connection of our community to our forests through recreational opportunities.

- Supporting our building and construction industry.

SAFPA is the peak representing the long and diverse supply chains from seed to trees to the timber and wood products loved and used every day. This includes South Australia’s timber for house frames and high-quality furniture, flooring, decks and doors, and wood fibre products like cardboard and paper.

NEW ZEALAND NTH 41 Lee Martin Road, Hamilton New Zealand, 3283 Jason Donaldson 0274 488 693

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FORESTRY NOW 2021

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Challenging times for WA I

HAVE stepped into the role as Chief Executive Officer at a challenging time for WA forestry.

There have been significant announcements impacting our industry in the last month and we are still very much navigating our way through the detail.

The biggest of those announcements was the decision to end native logging in WA by 2024, with a $50 million Just Transition Plan to support affected workers and communities.

Our industry is still reeling from this political decision, which came suddenly and without any consultation or warning.

Despite the State Government’s insistence otherwise, it is not based on science. Just two years ago, the current government signed off on the sustainability of native forestry at the midterm audit of the Forest Management Plan, which is underpinned by extensive modelling and accounts for climate change.

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ADELE FARINA CEO Forest Industries Federation (WA)

What we do know, is that the $50 million Just Transition Plan is inadequate to meet business and employee needs, let alone regional communities that need to be accounted for.

We also now know that it will not be the end of all native forestry. Since the initial announcement there have been concessions made for ecological thinning and forest management, and Premier Mark McGowan has stated he “expects” timber to be available for artisan furniture and firewood.

When asked how much would be available, his re-

“

sponse was simply, “enough”.

It does not build confidence for those businesses down the supply chain which rely on sustainable native timber production or provide any indication as to how much of our industry will be required to facilitate the unknown volume.

Other industries are now starting to understand just how much this decision will impact them, as the ripple effect extends from forestry through to furniture, floorboards, decking and joinery, firewood, poultry farmers, landscapers and nature playgrounds.

Native forestry exists to meet the demand for hardwood timber and there is no surplus in other states, so timber imports look set to increase.

Much to the State Government’s disappointment, this decision is not being celebrated by all and the impacts are wide-reaching.

A more positive aspect of the announcement was an expansion of the softwood

We need land identified and trees in the ground, now. plantation estate, something industry has been campaigning government to act on for years.

This includes an investment of $350 million over 10 years, equating to 33,000 hectares of softwood timber.

Similar to the native forestry decision, little information is available of the detail of the expansion and when planting will commence – which is concerning given land prices in suitable areas are at record highs.

We need land identified and trees in the ground, now.

WA’s softwood plantation industry generates $617 million annually, with locally supplied and manufactured timber being a popular choice for construction in

WA for house frames, cabinetry, doors, timber floors and decks.

A recent report by the Australian Forest Products Association and Master Builders Association highlighted the impeding timber deficit facing the nation, with an expected shortage of 250,000 timber housing frames by 2035.

In WA that deficit will be over 40,800 housing frames, or the equivalent to the size of the city of Bunbury.

So, while industry very much welcomes the softwood expansion, the gap is still looming and will be exacerbated by a native timber shortage come 2024, amid global record demand for timber and timber products.

We want WA to be part of the sustainable solution, rather than creating more problems by increasing a reliance on timber imports from other countries, with less sustainable forestry management practices than our own.

Forestry is the foundation of our lifestyles. Every year 70 million trees are planted. Productive conservation of our working forests provides environmentally managed timber and paper products you use every day.

FORESTRY NOW 2021

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Queensland industry remains positive T

imber is ingrained in the culture of Queensland, with a long history of native forest production from the early days of European settlement that peaked in the 1950s at around 1.4 million cubic metres of hardwood sawlog in addition to extensive native cypress production.

The ubiquitous ‘Queenslander’ is a testimony to the tropical lifestyle and historic use of native timber in construction, which has been supplemented in recent times with the softwood plantation industry for house framing and engineered wood products.

Queensland’s plantation resources are drawn from the exotic pine (Caribbean pine and slash pine hybrids) and hoop pine (a member of the Araucaria family). This diverse industry generates almost $4 billion in annual output and supports 25,000 jobs, with over 70% of these located outside the Brisbane area.

With 52.5 million hectares of native forest and 200,000 hectares of highquality softwood plantation, Queensland has the largest forested area in the country.

We also have room to grow with large areas of land that could potentially be used for plantations if given the

MICK STEPHENS CEO Timber Queensland

right market signals, such as more equitable access to carbon markets and new thinking around multiple investment streams from farm forestry. Timber Queensland has recently partnered with the Cooperative Research Centre for Northern Australia to undertake more research into assessing the net benefits to landowners from planted forests integrated with beef grazing. We hope to be able to jointly announce some exciting new research, including applied field trials in Far North Queensland, in the future with a range of R&D partners.

In addition, there is an opportunity to boost industry growth and investment through the two regional forestry hubs established in Queensland as part of the Commonwealth funded National Forest Industries Plan. Both the South and Central Queensland and North Queensland hubs have local steering committees of industry representatives and stakeholders working on identifying priority issues and projects for further growth.

Broad priority themes have been identified across the Queensland hubs including: skills and training, manufacturing competitiveness, plantation investment models, native forest management, communications, and bioenergy and carbon.

In North Queensland, indigenous forestry has also been identified as a priority given the large proportion of land that is owned or co-managed by indigenous communities. The North Queensland hub will also work collaboratively with the newly announced Northern Territory hub given the opportunities for growth across the north.

At a higher policy level, Timber Queensland is participating on the Native Timber Advisory Panel, established to provide advice

to the State Government on native timber supply options into the future.

This panel is comprised of industry, environmental, union and indigenous representatives and will look at supply from both private and crown native forest resources. The panel was announced in November 2017 as part of the Palaszczuk Governments ‘Timber Action Plan’ which explicitly recognised the failure of the state’s hardwood plantation program and the need to support jobs and refresh the former South-East Queensland Forest Agreement post-2024.

In addition, the State Government will be establishing a Timber Industry

Ministerial Advisory Committee to work more closely with the forest and timber industry, which was part of a 2020 pre-election promise. This will be an opportunity to identify barriers and opportunities for further growth and provide a whole of government mechanism for industry to provide input.

Overall, with strong demand for timber products and well-established supply chains, the outlook for the Queensland industry remains positive and will be dependent on supportive Government policies on key issues such as native forest resource security and access to land for plantation expansion.

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The new 594F belongs to the new generation of F-forwarders that has been developed with the driver in focus. The model has been fitted with a completely new cab, where space, comfort and visibility are prioritized - all in order for you to work as a driver, both more comfortable and efficiently.

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FORESTRY NOW 2021

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Carbon farming a new way to mix trees with traditional practices

H

ave you ever thought of farming carbon?

While an atmospheric gas may not be the first thing you think of cultivating, carbon farming is an increasingly profitable practice in Australia, working alongside farming operations to unlock new income streams, and even increase productivity.

tary buyers will be 15 times higher by 2030.

How is Carbon Farming complement existing operafunded? tions to deliver benefits for Land managers are awardbusiness as well as the envied for approved projects in ronment. units called Australian CarCarbon Farming in Australia bon Credit Units (ACCUs).

In Australia, land man- One ACCU represents one agers have participated in tonne of stored or avoided carbon farming initiatives CO2 (or greenhouse gas since 2011, when the first equivalent). These credits scheme was introduced are then purchased by the What is Carbon Farming? through the Emissions Re- government, or by compaCO2 emissions remain the duction Fund (ERF) – a gov- nies wishing to voluntarily leading cause of climate ernment-run program that offset their emissions – a change. Carbon farming allows farmers to generate trend that is growing exponentially with the voluntary works in two main ways to and sell carbon credits.

Around 100 million cred- carbon market predicted combat this: by reducing the release of carbon into its have been awarded to to be worth more than $50 the atmosphere (carbon date. Each project uses an billion by 2030. Buyers are abatement), or by storing approved methodology de- willing to pay a premium carbon in the landscape signed to suit its location, for projects that have a farming practice, land avail- strong story to tell beyond (carbon sequestration).

Projects often involve ability and history. There offsetting – such as habitat changes to land manage- are approximately 1,000 provision for native species, ment practices such as projects currently regis- or investment in local comclearing regimes, pest tered across Australia, with munities. control, tilling systems, or demand for high quality, Eligible methodologies fire management. But that high integrity carbon proThere are a variety of cardoesn’t mean you have to jects rapidly increasing. In lock up your land. When fact, McKinsey estimates bon farming methods apdone well, carbon projects that demand from volun- proved by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) that allow land managers to participate and profit.

Vegetation projects maximise the amount of onfarm vegetation available to store carbon: • Human-Induced Regeneration projects regenerate bushland and forests that have been previously suppressed by overgrazing or mechanical and chemical activity. Solutions may include implementing rotational grazing or managing feral herds to allow for natural regrowth.

• Avoided Deforestation and Avoided Clearing projects preserve areas of naFor detailed info on the Bruks Mobile Chipper tive vegetation previously marked for scheduled range sold by Scan Forestry in Australia go to: clearing or conversion scanforestry.com.au/bruks-wood-chippers to cropland or grassland.

This way, carbon can remain stored and the Tumut, NSW emissions associated with clearing are avoided.

Mobile Chippers

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FORESTRY NOW 2021

Queensland's Nadia • Campbell who with husband Robert recently sold the first-ever Australian Carbon Credit Units.

Other carbon abatement strategies place more emphasis on altering existing farm systems: • Soil Carbon projects improve the soil’s ability to store carbon, a process proven to boost soil quality and therefore productivity. In fact, soil carbon sequestration is seen as the most important and cost-effective system for addressing global CO2 levels.

• Beef Herd projects improve the overall health, nutrition, age structure and productive efficiency of cattle to reduce emissions of herds 10,000 head or greater.

• Animal Effluent Management projects reduce emissions in piggeries or dairies by introducing new ways to treat waste through destructing methane.

topsoil from erosion and run-off.

High quality carbon farming projects rolled out in close collaboration with farmers can also optimise the productivity and profitability of their current farming operations, providing: • Stable income not reliant on commodity prices • Ability to invest in onfarm infrastructure eg. fencing, water points and trap yards • A more resilient business, better able to withstand extreme weather events • Improved animal health • Higher productivity due to increased water retention and soil health Local communities benefit too, with the land manager’s renewed ability to invest back into the area via infrastructure upgrades, job creation and skills development.

The benefits of Carbon Farming

How to get involved

Carbon farming goes beyond new revenue to provide key benefits for producers, communities and the environment – enhancing the long-term sustainability of land and livelihoods.

