Australasian Timber Magazine - April 2022

APRIL 2022

MANUFACTURE • TECHNOLOGY • DESIGN • CONSTRUCTION

Smashing the Timber Design Awards

VIC GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE OVER TIMBER POLICY

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NEWS

Chester slams Vic Government over native forest closure plans N PHILIP HOPKINS ATIONALS

Federal MP Darren Chester has attacked as “farcical” and an “insult” the Andrews Government’s praise for the use of local Vic Ash timber in the Latrobe Valley Performing Arts Centre while still backing the destruction of Gippsland’s native forest industry.

Mr Chester, the Member for Gippsland, officially opened the centre in early March with the Minister for Regional Development, Mary-Anne Thomas; the Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing; and Latrobe City Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan. At the end of her speech, Ms Thomas praised the role of timber in the building and said she aimed to see the industry grow.

Speaking after the official opening, Mr Chester said it was fantastic to see Gippsland timber showcased in one of the most significant buildings developed in Gippsland/Latrobe Valley in decades.

“To feature our own sustainable native timber in this performing arts and cultural centre sends a powerful message that our community

REFER TO PAGE 16

believes in the future of the timber industry and want to see a sustainable future for it,” he said.

“To have the minister come here today and recognise the timber industry – the very industry that her government is shutting down - is an insult to those timber workers.

It is completely misleading and farcical for State Government ministers to come and pretend they care about the timber industry – the very industry they want close.

“I hope the minister goes back to Spring St and reflects on this building and passes the message on to her colleagues that the Gippsland timber industry has to be saved and it’s more than just a few jobs - it’s actually about the future of the community.”

The performing arts centre is dominated by 10 engineered “trees”, each 8.5 metres high and weighing more than three tonnes, that were manufactured by Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield.

The engineered wooden glulam beams and columns act as structural columns in the main foyer to create a powerful public space.

Vic Ash is also used in the stair hand rails with other native hardwoods featuring prominently, such as Blackbutt balustrades.

Mr Chester said people needed to appreciate the incredible innovation and technical improvements at the Heyfield mill in particular. “Their ability to create a high value timber product from bits of wood that used to be thrown into the chipper, is something the industry should be proud of and the community needs to know more about,” he said.

“There is very little waste in the timber industry now in terms of the high value sawlog being turned into high

• The Federal member for Gippsland Darren Chester with Latrobe City Mayor Kellie

O’Callaghan in front of the spectacular Gippsland hardwood timber structures that feature in the entry foyer of the new performing arts centre in Traralgon. value products that are sustainable and a much better option than importing the products from overseas.”

Speaking on the threat to timber supply due to ‘green’ court actions against VicForests, Mr Chester he had no confidence in the Andrew Government’s forecasts around fibre supply to the paper industry.

“I think jobs will be lost in the Maryvale paper mill under this plan,” he said. The Andrews Government aims to close the native forest industry by 2030, with a major stepdown after 2024, emphasising a transition to plantation timber.

“I believe in sustainable na-

tive hardwood timber. Plantation timber has an important role to play; we should be doing both. The critical thing about the native timber industry that most people do not understand, is the role that it plays in natural disaster management and preventing bushfires in the first place,” Mr Chester said.

“They secure the access to track which are used by firefighters; they have equipment that is used when fires are on; and they have the skills in the bush we need to pass on to future generations to keep us safe.

“They should be doing mulching work around critical infrastructure, assisting

with fuel reduction burning and assisting with the maintenance of tracks to keep our community safe.

VicForests also pays for the use and maintenance of the roads in the bush.”

Local contractors and suppliers were among the 62 contractor companies involved in the project. Local contractors included Weldtek (steel), Carpet Country (floor coverings) Gippsland Fire (fire extinguishers) MTS Excavations (excavations and landscaping) CME Installations (security) and Active Hospitality (kitchen and café equipment) and Law Somerville (joinery).

Conflict timber’ ban to affect Australia for years to come

T

HE decision

by the world’s largest international forestry certifier to designate all timber originating from Russia and Belarus as ‘conflict timber’ banning this timber from being used in PEFC-certified products will have real and significant potential to impact Australia’s construction needs in the decades to come.

South Australian Forest Products Association CEO, Mr Nathan Paine said that with around 25 per cent of Australia’s timber imports originatwww.timberbiz.com.au

ing from Russia and former the Soviet Union or Russianoccupied countries of Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this ban in addition to future instability in the region will have a detrimental impact on using imports to meet South Australia’s constructions needs.

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification at the weekend categorised all timber originating from Russia and Belarus as ‘conflict timber’, therefore making such timber unusable

in PEFC-certified products.

In 2021 alone Australia imported more than $80 million worth timber from Russia, while almost a quarter of total timber import volume came from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, in the region.

“The PEFC decision is another important factor in a weight of already compelling arguments to fast track the planting of trees for timber and fibre to shore up critical future supply,” Mr Hampton said.

Mr Paine said the invasion of Ukraine has the real and sigAUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

nificant potential to impact on South Australia’s construction needs in the decades to come and has renewed SAFPA’s call on all political parties to support a target of planting 50 million trees over the next four years.

“Through the COVID pandemic, we have learned some hard lessons about the need to maintain our sovereign capability and the crisis in Ukraine and the decision

by PEFC to designate timber from Russian and Belarus as ‘conflict timber’ has escalated

the urgency in which we need to get trees in the ground to ensure we have enough fibre here in South Australia to meet our future needs,” Mr Paine said.

“Just like the United States has worked to wean itself off of reliance on Middle Eastern Oil, we need to protect our future by ensuring we are growing enough fibre for our children’s children to build houses, to build the pallets that move our food and groceries and the packaging for our medicines.

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NEWS

australasian

APRIL 2022 Issue 2 – Volume 30 Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman.

Established 1977.

3-9

News Australian Timber Design Awards Preservation Associations

10-11 15 19-21

FRONT Cover: The interior of the LaTrobe Performing Arts Centre story P16-17 Photograph: Trisp Pictures.

PUBLISHER and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Robyn Haworth Editor: Bruce Mitchell b.mitchelll@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9512 Advertising: Gavin de Almeida g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9517 Creative Services: Jarren Gallway Luke Fernandez Publication Design: Jarren Gallway Timber classifieds: g.dealmeida@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9517 Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9522 Subcription rates One-year (8 editions) $55 Two-years (16 editions) $95 Accounts: Adelaide Office (08) 8369 9514 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501 Melbourne Office: Suite 2262, 442 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122 Phone: (03) 9810 3262 Find us on Facebook @AustralasianTimber Website www.timberbiz.com.au Printed by Lane Print, Adelaide, SA

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Hyne celebrates 140 years in the timber industry H Timber is marking its 140th birthday this year and kicked off celebrations with a community event as part of Tumbarumba’s annual Tumbafest.

Hyne Timber hosted a small marquee by the creek, with invited guests including Justin Clancy MP and Snowy Valleys Mayor, Ian Chaffey who both said a few words of support to commemorate the milestone and significance of Hyne Timber and the industry as a whole to the region.

