12 – December 2012, Australian Forests & Timber News
ANNUAL EVENTS
Forest growing is important to the local and national economies T
HE 2012 Forest and Wood Products Australia annual general meeting saw the return of two directors as well as the appointment of John McNamara, managing director of DTM Timbers, to the FWPA Board. McNamara has more 30 years’ experience in the forest and forest products industry and enjoys a high industry profile. Until recently he was managing director of Hyne and Sons, a role he held for 18 years. He is currently managing director and a significant shareholder in DTM Timber, a company that specialises in native forest management and harvesting, sawmilling, value adding processing and distribution, and roof truss and wall frame manufacture and distribution. At this year’s AGM, Mark Grey and Nick Roberts completed their terms as directors of FWPA. The Board Chairman, Ron Adams, formally thanked both for their valuable contributions to the Board. He also welcomed John McNamara to the Board and noted that Mr McNamara had significant experience in both the hardwood and softwood sectors. The three directors elected at the AGM are: • Evan Rolley was re-elected for a second term • John Simon was elected by FWPA members after filling a casual vacancy as FWPA director from July 2012 • John McNamara was elected as a new director. Adams was re-elected as Chairman at the
Board meeting that followed the AGM and John Simon was elected deputy Chairman. In his Chairman’s address, Adams spoke about the current economic issues facing the industry and the decision by the Board to not go forward on a levy poll for the manufacturing sector. Following the Industry Forum and subsequent one-on-one discussions between the FWPA Chairman and major levy payers, the Board made the decision not to go forward on a levy poll for the manufacturing sector. However, discussions with the forest growers regarding a levy increase are still ongoing. Given these circumstances and FWPA’s lower operating budget, the company has taken a number of cost saving measures. These include reducing the number of directors to the Board by one, a reduction in permanent staff numbers and moving publications such as the annual report to an online format. It also sees a winding back of funding and effort in the Growing Careers and Tech Transfer programs. The industry promotion strategy remains a priority. In line with FWPA’s practice of aligning its AGM with relevant industry events, the meeting was held during the 2012 Australian Forest Growers Conference in Gympie, Queensland. FWPA was the principal sponsor of the successful conference that featured a keynote address by Peter deMarsh, Chair of International Family Forestry Alliance. Sid Sidebottom, MP, Parliamentary
Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was a notable participant in the conference. He was a featured speaker at the conference dinner where he highlighted the ongoing importance of the forest industry in Australia, particularly in the farm forestry sector in relation to sustainability. FWPA was also honoured to have him attend the AGM and subsequent FWPA research project presentations the following day. Sidebottom said that plantation timber was still misunderstood in some sections of the conservation movement. And that, he said, simply showed a need for better communication. "Forest growing is important to the local and national economies and this is seldom realised by urban Australia," he said. "The Australian Government recognises the importance of the forest industry, which is a major employer in parts of regional Australia, including Gympie," he said. "There is a good story to tell about forest management, as well as about wood and fibre products - and we should be proud to tell it." The R&D presentations following FWPA’s annual general meeting always delivers interesting and relevant R&D information, and this year was no different. Andrew Dunn, chief executive of the Timber Development Association, spoke about topical FWPA research into Emerging technologies and timber products in residential construction. 49 new technologies,
i n c l u d i n g construction systems, material developments, and integrated design and delivery systems, were identified that may have economic significance to the Ron Adams. Australian timber market. Dr Keith Mackie, chief executive officer of Solid Wood Innovation (SWI), presented two major research projects delivering value for wood processors. The first is the Cant Tool, used by structural manufacturers to obtain more structural lumber from the forest resource. The second project is the extensive work on Drying, including steaming work and dynamic kiln scheduling. Rob McGavin, from the Forestry Science unit of the Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, detailed the impressive capabilities of the Salisbury Research Facility. This facility can do research at a semi-industrial scale, vital for demonstrating to industry that wood science delivers financial results. Rob also discussed recent research findings using mid rotation hardwood thinnings in rotary veneer production. These new options may increase profitability for hardwood plantations.