Environmental benefits include restoring biologicial diversity above and below ground, improving water quality and soil health, improving habitat size and quality for native wildlife – including endangered species – and protection of

Carbon farming is more than just a pathway to landscape rehabilitation. It’s a way for land managers to earn diversified income for their farm and provide income, jobs and security to regional communities. Carbon farming can be done independently or with a partner like GreenCollar who can help address eligibility, incentivise best market prices and achieve optimal credit production.

For more information contact GreenCollar. www.forestrynow.au

Changes set to boost carbon emissions reduction scheme

A

leading carbon farming project services provider believes recent changes to the 2021 plantation forestry method regulations and carbon price increases will boost uptake of the carbon emissions reduction scheme.

Zoe Ryan, Executive Manager Business Development for Climate Friendly - a profit for purpose carbon farming project services provider - said the big change was two new activities that are being introduced which will expand eligibility.

The two new activities are conversion to a not for harvest plantation, and continuation of commercial plantation activity for plantations deemed at risk for conversion to agriculture.

“For the first new activity, you would take the commercial plantation and either not harvest it, and maintain it as a permanent planting, or you could harvest and replace it with a permanent environmental planting,” Ms Ryan said.

“The second new activity is continuation of a commercial plantation activity for plantations deemed at risk for conversion to agriculture.”

Ms Ryan said the main players at present are large plantation companies.

She said they had the economies of scale to manage the costs including audit fees which could hit around $60,000 during the lifetime of the carbon project.

However smaller growers have been able to participate in the market through

aggregated carbon projects, which reduce some transaction costs..

“The other change at play here, of course, is the carbon price.”

Ms Ryan said the carbon price had doubled in the past year.

“It’s still well below international prices, it might sit.

But it has doubled in the past year.

“It’s now getting towards a level where it’s really going to make a difference in plantation forestry investments.

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Forestry’s role in the carbon emissions debate cial forestry, and therefore more trees in the ground.

Thanks to the ability of wood to capture and store carbon, as well as the emissions avoided by not using more carbon-intensive alternatives, greater use of wood has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

The presentation went on to consider approaches the ASX50 could take to carbon abatement that would offset 10 per cent of emis-

RIC SINCLAIR Managing Director FWPA

A

ttendees at the inaugural Australian Forest Products Association National Forest Industries Symposium were offered insights from FWPA on the role of commercial forestry in offsetting carbon emissions from Australia’s biggest companies, and simultaneously helping to solve the global housing crisis.

The symposium was attended by a cross section of industry stakeholders including growers, processors, manufacturers, transporters, retailers, researchers and government. Delegates heard from industry leaders about current challenges, and learned about new research and emerging innovations.

FWPA Managing Director Ric Sinclair gave a presentation focusing on two of the major challenges today’s world is facing — climate change due to carbon emissions and housing an evergrowing global population.

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potential growth when it comes to timber usage is construction. In fact, a one per cent increase in structural timber market share has the estimated potential to reduce emissions by between 0.8 and 2.6 Mt CO2e by 2050. More timber in construction also brings the obvious additional benefit of helping to solve the global housing crisis.

The presentation went on to consider how to promote the opportunities around

One industry ripe for potential growth when it comes to timber usage is construction.

Australia’s annual net emissions are currently 494 Mt carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). Enterprises listed in the ASX50 account for approximately 13 per cent of that figure, while forestry (alongside land use change) accounts for minus 4.9 per cent.

To illustrate the importance of forestry in mitigating climate change, the audience was presented with the concept of ‘the virtuous cycle’.

Essentially, the virtuous cycle hinges on the reality that increased demand for wood equals more commer-

FORESTRY NOW 2021

sions over the next 25 years.

Land-use carbon abatement strategies including commercial forestry and environmental plantings, were highlighted as forming a key pillar of any company’s optimum approach.

Of the available land-use abatement tactics, commercial plantations may be seen as preferable because they abate between 1.3 and 3.5 times more CO2-e per hectare than environmental plantings, while offering more predictable and potentially lower establishment costs.

One industry ripe for

carbon offsets and commercial forestry amongst businesses, the community and government.

“One important element of any approach to ensuring more political and public support for timber use is likely to involve a costly and prolonged process of ‘fighting the counter intuitive’,” Mr Sinclair said.

“This will include education around wood’s ability to store carbon, the opportunities to build safely using timber with fire in mind, and how harvesting and replanting trees is of benefit to the environment.”

www.forestrynow.au

Investing for Growth As the industry responds to challenging and uncertain years, now more than ever, you need the right finance partner to help secure your long-term growth.

In our investment-hungry industry, operators are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the funding they need for new equipment. We are seeing that lenders are disrupted and have a reduced appetite to engage with forestry and logging operators. We are here to bridge this disconnect.

From over 30 years working alongside forestry operators, we have the contacts and know-how to secure the right lines of credit.

- We move quickly and provide you with an easy and seamless approach to securing finance.

- We spread your portfolio across lenders and put the control of your business back in your hands.

- We advocate strongly on your behalf for the best possible finance terms.

Like you, we’re in the industry for the long-term.

Give us a call to talk about how we can help to grow your business.

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www.linxaustraliagroup.com.au

Native timber underpinning economies as key employer eastern shires in Wellington and East Gippsland alone.

Plantation timber is insufficient to support the entire timber industry. It requires 40 to 60 years to develop hardwood plantation timber for harvesting and the Government has currently failed to meet its own plantation planting targets for 2030. In addition, the planted timber is blue gum, only suitable for pulp wood. Blue Gum cannot be substituted for the timber required for the construction and local manufacturing industries, which are already experiencing significant shortfalls in hardwood.

V

ictoria has the capacity to maintain a financially viable and sustainable native timber industry supporting thousands of workers, their families, and businesses, while protecting Old Growth Forest and endangered wildlife.

Not only does native forest management deliver positive social and economic outcomes, but it is also critical to combating climate change.

The current plan by the Victorian Government to phase out the industry is not supported by economic or environmental data and will occur at the detriment of communities, industries and the environment.

Rather than phasing out

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Economic impact

CR KAREN STEPHENS President Timber Towns Victoria

the industry, native forestry should be expanded to relieve pressure on the dwindling resource, improve our existing $2billion trade deficit in wood and timber products and improve employment security for regional Victorians. Native timber production in public forests promotes carbon storage

and must be taken seriously if Victoria is to tackle climate change The current situation In November 2019, the Victorian Government announced its plan to phase out native forest logging by 2030. Harvest levels will be maintained at current levels to 2024, then reduced by 25% in 2025, and a further 25% from 2026 to 2030.

The Government’s policy is to transition the remaining native forest timber industry to plantation timber. Only $120 million is offered as a transition package for the whole of Victoria; a recent economic report shows the industry is worth $311 million per annum across two

FORESTRY NOW 2021

According to VicForests, native timber contributes around $500 million to the economy per annum. The entire Victorian timber industry employs around 21,000 people across the State. The native timber industry underpins entire local economies and is a key employer, if not the major employer in many small towns in Gippsland. The native timber sector generates around 1,800 direct jobs and employs up to 10,000 people in downstream jobs across the state and in Melbourne, particularly in the furniture making industry.

The loss of native timber industry jobs will have devastating flow-on impacts for workers in small regional

communities and for downstream construction industries. These flow-on effects need to be fully understood - it’s not just timber workers who will lose their jobs.

Regulated v unregulated markets Victoria’s native timber industry is regulated, sustainable, and renewable.

• Victoria has more than 7.64 million hectares of native forest. 94% of the native forests are unavailable and/ or unsuitable for harvesting.

• VicForests harvests and regenerates approximately 3,000 hectares each year from Multiple-use Public Forests. That equates to just 0.04% of Victoria’s 7,645,000 hectares of native forest area– equivalent to 4 trees in 10,000.

• Victoria’s most environmentally important forest areas are protected in 1.6 million hectares of Victorian Nature Conservation Reserve and can never be harvested.

• All Victorian Old Growth Forest is protected within the reserve system or excluded from harvesting through prescription; Old Growth Forest cannot be harvested.

A ban on Victoria’s native timber industry means that timber required for the construction and manufacturing industries will be sourced from other jurisdictions, including unregulated overseas markets.

www.forestrynow.au

Shortage of skilled operators must be addressed F

orestWorks has been examining what our industry’s future needs are likely to be.

In addition to our scientists and mechanics, we’ll need mobile and fixed plant operators with specialised industry skills.

We’ll need workers who can use and apply technology to the problems they face on the job and who can adapt to a more mechanised, automated and computerised workplace.

We’ll need workers who are knowledgeable about environmental concerns as well as the demands placed on limited resources at the local, national and international levels.

A design mindset, as well as critical thinking, problem solving and an understanding of how systems function, will also be required.

We’ll need workers who are good communicators, who interact well with others and have a high level of social intelligence, as well as personnel with high level financial, quality management and information and communications technology skills.

At a business level, we all need to think about the jobs that don’t exist yet but will emerge. And how we’re going to recruit or train our people to fill those jobs.

YVETTE NASH General Manager ForestWorks

Will your business require more data analysts or data scientists to map forest inventories, analyse production, model fire behaviour and provide realtime advice? There are also logistics analysts and energy efficiency engineers to consider. What about digital marketing analysts and social media experts?

We must also ensure that we have a supply of people with the necessary skills to fill the current shortages.

Saw technicians, wood machinists, mechanics, fitters and electricians are just some of the skilled workers that are in shortage or demand, as are a wide range of machinery operators and drivers, including excavators and loader operators.

There are some local shortages of foresters as well.

These skills needs can be addressed through recruitment or training. But it will occur in the context of an

• A student undergoes virtual training on a harvester simulator. industries as diverse and We must consider how the We all need to for specialised as ours.

Vocational Education and This was highlighted re- Training (VET) system in think about the cently with a proposed dele- Australia can better serve us of the wood machining and develop a way to comjobs that don’t tion apprenticeship from the municate with the governFurnishing Training Pack- ment about what we need. exist yet. industry which is aging faster than the Australian workforce and Governments that struggle to support training

age due to low enrolments.

If industry doesn’t invest in VET and use it’s specialised qualifications, they are at risk of deletion.

But we must also consider how each of us will contribute to our industry’s skill base with our own plans for training.

Giving those with a past a future in forestry

G

erard Bennett has a different view of the future for employing staff in the forestry industry in Tasmania.

TP Bennett and Sons’ General Manager – Operations and Safety has for some time now been employing people who have been overlooked by other industries.

“I’ve been with this company and in the industry for 32 years, and it has done a lot of good by me,” he said.

