JUNE 2017
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TASSIE LEADS IN WOOD FIRST POLICY l PRODUCT QUALITY IS KEY l $106M BORG EXPANSION lA SSOCIATIONS ARE CRUCIAL (ROUND TABLE SPECIAL) lA USTRALIAN TIMBER DESIGN AWARDS FRAME AUSTRALIA WRAP
Innovation, Strength and Dependability.
Innovation. Koppers Performance Chemicals has dedicated research and development facilities around the world that combine to provide innovative treated timber solutions. Innovation extends to the most powerful treatment plant control system that can handle multiple treatment types and new generation multicomponent preservative systems.
Strength. We don’t just provide quality timber preservation solutions, we back it with engineering knowledge and capability, highly trained and experienced customer representatives and market development services.
Dependability. Koppers Performance Chemicals has its own production facilities in Australia and in New Zealand that ensure that products are delivered in time to service customers around Australia. Our state of the art production facilities and a company wide focus on safety aim to deliver quality products safely at all times. Our friendly staff are on-hand to assist.
For more information and to discuss your treatment plant needs, contact Nick Livanes on 0408660434 or visit www.kopperspc.com.au KoppersŽ is a registered trademarks of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries. Š 2017 Koppers Performance Chemicals Australia Pty Ltd.
NEWS
Tasmania’s Wood Encouragement Policy a national first
¢ This forward-looking policy helps to secure the future of the Tasmanian timber industry and supports the Tasmanian economy. - Timberlink
¢ We hope other State Governments will closely consider the example set by the Tasmanian Government. - Planet Ark
F
EATURING TASMANIAN timbers in building construction and design is the aim of the just-released Tasmanian Wood Encouragement Policy. In a first for any Australian state, the policy means wood will need to be considered for use in future public building projects, leading to a wide range of new opportunities to utilise Tasmanian timber. “In last year’s Budget, we announced the development of a policy to encourage the greater use of wood and wood products in government building projects,” said Guy Barnett, Minister for Resources and Minister for Building and Construction. The Minister announced the new policy during a visit to Federal Group’s new MACq 01 Hotel, in the waterfront precinct of Hobart. “Featuring local timbers, such as Tasmanian Oak, throughout the interiors, MACq 01 Hotel is an example of how we can add value to our forest industry through using more wood in building and construction. “We are backing our forest industry with a policy requiring that the use of wood be fully considered in designs where it represents value for money and does the job. “This is all about growing jobs in forestry and helping the industry to meet its target of doubling the added value of our wood and wood products by 2036.” Timberlink has congratulated the Tasmanian Government on its new wood first policy. being the first Australian state to develop a Wood Encouragement Policy.
¢ Guy Barnett, Minister for Resources and Minister for Building and Construction.
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¢ This is a momentous day for the Australian forest and wood products industry. - FWPA
¢ We are seeing increasing recognition in Australia of the environmental advantages of building with sustainable timber. - AFPA
“This forward-looking policy helps to secure the future of the Tasmanian timber industry and supports the Tasmanian economy,” said Timberlink’s CEO Ian Tyson. “Furthermore, this policy highlights the government’s commitment to the sustainable building environment that can only be achieved through the use of timber building materials.” Timberlink’ Bell Bay mill is Tasmania’s largest softwood mill employer, employing about 200 people.
Timber is renewable, it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the wood, and there are fewer carbon emissions associated with its production when compared to more energy-intensive building materials such as concrete and steel. “Timberlink looks forward to working with its Tasmanian mill, customers, designers and specifiers to maximise the opportunities for wood created by this policy. The launch of this policy is certainly exciting news for Tasmania and our Tasmanian employees,” Mr Tyson said. The announcement brings Tasmania in line with two local government authorities and 12 councils across Australia that have adopted WEPs since December 2014, including Latrobe City and East Gippsland Shire in Victoria, and Fraser Coast Regional and Gympie Regional in Queensland, which announced their adoption of WEPs earlier this year. “We are delighted to see the Tasmanian Government demonstrate such strong leadership with this important decision,” said David Rowlinson, Planet Ark’s Make It Wood Campaign Manager. “The adoption of a WEP is a positive move for the environment and it is very encouraging to see a government support this at a state-wide level. We hope other State Governments will closely consider the example set by the Tasmanian Government,” he said. AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
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¢ David Rowlinson of Planet Ark.