One of the Tumbarumba Mill’s longest serving team members, Doug Peel was invited by fifth generation family member James Hyne to cut the birthday cake using a novelty, timber-handled hand saw.

“I have been working at the site in Tumbarumba for 42 years, double the time Hyne Timber has owned it,” Mr Peel said.

“Fourty-one years ago, at the age of 19, I lost my arm in the sawmill but I have remained committed to working in the industry, and for the past 21 years, to Hyne Timber.

“It was a real honour to be part of the company’s 140year celebrations with James Hyne and to be asked to cut the cake. The surprise hand saw certainly got a laugh AY N E

• Long-time employee Doug Peel cuts the cake with James Hyne during Tumbarumba’s annual Tumbafest.

from the crowd. It isn’t too often you see a cake cut like that,” he said.

The Hyne Timber story began in 1882 when Richard Matthews Hyne opened the National Sawmill on the banks of the Mary River in Queensland.

Six generations of the Hyne family have led the business

through two world wars, natural disasters, pandemics and challenging economic conditions, such as the Great Depression and the Global Financial Crisis.

“Hyne Timber has proudly sponsored Tumbafest for many years and this year’s event was perfect timing for us to also celebrate our 140 years with some of our key community supporters,” Mr Hyne said.

“We wanted to give back to the wider community that

The platform calls for a bipartisan commitment to meet the need for one billion more plantation trees by 2030. The AFPA welcomed the $86 million forestry cash-for-grants scheme unveiled by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Launceston recently, but Mr Hampton also cautioned that more policies will need to be brought in if the one-billion-tree target is likely to be met.

Obtaining a bipartisan commitment might not be as difficult as it sounds when it comes to the two major parties; both the Government and the Opposition have expressed their support for the timber industry as a whole, including the native timber

industry.

But in the current political climate, and as election day draws near, independents are going to play a major part in the result.

And of course the Greens’ stance on the timber industry – in particular the native timber industry – is well known.

So don’t expect any bipartisanship there.

The National Farmers’ Federation’s wish list is even grander. It has identified 20 regional centres, such as the key forestry precincts of the Green Triangle and the Gippsland Region, as targets for regional renewal.

And the NFF wants more than $1.4 billion in new investment to secure a bright future for those regional

has supported us through the 21 years we have been part of the town, so we sponsored the Hyne Community Markets to make them accessible to all without the need for a ticket.

“We’re proud to support Tumbafest which attracts thousands of people each year and is a showcase of talent and produce from the region,” Mr Hyne said.

“This is a particularly historic year for my family where we reflect on our ancestry, the trials and tribulations through wars, financial crisis, bushfires, pandemics and floods including the one right now impacting Maryborough operations again for the second time this year.

“2022 is our year to celebrate 140 years of growth, resilience, innovation and sustainability, all of which, couldn’t have been done without the support and hard work of our team members and key stakeholders,” he said.

“While we were founded in Maryborough, Queensland, we are proud to be part of the Tumbarumba community and to make a lasting contribution to the infrastructure of the town through the Hyne Community Trust and as the town’s largest employer.”

Poll on the way, campaigning starts

T

he Federal Election can’t be that far away.

It seems the only thing left is to decide the date.

All we know is that it will be after the Federal Budget is handed down on March 29.

While the election campaign proper is yet to be announced, the wish lists are starting to pile up.

The Australian Forest Products Association kicked things off in Tasmania with the most reasonable of requests. The AFPA simply wants all sides of federal politics to outline their plans to support the timber industries ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

The demand is both polite and logical.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

centres and to provide a blueprint for regional renewal.

The proposal puts the onus on National Cabinet to establish a framework, including local government, to develop a plan for 20 Regional Development Precincts.

However the NFF concedes that a governmentled strategy to deliver for growing populations and to guarantee the regions’ vibrant future remains elusive.

Pipe dreams? Maybe, but it is a starting point.

As that unknown election date draws near, watch for the pile of wish lists grow.

Because among them there are certain to be some truly decent proposals. www.timberbiz.com.au

MY VIEW

Time to make up our mind Green star growing our own timber rating

MY VIEW NICK STEEL CEO, TASMANIAN FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

W

E can’t rely on imports anymore

We need to make a decision.

Do we want to import timber, or grow it?

About a quarter of the timber used in Australia for construction was, before the pandemic, being imported.

It’s madness and it equates to around $2 billion spent importing timber every year.

So what happened?

increased in price by 400%, such is the global demand.

There is no longer a guarantee that Australia will be Well, not surprisingly Aus- able to continue to source tralia wasn’t the only country timber from overseas, and in the world who decided to we shouldn’t anyway. Timber use construction to stimulate is the most environmentally the economy and ward off a friendly and the only carbon pandemic-initiated recession. neutral construction mateThat means that the previ- rial in the world, even more so ously imported timber is now when grown locally.

We don’t have a “divine going to markets like the US, UK and China where at one right” to have wood imported point construction timber into Australia and people who

want to build a house right now are feeling the effects of this demand and lack of sovereignty right across Australia.

The population is growing, therefore so too is the demand for housing. So are we prepared to take a chance and plunder the rest of the world for our timber needs or are we prepared to grow our own?

It’s great for the government to announced stimulus packages to encourage home

building, it’s a proven way of pushing money through the economy, but we must not forget that it will also require more hardwood and softwood.

The recent announcement of grants by the PM to increase plantations is a great start and now it’s time for the public to get behind this essential industry to break down the stigma, break down the barriers and get more trees in the ground.

Responsible Wood has been included in the Green Building Council Australia’s (GBCA) Green Star Rating.

The new framework provides guidance for all building materials used in Green Star projects and will apply to all new Green Star Rating Tools published by the Green Building Council of Australia.

The GBCA’s internationally recognised Green Star rating system sets standards for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places that reduce the impact of climate change, enhance our quality of life, restore, and protect biodiversity and ecosystems, drive resilience and contribute to market transformation and a sustainable economy.

The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme was assessed as ‘Best Practice’ and ‘Good Practice’ across four credit categories – Responsible Structure, Responsible Envelope, Responsible Finishes and Responsible Systems.

“The Responsible Products Framework provides a new definition for responsible products, it recognises schemes like Responsible Wood which have a positive environmental impact, are transparent, respect human rights, and take action to reduce carbon content,” Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries said.

“Our new 2021 standard for Sustainable Forest Management has been assessed favourably and is amongst the world’s leading standards for sustainable forest management,” Mr Dorries said.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

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TIMBER MERCHANTS

Merchants facing challenges in T merchants across Australia are currently facing a number of challenges.

While delays in sourcing materials, especially from international suppliers is not a new problem, the situation has certainly been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local issues are also impacting supply, with experts predicting that Australia lost around 40 per cent of its softwood plantation resources during the 2019/20 bushfires.

This has led many merchants to move away from using Excel spreadsheets or manual processes and consider the implementation of specialist digital solutions, designed to provide more in IMB E R

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GREG GILL REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES ACROSS APAC AT ECI SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS.

depth business insights, as well as improving stock management.