Gerard joined TP Bennett and Sons in July 1989 as a machinery operator and has over the years become a fixture of not only TP Bennett and Sons - but that of the industry. Gerard’s passion and commitment to the industry

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- and those who work either beside him, are mentored by him, or seek knowledge from him is second to none.

Over Gerard’s career, he has been instrumental in many industry forums and more importantly, has become a mentor to many “new kids on the block”.

Gerard said that a few years ago he just started thinking about giving a little bit back.

He became and a trainer and assessor as well.

“Training is an investment and there is a cost to it,” Gerard said.

“We thought it’s not that easy just to go and find someone that can hit the ground running.

So he went looking for those that

he felt just needed a little help finding direction.

“Oddly enough we try to find them before they fall into the court system,” Gerard said.

Now, quite a lot of people Bennett’s has employed over recent years are those no one else has given a break.

“We’ve had employees that have had trouble with the police or substance abuse and all that sort of thing,” Gerard said.

“A lot of people had just written them off but they come to us because we have their mates already working for us.”

Over the years Bennett’s has been working with these trainees Gerard believes the success rate

FORESTRY NOW 2021

has been better than 80%.

“We’ve had situations where we write letters of support to lawyers, and we go to court and have a talk to the magistrate,” Gerard said.

“And that surprises the magistrate that an employer will go actually go down that path.

“We have to put the effort in to moulding them and to give them a chance.

“We have had a couple that we’ve trained up and they are still in the industry but they want to go and try something else and you’ve got to let them go.

“I think it speaks well that a lot of employers now know that a former employee of ours will be an asset to them.”

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AKD’s approach – long-term view and holistic strategies W

ith an industry tenure of more than seven decades now, AKD won’t claim it can predict the future.

But the company’s longevity and ongoing commitment to the industry does give it credibility when it says it is are driven by taking a long-term view.

The company’s optimism about the future is evi-

34

denced by the level of capital investment over the period 2020 to 2023 in the order of $100-$130 million.

The company has three streams of ongoing growth based on increasing investment building the company’s future and helping make our industry more sustainable.

They are: 1.

Plantations - AKD’s

FORESTRY NOW 2021

Own Plantation Expansion and Resource Security 2. Processing - Smarter manufacturing and smarter building and connecting the two real-time 3. People - Smart People who care about safety, wellbeing, and a sustainable future “None of us have crystal balls but especially in uncertain times, you’ve got to

be clear about what you can and can’t control and what’s important for the long term,” AKD’s CEO, Shane Vicary said.

“The leadership team of AKD is clear about three major seeds for our future – one being to have a commitment to grow AKD’s plantation estate, the second being to keep investing in processing upgrades

www.forestrynow.au

The company has three streams of ongoing growth based on increasing investment building the company’s future and helping make our industry more sustainable.

and expansions to remain globally competitive and thirdly, to keep investing in our people and our culture,” he said.

1. AKD’s Own Plantation Expansion and Resource Security In its current plantation estate of over 10,000 hectares, the company has a strong silviculture regime that is designed to optimize growth rates for sawn products yield, along with a flexible harvesting regime to balance the overall log diet to its East Coast network of sawmills; and that’s just optimizing the current plantation estate.

In addition, over the past 5 years AKD has invested $29 million in plantation and land acquisitions to expand the company’s plantation estate.

On-going, AKD continues to explore opportunities for plantation and land acquisitions. AKD has successfully grown the plantation estate by an average of 5% per annum over the past 5 years through acquisitions and lease arrangements.

Acquiring existing plantations adds to the company’s immediate resource availability and combined with land acquisitions, continues to consolidate longer term resource security for the company.

AKD now has six properties registered under the www.forestrynow.au

Emissions Reduction Fund, over the next one to two creating Carbon Credits years: through carbon sequestra- • Caboolture Sawmill to tion of new pine plantaDouble – AKD Caboolture tions. is located in one of the few regions in Australia 2. Smarter manufacturing where there is additional real-time sawlog availability to supThat long term cycle of port a major scaling up harvesting sawlog and reof this site, with plans to planting makes the input more than double over material precious to AKD, the coming 12 months. but it also ensures a view The foundations of this that optimization of what is are already in place and cut from the sawlog is measfurther forming with long ured and constantly being term log contract supply improved. agreement with HQ PlanInvesting in more flexible tations, along with the and efficient processing camove to a 2-shift structure pacity is taking many difat Caboolture’s green mill ferent forms and projects and installation of a new in AKD – some of these Uni-Directional Continuinvestments are incremenous Drying Kiln (CDK). tal, some involve propri- • Biomass capability - AKD etary pioneering, and some Caboolture will be the are Australian-industry first sawmilling site in firsts. The level of investAustralia to have its own ment equates to more than biomass pellet plant right the cost of building a new on site, integrated into its greenfield sawmill and this operations. This investis a poignant comparison ment will result in usage to make as we know that of drymill shavings to the current sawlog supconvert to wood pellets ply doesn’t support the vifor internal consumption ability of new greenfield in the boiler or potentially sawmill. AKD is however sold externally. Expected very focused on ensuring to be online in December its current manufacturthis year, the $3 million ing operations are futureinvestment will improve proofed and will remain boiler fuel efficiency recompetitive in the coming ducing overall consumpdecades. The planned capition, whilst improving tal investment is across all fibre waste management of its sites including Post & and creating an improved Poles, Yarram, Colac and Irrenewable energy source. rewarra sawmills in VIC and • Colac major drymill upits northern sawmill sites grade – slated as a project at Tumut NSW and Caboolfor next year 2022 and in ture Qld. The current and the order of a $16m inplanned slate of sawmill vestment this upgrade capital investment covers will provide a capability many different areas in the to improve sawn product process and is designed to achieve the following: • Efficiency improvement • Growth • Safety and well-being improvement for AKD team members and our supply chain • Connectivity through the whole process & supply chain – big data management for optimal realtime processing decision making at sawmill machine centres; predictive demand & supply balance modelling across the supply chain Some highlights of AKD’s planned $70m in sawmill processing investment FORESTRY NOW 2021

recovery in sizes and grades that better match market requirements • Tumut new greenmill saw line creates a sustainable business medium term and bridges to future sawlog supply restoration in the region in the longer term – this project will be a significant investment in future proofing Tumut’s capability to process a more flexible log diet and with an investment of over $24m to be managed over the coming 12 to 24 months, this will be another example of AKD creating its future, especially given the current reduction in sawlog volume that this site has had to deal with following the bushfires in 2020.

3. Smart People who care about a sustainable future This is very challenging area for the industry as a whole and AKD is supportive of industry initiatives to help make our industry more attractive to current and future talent. AKD is also carving its own path to both foster talent development amongst existing AKD personnel and also to attract new talent from other industries and all stages of career and life.

AKD has a number of people growth and investment programs running across the business and with many more to come as it grows and continues to evolve as a business.

What is becoming apparent however is that prospec-

tive employees increasingly care about a company’s sustainability credentials and their role in the community.

AKD has a natural positive story to share with prospective employees with regards to this and whilst the tools to promote and educate regarding sustainability credentials are still being explored, the company story and approach stands tall.

AKD’s sustainable approach to people and their futures includes: • Active approach to creating job opportunities which attract high quality, diverse and qualified people • AKD’s Gap Year and Apprenticeship Program – including 30% female intake in the most recent recruitment round - developing and cementing the skills to sustain the industry. Over 50 current Apprentices in the group.

• AKD’s Graduate and Internship Program - aligning with universities and attracting new talent and ideas to the industry • AKD’s PDP (Personal Development Process) for current employees’ growth and development - a focus on the individual.

• AKD Operational Excellence training for business optimization and personal and team development Finally, AKD is an active participant in the communities in which their sawmills are located and believe this is also a key ingredient to being sustainable and ensuring the future of the company and the industry.

35

JohnDeere.com.au/Forestry

A NEW DAY.

LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. TRACTA_J64289_959MH_AU_AFTN

A NEW DEERE.

Combine the power of reliable John Deere engines with our industry-leading, patented levelling system that expands overall working capability, and you have machines that are ready to tackle a wide range of jobsite challenges. Add an industry-leading slope-monitoring system, with 33-deg. fore/aft and 14-deg. side-to-side total range of motion displayed on the in-cab monitor, to confidently operate in tough conditions and boost overall efficiency. Built on over 180 years of ground breaking innovation, backed by more than a half-century of experience in the woods, and designed with proven components to withstand rugged environments.

Our tracked harvesters are made to tackle your most demanding tasks.

It’s a New Day and a New Deere.

Sense of shared purpose and optimism in Tasmania I

n early September I attended the Tasmanian Timber Awards gala dinner organised by the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network.

The event was attended by around 400 people from across the industry – from harvest contractors and forest scientists to boat builders and major processors.

There was a palpable feeling of pride in the room, a sense of shared purpose and optimism about the future of a sustainable forest industry.

As for all industries, the past two years have been challenging, but challenge has bred resilience and innovation.

Forico is, first and foremost, a landscape manager. Our core business is to manage the vast estate we control to balance natural forest values with growing the highest quality plantation timber for a variety of uses, both overseas and domestically.

The work involved to grow a tree may not be as visual as lumber leaving the sawmill, or furniture made in the workshop, but the science and innovation undertaken by Forico is highly specialised.

As with any manufactured product, the result is only as good as the raw materials used.

Forico has a cutting-edge selective breeding program to allow us to grow trees that are more productive in terms of volume, fibre yield and wood density so we can ultimately plant the right species, on the right site, at the right scale.

The science used in our tree breeding program and

BRYAN HAYES CEO FORICO

our nursery allows us to plant trees that will grow faster and produce higher value timber, providing both commercial and environmental benefits, including carbon storage.

Forico is focused on forging industry partnerships to supply high quality plantation wood fibre for a range of value added and downstream processing opportunities, including CLT and rotary peeled veneer.

In addition to the 11.7 million Green Metric Tonnes (GMT) of standing timber in our plantations, Forico manages 77,005 hectares of native forest purely for its natural values.

The business has been on a two-year journey to calculate the dollar value of the biodiversity and natural values under our stewardship.

The result is our groundbreaking 2021 Natural Capital Report which has measured the value of the Estate’s most material ecosystem

“ www.forestrynow.au

services such as plantation wood fibre, carbon, water flows, sediment control and threatened species habitat.

The net positive value of Forico’s natural assets has been conservatively estimated at $3.4 billion, which can be split between $400 million to business and $3 billion to the broader community.