“Responsibly sourced, certified timber is the only major building material that helps tackle climate change. Timber is renewable, it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the wood, and there are fewer carbon emissions associated with its production when compared to more energyintensive building materials such as concrete and steel. Wood is also cost-effective and quick to construct,” Mr Rowlinson said. Planet Ark has worked closely with Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) to raise national awareness of WEPs through its Make It Wood campaign. National Marketing and Communications Manager at FWPA, Eileen Newbury, also welcomed the announcement. “This is a momentous day for the Australian forest and wood products industry. It recognises that sustainably sourced timber has the potential to play a significant role in helping Australia to achieve our carbon emission targets, while also contributing to the economies of local and regional communities,” Ms Newbury said. Planet Ark’s latest research report, Wood – Nature Inspired Design which is an update of the Wood – Housing, Health, Humanity Report, has also shown exposure to buildings made from timber and wooden furnishings and fittings has proven benefits to physiological and psychological health and wellbeing, similar to those experienced by spending time in nature. Continued on page 4 3
NEWS
Melbourne project brings together Passive House and CLT
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BBOTSFORD IN Melbourne’s inner north is set to become home to what might be Australia’s first multi-storey mixed use building that brings together two of property’s hottest sustainability trends – Passive House and Cross Laminated Timber. Developer and construction company Pirovich is proposing building ranging in height from six to nine storeys designed by Fieldwork, the sister company of small-footprint developer Assemble. The design combines a ground floor of retail and a medical centre, two stories of commercial office tenancies, and serviced apartments ranging from one bedroom to three bedroom apartments and four duplexes. There will also be three levels of basement parking that will provide 157 car spaces (48 for residents), and 70 resident bike spaces on the ground level, and an additional 22 public and visitor bike spaces. The project will also have rooftop solar, and it is currently being assessed which part of the overall building energy use the solar will supplement. Landscape elements, including rooftop, terrace and vertical greening designed by Simone Bliss from SBLA, are also integral to the design of the project. The development application has been submitted to City of Yarra, and approval is hoped to occur in the fourth quarter of this year. Construction then aims to commence mid-2018. Source: The Fifth Estate.
Project Details Suburb: Abbotsford Project Status: Planning Assessment Architect: Fieldwork Developer: Pirovich Developments Building Type: Mid-rise Roof Height(s): metres: 30.1 Floor count: 9 Number of Serviced Apartments: 41 Site Area: 1,900.00 square metres Bike Spaces: 92 Car Spaces: 157 • Pirovich Constructions and Pirovich Developments are family businesses that operate side by side to deliver projects throughout Melbourne. Pirovich Constructions was founded by Peter & Lorraine Pirovich in 1984, with the development business launching in 2007. Both companies are owned and managed by the Pirovich Family and a dedicated team of employees with extensive experience in development and construction. Pirovich Constructions is a residential construction company, with over 1700 homes and apartments delivered to date. • Established in 2013, Fieldwork is a young and energetic architecture and interior design practice based in Melbourne. Fieldwork is the sister company to Assemble – a Melbourne-based residential property developer focused on small footprint projects.
Tasmania’s Wood Encouragement Policy a national first Continued from page 3 The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) congratulated the Tasmanian Government for becoming the first Australian state to adopt a Wood Encouragement Policy (WEP), and urged all jurisdictions to adopt similar policies to boost the use of timber products in local building and construction projects. Plaudits also came from the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer of Ross Hampton, who said the announcement by Minister for Resources Guy Barnett – and similar WEPs adopted by municipal councils around Australia – recognised the enormous environmental and commercial benefits of using timber in construction. “The reasons policy makers are taking this stance is simple – timber products are completely renewable, biodegradable and store carbon, playing a positive role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Hampton said.
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magazine Incorporating Australian and New Zealand Timberman – Established 1977.
May Vol.25, No. 4 Established 1977
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“We are seeing increasing recognition in Australia of the environmental advantages of building with sustainable timber, as well as the benefits of versatility and speed of construction. This is evident through the increasing use of new technologies such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) for major commercial developments, which is a win for the environment and jobs.” Under Tasmanian’s WEP, private sector and local government building and construction projects that receive support from the Tasmanian Government valued at or greater than $500,000 from the Government, or are to be leased by Government, will need to fully consider the use of wood. Mr Hampton said Tasmania had a strong forest products industry which stood to benefit from the WEP, but cautioned the Tasmanian Government not to limit the benefits of the policy by applying “buy local” requirements.