Equipped to meet the challenges head on TIMBER QUEENSLAND, the peak body representing the State’s $2.4 billion per annum forest and timber industry, elected a new Chair and Deputy Chair at its annual general meeting. The Board of Directors elected Chris Hay (General Manager Northside Truss & Frame) as Chair, and Sean Gribble (State Manager, Amerind Forest Products) as Deputy Chair. Brian Farmer (CEO HQPlantations) and Tony Moxon (Director, Moxon Timbers) were elected to the Board. Timber Queensland chief
executive officer Rod McInnes said retaining the stable, experienced Board and complementing it with new areas of knowledge was imperative during the most difficult market conditions endured for decades. “We look forward to the leadership and guidance Chris Hay will deliver during these tough times.“ Hay started out in the timber industry 35 years ago as a forester involved with establishment and harvesting. Since then he has been involved in sawmilling, sales and in recent years in truss and frame
manufacture. He has graduated with a Master of Commerce and a Master of Marketing (Logistics). He is also the President of the Management Committee for FITEC Australia. Hay says he hopes to deliver better value out of the timber supply chain in Queensland. “We now have representation on our board from growers through to users of the end product,” he said. Directors elected were: • Chris Hay (GM Northside Truss & Frame) representing Timber Fabrication • Sean Gribble (State Manager,
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Amerind Forest Products) representing Timber Wholesaling Skene Finlayson (MD, Finlayson Timber & Hardware) representing Timber Merchants James Hyne (Production Manager, Hyne Timber) representing Exotic Pine Sawmilling Craig Neale (Facility Manager, CHH Caboolture) representing Exotic Pine Sawmilling Robert Tapiolas (Director, Parkside Group) representing Hardwood Sawmilling
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Curly Tatnell (Chairman, DTM Timber) representing Hardwood Sawmilling Doug Simms (MD, Simms Group) representing Araucaria Sawmilling Warwick Temby (Executive Director, HIA Queensland) representing Professional Subscriber members Brian Farmer (CEO HQPlantations) representing Forest Growing & Management Tony Moxon (Chairman Moxon Timbers) representing Cypress Sawmillers
Focus on improving competitiveness at all levels FTHE AUSTRALIAN Forest Products Association (AFPA) held its annual general meeting and policy forum in Melbourne and eight board members were appointed including the returning Chair, Greg McCormack. A casual vacancy for the ninth position is currently being addressed. The new board comprises: • Mr Greg McCormack (Chair) - McCormack Demby Timbers • Dr Hans Drielsma • Mr Jim Henneberry - Australian Paper • Mr Ross Hearne - Kimberly Clark • Ms Lisa Marty – VAFI • Mr Cameron MacDonald - HQPlantations • Mr Ron Adams - Wespine • Mr Shane Vicary - AKD Softwoods • Each of the Chambers; Resources, Processing, and Pulp and Paper also met to discuss key policy issues and opportunities for the forest, wood and paper products
industry. These meetings provided an opportunity to allocate priorities to key actions and policies for the next 6-12 months. Despite the challenging market environment currently affecting forestry as well as wood and paper product manufacturing in Australia, the meetings were relatively upbeat and focused on the positive reforms needed to improve competitiveness at a macroeconomic and sector level. These economy-wide issues include the high Australian dollar, low productivity and costly regulation compared to our overseas competitors. AFPA was also pleased at the opportunity for the Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation, Mark Dreyfus QC, to address the policy forum. The Parliamentary Secretary emphasised the important contribution these industries make in providing jobs and security to regional and rural communities as well as to the environment by using sustainably managed forestry resources. Dreyfus outlined
some of the exciting opportunities for the future production of a range of bio-products and recognised the recent investment by the pulp and paper sector in domestic recycling and product diversification into Greg higher growth markets. He outlined the commitment by McCormack. the Gillard Government to work collaboratively with industry and researchers to ensure a sustainable and competitive future for the industry. The opportunities for the industry to contribute to a more sustainable, low carbon economy were recently outlined in the AFPA policy roadmap ‘A Renewable Future’, recognising the large scope for wood and paper products to provide renewable products with a low carbon footprint and high propensity for recycling, reuse and renewable energy production. These strengths and the scope for innovation were further outlined by industry analysts at the forum.