Natural Capital Accounting provides a framework for Forico to record our transactions with nature, ensuring the sustainable use and renewal of these precious resources. It creates a real awareness of the impacts our production activities have on the environment and society.

Forico believes it has a positive role to play in enhancing our knowledge of climate change impacts and to support greater climate resilience in Tasmania’s economy, environment, and society.

Our trees have sequestered more than 126 million

Tasmania’s Forest industry is more diverse and more exciting than arguably at any other time in its history. tonnes of CO2-e from the atmosphere, with a further 54 million tonnes expected to be sequestered by the standing plantation estate before harvest.

Using the social cost of carbon derived by the US Environmental Protection Agency – which is estimated at $68 AUD per tonne of CO2-e – the value of carbon sequestered on Forico’s estate could be as high as $8.6 billion.

Forico’s Natural Capital Report is gaining momentum globally with investors, businesses and industries alike, who are watching closely, keen for us to share our knowledge and experience.

Tasmania has a unique opportunity to promote our nature positive values to national and international markets looking to pay a premium on carbon credits with co-benefits for biodiversity protection and enhancement.

As we look forward, Tasmania’s Forest industry is more diverse and more exciting than arguably at any other time in its history.

A shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement means there is hope for a bright future ahead where sustainable forestry plays an important part in providing a solution to climate change, biodiversity loss and the development of a circular economy.

We believe the forestry industry is vital to the world’s response to climate change, and that it will grow and thrive with investment in the skills of our people.

FORESTRY NOW 2021

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•

Duncan Norton, Ash Garwood, James Baker, and Dave Rowbottom at MechLog’s North-West Tasmania Softwood Clearfall operation.

MechLog reaping rewards of buoyant timber industry T

he Directors of Tasmanian forestry company, Mechanised Logging are surprisingly positive about the state of the industry in their home State.

MechLog’s CEO, Jillian Aylett Brown, believes that Tasmania’s forestry industry could not be in a better place to take advantage of a post-COVID-19 boom.

“The industry has turned the corner as far as COVID-19 is concerned, and we have come out the other side with plenty of contracts to fulfil and a rise in orders for sustainable timber products,” Jillian said.

“Between the construction industry, government

38

investment, and standing contracts that have recently been renewed, MechLog is in a great place.

“There was some chatter earlier on in the year speculating that the industry would lose up to 100 jobs because China had a bit of a hissy-fit, but we are not seeing it. Quite the contrary, we are employing staff, training new talent, and delivering timber around the clock across Tasmania and

“

in the Green Triangle on the South Australian – Victorian border.

“According to Master Builders Tasmania’s Building and Construction Forecasts, the value of construction activity in Tasmania is expected to top $3.48 billion over the next 12 months.

This will support $10 billion in economic activity across the State. Residential construction has surged, thanks to HomeBuilder, with the forecasts for the construction of new homes now above pre-COVID-19 levels.

“During the last quarter of 2020, Tasmania was one of only places to see growth in civil and engineering con-

MechLog’s CEO Jillian • Aylett Brown. struction. This year, 2021 – and in 2022 – Master Builders Tasmania is forecasting the value of civil construction projects will grow by around $500 million. This is very positive for the timber industry.

“That’s on the commercial side, from a public sector perspective, the Tasmanian Government is supporting the use of timber as the sus-

tainably responsible choice in building and it is promoting Tasmanian timber as the highest-quality wood available to markets around the world.

“Since being re-elected in May, the State Government has established a grant deed for $1.15 million with the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board towards a $2 million strategic marketing campaign focused on raising awareness of the quality and versatility of Tasmanian timber,” Jillian said.

In a statement in August, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, the Hon. Guy Barnett, said that with timber currently in high demand, there is an opportunity to make Tasmanian timber the go-to for architecture and construction, internal design and fit-out and furniture production.

“While the sector is already worth about $1.2 billion to our economy annually, we want to see that grow, providing even more direct benefit to our economy and local communities and supporting even more regional jobs,” Minister Barnett said.

Jillian Aylett Brown added that, unlike New South Wales where some timber processors are facing a perfect storm of recent bushfires affecting supply, unprecedented demand, pandemic lockdowns affecting workers, and a shortage of softwood plantation timber, Tasmania is in an enviable position.

“The timber industry in Tasmania is buoyant, and in a great position to take advantage of any commercial opportunities that present themselves over the next 18 months. We anticipate that 2022 will be a big year not only for MechLog, but for the whole Tasmanian timber industry,” Jillian said.

Australia’s forest industries will continue to build more Australian homes, provide stable regional employment and significantly help in our national fight against climate change.

FORESTRY NOW 2021

www.forestrynow.au

State of the Industry: A time of opportunity

F

orestry Australia is experiencing a renaissance. Over the past few years, we have seen increasing member numbers and increasing member satisfaction and engagement, particularly through our highly valued webinar program.

In mid-October, we are hosting our hybrid National Conference featuring over 150 speakers, 50 hours of content and are expecting over 370 delegates.

Our association is going from strength to strength at a critical time in history.

As we all know, our forests are facing numerous and converging challenges in the wake of the 2019/20 bushfires, ongoing and heightened concerns over climate change and its impacts on forest health and biodiversity, the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing pressures to meet society’s demand for timber and other forest products and services. In the absence of a national shared vision for our forests, and in wanting to be seen to be “doing something”, State governments are reacting with thought-bubble policies that miss the big picture.

Forestry Australia strongly believes that we need to be skilled advocates, as a collective and as individuals, promoting our value, skill

www.forestrynow.au

DR MICHELLE FREEMAN, VP JACQUIE MARTIN, CEO Forestry Australia

and the need for what we do. At times, we will also need to adapt our message and our approach to secure our future. We can no longer consider our forests to be the domain of the forester – they are the domain of everyone. Our role is not to fight against this, but to work towards a healthy and vibrant future for our forests and the sector, through respect, grace and empathy.

The sector knows that forestry holds the key to solving many of our challenges: • Carbon capture to help address climate change • Tools to restore and protect ecosystems and biodiversity • Year-round active man-

Forestry • Australia

President Bob Gordon addresses the conference in Launceston.

agement to mitigate catastrophic fire • Opportunities to work with and learn from Traditional Owners • Opportunities to lead a bioeconomy that benefits regional communities and broader society But most Australians are unaware that our dynamic and sustainable sector can provide so many solutions.

It is our role, as a forestry professional to adapt our approach to engagement through genuine listening and broader collaboration as we build a brighter future for the health of our forests and our communities.

It is time reclaim “forestry” as, the science and

FORESTRY NOW 2021

craft of creating, managing, conserving, using and caring for forests. Science – because there is knowledge and learning that underpins our profession based on observation, measurement and analysis.

Craft – because there is a skill and artform needed that requires us to read, connect with and understand forests in ways that include, but can’t always be described, by western science alone.

Reflecting on the future, it is clear that it is the right time for us to adapt and to pursue a new vision for how we manage our forests, seeking collaborative and holistic approaches to

active and adaptive management. As a sector, there is an opportunity for us to discuss and promote the balance of all forest values and how these values don’t have to compete with each other but can successfully co-exist. A workable future for forestry will require our federal and state forest policies to be well-considered, focus on long-term thinking and informed by evidence and science, and it is our role to light the way.

The challenge is significant, but it is within reach if the sector commits to investing in our collective futures with integrity, hope, positivity, and an open mind.

39

Mr Taylor said that Queensland did not have a Regional Forest Agreement and was already facing closure of the state government hardwood or native industry in 2024.

Mr Taylor said it was too early to tell how many jobs may be lost in the contracting area.

“It depends what packages are offered, what the phase out is what the details are,” he said.

In most cases were was little option for those operators to transition into other areas.

“There is if they didn’t have these great big capital commitments that they need to do something about,” Mr Taylor said.

He said he had been troubled by a recent radio report talking up the shutting down of native forests in favor of tourism jobs.

“It’s a silly comparison.

We’ve just been through a pandemic, which showed how fickle tourism is.

“And it’s ignoring the fact that the forestry industry pays for the road infrastructure.

“And the tourism industry is asked to put their hand up for that.

“So it’s very interesting how they think they’re going to maintain the native Adan Taylor forest access without the is the thin edge of the wedge timber industry paying for it,” Taylor said. of course,” he said.

“There’s just so much lu“And I can only speak for Queensland but we’re go- dicrous misconception out ing to do everything in our there about what the induspower not to go on the same try contributes.”

Mr Taylor said Queensroad.”

Private forestry a way out

A

dan Taylor paints a solemn picture for the forestry industry, but does see a way out.

The chairman of the Australian Forest Contractors Association said he did have concerns for the future in certain parts of the country.

“We’ve just had a big, big fire event in the southwest slopes of New South Wales which has left a number of holes in the resource,” Mr Taylor, who runs GMT Logging based in Imbil, Queensland, said.

“Victoria is talking about its native forestry and obviously the West Australian government is following suit.

“So there’s some rumblings around the country that this

•

land was lucky to have a lot of private forestry.

“We can pivot to that. But that’s a long lead time, because it’s mostly overgrown and hasn’t been managed.

“We need funding for trials on how we tidy all that up,” he said.

“Because I believe, and this is my personal opinion, that the biomass by energy industry can play a part in that.”

Mr Taylor said that trials were needed to “get some numbers around that”.

“I know that we’ve had some research done by a number of bodies, looking into the benefits of small scale woodlot harvesting and how that can work,” he said.

“And I think that’s great, but the average landowner doesn’t have access to markets, the road infrastructure is a problem and the harvest and extraction process is yet to be worked out.

“If we want to pivot away from state owned forestry, then why isn’t the research funding going into the alternative?

“Let’s look at our private native forest. There is a resource there and it can play a big part in carbon emissions.”

Mr Taylor said forestry also needed to be encouraged at an agribusiness level.

“I can see the benefit of thinning it and growing trees alongside cattle grazing as part of business and if you maintain your forests you get some pretty good returns,” he said.

Long-term yields still to be revised Philip Hopkins

T

he long-term sustainable yield of hardwood timber from New South Wales State forests after the 2019-20 bushfires is about 310,000 cubic metres of quality sawlogs, according to a review by NSW Forest Corporation.

The sustainable yield of nonhigh-quality logs in the short term is about 1 million cubic metres.

The least affected area was the North Coast, but the southern forests took a bigger hit.

The review is an interim measure, carried out in the immediate aftermath of the fires when it was not safe to measure the forest inventory, says NSW Forest Corp.

A satellite-severity model was

40

used to map the landscape. The report drew on the best available data, including field studies and assessments, in the four Regional Forest Agreement areas.