Publisher and Chief Executive: Hartley Higgins General Manager: Elizabeth Bouzoudis Editorial: John Hudswell j.hudswell@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9512 Out of office: (08) 7127 6370
Advertising: K ent Humphrys k.humphrys@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Timber classified: k.humphrys@ryanmediapl.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9516 Production: Luke Westle
¢ Ross Hampton, CEO of AFPA
Subscriptions: subs@forestsandtimber.com.au Adelaide: (08) 8369 9522 Accounts: Adelaide: (08) 8369 9555 Postal Address: 630 Regency Road, Broadview, South Australia 5083 Phone: (08) 8369 9555 Fax: (08) 8369 9501
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FRONT PAGE: Connectors, fastening systems, fasteners and anchors ... they’re all very much part of building systems and Simpson Strong-Tie has gained a reputation as one of the world’s best in structural product solutions. Conditions: The opinions expressed in Australasian Timber Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of or endorsed by the editor or publisher unless otherwise stated. All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. All material in Australasian Timber Magazine copyright © Ryan Media. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, the published will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.
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NEWS
A series of 15 second commercials showing different applications of wood and their benefits has launched on national TV, supported by a strong online video and marketing presence.
If you use wood, think of the good that wood would do for the world!
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WARD-WINNING architect and host of Grand Designs Australia, Peter Maddison, has teamed up with Planet Ark’s Make It Wood to highlight the performance, aesthetic and environmental benefits of using wood. The six 15 second spots, also branded with the Wood. Naturally Better.™ logo, feature wood in residential framing, interior décor, furniture, flooring, decking and packaging applications. They are complemented by a content marketing program designed to present the benefits of wood in more depth and engage the consumer audience. “The new advertising builds on the success of last year, and introduces a new application, timber flooring,” said Eileen Newbury, the National Marketing and Communications Manager of the industry services company, Forest and Wood Products Australia. “It’s set to be an exciting highprofile campaign,” Ms Newbury explained, “the commercials will be featured in many widely-watched programs, ranging from the news to home improvement and other relevant shows.” For the first time, FWPA will complement the TV and online activity with content marketing.
This new strategy involves placing newsworthy stories that highlight the benefits of wood in popular online blogs and news sites. The campaign is designed to drive traffic back to the Make It Wood
website (www.makeitwood.org), where people can find out more from Planet Ark – a trusted source of information about the environmental benefits of wood. Ms Newbury said that the
Mass timber meets timber frame in North America promotion AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTS, engineers and developers will see some of Canada’s most advanced timber buildings – both engineered timbers and timber framed – in a study tour that is being co-organised by FWPA and will also include factory visits. Australian building professionals will see some of the world’s most advanced timber projects and meet some of the inspirational people behind them in a study tour of North America/Canada this July. The itinerary will include completed buildings and those still under construction. The group will also visit factories producing cross-laminated timber, and nail laminated timber, a product made of layers of laminations of wood, all with the grain laid parallel and nailed together. The tour will be co-hosted by Eileen Newbury, program manager of WoodSolutions – an FWPA-owned brand that promotes and provides information to facilitate the use of timber in buildings – and Andrew Dunn, a timber engineer and CEO of the Timber Development Association
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commercials are also available for FWPA members and members of the Wood. Naturally Better.™ Partner Program to use in their own communications or to place on their websites.
COMPLETE TIMBER PROCESSING PACKAGE Fullpower Moulders 4 to 13 Spindles, up to 320mm wide, feed speed up to 150m/min
Fullpower Profile Grinder PCG-320 Up to 12” grinding capacity
¢ Eileen Newbury
NSW. Eileen said the tour not only gave building professionals an opportunity to learn, but gave the industry an opportunity to engage closely with them and develop an even better understanding of their concerns and areas of interest.
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Full range of production tooling, including custom made TCT solid profile
JUNE 2017
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NEWS
Prominent architect draws the line through formal design practice
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RCHITECT AND SUSTAINABLE development advocate Caroline Pidcock will close her practice PIDCOCK – Architecture + Sustainability at the end of the year, bringing to an end 25 years of “formal design practice”. “As I look back over what has been achieved since I started Caroline Pidcock Design in 1992, I feel such an enormous sense of gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you. To the amazing people – clients, staff, consultants and builders – who have enabled us to realise a huge range of exciting projects, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks. It has also been a joy to have the opportunity over these years to share my experiences through teaching, media, talks, juries/ panels and Boards,” she said. “It has been a wonderful journey with so much that has been learnt, shared and enjoyed. “As a sole director, I have had an opportunity to reflect over these exciting 25 years of practice, and this has allowed me the privilege to envisage what the next stage will be. I believe it is important to be able to re-create a personal and professional vision
for the future and to keep aligning to your joy. “Therefore, on this high note, I have decided to bring the “formal design practice” stage of my creative work to a close. PIDCOCK – Architecture + Sustainability and the team will be transitioning to a close by the end of 2017 with the completion of our current projects. On this basis, Fergal White and I will be working closely with all our current clients. “So, 2018 will mark the beginning of an exciting new evolution. I will be “slowing down” to give myself the freedom to “speed up”,” Caroline said She said she would explore a range of new opportunities, including public speaking and writing, tutoring and curriculum development in sustainable design, advisory panels, juries, board positions and collaborations with other architects, consultants and builders. Caroline said she would also be able to respond to the changing needs of the world through a personal focus on integrated and biophilic design practices, sustainable and affordable approaches to housing such as co-housing, and prefabrication.