Implementing new technology

No matter the scale or size of your business, the decision to implement new technology should not be taken lightly. Whether you are saying goodbye to manual processes or updating a legacy system that no longer meets your needs, without thorough planning there’s always the risk that you’ll end up committing to an unsuitable solution.

We are seeing an increasing number of merchant businesses considering enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, which is ideal for streamlining many of the back-office functions that would previously have drained hours of staff time.

Designed to automate many resource draining tasks, an

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

ERP can help merchants work smarter. It’s important to point out that implementing a fully integrated ERP system doesn’t mean taking existing workflows and simply digitising them. In fact, an ERP system should transform how you do business and, in turn, free up hours of time.

Gaining a complete overview of the business One of the main issues merchants face is the ability to access an accurate overview of the business. While this is always important, it becomes even more pressing when you are having to juggle price fluctuations, stock shortages and shipment delays.

Instead of staff wasting time having to collate key documents manually and creating their own summary reports, an ERP can take care of this automatically. Running reports will take minutes, rather than hours - ensuring smarter decision making across all departments.

From a customer service perspective, the ability to access all key information quickly will help set your business ahead of the competition. Should a customer call asking for information on their order status, you can relay this right away - rather than having to put them on hold or even call them back later in the day with the requested information.

Improving stock manage-

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TIMBER MERCHANTS

sourcing supplies

ment Designed to help merchants better manage stock, an ERP system can send triggered alerts when certain product lines are running low. Not only does this mean that staff no longer need to worry about manually keeping track of hundreds of product lines - which ones are in stock, low stock or out of stock, it reduces the chance of a customer being allowed to order an item that is no longer available.

Staff can also set-up replenishment rules that work silently in the background, freeing up even more of their time, while automated margin monitors and rules will minimise the chance of you selling products at a loss. This functionality is especially important at a time when we

are seeing huge fluctuations in the market. Those reliant on paper-based processes or those using software that wasn’t designed for maintenance or large inventory files with complex price rules, are far more likely to fall victim to selling products at a loss, especially if the only way to track increases is to manually check each item.

At a time when merchant businesses across Australia are looking to drive more efficient ways of working, fully integrated ERP and POS systems could be the vital ally many are looking for.

To find out more about the ECI software and how it can help your business, please visit https://www.ecisolutions.com/en-au/home-andsupply-retailers/spruce/

NEWS

TDC to create future where timber construction leads the way E

nvisioning a future where timber is used more widely in mid to high rise buildings and contributes to carbon neutral targets, is an exciting opportunity in building design. The tools to make this a reality are now coming together with the launch of the Timber Design Centre.

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service deputy director general Jason Wilson announced the launch at the WoodWorks conference today, explaining that the Timber Design Centre aims to increase the use of timber, particularly in structures such as offices, hotels and multi-storey apartments.

The Centre will provide expert advice, research, information and educational resources for those in building design and construction. The services are being shaped directly by industry and the www.timberdesigncentre.co.nz website has been created to support this from day one.

The Centre’s work programme will be co-designed with a wide range of people involved in the building construction process including developers, designers, council planners and consenters, architects, engineers, builders, building owners, students and researchers.

The Centre is an initiative between Te Uru Rākau –

• New Zealand Forest Service programme delivery forest science lead Emily Telfer showcases the new www.timberdesigncentre.co.nz website.

Zealand’s built environment is responsible for about 20 percent of the country’s carbon footprint due to the emission of greenhouse gasses over the full life cycle of buildings. This includes embodied emissions of building materials and products.

“New Zealand can maximise the use of sustainably sourced, locally grown and manufactured wood products.

“Trees sequester carbon from the atmosphere while they’re growing, and as long as the wood is in use, that carbon is stored so it’s not going back into the atmosphere. If the timber is sustainably certified it means that the forests are re-growing after each harvest, and the carbon sequestration cycle continues,” he explains.

Timber Design Society president Dr Daniel Moroder says the time is right

New Zealand Forest Service and a consortium comprising Scion (Crown Research Institute), the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA), New Zealand Timber Design Society and BRANZ. The consortium explains that the greater use of timber in construction provides an opportunity for the sector to support the Government’s commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2050, whilst realising the broader economic and wellbeing benefits of including wood products in multi-storied buildings.

Scion sustainability architect Andrea Stocchero says the world is on a quest to decarbonise and many people don’t realise New

Independent advisor to the world’s forest and agricultural industries

for New Zealand to have a dedicated timber knowledge centre which provides advice and guidance on timber construction.

“Over recent years, the interest in engineered timber construction has increased significantly and we now need to ensure that clients, designers, contractors and authorities have all the information they need to build efficiently in timber.

“The centre aims to bring the timber industry together and to provide answers to all current obstacles we encounter during the design and consenting process of timber buildings,” he explains.

PMA chief executive Stephen Macaulay says technological advancements in wood manufacturing provides an opportunity to accelerate the use of engineered mass timber

Margules Groome are independent consultants to the forestry, wood products, bio solutions, pulp & paper, and agriculture sectors.

Our unique combination of forest management and consulting skills, deep industry knowledge and technical know-how, enables us to provide a wide range of expert services. These include forest valuation and transaction due

products in medium to high rise buildings across New Zealand.

“The Centre has a key role to play in promoting greater use of an expanding range of timber products available to the construction industry. Greater use of locally harvested timber products in apartments and offices not only significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these building structures, it also offers the natural characteristic of comfort and warmth to occupants that are rarely found in other building materials.”

BRANZ General Manager of Research Dr Chris Litten says the development of the centre has been a true collaboration between Government, industry and the research community.

“We are excited by the role the Timber Design Centre will play in challenging the construction sector to produce healthier and more sustainable buildings.

BRANZ is proud to support the work of the Timber Design Centre in providing evidence-based information for low-emissions construction.”

The Government is funding the Timber Design Centre as part of its Fit for a Better World roadmap and is one of several key initiatives under way this year to help transform the forest and wood processing sector.

diligence, sales advisory services, analysis and advice for forest owners, resource planning and business strategy, markets and market forecasts, operations and tech solutions.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

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NEWS

Timberlink takes first step to building a better future T

he South Australian Forest Products Association has hailed the start of Timberlink’s $63 million NeXTimber facility in Tarpeena in the State’s South-East as the first step on the road to transformative change in the way we build the buildings of the future.

South Australian Forest Products Association CEO, Mr Nathan Paine, said this new state-of-the-art facil-

ity would not just drive job creation, it would also deliver more sustainable engineered wood products and will also be Australia’s first combined Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) manufacturing plant.

A total of 27 full-time permanent jobs will be created when the facility opens in 2023 rising to 50 at full output. A significant num-

ber of additional jobs are also being created during the construction phase.

The NeXTimber range will be manufactured on Timberlink’s Tarpeena site from Timberlink timber, sourced from local certified pine plantations. The plantations, like Timberlink, are under the ownership of funds managed by New Forests.