The initial review found that in the largest hardwood area, the North East RFA, the timber yield for high-quality logs was only reduced by 4 per cent overall to 230,000 m3. This was for the years 2020-2031.

From 2020-2034, the results for the other RFAs were: Eden 22,700m3, down 13%; South Coast 35,000m3 (down 30%) and Tumut 25,800m3, down 27%.

The short-term sustainable yield estimates (2020-2024) were the same for North East and South Coast, whereas Eden was slightly higher at 25,000m3.

Southern

Tumut Coast sub-region’s sustainable yield was 20,400m3, as well as 125,000m3 of mixed quality fire salvage.

The short-term sustainable assessment for low-quality sawlogs was North East (560,000m3), Eden (160,000m3), South Coast (231,000m3) and Southern Tumut Coast sub-region (48,000m3).

In contrast, the State forests on the south coast, Eden and Tumbarumba were affected by more severe and more widespread fires.

On the south coast, the review said about 80 per cent of forest was hit by fire, with long-term timber supply modelled to reduce by about 30 per cent. Species were more or less fire tolerant, with tree survival depending on size, species and fire intensity.

FORESTRY NOW 2021

In Eden, due to the severe fire impact and fire sensitivity of local species, many of the fire-affected trees are expected to die or decline in quality over the next 10 years. However, there had also been a prolific regeneration of new seedlings.

Over the next decade, the review said timber would be salvaged before it degraded, allowing regenerated forests to better grow, both for timber production and silvicultural purposes.

Around Tumbarumba, many of the locally preferred commercial species, Alpine Ash, had already died or declined, as the species was fire sensitive and the fire impact severe. Once the full extent of the damage was yet fully determined, the sustainable yield model would be revised. www.forestrynow.au

In the absence of live physical events and conferences, suppliers to the forests industry have been denied their usual direct access to customers. FORESTRY EQUIPMENT NOW provides a platform for an extensive coverage of machinery and equipment including the exchange of supplier information, ideas and video demonstrations.

Komatsu Forest

Leads the way Komatsu Forest is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of forest machines with its Australian HQ in Sydney. It operates through an extensive network of branches and agents covering all major forest regions within Australian and NZ. The product range includes Komatsu wheel harvesters & forwarders from Sweden, hydraulic excavators from Japan and TimberPro track and wheel machines from the USA.

Harvester saw chain sharpening made easy Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/komatsu

Get in touch +61 2 9647 3600 info.au@komatsuforest.com www.komatsuforest.com.au

With a focus on high quality, reliability, and easy handling, Markusson Sweden produce some of the market’s best chain grinders. Suited to both .404” and 3/4” chains, Markusson grinders can be operated at both 12 and 240 volts, working just as well in the workshop as out in the field.

Visit the stall online:

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Get in touch 02 6947 2833 sales@forestcentre.com.au www.forestcentre.com.au

Onetrak Tumut, NSW

Tigercat Forestry Equipment

Heads above the competition

Tigercat manufacture purpose-built forestry equipment to the highest standard. Tigercat owners in Australia are backed by unrivalled product support based in 7 different locations Visit the stall online: including factory trained field service www.forestrynow.com.au/ technicians, factory-direct representatives, 2021-event/onetrack and a substantial local parts inventory.

Contact Onetrak today to learn more about the Tigercat forestry equipment range.

Over the years, Log Max has become one of the most significant manufacturers of single-grip harvesting heads. Developed for both wheeled and tracked carriers, Log Max heads are designed to meet the demands of the toughest operations.

Serviceability and minimal downtime make our products the obvious choice for efficient logging.

Get in touch 1300 727 520 contact@onetrak.com.au

Get in touch 02 6947 4505, 0408 614 503 admin@scanforestry.com www.scanforestry.com

www.onetrak.com.au / www.tigercat.com www.forestrynow.au

FORESTRY NOW 2021

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/logmax

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Tumut, NSW

Products and Innovations That Go Beyond

World Class Harvesters and Forwarders

With all of the challenges you face, you need an equipment provider that backs you. John Deere offers proven product and intelligent innovations, that go beyond high-quality, productive machines. For 50 years we’ve been working together to build full solutions that rise above the challenges faced by the forestry industry.

Eco Log offers a wide range of harvesters, forwarders, options and accessories. The common denominator for all our quality products is that they are strong, reliable and cost effective. In short, we deliver forest machines that give you the best overall economy.

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/johndeere

Get in touch

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/ecolog

Get in touch 02 6947 4505, 0408 614 503 admin@scanforestry.com www.scanforestry.com

AFGRI 08 6278 7100 | RDO 1300 008 608

www.JohnDeere.com.au

AUSTRALIA

Swedish quality and innovation since 1928 Supplying Hultdins grapples and saw units in Australia for over 30 years, Forest Centre continues to support contractors both in and out of the forest with their equipment and repair needs, stocking a huge inventory of SuperGrip, SuperSaw and SuperCut spare parts from their base in Tumut, NSW.

Get in touch 02 6947 2833 sales@forestcentre.com.au www.forestcentre.com.au 42

SANY

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/hultdins

Randalls has been working directly with SANY over the past 6 years and developed the Model SY245F. Our range of Harvesting heads suit this package very well. The SANY SY245F Log Loader is based on the same machine platform and has a variety of configurations. (See image of the SANY SY245F Elevating cabin option.)

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/sany

Get in touch 03 9369 8988 peter@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au FORESTRY NOW 2021

www.forestrynow.au

AUSTRALIA

Skills development services for industry ForestWorks is an industry owned not-forprofit organisation offering skills development services for industry. Our purpose is to serve our industry by developing the capabilities and strengths of our people. Our focus is on skills development initiatives and programs that assist industry adapt to changing operating environments.

PONNSE

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/forestworks

PONNSE Scorpion King Harvester provides ultimate operator visibility, ease of handling and the operator cabin stays horizontal in all terrain. The Elephant King Forwarder has the K121, the most powerful crane amongst 20 ton capacity forwarders. It is also available in tilt base king post. All are equipped with Active crane.

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/ponnse

Peter Randalls 0418 356 306 Peter O’Malley 0437 541 154

Get in touch 1800 177 001 forestworks@forestworks.com.au www.forestworks.com.au

Get in touch 03 9369 8988 peter@randalls.com.au www.randalls.com.au

Tumut, NSW

Linx Equipment Finance: Investing for Growth

Neuson = Perfection in form and function

Linx has been entrenched in the logging industry for more than 20 years across all types of machine applications, timber species, Visit the stall online: haul practices and associated activity. www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/linx Working alongside the major machinery suppliers and specialist divisions within the major financiers, Linx has the ability to secure the right finance and insurance solutions.

The Neuson Harvesters are equipped with the proven superstructure levelling system and allows stress-free work in steep terrain. The separate hydraulic systems for the machine, crane and harvester head are optimally coordinated with the engine and allow fuel-saving work with maximum performance.

Get in touch info@linxaustraliagroup.com.au www.linxaustraliagroup.com.au

Get in touch 02 6947 4505, 0408 614 503 admin@scanforestry.com www.scanforestry.com

www.forestrynow.au

FORESTRY NOW 2021

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/neuson

43

NEW CAT® MH3040 MATERIAL HANDLER

Quadco Group – Leaders in the attachment industry

The CAT® MH3040 material handler builds upon the legacy of the M325D L MH to provide the power and reliability you need for Visit the stall online: www.forestrynow.com.au/ your toughest material handling applications.

A new cab with up to 25% reduced fuel costs 2021-event/cat and up to 20% reduced maintenance costs combine with proven components to bring you the next generation of cat material handlers.

Quadco Group offer the complete range of attachments and cutting tool equipment including the Southstar range of harvester and processing heads and Quadco bar and disc saws. Southstar Equipment based in New Zealand is proud to be part of the Quadco group and can offer the full range of products in Australia and NZ.

Get in touch 1300 289 228 www.cat.com/forestry

Get in touch +64 21 842413 doconnor@quadco.com www.quadco.com

Visit the stall online:

www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/quadco

Tumut, NSW

Bruks Mobile Chippers

World leader in log bolsters

Bruks is a market-leading supplier of dry bulk handling and wood processing systems with clients worldwide. Our mobile wood chippers are distributed by Scan Forestry in Australia.

ExTe is the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of log bolsters and automatic tensioners. Forest-proven in Australia for over 30 years, ExTe combination log bolsters with Visit the stall online: steel base and aluminium stakes continue to www.forestrynow.com.au/ 2021-event/exte evolve providing the ultimate combination of high durability and payload capacity.

Get in touch 02 6947 4505, 0408 614 503 admin@scanforestry.com www.scanforestry.com 44

Visit the stall online:

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Get in touch 02 6947 2833 sales@forestcentre.com.au www.forestcentre.com.au/highway-equipment/ FORESTRY NOW 2021

www.forestrynow.au

In the news

CFMEU wants wood encouragement strategy from government Philip Hopkins

N

ew South Wales and other governments should introduce wood encouragement policies and require that locally manufactured wood products be used on Commonwealth, state and local government funded projects in NSW, according to key forestry unions.

The Australian Workers Union and the CFMEU Manufacturing Division is also pushing for the NSW Government to establish and support a NSW Forest Industry Advisory Council made up of industry stakeholders across the timber supply chain.

These are two key demands of the AWU and CFMEU Manufacturing in their joint submission to the Upper House Inquiry into the future of the NSW timber and forest products industry.

The Forest Industry Advisory Council would include representatives of forest managers, primary processors, secondary processors, forest contractors, frame and truss manufacturers, furniture manufacturers, timber merchants and workers (including CFMEU Manufacturing and the AWU).

“The council should have a program of collaborating together on industry supply chain challenges, initiatives, and an ongoing dialogue and exchange between industry, workers and the NSW Government,” the two unions said.

They emphasised that in 2016, the forest and timber industry in NSW provided 19,000 jobs in the suburbs, regional communities and ‘timber towns’, but also had a wider social and economic importance.

“NSW’s grown, processed and manufactured timber and wood products – from logs and fibre, paper board and sawn timber to more elaborately transformed wood products like particleboard and panels and wooden furniture – are in high demand,” the unions said.

“Timber and wood prodwww.timberbiz.com.au

ucts are a key supplier of the booming and important housing and construction industry, essential to keeping the NSW’s growing population housed and the state moving.”

The unions said the 201920 summer bushfires and the supply chain shocks due to the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the values of the forest estate. This in turn required a new look at the quality of the various land management regimes for different forest tenures.