Government comes good with Institute funding A PRE-election pledge of $4 million in the Federal Budget to establish a National Institute for Forest Products Innovation has come to fruition.. Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer Ross Hampton said work was already under way to establish two key nodes of the Institute in Launceston, Tasmania and Mt Gambier, South Australia. “This investment is recognition that in a carbon constrained global economy in which renewable resources are at a premium, the forest products industry can play a key role in Australia’s innovation agenda,” he said. “With commitments from state governments and industry over time, the Institute has the potential to become the focal point of a strategic network of research ‘nodes’ that reflect industry priorities, and reinforcing the good work being done in other industry-led R&D efforts. 6
“The major pathways for our industries to contribute to climate change policy and Australia’s innovation agenda include: the carbon sequestered in growing forests; the carbon stored in harvested wood and paper products; the substitution of high emissions materials (e.g. steel, concrete) with wood and other fibre based products that have low embodied energy, including new innovative bioproducts; and the use of woody biomass for renewable and baseload energy generation (including for renewable heat and biofuels), thereby displacing fossil fuels. “AFPA looks forward to working with the Federal Government and other partners to ensure that the Institute becomes a permanent fixture in our industry’s R&D landscape,” Mr Hampton said.
Appointment to Australian Building Codes Board THE HIA has welcomed the appointment of Kristin Brookfield to the Australian Building Codes Board. The role of the ABCB in developing a world class ‘performance based’ building code is critical in ensuring the exceptional standards of construction that prevail throughout Australia. “Australia is extremely fortunate to have a framework that brings together governments and industry to deliver a truly national building code,” said Ms Brookfield. “Many other countries claim to have this, but once you scratch the surface you quickly discover they are not uniformly adopted in the same way that Australia’s National Construction Code is. “The ABCB continues to set a precedent for national cooperation and coordination that other sectors should be following if they are genuinely committed to reducing red tape and streamlining regulation. “I look forward to participating in the Board’s work and appreciate the opportunity to represent industry in this way.” With qualifications in town planning Kristin’s initial career in local government and the NSW Department of Planning gave her a sound grounding in the interaction between myriad building, planning and community considerations. Since joining HIA in 2003 Kristin has held a number of senior policy roles including Senior Executive Director, Building, Development and Environment. Kristin was appointed HIA’s Chief Executive of Industry Policy in January 2017. Kristin also participates in a number of Australian and International industry bodies including as a Director of the Australian Construction Industry Forum, the Building Products Innovation Council and currently chairs the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), the International Housing Association Working Group on Counterfeit and Non-conforming Building Products, and the International Housing Association Working Group on Social Housing. “The industry congratulates Kristin on her appointment and I have no doubt she will make a strong and valuable contribution to the Australian Building Codes Board,” said HIA’s Managing Director Shane Goodwin.
Government gives nod to $106m Borg expansion BORG MANUFACTURING has been given the green light to expand its existing medium density fibreboard (MDF) facility complex in Oberon to include more buildings for housing new machinery. A planned $106 million expansion has been approved by the State Government. The plant is the town’s main employer, and supplies MDF to Australian and export markets. An assessment by the Department of Planning and Environment said the development would bring about $51 million to the local economy, creating 230 construction jobs and about 70 ongoing jobs. In a statement Borg said it was pleased with the outcome after a “rigorous” two-year planning process with the department. “Borg is committed to the industry, and its investment in the Oberon facility to date demonstrates its longterm vision to build an integrated world-class reconstituted wood-
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based panels plant that the whole community can be proud of,” a spokesperson said. The approval comes with a number of conditions, including air quality measures such as dust management, and noise reduction measures. Construction on the project is expected to begin in coming weeks and will take about 18 months. Minister for Lands and Forestry Paul Toole said he was excited Borg had decided to invest in its long term future in Oberon. “The timber industry is the largest employer in the area, providing work for around 500 people and producing $51.3 million in gross regional product per year.” The expansion will be built next to Borg’s existing facility on Lowes Mount Road and see the construction of a warehouse a new manufacturing line for particle board and an update to existing machinery.