“South Australia’s forest products industries are al-

ready building the nation through growing and processing 35 per cent of the nation’s locally produced house framing timbers, 25 per cent of the nation’s particle board and now this new facility will deliver CLT and GLT products that offer a greener, more sustainable alternative to steel and concrete in mid and high-rise construction projects,” Mr Paine said.

He said that each year,

the South Australian plantation estate sequestered 4.64 million tonnes of CO2e from the atmosphere, making timber the Ultimate Renewable.

The CLT and GLT timber products that will be processed by NeXTimber will provide carbon negative mass timber products for use in mid and high-rise construction helping create a cleaner, greener future.

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TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS australasian

Looking back 2019 Another 400,000 hectares of production trees is urgently needed in the ground to prevent major supply shortfalls in the future. That’s the sombre message from the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and they will be driving that message home during this year’s Federal Election campaign.

“This is something all sides of politics need to come to the party on,” stressed Ross Hampton, AFPA CEO. He said that changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) would create expanded opportunities for designers, developers and builders to develop innovative mid-rise timber buildings.

Smashing out a winner A

award-winning architect has transformed an old car workshop into a one-of-akind family home - but you’d never know it from outside, and it picked up the sustainability category in the 2021 Australian Timber Design Awards.

Sponsored by Planet Ark’s Make it Wood campaign, the building exists within a relatively intact streetscape of Victorian terrace houses, yet historically and formally does not fit the terrace typology.

However, this perimeter gives way to heavily detailed N

internal spaces around a central private courtyard through which light and air are drawn to all three levels.

Environmentally, the house is the re-purposing of an existing structure retaining up to 90 per cent of the perimeter brick walls.

Timber is used for the overwhelming majority of the new building work for its embodied energy benefits, carbon capture and connection to nature.

The architects described the

use of timber for philosophical and environmental reasons, and both of these add to the house’s overall sustainability.

The architect describes the choice of finely detailed timber used throughout the house as a part of a strategy leading to a level of material care.

With the house being loved and preserved by future owners (for many of the same reasons as a beautiful timber boat or piece of furniture may be preserved), the structure is envisaged to have an extended life.

XCELLENCE IN TIMBER E DESIGN Architect: Elkan Architect Structural Engineer: SDA Structures Builder: ARC Projects Fabricator: Architectural Hardwood Joinery Photographer: Clinton Weaver Location: Sydney

2016 Two students from the Australian National University (ANU), School of Art and a highly skilled, Benalla-based woodwork hobbyist, shared a prize pool of $6,000 by winning Create from a Crate - a national, environmentally focused woodwork competition where Australia’s most talented woodworkers, designers and makers take up the challenge of making a beautiful object or furniture piece from two rough and discarded timber pallets.

The President of The Victorian Woodworkers Association, Jerome Wielans, said. it was inspiring to see a new generation of woodworkers take out prizes alongside one of the association’s most highly skilled and experienced members.

2011 A review of Australian building standards governing cyclone-resistant homes in Queensland is taking place following Cyclone Yasi.

Investigators from James Cook University’s cyclone testing station have been working in the affected areas to examine damaged buildings and will report their findings to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

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TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS

Other sustainable features include carefully managed airflow to allow for passive heating or cooling in summer and winter.

Notably, a central courtyard allows light, air, and sun deep within the house in winter.

Windows are provided on all sides to allow for cross ventilation regardless of wind direction.

Internally, vertical spaces allow heat to be exhausted through high-level windows drawing cooler air up from below. There is a 4kW optimised photovoltaic array on the roof and minimal use of gas for the cooktop only.

All new timber, including hardwood and softwood, is responsibly sourced from known Australian suppliers, certified under the PEFC scheme.

Salvaged hardwood from the site was reused to build two tables for the new house.

The extensive use of hardwood is for optimised durability to help ensure the overall longevity of the house.

Architect Matt Elkan said the house is designed to ‘provide a joyful, nurturing, inner world’ within a private space protected from the city outside.

Beautiful. Natural.

Sustainable. Australian. responsiblewood.org.au You can be assured that wood carrying the Responsible Wood mark has come from certified Australian forests that are sustainably managed to the highest global standards.

Royd Clan House, Victoria Winner of the 2021 Australian Timber Design, Australian Certified Timber Category

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

11

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The finished product has not only met, but exceeded our expectations.

With the minimal footprint of the PackFeeder, the accuracy, speed and reliability of the Razer V5, the speed and efficiency of the Material Conveyor system, and the overall support by this team we are extremely pleased with the outcome.

Josh Wright V.P. of Manufacturing The Truss Company, USA With 15+ years experience, Vekta specialises in creating automated factory solutions based on your objectives, space requirements and budget. The Truss Company’s customised solution focused on flexibility with two Razer V5’s and two PackFeeders sharing a common nine KickOff Conveyor System. If the key to business success is selecting the right partner- the key to automation is choosing Vekta.

12

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

www.timberbiz.com.au

N

info@vekta.com.au I vekta.com.au www.timberbiz.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

13

FORESTWORKS

Productivity linked directly to the skills employees possess P

EOPLE who work with ForestWorks on skills projects know that the productivity of their businesses is directly linked to the skills they have.

If you are a worker, an employee or a trainer in the timber and wood

products sectors, ForestWorks want to hear your thoughts on proposed changes to entry level and high level qualifications for timber and wood products operations. Visit this webpage to view the drafts for comment and instructions on how to provide input by April 2022. Alternatively, you may contact the Project Manager directly at gdaian@forestworks.com. au.

Following an initial round of industry consultations in late 2021, these

14

training products have been redesigned to address current skill needs, increase training efficiency, and provide clear career paths for school leavers, new workers, and existing workers.

According to industry feedback, to-

day’s timber and wood production workplaces require process operators, line technicians, and production supervisors who are very knowledgeable about the operation of sawmills, log yards or wood product processing plants in which they operate; have a

sound understanding of health, safety, environmental protection, equipment maintenance and quality processes; can communicate effectively, make decisions, and work well with others; and are able to contribute to problem-solving processes and un-

test results for the identification of problems in production and implementing necessary process adjustment; • developing specialised operational knowledge that support quality and problem-solving processes

derstand the reasons behind production processes and requirements.

As a result, existing qualifications have been consolidated, renamed and redeveloped, and three new qualifications are suggested. These are: Certificate II in Timber and Wood Products Operations, Certificate III in Timber and Wood Products Operations, and Certificate IV Timber and Wood Products Operations.

Under the proposed new qualifications, those seeking a Certificate III in Timber and Wood Products Operations can choose from specialisations in Timber Production, Glue Laminated Timber or Cross Laminated Timber Production, Plywood or Laminated Veneer Lumber Production, and Reconstituted Wood Panel Production.

Many of the courses that make up the proposed new qualifications have been redesigned to focus on skills or tasks that are important to the industry now and in the future, such as: • planning, supervising and evaluating log yard operations, log processing operations in sawn product, veneer or wood chip production or the dry mill operations of a timber processing facility; • collecting, preparing and testing samples of laminated wood products or finger jointed timber, interpreting

across log yard operations, veneer production for plywood or laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufacture, plywood and laminated veneer lumber production operations, as well as glue laminated timber (GLT) and cross laminated timber production (CLT) operations; and • assessing the types and applications of glues and gluing systems used in the production of wood products.