The bushfires had accelerated the restructure that the industry was already undergoing and had exacerbated the situation where demand in Australia for softwood for house framing timber

• Picture: NSW Forest Corp increased the widening fashion consistent with gap between local supply sustainable forest manand local demand of sawn agement (SFM). softwood timber. The • Government help to proGovernment should maxcess residual products imise log supply for local traditionally destined for processors by increase export markets, leverage supply in the short, medigovernment procurement um, and longer term, inby buying from the NSW cluding by helping source timber industry and make logs from outside the restrategic investments to gion as a short-term rembolster the timber indusedy; and assist the rapid try supply chain. replanting of the burnt re• Acknowledge the unique source as a medium-term knowledge of sustainsolution. able forest management by indigenous Austral- • Acknowledge that market and policy failure are ians, foster partnerships contractors and Forestry hindering establishment between them and ForCorporation, and their of new plantations that estry Corp, and facilitate expertise in bushfire preare crucial to the future opportunities for further vention, mitigation, and of the timber industry. indigenous community suppression activities.

The benefits of plantation involvement in forest The committee should forestry are not fully unmanagement and coreject submissions proderstood and drawbacks management, employmoting pseudo, junk such as interception of ment, training, skills de“science” callously claimwater are often overvelopment, and business ing timber harvesting stated. The Government opportunities. increased the severity of • Acknowledge the positive should consult with inbushfires. dustry on an urgent stratrole that sustainable for• Acknowledge that hardegy to establish new planest management plays in wood solid timber prodtations. slowing climate change ucts are in demand and and reducing emissions • The Government should there is no prospect for facilitate increased take of greenhouse gases. a transition of the indus- • The Government should up of nationally accredtry to plantation supplies ited training and skills commit to not selling any in the near to medium recognition in the indusfurther land assets or purfuture. Thus the Governtry by engaging Forestry suing its previous plan to ment should maximise Corporation, the CFMEU privatise the Forestry Corhardwood timber supply Manufacturing Division, poration of NSW. from NSW’s native forests • the AWU and other indusAcknowledge that the to timber processors in a try stakeholders.

2019-20 bushfires had

The Government should facilitate increased take up of nationally accredited training and skills recognition in the industry by engaging Forestry Corporation, the CFMEU Manufacturing Division, the AWU and other industry stakeholders. was already exceeding local supply.

“Demand for hardwood is also likely to exceed local supply due regulatory creep and government policy in several Australian states, including NSW,” the unions said, who urged the committee to make a number of recommendations to the Government. These included: • An experts’ review of the hazard reduction regime across different forest tenures, with the aim to be recommend best practice to prevent and mitigate catastrophic bushfires.

• Acknowledge the extremely valuable role of timber industry workers,

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

45

Forwarders JD’s 100th machine delivered

J

ohn Deere construction and forestry dealer RDO Equipment has delivered its 100th forestry machine in Australia, a massive milestone for the dealer network which has established itself in the market since launching only two years ago.

Queensland’s Blackbutt Logging, a legacy John Deere customer, is the new owner of the milestone machine, a 959MH Tracked Harvester, adding it to an already-expansive fleet of 14 John Deere construction and forestry machines.

Owned and operated by brothers Drew and Todd Reiser, Blackbutt Logging has been purchasing John Deere equipment since Drew’s father started the business in the 1980s.

Nowadays, Drew and Todd oversee the operations, and have continued the legacy their father started of working with John Deere, and now their dealer RDO Equipment.

“We’ve never had any issues working with John Deere, and it’s been great working with the RDO Equipment team these past few years. They provide us with good, quality gear, that’s backed up with the support we need to keep our entire fleet running,” Drew said.

“The first machine my dad purchased from John Deere was a 450C Dozer in the 80s, and after some refurbishments, we still have it running in our fleet, which just shows that these products are built to last. It’s no surprise RDO has sold 100 forestry machines in such a short space of time.”

Simon Shackleton, John Deere’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing – Forestry Equipment, congratulated RDO Equipment for its massive achievement.

“I want to also congratulate Blackbutt Logging on being part of this special milestone. It’s great to see RDO’s 100th forestry machine sold to a longstanding family business that has been working with John Deere machines since the beginning,” he said.

46

Transporting your wood – there is a solution, or two

R

ecognized as the world’s preeminent supplier of purposebuilt forestry equipment John Deere has the solution whether your application is Cut-to-Length forwarding, or Full-Tree- length skidding.

Skidders John Deere skidders are true woodland warriors designed to conquer the harshest of terrains including wet conditions and steep slopes. Proven durable features maximize productivity, performance, and comfort when carrying hefty loads over long distances in challenging conditions.

John Deere introduced the new six-wheel 768L-II Bogie Skidder to complement their already very popu-

lar range of 4-wheel skidders, the 648L-II, 848L-II and 948L-II. Several of the first 768L-II Bogie Skidders off the production line are working in the Oceania region and proving their worth.

“Profitability and productivity are critical in the woods, and as loggers take to new areas for jobs, they need dependable machines that are built with niche applications in mind,” said Matthew Flood, Product

Marketing Manager, John Deere Forestry. “With our Skidders, we’re delivering purpose-built machines that navigate tough terrain while providing distinct features to help logging contractors maximize their potential, regardless of the conditions”.

John Deere Skidders start at 210hp with the 648L-II and reach 300hp with the 948L-II and the recently introduced 768L-II bogie skidder comes into the range at 281hp. All John Deere Skidders feature heavy-duty axles, which incorporate large components to maximize durability and stability for long axle and tire life.

The heavy-duty axles are purpose-built for tough applications, effortlessly pulling heavy loads and maneu-

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

vering tough terrain. The smooth, stable operation results in reduced machine vibration, ultimately minimizing operator fatigue.

Another key feature is the excellent tractive ability.

When combined with the bogie axles, ground pressure is reduced, allowing the 768L-II to work in wet terrain not accessible with a four-wheel skidder. “As a result, the harvesting window is extended, adding more working days to the calendar.” said Flood.

Robust boom and arch designs provide the operator with an expansive rearward view of the grapple and work area, providing excellent visibility. Grapple capacity starts at 1.24m² with the largest grapple offered on the 948L-II and 768L bogie skidder at 2.07m². Other customerfavorite features of John Deere Skidders are the streamlined and redesigned electrical and hydraulic systems and increased guarding and protection of key components resulting in increased uptime. An improved grapple squeeze force and two-speed winch further increase productivity, while articulation steering sensors improve the operator experience. Highly regarded by customers, all L-Series models feature a spacious cab, including 220 degree rotating seat, ample storage space, configurable controls, and an effective air conditioning system.

Armrest-mounted electrohydraulic controls offer, hand-finger operation of all machine functions, and joystick steering provides smooth control of steer, direction, and ground speed.

The industry-exclusive Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) marries the efficiency of a direct-drive transmission with the smoothness of a hydrostatic drive. As a result, CVT provides more power to the ground by sensing the load, increasing torque and tractive effort as needed to maintain the desired speed.

Forwarders Both the 21-tonne capacity 1910E and the 15-tonne 1510G John Deere Forwarders feature improvements to cabin ergonomics, control system, powertrain and boom and continues to offer either the levelling and www.timberbiz.com.au

Forwarders BRIEFS

rotating cabin or fixed cab version.

The John Deere 9.0 liter engine boasts an impressive 250hp and a tractive effort of 220 kN, the 1910E is the natural choice for those encountering challenging conditions and large timber which is effortlessly handled by the Deere CF8 loader. Comfort is guaranteed by the revolutionary operator’s station which automatically levels and rotates ensuring faster load cycles, but if preferred, the durable fixed cabin remains an option.

A bigger 180-cm³ work pump, larger drive motor and John Deere 6068 PowerTech Plus 209hp engine, high tractive force of 185kN, together with improved boom control, and revolutionary operating environment ensure your productivity day in day out.

Benefiting from increased power and tractive effort the 1510G boasts all the attributes you would expect from a market leading forwarder.

It all adds up to improved reliability, productivity, and lower operating costs.

John Deere’s Intelligent Boom Control (IBC), a milestone in forwarder and wheeled harvester technology, lowers fuel consumption, increases productivity, improves the operator experience, makes it easier to train inexperienced operators and considerably reduces the stress of the boom components as there are now dampeners fitted into the boom cylinders.

“Once the Intelligent Boom Control has been switched on, operators rarely go back to standard mode.” Simon Shackleton, General Manager for Forestry Sales and Marketing said.

“The best thing about the IBC system is that it controls the boom as a whole and the operator doesn’t have to think about each individual movement separately.” Shackleton added. The boom functions smoothly as a complete entity without jerking since the pump supply is automatically divided among the different movements.

For example, driving and loading simultaneously is easier when you don’t have to put as much focus on controlling the boom. IBC also shows how the extension should be used. The www.timberbiz.com.au

Profitability and productivity are critical in the woods, and as loggers take to new areas for jobs, they need dependable machines that are built with niche applications in mind. system is great at dividing the pump flow among different movements. Operators have direct control of the boom tip instead of controlling independent boom joint movements. The system considerably reduces the number of tuning parameters needed and increases durability of boom structures and hydraulic cylinders.

Linked with the IBC all John Deere E & G Series Forwarders now come with a whole suite of technology including SBC - Smooth Boom Control a software algorithm for enhancing boom precision and reducing vibration. “This feature combined with IBC gives the operator a whole new experience working easier and loading faster which boosts productivity. Cruise Control makes it possible to drive the machine at a constant speed, a feature familiar from the world of passenger cars.” Shackleton said.

Precision Forestry Through Precision Forestry, John Deere is reorganizing its technology portfolio and doubling down on its efforts in delivering solutions designed to increase efficiency and productivity in the woods. The shift to

Precision Forestry aligns with the brand’s overarching strategic direction to provide intelligent, connected machines and applications to help unlock more value for customers.

“Previously, the industry has focused on developing bigger, faster, more powerful machines to boost performance, but larger machines sometimes present more challenges, especially on job sites with limitations,” said Flood. Technology has been a game changer for the forestry industry, enabling us to improve operator efficiency and performance without altering machine size. With the Precision Forestry initiative, we’re organizing our portfolio to create a foundation for the future of forestry machines and job site technology.”

Precision Forestry is a more descriptive term for

Key Points he most powerful • Tforwarder ever built by Deere, the 1910E.

he six-wheel 768L-II • TBogie Skidder delivers

outstanding traction, stability, and flotation.

what customers can expect from the John Deere technology suite, including real–time, map–based production planning and tracking capabilities along with new and evolving operator assistance capabilities.

This new alignment lays the groundwork for the future of technology solutions, as John Deere builds in these core areas to help customers work faster and smarter on the job site. For customers, the new Precision Forestry direction will simplify the John Deere technology portfolio, making it easier to select and adopt customized solutions based on their unique job site needs.