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A revolution in H3 treated timber. Certified Treatment
They’ll tell you it can’t be done... That a safe, water-based treatment can’t protect timber in the great Australian outdoors. That what we’re claiming is impossible. But then again, everything is technically “impossible” until it’s done. With a more consistent and natural colour tone, no petrochemical odours, no VOC emissions (making it safe for indoor projects too!) and CodeMarkTM certification for rigorous quality assurances - T3 Green Plus is a revolution in H3 treated timber. For more information, call us now on 1300 304 963.
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NEWS
Hyne Timber’s T3 Green Plus delivers treatment revolution
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FTER YEARS of development and scientific testing, Hyne Timber has further enhanced its innovator reputation by successfully achieving what was thought to be unachievable -- T3 Green Plus, the new and improved, water-based, CodeMark certified future of outdoor structural framing. Hyne Timber’s General Manager, Customers, Peter Hyne, said this new generation H3 treatment formula provided significant benefits to timber users. “We have listened to our customers and introduced new technology that will exceed expectations in several ways,” Mr Hyne said. “T3 Green Plus will not only provide improved resistance to termites and fungal attack, but it will also provide the safest and most environmentally friendly H3 softwood product in Australia. “T3 Green Plus, with its low odour and no VOC treatment formulation, is now also suitable for indoor framing applications, which may be
inadvertently exposed to moisture. This includes kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and in particular flood prone structures,” Mr Hyne said. Further to their internal product controls and guarantee, T3 Green Plus has already achieved CodeMark certification. This is a third-party audited certification scheme designed and managed by the Australian Building Codes Board (who develop and manage the building codes and standards), and provides Hyne Timber’s customers with a new level of treatment quality assurance. “As an Australian business, Hyne Timber audits many aspects of our operations, some of which are required legally. “However, we came to realise that one aspect of our business that is very important to our customers – our product treatments – had no independent auditing requirements in place. “We set about changing this in a way that would both hold ourselves accountable and bring peace of mind
to our customers,” Mr Hyne said. “In a time of industry-wide concern over non-compliant products, our CodeMark certification gives Hyne Timber’s customers confidence in the quality and consistency of our T3 Green Plus product treatments that they’re absolutely fit for purpose,” Mr Hyne said. CodeMark certification is held by a long list of popular and high quality building products as it also supports the introduction of new and innovative solutions. It follows an extended and rigorous process of evaluation against the products themselves, the manufacturing processes and a demonstration of how manufacturing processes can guarantee continued compliance. Production of T3 Green Plus started late last year at the Tumbarumba Mill in NSW with the Tuan Mill in Queensland set to follow soon.
¢ Hyne Timber’s General Manager, Customers, Peter Hyne.
“In a time of industry-wide concern over noncompliant products, our CodeMark certification gives Hyne Timber’s customers confidence in quality and consistency”
Community is important to Australian timber icon Hyne Community Trust has given more than $400,000 to community projects since 2007 IT’S TIME for Tumbarumba community groups to start formalising their project details with the Hyne Community Trust calling for applications this month. The Hyne Community Trust has been supporting community projects since 2007 and has given more than $400,000 to countless projects. Noy Garner, Hyne Timber’s Operations Manager and Trust Director at the Tumbarumba Mill, said this round of grants were for the larger community projects valued over $10,000, that can demonstrate they will benefit the Tumbarumba Community. Smaller Grant applications should be applied through the Tumbarumba Small Grant applications which close on 31 May. This is separate from the Tumbarumba Community Trust although the trust fund also contributes towards up to $10,000 per year, in conjunction with Bendigo Bank and Snowy Valley Council. “We have been able to support significant projects over the years including the extension of the Carcoola 8
¢ G rant Recipient Tumbarumba RSL Yard Arm Flag Pole.
Children’s Centre, the construction of the Equine toilet block at the racecourse, a half Basketball Court, construction of the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed and support for Can Assist Tumbarumba,
just to name a few. “We look forward to being able to financially assist more significant projects in the future, which will benefit the community,” Mr Garner said.