Several new courses have been added on chain of custody certification principles aimed at operators, senior operational staff, and internal auditors, as well as mechanical skills needed by saw technicians, line technicians, and production supervisors.

In addition, all proposed qualifications, whether entry level or high level, have been designed to help people learn basic skills that they may apply to other jobs or occupations. These skills include applying effective manufacturing work practices, achieving work outcomes, performing minor equipment maintenance, participating in continuous improvement, using structured problem-solving tools, performing tasks to support production, organising personal work priorities, and working in teams.

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER February 2022

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PRESERVATION

New timber preservation rules A allows a preservative to be classified into one of these three main groups. The list below covers only those preservatives that are used to treat wood to the specifications in Australian Standard AS/NZS 1604* Specification for preservative treatment.

There are five standards in this series dealing with different wood products e.g. sawn and round wood, plywood, particleboard etc.

Water based preservatives (The correct term is ‘waterborne’) Timber treated with this group of preservatives has a wide variety of applications, both indoors and outdoors, for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.

L L preservative formulations used in Australia must but be approved for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority or APVMA. There are two important features of an APVMA approval.

Firstly, the approval only applies to wood actually treated in this country. There may be preservative treated wood sold in Australia that has been treated with a preservative not approved by the APVMA. In this case the actual treatment process was not carried out in Australia.

Secondly, the APVMA approves a label which sets out how the preservative may be used: In effect, this means that members of the public will not be able to buy the actual preservative.

Wood preservatives may be dissolved in water, oil, or a light organic solvent such as mineral turpentine. This

• Copper Chrome Arsenate, also referred to as CCA, and the treated wood is green in colour.

• Copper Quaternary or ACQ, turns the wood green but a different shade compared to CCA. • Copper azole (CuAz) turns

the wood a brown-green colour.

CCA, ACQ and CuAz react chemically with the wood, making them insoluble and so suitable for use in situations where the treated wood may be exposed to the weather (wetting and rain).

This set of preservatives is effective in protecting wood from attack by borers, termites and decay.

Boron-based preservatives are water soluble and do not become insoluble after treatment. Because of this, products that are protected with boron-based preservatives can only be used in situations where the wood does not get wet. Whilst boron-based preservatives have some ability to protect against rot or decay, this sort of protection is not usually needed because the boron protected wood is used in dry situations (e.g. flooring) and rot or decay does not occur in dry wood.

Oil-borne preservatives Timber treated with oilborne preservatives is mainly used for heavy duty construction and in the marine environment. The oil-borne preservatives approved for use in Australia are creosote and pigment emulsified creosote (PEC). Oil-borne treated products include utility poles, rail sleepers and marine piles

Light Organic Solvent Preservatives (LOSP) LOSP systems are used for products treated in their final shape and form. This includes high value joinery such as balustrades, fascias etc. LOSP treatments are only suitable for products used out of ground contact, and treated products that are destined for outdoor use are often sold with a primer coat of paint.

As copper naphthenate is the only coloured LOSP treatment (green), other LOSP treatments may contain a tracer colour. The AS/NZS 1604 specified LOSPs include:

• Tributyl tin naphthenate or TBTN. This is a fungicide (stops decay or rot) and leaves the wood colourless.

This preservative must include one of the termite protections (insecticides) listed below.

• Copper naphthenate or CuN. This product is being increasingly used in the US, turns the wood green and is a fungicide only. This preservative must also be used with an insecticide.

• Tebuconazole/propiconazole or teb/prop. Like TBTN, this is a colourless fungicide and must be used with an insecticide.

• The synthetic pyrethroids, permethrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, and cypermethrin are used for termite and insect control and have no ability to stop decay. These preservatives are colourless and often have a dye or pigment added. e.g. blue framing.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

28/02/2022 15:18:01

15

DESIGN

Gippsland arts centre showcase of timber industry Native hardwood dominates building PHILIP HOPKINS

T

HE $42 million Gipps-

land Performing Arts Centre, a landmark project featuring engineered native hardwood timber, was formally opened in early March.

The centre is dominated by 10 engineered “trees” made from Victorian Ash timber, each 8.5 metres high and weighing more than three tonnes, that were manufactured by Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) at Heyfield in central Gippsland.

The engineered wooden glulam beams and columns act as structural columns in the main foyer, creating a powerful public space. Various other native hardwoods

16

were also used in the project.

GPAC, which is located at Traralgon in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, was officially opened by the Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, the Minister for Regional Development MaryAnne Thomas, and Latrobe City May Kellie O’Callaghan.

Vic Ash in the stair hand rails and other native hardwoods feature prominently.

Architect Paul Katsieris, whose firm Katsieris-Origami designed the centre in partnership with Jackson Architects, said the timber on the foyer stair treads and risers was initially to be Grey Box. “However, the builders couldn’t source the size and thickness needed in time. In the end we used White Ma-

hogany,” he said, speaking at the official opening.

“The main front balcony barrier is European White Oak Veneer. Seating row upstands and aisle barriers are oak veneer panel walls with solid oak cappings and all stained Midnight Black.”

Mr Katsieris, the project’s design director, said that in the 750-seat auditorium, where a vivid red colour dominates, not much timber was used.

“I wanted a powerful design contrast with the foyer, hence the folded plane wall facets and use of the striking red throughout the interior. It’s not lighting by the way - the red is in the paintwork of the elements,” he said.

“However, there are some

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

timber elements in the auditorium including Blackbutt battens on the balcony side walls. Finally, though not visible, the auditorium seating plats in the stalls and balcony are constructed of two layers of staggered structural grade (F27 Grade) plywood sheeting.

Very strong!”

The engineered trees became the focal point of the building because the history and culture of the timber industry in Gippsland was a key design theme of the building.

In their research of historic photos of the region, they came across countless images of immense, giant trees and heroic timber structures, most of which

KEY POINTS Construction of the $42.1 million project was

by Becon Constructions, supported by local suppliers and subcontractors.

■

More than 800 people were inducted into the site, including 62 contractor companies and local suppliers.

■

Funding came from the Federal Government ($10 million), the State Government ($10 million) and Latrobe City Council.

■

www.timberbiz.com.au

have disappeared.

Paul’s fascination for timber resulted in the project concentrating on forestry’s ultimate embodiment – the tree.

A conversation with Mr Chester led the architectural team to ASH at Heyfield, whose new Glulam product, dubbed MAASLAM, is as strong as steel.

It was a perfect fit, as the architects were committed to using as much local product as possible.

Each ‘tree’ took about 16 hours to create and was then sanded, polished, joined together and capped with timber plugs.

The parts were then assembled into the final product

by TGA Engineering, based

at Bayswater in eastern Melbourne.

Paul said in the early design, the building’s main timber component also had a CLT roof with dramatic skylights.