“With technology, we believe that loggers need to embrace working smarter, not harder. The logging industry is built on hard work – it’s part of the industry’s DNA. We want to complement that work ethic with machine intelligence and system–level integration, delivering the tools loggers need to increase efficiency and performance in the woods,” said Flood.

To learn more about the Precision Forestry technology offerings, as well as the full line of John Deere Forestry equipment, visit www. deere.com.au/en/forestry or a local John Deere dealer.

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

HUB MANAGER

HULTON King has been appointed Hub Manager for the North Queensland Regional Forestry Hub. Mr King, who grew up planting hoop pines over weekends at his family’s Atherton Tablelands property, has previously worked across a range of Government sponsored research projects in the region as a programs manager for the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre.His recent appointment to the Terrain NRM board as an emerging leader was an opportunity to identify the need for more robust regenerative economies for the region.

FA APPOINTMENT MOLLY Daskey-Willis has been elected as Chair of the Forestry Australia Tasmanian Division.

Ms Daskey-Willis is Agriforester within Private Forests Tasmania, joining the organisation in August last year. Ms Daskey-Willis comes from a rural background growing up in a small country town in New South Wales, coming from a strong family history of farming and having recently completed a Bachelor Sustainability, majoring in Environmental Resilience, from the University of New England in New South Wales. She has previously worked within a family tree planting business and the agricultural sector and since moving to Tasmania in 2018, a large North West beef enterprise.

NEW GT CHAIR CAMERON MacDonald has been made chairman of the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub following the retirement of Ian McDonnell.

Mr MacDonald, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, is executive general manager of OneFortyOne’s Australian operations. Mr Hein is managing director of plantation company Green Triangle Forest Products, which manages 22,000 hectares of softwood plantation.

The sale of sawmill NF McDonnell last month meant Mr McDonnell was ineligible to remain on the board with new owners AAM Investments to resume the sawmill’s board position at future meetings.

47

I N T R O D U C I N G T H E T I G E R C AT

The new Tigercat H-series skidders have arrived.

220° Turnaround® seat with full drive controls 20% more cab space 19% more window area

Redesigned cab, easy serviceability and superior

Adjustable, heavy-duty air ride seat

productivity. Experience the H-series for yourself.

Climate controlled cup holder

Contact Onetrak today to find out more.

Dedicated storage locations Completely redesigned HVAC system Reinforced engine enclosure doors High-capacity dual cylinder grapples Full tractive effort at any engine speed

C A B S PA C E

WINDOW AREA

Loggers BRIEFS SELF-DRIVE With the help of Semcon, two of Sweden’s largest companies in the forest industry sector, Holmen and Södra, are to examine how self-driving vehicles can improve the work environ-ment and enhance safety at sawmills and other industrial sites.

This type of vehicle has great potential for transporting timber and sawn wood within the sites.

FORWARDER COMFORT Komatsu Forest is introducing the next generation of Komatsu Comfort Ride, with several comfort-enhancing innovations for Forwarders.

One new feature is the ability to adjust the cab suspension’s lateral firmness, which further improves operator comfort. This function is geared to the machine’s speed to make driving as comfortable as possible regardless of whether the operator is inching over an off-road ob-stacle or driving unladen from the landing to the next wood pile. In practical terms, the sus-pension’s firmness is progressive, increasing with machine speed to ensure maximum comfort.

APOLOGY In the September issue of Australian Forests & Timber News on Page 29 an editing instruction was left on a graphic attached to a Woodtech story concerning its sensor technology for log trucks.

We apologise for any embarrassment or confusion the editing instruction may have caused readers.

Strategies have been put in place to avoid a similar situation happening again.

50

Tigercat expands forestry lineup with back-to-back equipment releases L e s s than a month after the release of its LSX870D, Tigercat adds the 880E logger to its lineup Tigercat’s new 880E logger introduces several new features including an updated operator’s station and various grapple configurations to tailor the machine to specific job site needs.

The 880 series logger is a multi-purpose forestry carrier that can be configured for loading, shovel logging, or processing applications.

The 880E introduces several new features including an updated operator’s station and various grapple configurations to tailor the machine to your specific needs.

The 880E is powered by the Tigercat FPT N67 en-

Key Points High horsepower • engine.

Increases

gine, producing 230 kW (308 hp). The F7-163 undercarriage is designed and built to withstand rigorous, fulltime forest duty with exceptional stability for heavy timber applications.

The spacious cabin has a new heated operator’s seat.

Controls are integrated into both sides of the joystick pods, eliminating the need for any bolt-on control pods. The optimally positioned controls and large machine control system touchscreen interface improve ergonomics and machine monitoring.

The quiet interior helps the operator enjoy the auxiliary audio

input port, Bluetooth® audio and hands-free calling.

Additional new features include a standard equipped rearVIEW camera system, emergency stop button, and a key fob to turn on exterior lights remotely when entering the cab in the dark.

The 880E can be configured as a loader equipped with various power clam, butt-n-top and log grapple options. Equipped with a live heel boom system, the 880E is a highly capable shovel logger with excellent stability, tractive effort and swing torque.

The carrier can also be configured as a highcapacity processor capable of running large harvesting heads in demanding duty cycles.

Ti-

gercat’s leveling undercarriage is longer and wider, which it claims will provide exceptional stability on steep slopes. The patented leveling design uses two massive hydraulic cylinders and heavy steel sections. It leans into the hill when levelling to the side to improve machine stability and operator comfort. Tigercat believes that it has set itself apart from the competition with this system.

Some of the many advantages of the 880E over excavator conversions include better service access, higher cooling capacity, a better operating environment with superior sightlines, more robust undercarriage components and extremely efficient hydraulic circuits.

The result is higher production, uptime and fuel efficiency.

productivity and multi-function speed relative to excavator conversions without compromising fuel efficiency

Safe access rear entry • cab.

High operator

vantage point, full length windows and thoughtful ergonomics

Large diameter swing • bearing with twin swing drives for high torque and long life

Energy recovery swing • system.

Closed loop

system recovers energy as swing decelerates

www.forestrynow.com.au Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

ON NOW www.timberbiz.com.au

Harvesters

Solution found for eucalypt harvest W

est Australian agricultural engineer Steve Reid was tasked with finding a solution for the strategic harvest of plantation grown eucalyptus trees.

Australian eucalyptus oils are extracted from both Eucalyptus kochii and Eucalyptus loxophleba lissophloia which are found only in the semi-arid interior of Western Australia.

The extracted essential oil is used as a medicine to treat a variety of common diseases and is the active ingredient in mosquito repellants and cleaning products.

The Reids Mechweld Cutting Grapple is a machine mounted hydraulic controlled mobile tree grab and cutting blade.

The blade design allows for ground level clean coppicing and has been developed to harvest mature trees without damaging the lignotuber.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of the eucalyptus tree’s ability to put out new shoots from the cut stump and generate a biennial harvest.

Steve first developed the hydraulic grab cylinder and control circuit system for the rotation of the grapple.

He found using highly efficient worm drives and a series of switches he could achieve 360 degrees of movement around the tree and control the opening and closing of the grab arms to cut and grab the tree for felling.

The hydraulic system is powered by the machines auxiliary hydraulic energy storage system, which has a significantly smaller diesel engine and newly designed machine architecture. www.timberbiz.com.au

Overall, this is more fuel efficient, reduces maintenance and significantly reduces emissions. The hydraulic ram is compliant to Australian standards AS1940 and AS1692.

Sourced from Bisalloy Steel the cutting blade component is GRD80 AS-1548. Bisalloy Steels is Australia’s only manufacturer of high-strength, abrasion-resistant, quenched, and tempered steel plate. Bisalloy 80 has a typical strength of 830MPa providing a 100% sharper cutting blade.

Built to last the Reids Mechweld cutting grapple main frame is designed and manufactured from high quality steel grade plate, AS/NZS1594-HA25 and steel grade structural AS/NZS 3679.1-300, AS1163C450L0.

Mount-on framework base is constructed out of 450grade 25/32mm pro-formed bar and plate, with 25, 32mm & 50mm plate mounts and 80mm pins mounted to sectional reinforcing heavy plate back and sides.

The main grab arms with cutting edges are a high tensile steel edge Bisalloy plate with replaceable teeth edge mounted to weldable adaptors.

Steve Reid and his team intend expanding the range of purposebuilt hydraulic grapples to include log grapples, rock grapples, finger, demolition, and gp sorting grapples.

Reids Mechweld is an OEM Division C Class-2461 Australian agricultural equipment manufacturing

design and engineering company.

Proudly designing and manufacturing in Western Australia Reids Mechweld holds Australia Made Certification licence number 13599, is a member of the Australian Steel Institute, the West

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

Australian Chamber of Commerce and SAI Global.

Reids Mechweld can be found at www.reidsmechweld.com.au or phone Company Director and Engineer Steve Reid on +61 8 9574 4420.

51

Tyres Looking Back

Classic tyre re-imagined

2020 KANGAROO Island’s firedamaged pine trees which are at most risk of decay will be the initial focus of salvage operations on the island to recover the higher value logs.

Around 90 per cent of Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers’ trees valued in excess of $100 million and all of the island’s independent plantations were affected in some way by the by fires in January.

Advice to the company is that the target logs must be harvested within two years and stored under water or sprinklers in order to preserve value.

2016 THE Australian Government must mandate the use of ESC (Electronic Stability Control) in new models of trucks and trailers as it is the key to reducing crashes and improving safety in the trucking industry.

That was the message from Chris Loose, the Australian Trucking Association’s Senior Adviser of Engineering, to the FIEA Wood Flow Optimisation 2016 Conference on Timber Logistics/Harvesting in Melbourne.

2011 TASMANIAN sawmills will need to modify their sawing equipment and methods if they are to profitably process plantationgrown eucalypt sawlogs.

As Tasmania considers a transition from the use of native forests towards plantations, the CRC for Forestry has conducted a review of Australian research into the sawing and drying of plantation-grown sawlogs of Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens, the two most widely-planted eucalypt species in southern Australia.

The review found that existing sawmills in Tasmania are poorly equipped to saw plantation-grown logs, which will be smaller in diameter and which have sawing characteristics that differ from the logs currently supplied from native eucalypt forests.

52

N

ot all quality tyres are made for the biggest and most powerful tractors.

For many years, the Nokian TR Forest tyre with its comprehensive size range has been a proven, reliable choice for light and medium weight forestry tractors.

Now the tyre has been renewed with new features – without losing any of the properties that made it a classic for tough forestry work. Introducing the new Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tyre!