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The guidelines are available on the Hyne Timber and the Snowy Valley Council websites. Applications close on 30 June. The committee of the Hyne Community Trust will shortlist applications ahead of interviewing applicants to gain further insight including timeframes and discuss potential funding of their proposed project. The Community Trust is favourable to applications which demonstrate one or more of the following: Cooperation between organisations to ensure that a wide range of people can benefit from community resources; Increasing the range of, and access to, quality community, recreational, social and cultural projects, programs and services; Community development initiatives and socially responsible community projects; Support for organisations that are working to assist economically or socially disadvantaged people. For further information or to discuss concepts, contact Committee Member, Mrs Janet Anderson, on (02) 6948 2001. www.timberbiz.com.au
NEWS
Showcasing outstanding timber design
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OW IN Their 18th year, the Australian Timber Design Awards are distinguished by a proud heritage of innovation and achievement. The Awards promote and encourage outstanding timber design. The Australian Timber Design Awards are open to builders, designers, architects, engineers and landscapers: to anyone involved in the design or building of structures that feature timber. A Rising Star Award is available to students and entrants aged 35 or under. The Australian Timber Design Awards competition is open to built environment professionals and students who want to showcase their built design and/ or building projects in residential and/or public or commercial buildings that feature timber structures or finishes.
The aim of the Awards is to develop a timber design ethos through the encouragement and showcasing of superlative timber design in a variety of applications, and while the abundance of talent throughout Australia becomes ever-more obvious just think how hard the task is for the judging panel.
Entries for the 2017 competition opened on February 28 and closed on 9 June. Voting for the People’s Choice Award starts on 1 August and closes 31 August. The gala night when winners will be announced will be held on 25 October in Melbourne. Organisers are pleased to welcome some additional sponsors for the prestigious awards:Timber Revival - New Sponsor of the Rising Star award - Merit category. Carter Holt Harvey - New Sponsor of the Engineered Timber Products award - Timber Product category. Matilda Veneer - New Sponsor of the Furniture or Joinery award - Timber Design category. Visit the Timber Design Awards website’s Awards Sponsors page to find out more about them. (click on the logos for a pop-up profile window!)
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Professor Philip Evans heads National Centre for Timber A LEADING researcher from the world’s largest university wood and forestry program is to be appointed as Foundation Fellow for Australia’s National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life. Professor Philip Evans will take on the position while maintaining an ongoing role as BC Leadership Chair in the Faculty of Forestry at University of British Columbia – an arrangement which enables continual knowledge sharing and access to multiple sources of research funding. A strategic initiative of the industry group Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), the Centre is a partnership between industry, academia and government. It was launched late last year and is based at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Centre is designed to put Australia at the forefront of international best practice, and use an evidence-based approach to ensure design guides and standards remain world class in the light of climate change, new engineered timbers and changes in building design. “As Foundation Fellow, I’m there to establish the Centre and set the initial research direction, which will be handed over within five years or so to a new generation that we will train,” he said. “If you look around the industry, we’re not getting any younger. It’s essential we train talented young people in the field – the value of that to this industry is immense. “Through a network that the Centre will establish, we will have access to some of the brightest minds in the best universities in Australia and around the world. This Centre is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference and apply the 10
knowledge I have gained over the last 33 years.” The Managing Director of FWPA, Ric Sinclair, said Professor Philip Evans was a perfect fit for the role. “Phil is heavily engaged with industry, and is a world-class operator, with experience in the UK, North America and Australia,” he said. “Phil worked at The ANU between 1985 and 2001 and is still an Honorary Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the ANU. He is an Australian citizen and knows the Australian industry very well. Many of his former students went on to become today’s industry leaders.” Ric said the Centre would initially focus its efforts on the development of evidence-based data, systems and tools to underpin consumer confidence in the performance of timber products. Over time, the Centre would also create worldleading predictive models to enable architects and building specifiers to more easily choose the appropriate timber products for specific end uses and tasks, he said. In collaboration with industry, Professor Evans has been involved in the creation of many products, most recently novel composite wood flooring that does not swell at the edges when exposed to water. “It’s important to meet the needs of academia while at the same time producing outputs that industry can use, whether that’s in terms of reducing costs or new products,” said Philip, whose academic work mainly focuses on the surface properties of wood. “My work has demonstrated that what we do in the lab is only about ten per cent of what is
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¢ Professor Philip Evans to head National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life.
required to take a wood product to market. Industry is a crucial partner in the innovation landscape, and it’s a good omen that Australia’s timber industry is firmly behind the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life”. Many of the challenges facing the industry were global, he said, including the loss of traditional preservatives and the use of more complex durability systems, against a backdrop of increasing regulatory complexity. The Centre’s founding partners include the University of Queensland and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, however, its work will be national and international in scope.