“But we needed a bigger budget for that. However, Glulam was incredibly cost effective and on a par with steel in terms of cost,” he

said.

The beauty of the timber was an added bonus.

“Steel would have needed finer work to make it architectural steel, or we would have had to clad them. We went through a big learning curve, using a massive timber beam to it limits in terms of what it can do,” said Paul.

He added that timber was

too often seen as a finish and occasionally a structure; now it was being seen as both – a fitting tribute to end his five years’ work.

The centre includes the auditorium, indoor and outdoor amphitheatre event spaces, a box office, cafe precinct and conference rooms. It will be able to support international and local productions.

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AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

17

MILL TECHNOLOGY

Plywood glue now biobased Latvijas Finieris, a global producer of birch plywood products under the brand Riga Wood, now uses biobased glue in plywood production.

The fossil-based phenols in conventional glue are replaced with Lineo by Stora Enso, a bio and lignin-based glue, that reduces carbon footprint without compromising the technical performance of the plywood products. According to Latvijas Finieris, their plywood’s potential environmental impact has been reduced by up to 49% upon using Lineo.

“Plywood is usually seen as a mature product in a rather mature market. We found the idea of using a lignin-based glue interesting and we welcome new innovations. Since 2017, we have worked together with Stora Enso to test and develop the bio-based binder, and finally we are proud to say that we can replace fossil-based resins with lignin-based alternatives in our plywood production processes,” explained Māris Būmanis, head of development research at Latvijas Finieris.

Across markets, there are calls for change as consumers are increasingly turning to eco-friendly products. At the same time, the business demand for renewable, biobased and circular solutions is growing rapidly.

“Reducing our carbon footprint offers us, as well as our customers, unbeatable environmental sales propositions,” Būmanis continued. “The benefits of working with Stora Enso include continuous industrialscale availability of a woodbased raw material with a traceable origin and a stable cost structure. This complements our corporate image as an industry leader.”

“I am very proud of the level of cooperation that we have reached with Latvijas Finieris, and I am extremely happy to see Lineo being used to manufacture more sustainable plywood on a regular basis and on large scale,” said Enrico Sbrighi, business development senior specialist at Stora Enso.

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Leitz leading the way in industrial processing tools F

OU N D ED in 1876 in Oberkochen, Southern Germany, the Leitz Group is the worldwide leading manufacturer of tools for industrial processing of wood, wood derived materials, plastics, compound materials and non-ferrous metals.

The end of the 1970s saw the Leitz family business enter new markets outside of Europe, and they continued to expand internationally in order to guarantee a high level of customer service alongside their products.

In 1979 Leitz Brasil was established, with the US subsidiary in 1983 and Leitz Japan in 1988. Leitz Australia was founded on the 31st of January 1992 with the opening of the Sales Office and Service Centre in Bayswater, Victoria.

Leitz now has over 120 Service Centres across the globe.

The foundation of Leitz Australia occurred at the same time Leitz was spearheading change considerably in the wood machining sector worldwide.

In this same year, 1992, Leitz premiered the profile cutterhead-system ProfilCut, and in 1993 Leitz introduced the closed hydro clamping system into furniture production.

In 1994 Leitz displayed its dynamism again launching tools embedded with electronic memory chips.

This culture of being at the forefront of change and tool technology was embodied in the new Australian subsidiary, with its success resulting in further expansion across the country and into New Zealand.

Two years after the Melbourne office opened, the next Servicing Centre was opened in Smithfield, NSW, closely followed by Welshpool in Western Australia (now Malaga) and Hillcrest in Queensland. 2011 celebrated the opening of Leitz New Zealand in Penrose.

Over the last 30 years, Leitz Australia has contributed to some great successes not only for Leitz Tooling, but for the woodworking and ad-

• A Leitz robot arm used for multiple tasks but generally help move the sawblades between production/sharpening machines.

quality power, installation of green cooling systems in Sydney and Brisbane factories (uses 80% less electricity than conventional air-conditioning)

vanced materials processing industry. Some of these highlights include; - Success in the Australian market with the Leitz Katana blades developed specifically for the timber milling market, improving customer production speeds and quality throughout the industry - 2011 winning the AWTE Gold Star Award - Running a Saw Doctor apprenticeship program across all states and New Zealand - Rolling out a locally made line of Router Bits using high quality carbide and 2 Australian made ANCA FX7 machines, proving extremely popular with the Australian Market.

- Diamond sharpening service centres in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland for quick turnaround for all customers - Voltage optimizer and Solar panel installation at Melbourne head office for AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

Sam Czyczelis, Managing Director of Leitz Australia and New Zealand, aims at continuing the growth strategy for the company, as well as increasing Leitz corporate social responsibility over the

New Zealand, and advanced training for employees available.

“When you are number 1 in your industry nationally and internationally, the importance of quality in service and our solutions for customers is paramount,” he said.

“Our vision is to continue to grow, to stay ahead of market demands and be on the forefront of new technologies.

“Investing in our people

• Leitz’s Australian Warehouse. next few years.

This includes the introduction of a carbide and used tool recycling program, with money raised from material recycling donated to local charities to support the community, as well as initiating green energy strategies across the service centres.

Sam also sees education as one of the most important tools in the Leitz toolbox, with 5 apprenticeship positions across Australia and

and sustainability initiatives is key to achieving this in today’s environment”, reinforcing Leitz Tooling in its position as the world leader in customer-oriented development of tool Systems.

Leitz Australia and New Zealand stands by the company’s motto ‘Solutions in New Dimensions’ and are looking forward to seeing the new dimensions that Leitz Australia and New Zealand lead in the coming years. www.timberbiz.com.au

ASSOCIATIONS

Design & Rebuild – The next stage of your career R EB UILD & Design is

a new program by FTMA Australia which targets workers such as builders who have either been injured on the job, or are simply seeking a new career, as we believe builders make great designers.

I know first-hand how debilitating a workplace accident can be as my husband Scott had a log roll on his back in 2004.

Scott had previously worked as a wool presser, builder, brickies labourer and tree climber to name a few of his career choices but given he was millimetres away from being a paraplegic, he had to retrain himself, as he could no longer do physical work.

Scott was lucky as he had a stubborn determined wife who convinced him that I needed help in the office of my old job and over a 6-month period we retrained him. Today Scott is Operations Manager of a business and his excel computer skills leave me for dead.

Even though Scott went through hell, he looks back now and thinks it is the best thing that has happened to him (besides meeting me of course!).

Builders are halfway there in being great designers. They know all the technical information, they know how to take off plans and know the terminology, they just need to learn the software and they have a great career waiting for them.

I asked a number of designers what they like about their careers to which they replied: • Having the trade background is a significant advantage. It provides a solid appreciation for the impact of designing decisions, gives an established understanding of what it is you need to achieve when designing and helps from a problem-solving perspective.

• You’re always learning and growing. There are days you’re estimating standard houses one day, 12 townhouses the next, or a massive house that is an architectural masterpiece. I’m never bored in the role there is always

www.timberbiz.com.au

KERSTEN GENTLE Executive Officer FTMA Australia

“We support you!”

something new, something to learn.