Forestry work puts tractor tyres to the test. The demanding terrain calls for good cut and crack resistance, working stability and puncture protection. The Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tyre combines decades of forestry experience with the latest tyre technology, offering excellent value for light and medium-weight tractors in forestry, landscaping and light mulching work.

“In many countries, forestry tractors have a significant role in forwarding and forest ground maintenance work,” says Teemu Vainionpää, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “The new Nokian TR Forest 2 tyre is designed to work in the challenging terrain, helping

forestry use offers a good protection,” says Vainionpää. “There is also a special shoulder armor design that protects the shoulder area users to get the most out of from damage.”

Another remarkable featheir machinery.”

Building on a tradition of ture is the outstanding strength of the modern excellence The legacy of Nokian TR bias structure tyre carcass Forest tyres goes back a long that incorporates puncturereinforcements time. “It has offered trouble- resisting free performance in though under the tread. Combined, application demands,” says these features make the Teemu Vainionpää. “Peo- overall tyre construction ple are really relying on it, very strong for high-class and they have trust that it puncture resistance.

“For effective puncture doesn’t let them down in the rocky terrain with tree resistance, the key is to have all the components in stumps and branches.”

The Nokian TR Forest 2 tyre construction working tractor tyre builds on this together,” Teemu Vainionproven functionality, add- pää says. “Rather than just ing a modern styling and a single protective element, the puncture resistance is current features.

“The tread pattern has a result of tyre’s protection been updated with many level and its ability to take new features such as opti- hits from outer obstacles.”

Stable and versatile mized edges, traction boostTyre stability is a desirable ers and flow guides,” lists Teemu Vainionpää, “and if I feature making work more may add, it looks a lot cool- accurate, comfortable and safer. “The bias structure er,” he says.

Puncture resistant for of the Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tyre has excellent trouble-free work One of the main focus ar- shock and swing absorbeas in developing the new ing characteristics,” says Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor Vainionpää. “This results in tyre has been its cut and steady performance in sevcrack resistance and punc- eral different types of tractor work.” ture protection.

Versatile use of tractors is “The thick layer of rubber compound made for essential in forestry work.

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

Sizes and availability The Nokian TR Forest 2 tractor tyre will be available in a comprehensive range of 12 sizes: November 2021 • 460/85-34 (18,4-34) • 380/85-24 (14,9-24) • 420/85-34 (16,9-34) • 340/85-24 (13,6-24) • 320/85-24 (12,4-24) December 2021 • 340/85-28 (13,6-28) • 420/85-30 (16,9-30) • 520/85-38 (20,8-38) • 460/85-38 (18,4-38) • 420/85-28 (16,9-28) • 380/85-28 (14,9-28) February 2022 • 420/85-38 (16.9-38)

From wood forwarding to crushing, form light mulching to maintenance of forest terrain – reliable tyres help the tractor perform its best.

“Our expertise in forestry tyres, combined with the modern bias technology and materials, has taken our products to the next level,” Vainionpää says. “We have listened to the user needs and added more useful features to a classic tyre, improving its value further.

That’s no mean feat.” www.timberbiz.com.au

Mill profile

Inland islands perfect for milling Mill operators loves the smell of wood Keith Smiley

P

eter Mather got his licence to log and mill when he was only fourteen, the youngest ever according to the aficionados of the day.

He, like his four generations before, loved the smell of wood, and mixed it well with other worthy pursuits.

Peter and his family of sawmillers and professional fishermen, help one another out, and can turn their hand to almost any trade. “I’m the 4th generation, with dad, grandpa, great grandpa and great great great grandfather sawmilling for their livelihood. Dad managed a sawmill in Coffs Harbour working for himself, with us family living there too,” said Peter. A tad later, Peter’s great grandfather managed a plywood factory in the nearby district.

Peter and wife Tracey had a stretch in Fiji working a softwood sawmill for about

two years. He also taught saw doctoring for the Fiji Forest Industries.

Their idyllic lifestyle flows with the Clarence River which is home to dozens of islands in the northern rivers district of New South Wales, between Grafton and Coffs Harbour. The area abounds with forests and salvageable logs they find.

It is a lush growth area, witnessing a boom in real estate, as more people leave the big smoke.

Peter operated the family sawmill at Ashby, near Maclean. They had been there for 32 years but after getting his leg stung by a rare bug www.timberbiz.com.au

in the Clarence river, it was time for Peter to adjust to a new reality. They sold the business and moved to Banana Road in 2015, later retrieving machinery left at Ashby, after its new owner had gone bust.

“I sold Ashby because of the leg. I can’t do a full day’s work. Nowadays, at 60, I can work when I want to and when my health allows. I’m quite happy here, salvaging timber, doing slabs for table tops.”

The family has a stall at the local Woombah market where they sell slabs, cutting boards and various handmade objects. Their third son Simon, doesn’t let his disability get in the way, making fine coffee tables and wooden objects, selling them from the stall. “It gets you away from watching TV, but he does love his work,” said Peter.

Although the bug in his leg presented a gamechanger, Peter persisted in sawmilling and fashioning other wood product. With the Woombah sawmill restarted by Peter and his son Thomas, they are keen to see it flourish in the future.

Peter is a keen fisherman, but his son Adam does it professionally, and finds it easy to slide into helping out at his dad’s mill when the sky is stormy and the seas are rough. Peter is a trained wood machinist, skilled at saw doctoring, and is a mechanic by trade.

“You can always drop back into one of your trades.

The boys weld too, and the fishing skills come from my mother’s side. I like mucking around with timber but I have been involved with the SES at Maclean for 32 years and with the Fire Brigade in Ashby for 40 years; and still keep my hand in at Woombah’s today, issuing fire permits,” Peter explained. His team received a commendation a couple of years back after the fires had raged through the district.

He’s the outdoor type, never liked ‘being inside’. He may have officially retired, and although Thomas is doing most of the sawmilling, Peter is happy doing

Peter Mather cutting it fine with his • trusty Lucas. Left: One long slab, one

dining table. Below: Fashioned product on display at Woombah, NSW.

You are always learning and never too old to learn, provided you keep an open mind. bits and pieces, on the ten acres they bought at Banana Road. Tracy, handles the books, and the whole family pitches in; and they always remain in contact.

“You are always learning and never too old to learn, provided you keep an open mind. A lot of people have moved into this area, so now you only know half of them. In the past you knew when people needed help.” Bug or not, Peter Mather is an inspiration to many in the island district, while he maintains a valued reputation.

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

53

Classifieds

Sell your used equipment, advertise your tender, offer your real estate or find your next employee.

For rates and deadlines call Gavin de Almeida on (08) 8369 9517 or email: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au

Onetrak

FIRST WITH INDUSTRY NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

FOR SALE 890.3 Valmet Forwarder 2012 With rear track & spare tyre All maintenance records available.

13,352 machine hours. $120,000 + GST ONO Contact Kevin Muskett on 0428 144 984

Tigercat 822 Harvester with Waratah HTH624 $125,000 + GST

Valmet 890.3 Forwarder $75,000 + GST

Tigercat 635D Skidder

CBI Magnum Force 604 Flail Debarker

$260,000 + GST

$325,000 +GST

Tigercat E625C Skidder $160,000 + GST

Komatsu PC270LC-8 Harvester

$145,000 + GST

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU australasian

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www.timberbiz.com.au

I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R

magazine

REACHING OVER 6,500 EMAILS EVERY WEEK. ADVERTISE WITH DAILY TIMBER NEWS TODAY! CALL (08) 8369 9517 or EMAIL: g.dealmeida@ ryanmediapl.com.au

FOR SALE Loser, Dowell cut off machines

NEW Tigercat H822D Harvester Ask for special pricing

Rotobec Forwarder Grapples From $5,700 + GST

Tigercat 860 Feller Buncher

$150,000 + GST

Tigercat H860C Harvester $165,000 + GST

Tigercat 570 & 575 Harvesting Heads Available for immediate delivery

Tigercat DT5003 Bunching Saw

NEW Dressta TD9S

Waratah HTH624C $55,000 + GST

$45,000 +GST

Two Loser AA220 dowell cut off machines Plant capable of making 100,000 furniture dowell daily, eg 32mm x 8mm.

$4000 each or $6500 for the two

Austral Timber Group

Contact: Ken Baker 0438 643 992 or ken.baker@dynagroup.com.au

$239,000 +GST

1300 727 520 www.onetrak.com.au All Prices exclude GST

54

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

www.timberbiz.com.au

NEW PRODUCT H215E debarking head suitable for Tracked & Wheeled carriers 15 to 25 ton.

Priced from $94,738.00 Call Brendon for more information 0438 445 550

Waratah H215E Debarker

NEW ATTACHMENTS

Waratah 623C

Waratah H212

Waratah H219X

Waratah 616C SIII

Priced from $238,523.00

Priced from $138,303.00

Priced from $184,636.60

Priced $150,278.00

Waratah FL85

Waratah 624C

Waratah 616C SII

Waratah 626

Priced $59,000.00

Just arrived in, will sell as is or rebuild. POA

Low hours with 6 month Warranty

Priced $122,500.00

Traded unit, just arrived in.

POA

PVG 32 Actuator

616-8 Measuring Wheel

USED ATTACHMENTS

PARTS - New Ordering Site - partscatalog.waratah.com

Motor Danfoss TMVW 500HD PB WA109651 10%

off

Accumulator Kit

WA130415 10%

off

WA104404 5%

off

WA109781 10%

off

*prices exclude GST and are valid for a limited period.

Tasmania South Australia Queensland Tas Auto Air Autocare Mount Gambier Champion Contracting MR & JA Gray Mechanical SE Forest & Hydraulic Ctr

Victoria C.F.H Hydraulics

New South Wales AB Diesel R & D Forest Services

Western Australia Waratah Bunbury

Contact Waratah Foresty Equipment on 03 9747 4200

www.timberbiz.com.au

Australian Forests & Timber News November 2021

55

725D 745D 755D

Zero Tail Swing Komatsu Forest has expanded the TimberPro track range in Australia and New Zealand to include the new 'D' Series zero tail-swing levelling and non-levelling models.

They can be supplied with feller-buncher or harvester boom sets and feature many benefits for logging contractors: • New Larger Cab for operator comfort • Lohmann final drives for high tractive force • Market Leading levelling with 28 degrees forward / 24 degrees side • Cummins QSL 8.3 333hp Engine (Tier 3)

The Crawford history has led the way in forest track machines.

www.komatsuforest.com.au

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd. 11/4 Avenue of Americas Newington NSW 2127 Australia T: +61 2 9647 3600 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com