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NEWS
Integrated preservative treated timber solutions Technologies developed following extensive research and testing
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OPPERS PERFORMANCE Chemicals Australia (Koppers PC) is a part of a worldwide group that has a long history of service to the international and Australasian timber preservative treatment industry. Koppers PC manufactures a range of timber preservative treatment products and distributes those to its customers throughout Australia, however, there is a lot more to being a timber preservative supplier. In fact, Koppers PC is a supplier and developer of Preservative Treatment Technologies. These technologies are developed following extensive research and testing which involves trials in test sites that are situated in known high fungal decay and insect attack areas around the world including Australia. These trials give confidence that any new preservative formulations and processes perform as expected compared to traditional formulations.
Unique application An example of this is the development of Determite® “Blue Framing” using a unique application of Bifenthrin, which is a third generation synthetic pyrethroid, where test stakes of treated framing and mini frames were subjected to long-term high intensity termite trials in Australia. To provide the full solution, however, required an application system which could work in large volume mills as well as smaller treatment facilities and this meant partnering with equipment suppliers to develop inline and transverse spray application units to accurately apply the Determite formulation to the timber. Once the full system, that is, a formulation and application method have been developed, the system must be registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) which assesses the new treatment chemical for its effectiveness (efficacy) as well as safety in its application and use. Only then is the new treatment technology ready for the market.
Innovation Koppers PC research facilities are situated in Australia, New Zealand and many other parts of the world and their work has resulted in some of the most innovative products available today including MicroPro® treatment technology and MicroPro Sienna® colour pigment system. Koppers PC is particularly proud that MicroPro timber treatment technology was the first and is the
only treated timber process to be certified under Scientific Certification System’s Environmentally Preferable Product Program1 based on Life-Cycle Assessment. In addition, MicroPro has been awarded other environmental certifications2. Innovative and reliable products are one thing, however Koppers PC is not just a supplier, as Elias Akle, Koppers PC General Manager explains: “Supplying timber preservatives is only part of what we do. Our State Managers work closely with customers to ensure that their needs are met and this can mean trouble shooting problems, if they arise, at short notice. Not only that, we offer a range of services to our customers that makes us unique.” One of those services includes engineering design for new plant and modifications.
Onsite services Koppers PC has dedicated engineering staff that provide design and onsite services so that they can provide engineering solutions in conjunction with various engineering contractors. Another aspect of Koppers PC engineering capability is the Process
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) EPP, see www. scsglobalservices.com 1
MicroPro is also GreenGuard Gold Certified for low VOC emissions. MicroPro® and MicroPro Sienna® are registered trademarks of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries. MicroPro, and MicroPro Sienna timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities 2
Control System (PCS) which has been installed in around 150 plants in North and South America and at over 40 plants in Australia and New Zealand. This is the most advanced preservative treatment plant control software worldwide and can control multiple chemistries and the complication of modern multi-component treatment formulations. The PCS can be accessed remotely by Koppers PC engineers and the powerful recording and reporting functions are important adjuncts to company Quality Control systems. Koppers PC also has dedicated marketing and business development services including the development of custom customer brochures and other marketing material as well as the development and maintenance of websites.
Industry forums Another aspect of the business development function is to participate in timber industry forums and contribute where possible and this extends to roles in the development of Australian standards and industry guides. Being aware of industry changes such as the exciting developments in commercial multi-storey construction means that there may be opportunities for preservative and fire protection products for the future. “Koppers PC is proud to be an integral part of the Australian timber industry and our offering of innovative preservative treatment solutions will be expanding to meet the requirements of our customers and the wider industry”, said Mr Akle.
Bill Leggate joins Koppers Performance Chemicals KOPPERS PERFORMANCE Chemicals, Australia, is pleased to welcome Bill Leggate as its new Product Development Manager. Bill is no stranger to the preservative treated timber industry. He has held both business and technical manager positions and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Before joining Koppers Performance Chemicals, Bill held the position of Principal Scientist, Forest Products Innovation, at Queensland Department of Agriculture Forest and Fisheries where he was responsible for development and management of research in forest products processing and providing market driven scientific www.timberbiz.com.au
and information based solutions to support government and industry. Bill, in his role as Product Development Manager, will continue Koppers Performance Chemical’s success in providing the Australian timber industry with innovative timber treatment technologies and processes. These innovations will help timber better compete with alternate building products and materials and open up new opportunities for timber products in areas where timber has not been widely used. Bill will also be an important resource for Koppers Performance Chemicals customers to assist in providing technical service and support.
Elias Akle, General Manager Koppers PC Australia welcomed Bill saying “We are very pleased to welcome Bill and believe his research and technology experience will strengthen and complement our company’s ability to provide timber preservative solutions for our customers and the wider industry. “His experience and character fits in with our culture of innovation and exceptional service and we are very fortunate to be able to find someone of Bill’s calibre to fill this role. I am confident that Bill will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality solutions for our customers.”