• You go safe every day.

Some days your mentally tired, but you have energy to go to the gym or go for a walk after work. On the weekends you have energy to play with the kids or visit friends and family. I like that there is longevity in this role, you can do this role for a few years or 25 years plus.

• I like the flexible hours (if need be), the challenges of some designs, learning a lot about the building industry in general not just the framing side and seeing new and innovative products and software

I

llove being given the freedom of

creativity

come into the market.

• The role is family friendly and I am able to use flexible hours to fulfill all of my duties and even work from home.

• I love being given the freedom of creativity in designing and problem solving or taking a complex job that has many design and information holes and producing an end product that goes together seamlessly on site. It’s interesting.

• I now have a job that I enjoy, I am not being injured and getting my backside burnt off all day, I don’t have to unpack and then pack up tools every day, I am not losing money when it rains, I am not chasing builders for payment, and it’s a niche role that I can keep doing well after I would have had to otherwise hang up the

nail bag.

The frame and truss sector is screaming out for designers, so if you have been injured whilst on the tools, please contact us at training@ftma.com.au and let us help with the next stage of your career.

F&T Time with Kersten Gentle FTMA is extremely pleased with the feedback from the supply chain on our new podcast series called F&T Time with Kersten Gentle. We have released three podcasts as of the 10 March 2022 including: • Riding the Wave with Tim Woods who discusses the journey of the timber and housing markets throughout the pandemic is discussed.

Tim explains the importance of a healthy supply chain and talks about ways builders and fabricators can ride the wave and survive.

• Advocacy & Policies with Ross Hampton joins F&T Time to discuss the upcoming federal election and crucial state elections this year. Ross talks about the all-important policies for our industry and outlines how everyone within the industry can have a voice in the lead up to these elections.

• Special Edition: The impact of ‘Conflict Timber’ where we discuss the impacts on timber imports as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With PEFC & FSC bans we are joined by a number of guests to help break down what it means for the Aussie market including; Simon Dorries (Responsible Wood), Leon Quinn (Tilling Timber) and Kurt Schrammel (VIDA Australia) People can listen to the podcasts via: • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Google Podcasts • Overcast • Amazon • Plus other options Otherwise they can visit our Podcast page at https://fttime.buzzsprout.com/ to view all our podcasts.

If anyone has any suggestions for Podcasts please let me know via email at kersten@ftma.com.au

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

FRAME & TRUSS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

FTMA Australia is an independent, national organisation representing fabricators of and suppliers to the timber prefabricated truss and wall frame industry in all Australian states & territories providing a unified voice, to protect and advance our multi-billion dollar industry.

FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

For a full list of the conditions of membership and a downloadable application form visit: www.ftmanews.com.au 19

ASSOCIATIONS

Litigation useful guide on disputes W

HILST not providing the clarity that the timber products industry requires, the recent litigation involving the CFMMEU and BHP was a useful guide on the issue and, to date at least, is the best guidance on how a court or tribunal would deal with disputes where an employer issues a direction to employees to be vaccinated.

In the BHP decision (CFMMEU & Howard v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd [2021] FWCFB 6059), a five-member full bench of the Commission determined that BHP’s requirement that employees be vaccinated in order to enter worksites was not reasonable. That conclusion was reached largely due to

provide a compelling case in favour of a vaccination policy being reasonable.

BHP’s failure to properly consult its workforce in the time leading up to its decision to implement the requirement and NOT so much the right to comply with reasonable vaccination directions. In particular, the Commission found that BHP should have consulted the workforce when assessing risks to health and safety and when considering how to minimise those risks.

In this case, despite finding the site entry requirement was not reasonable due to the failure to consult, the Commission outlined a number of factors that would

Those factors are that any vaccination requirement:

• be directed at ensuring the health and safety of workers of the site • have a logical and understandable basis • be a reasonably proportionate response to the risk created by COVID-19 • be developed having regard to the circumstances of the site • be timed having regard to the spread of COVID-19 in the local area at the relevant time, and • be implemented only after encouraging and facilitating vaccination for work-

ers as much as practicable.

directive.

The BHP decision provides useful guidance for businesses that are considering implementing mandatory vaccination requirements.

In particular, the case highlights the importance of:

It is worth noting that even where you are able to establish that there is a legitimate and reasonable basis for vaccination requirements, businesses must consider how the vaccination requirement will be implemented and policed, including how employees’ vaccination status will be verified.

• conducting a risk assessment for each category of worker, prior to any decision being made, to determine whether vaccination is a necessary and proportionate control to protect the health and safety of employees; and • meaningfully consulting with the workforce on any risk assessments and vaccination requirement proposals prior to the implementation of any policy/

Mandatory vaccinations remain a contentious legal area and employers in the timber products industry should discuss the matter with the TTIA Industrial and Legal department before proceeding. The TTIA Timber Employers’ Hotline is (02) 9264 0011.

Advisory service has the answers T

PETER LLEWELLYN Technical representative, Timber Veneer Association of Australia HE Timber Veneer As-

sociation’s advisory service is sometimes asked about applying a colour stain to veneered board.

This might be to even out a variation in colour between panels, or simply to change the overall colour to a desired shade.

As with solid timber, some veneers take a colour stain better than others. For example, a blotchy appearance can occur if the density of the wood varies across the surface from one place to another.

Low density patches absorb more stain, causing these areas to be darker than patches of denser material, giving a blotchy result. This is more likely to happen on softwood species with variable density such as pine.

Various YouTube videos show how to use wood conditioner to seal porous surfaces before applying a stain. Such products require some skill and experience to achieve a successful result. Neverthe20

• TVAA Springfield Library less, locally available products such as Feast Watson’s Timber Primer are claimed to “ensure that stains and top coats absorb evenly.”

Stain rarely turns blotchy on more evenly-grained hardwood species such as Victorian ash and American white

oak. With their light natural colour, these species provide a suitable base for a stain.

While it’s possible to achieve interesting colour effects with stains, TVAA advises that there is a huge range of colours available in wood veneers, without resorting to AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

stains. Applying a stain can mask some of the natural features of a veneer, whereas a clear varnish brings out the natural colour.

Veneer suppliers have dozens of species ranging from the straw colour of the oaks, to the reddish-brown of jar-

rah, to wenge which is almost black when clear finished.

To find a veneer supplier, or a supplier of veneered board, TVAA member companies around Australia are listed on the Association’s website at https://timberveneer.asn.au. www.timberbiz.com.au

ASSOCIATIONS

Covid issues continue to have an impact on our industries This case serves as an important reminder that when members implement new policies, they must engage in genuine and meaningful consultation with staff, particularly where a failure to follow the policy can result in an employee’s inability to perform work, or disciplinary action including but not limited to termination of employment.

Members that are considering implementing a mandatory vaccination policy are also further reminded of consultation requirements, which may necessitate provision of supporting information, such as risk assessments, to employees.

MGA TMA members can contact our Legal and IR team on 1800 888 479 or legal@mga.asn.au if you have any queries in relation to mandatory vaccination policies and how they can be lawfully implemented.

