Complete solid timber processing systems Ph 02 9609 5911
NOVEMBER 2013 Issue 7 Vol. 22 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • E: l.martin@ryanmediapl.com.au • www.timberbiz.com.au
Inside:
Training legacy still grows strong
• Precision forestry page 6
- see page 13 for story
• Steep slope harvesting page 8 • Elise cuts into the record books page 12 • Cutting valuable time page 14 • Use your head page 15 • Skills development a core belief page 16 • Fight fire with forestry page 24 • Improving fire response page 26
New plywood mill for Tasmania By Rosemary Ann Ogilvie
T
O ASSIST the process of achieving conservation outcomes and a successful conclusion to the negotiations towards the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, Ta Ann Tasmania Pty Ltd (TAT) in 2012 advised it would accept – on a “no commercial disadvantage test” basis – the volume of veneer peeler billets that arose from the harvest of high-quality sawlogs from State forests. Converting this to hard numbers, TAT essentially agreed to forego 108,000m3 – 40% – of its specified veneer logs annually. TAT subsequently briefed the Tasmanian Parliament that if the Forest Agreement legislation was passed, it would look to invest in plywood manufacturing of the majority of its Ta sm a n ia n-produce d veneers. The company had determined that the production of plywood for the domestic market, where more than 70% of consumption is imported product, was the most effective way of ensuring its future in Tasmania. So the Prime Minister’s announcement in September of financial co-funding of $7.5m towards the construction of the new plywood mill was very welcome, as it enables the project to be accelerated, pending regulatory approval. “With the passage of the Tasmanian Forestry Agreement legislation, the forestry sector now has sovereign risk certainty, which gives our company the confidence to make another new investment in valueadded production,” says TAT general manager, Robert Yong, of the initiative. He adds that they have been working with the Tasmanian Government and the Federal Governments to help develop this project with particularly supportive local members such as former MP Sid Sidebottom,
Julie Collins MP, and the Tasmanian Government. The company also had support from Senator Richard Colbeck and newly-elected federal member, Brett Whiteley. TAT was established in 2005 at the invitation of the Australian and Tasmanian governments as a substantial private-sector investment in long-term supplies of sustainable, high-quality hardwood veneers. Two rotary peel veneer (RPV) mills valued at $79 million were built in Huonville and Smithton after the company entered into long-term contracts with Forestry Tasmania to supply an annual 265,000m3 of peeler billets of independently certified hardwood timbers from Tasmania’s public native forests. The value-adding mill will provide further certainty for the ongoing veneer operations at both mills. TAT has been working to restructure its veneer-production business to accommodate changed circumstances, reviewing the shifts required, retraining key operators and locating staff in different parts of business. “We’re also reviewing our management systems, while the compensation payment has partially offset the increase in overheads,” says Yong. The $15m, 4000m2 plywood mill will be located adjacent to the existing RPV mill in Smithton, operated using a combination of new and reconditioned plant, mostly Japanese- and Korean-made. Veneer currently produced in both RPV mills will be used to produce an annual 24,000m3 of structural ply for both the domestic and international markets. “Full training programs for the workers will be necessary as the plywood production process is totally different from the veneer production,” says Yong. “Overseas experts (457 visa holders) will assist with this training, as well as the
Restructuring for changed circumstances
continued on page 4.
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