NOVEMBER 2014 Issue 7 Vol. 23 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • E: m.dolphin@ryanmediapl.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au
Altus Renewables loads first shipment of wood pellets from Port of Bundaberg B
RISBANE-BASED wood pellet producer Altus Renewables Limited completed loading its first-ever shipment of wood pellets at Queensland Sugar Limited’s wharf at the Port of Bundaberg on 26 September. The bulk cargo of wood pellets was loaded onto the MV Port Phillip and was destined for South Korea. Altus’ wood pellets will be used by South Korean power companies to generate power while meeting their carbon emission reduction targets at the same time.
Altus Managing Director Ian Sandeman said the shipment was a significant milestone for the company following the successful commissioning of its pellet facility in late 2013. The Altus facility, located in the Tuan Forest near Maryborough, has a production capacity of up to 125,000 tonnes of wood pellets per year. “Our facility is located alongside the Hyne Tuan Sawmill and utilises sawmill residue to manufacture the wood pellets, thereby adding significant value to a by-
AFCA appoints new General Manager
D
AVID KEENAN has been appointed General Manager of the Australian Forest Contractors Association. His appointment was announced by AFCA chairman Ian Reid and culminated a three-month selection process. Keenan has worked in senior management positions in the Local Government sector for the past 16 years. His various roles have included General Manager or Chief Executive Officer at Tweed and Mitchell Shire Councils, as well as Director roles at Hume, Ballarat and Warrnambool Councils. His concentration has been in the planning and economic development fields, as well as undertaking advocacy and sourcing funding. He was a member of the six-person Ministerial Advisory Committee that reviewed the Victorian Planning System, and was the inaugural Chairperson of Economic Development Australia. “In my various roles I have developed an understanding of, and expertise in, dealing with the processes of Government at Local, State and Federal level. However, over the journey I’ve never lost sight of the fact all this activity is supposed to be for the benefit of rate and tax-payers (the voters) not politicians and bureaucrats,” said Keenan. “Occasionally this has landed me in hot water
Inside:
• OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW SA'S FORESTRY INDUSTRY • FOREST INDUSTRY IS "OPEN FOR BUSINESS"
¢ New AFCA General Manager David Keenan (left) and AFCA chairman Ian Reid.
with politicians but I’d like to think my motives have always been sound and I know I’ve generally had the support of the public. “Given the importance of the timber industry to sustainable environmental and economic
• THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THAR FORESTS • NEW COUNCIL PACKED WITH EXPERTISE
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• MEMORIAL WALK FOR FORESTRY WORKERS • RAMPING UP FOR THE FIRE SEASON
product from the sawmilling process,” Ian said. “Wood pellets are used extensively in Europe for the generation of renewable energy and the Korean and Japanese power companies are beginning to adopt the same strategy, creating a rapidly growing market opportunity for Altus,” he said. Ian said that Altus had made a significant capital investment in the region over the past two years resulting in the construction continued on page 4.