H

AVING had COVID-19 impact

our lives and businesses in various ways over the past couple of years, it would be considered hopeful to not have to discuss it too much in 2022.

That being said, there are a number of issues relating to COVID-19 that continue to impact MGA TMA members.

One of those, is the consideration of a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. Consultation is essential when issuing a mandatory vaccination policy.

A recent case involving BHP is a reminder to all members of the importance of consulting with staff prior to implementing a mandatory vaccination policy. Members are reminded that a mandatory vaccination policy may be advisable in some circumstances but may not be suitable for all employers. Members are encouraged to seek legal advice prior to implementing any mandatory vaccination policy.

In this particular case, BHP implemented a mandatory vaccination policy that would come into effect in one month’s time from the date of announcement of the policy, in order to give employees time to comply with the policy.

Once the policy came into effect, 80 employees were stood down for failing to provide evidence of their vaccination, or for failing to provide evidence of a lawful reason for being exempt from the mandatory vaccination policy.

In response, the CFMMEU Union lodged an application to the Fair Work Commission challenging BHP’s manwww.timberbiz.com.au

datory vaccination policy.

The Fair Work Commission found that there was nothing unlawful about individuals being vaccinated, and the policy was reasonable in many respects, including the following: • The policy was proportionate to the risks associated with the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19; • It was developed based on the contact that workers have with other workers and the public; • It sought to ensure the health and safety of the workers and the public; • The implementation coincided with the risks that were in the particular state (NSW) and the local area; and • It was implemented after a significant period of encouraging staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

However, despite the above, the Fair Work Commission determined that preventing access to the workplace for unvaccinated employees was unreasonable due to the level of consultation that BHP engaged in with their workers, prior to standing them down due to the policy. It was found that BHP did not consult with their workers “as far as reasonably practicable” pursuant to their obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). In order to fulfil their consultation requirements, BHP should have undertaken the following actions: • Provided employees with information relating to the reasons, rationale and data supporting the mandatory vaccination policy; and • Provided employees with a copy of the risk assessment or information relating to the analysis that informed the company’s decision to implement the policy.

Take the lead in informing our industry’s skills ForestWorks is looking for your feedback on skills standards projects in: • Timber and wood products processes (pre-employment, process operator and supervisor skills)

Contact us to register your interest or call: 03 9321 3500

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

21

MILLS

Salvage sawmilling and furniture making on Victoria's peninsula CHASE WARNER

S

U RROUNDE D by beautiful bay

beaches on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia, The Wood Project in Hastings, Victoria was started by Sarah and Nath Worth with a mission to make the most of valuable timber throughout the region.

The family-owned and operated business has grown from a small firewood business to a full-service salvage sawmill and kiln also offering dressed timber, slabs, benches, vanities, tables, bar tops, mantles, mortised post & rail fencing, and more sustainable wood products.

The idea of The Wood Project started when Sarah and Nath began researching a sustainable timber solution for approximately two years while working other full-time jobs.

“We would set aside strategy days where we would take leave from work and work furiously on achieving our own unique business,” Sarah said.

“We were very driven to get this off the ground and would hold weekly meetings in our lounge room while bribing the kids to leave us to it.”

In 2016, Sarah and Nath both quit their paid jobs and started The Wood Project. Starting in a small paddock with no water, power, or amenities, The Wood Project first operated primarily as a firewood business.

“We saw a resource being wasted in trees cut down and chipped, so we started building relationships with arborists locally,” Sarah said.

“We offered a service of taking logs to process into firewood, but we quickly saw that this too was a waste

of a beautiful resource as the log quality we were salvaging was too good to process into firewood.”

Surrounded by valuable cypress, eucalyptus, gum, and other European wood species including oak, Sarah and Nath were encouraged to start

built a kiln,” Sarah said.

“Once we had dry timber, we had to upscale dramatically from the yard we were renting. We needed buildings, electricity, and a ‘front of house’ to sell from.”

As luck would have it, their landlords had a large commercial block with main road exposure that was available for new tenants and The Wood Project continued to grow.

SALVAGE SAWMILLING AND FURNITURE MAKING

Today, The Wood Project operates with a Wood-Mizer LT50 WIDE hydraulic portable sawmill and a Wood-Mizer wood drying kiln.

“We went with Wood-Mizer as we know them to be well-made, not bolted together, fast, and efficient,” Sarah said.

“We run the sawmill four days a week five hours a day for cypress cut to order, post and rail fencing, slabbing and cutting timber into boards.

The gain in social media awareness was also a plus, seeing milling from a quality sawmill whereas most people have only seen chainsaw mills.”

Before owning a portable sawmill, Sarah and Nath salvaged all of their logs and used a local contract saw The Wood Project’s miller to mill and prepare the timber.

Sarah and Nath Worth.

This enabled them to build their inventory, establish their client base, sawmilling logs themselves.

They found that the process was and create an efficient process for drytime consuming without the proper ing as these are all important factors for a successful operation. sawmilling equipment.

With the proper sawmilling equip“Slabs need to air dry for a minimum of two years so we started to look ment now on-site, The Wood Project into fast tracking this process and we has been able to focus on the efficien-

•

Sarah said.

Cypress is milled to order into post and rail lengths or pergola posts.

Slabs, on the other hand, are air dried for six months or until their moisture content reaches 25% or below and then finish drying in the kiln for around two to three weeks. After drying, slabs are sanded and sold as is or custom orders for vanities, bar tops, mantels, tables, and more are completed for customers.

“We sand, resin fill, fine sand, soften natural edges, and provide the customer with a finished piece ready for installation, in their home as a luxury item that brings warmth and character to their home and is also completely sustainable,” Sarah said.

A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION The Wood Project provides a variety of timber and finished furniture for sale, but the story of how the wood is salvaged and milled locally is a main selling point for customers.

“Our customers range from homeowners, cabinet makers, furniture makers, and anyone in between,” Sarah said.

“Our clients love that we recycle trees, they love timber and they are after a one-off piece that no one else has and that creates a unique talking point for friends and family.”

Sarah also shared that their post and rail customers also enjoy knowing the timber they purchased is coming from a sustainable source.

As with any sawmill business, responsibilities at The Wood Project fluctuate day-to-day depending on

• Cut logs stacked in The Wood Project’s yard. cy and quality of processing logs into finished products.

First logs from the Mornington Peninsula and anywhere in Victoria are salvaged with their own crane truck and transported to the log yard.

Log ends are all sealed with paint to minimize any splitting before they are milled into timber.

“If they are hardwood logs, we usually mill them to 55mm which is optimal thickness for our drying process,” 22

AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER April 2022

visiting customers, salvaging logs, milling logs, racking timber, loading or unloading the kiln, dressing slabs, pricing slabs, or making custom furniture.

“Our mill time is still ever increasing and we are now looking at ways to improve our productivity with twin edgers,” Sarah said.

For the future, Sarah and Nath have one goal in mind for The Wood Project - “Grow”. www.timberbiz.com.au

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