AUSTRALASIAN TIMBER
JUNE 2017
¢ Bill Leggate.
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INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE
Associations play a crucial role in fast-changing world Associations play an integral part in today’s fast-paced and demanding world. Their roles have changed dramatically in recent years; some people are acutely aware of this fact and yet others somewhat oblivious to these backbones of industry. That change is the subject of Australasian Timber’s Round Table in this edition. We have asked for input from those at the helm. Our participants in this special are Brian Beecroft (TTIA), Colin Fitzpatrick (TABMA), Kersten Gentle (FTMA) and Peter Llewellyn TVAA).
Brian Beecroft
Colin Fitzpatrick
Kersten Gentle
Peter Llewellyn
Chief Executive Officer TTIA
Chief Executive Officer Timber & Building Materials Association (Aust.) Ltd
Executive Officer FTMA Australia
Technical Representative Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA)
Read on and gain a true appreciation of the work and worth of the organisations that operate and represent you.. What were the triggers for change? Brian Beecroft: The triggers for change in the industry have and continue to be varied. At the beginning of the supply chain, access to forest resources and the closure of many timber harvesting regions by State Governments seeking city votes has reduced the number of small to medium sized sawmills and logging harvesting operations. This has, in turn, reduced the number of smaller
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family run businesses. Smaller timber merchants, particularly in the capital cities, have found it hard to compete against some of the large corporates. In addition, inner city real estate prices and small profit margins have resulted in many long established small businesses selling up. This trend continues as we speak. Reduction in the number of businesses has resulted in greater competition among fellow Associations and, in some instances, attempts to duplicate TTIA’s core
services of industrial relations and workplace health & safety. This has required better strategies to market our strengths and point of difference in quality member/ customer service. Colin Fitzpatrick: In 2008 the Board of TABMA decided that a change of direction was needed and that TABMA needed to communicate more with members; needed to be run more professionally and with a more commercial outlook.
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As such a new management structure was implemented resulting in greater communication with members, new and improved services being offered and members being asked for input in what they believed they should receive in return for an annual membership fee. Kersten Gentle: It’s important to ensure you are relevant to your members and that you are providing a service, not just a voice. In the
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INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE
early days of FTMA Australia we did exactly that, in my opinion. We depended on the fact that we were the voice for our industry and we represented members on various boards and standards. We also held Chapter meetings in states and territories but again, even though these were important events for networking they weren’t what the members desperately wanted. They wanted help dealing with the key issues that face their businesses daily. Peter Llewellyn: It is most important that associations communicate, both with their members and with the users of their members’ products. Companies that support an industry association financially need to know how their funds are being used, and consumers look to associations for advice. Because of changing expectations/ operations when & how did your association set an agenda to meet such changes? Brian Beecroft: About 5-7 years ago it was clear to all that the industry was in significant restructure and we needed to make sure we remained relevant. We had extensive discussions and set agendas with both directors and staff on how to capitalise on our strengths, solid reputation and the loyalty we had built up with the industry over the years. We reduced membership increases to either lower than CPI or for a number of years or froze membership subscription rates.
Colin Fitzpatrick: The agenda was set in February 2008 with all senior people calling regularly on members, explaining to them what TABMA could offer and asking what more TABMA could do for them. The response was mostly positive and as such new services and benefits were offered and for the first time in a long time members felt they were being heard. Membership fees were restructured and attempts were successfully made to rebuild relationships with fellow timber associations that unfortunately had deteriorated through varying reasons. Kersten Gentle: Communication is the key. You can’t just expect to send an email and think that that is communication! You need to know your members, know their businesses and know the issues they are facing. You need to be able to be contacted really 24/7 and that is something we, at FTMA, have done. The FTMA Australia Board made up of fabricators and suppliers were keenly aware of the changing needs of fabricators and we set ourselves deliverables that we could measure ourselves against. We realised that we are not the experts in everything but we have one of the largest networks within the industry. Through years of working in the timber industry supply chain, I have developed networks which ensures I know the right person to help our members. We became our members first port of call. When members have an issue they are encouraged to contact us and if I
don’t know the answer, I will get back to them with the answer or the right person who can solve their problem. We want our members to do what they do best and that’s manufacture prefabricated products and let us do what we do best and that’s help them find the answers without spending a day on the phone. Peter Llewellyn: As one of the smaller associations it was imperative for the Timber Veneer Association to use electronic media to help to get its message out, since we have a limited budget for advertising. What was the first change your organisation made? Brian Beecroft: It was critical to ensure we retained our long term staff so they were fully included in a series of meetings on our short and long term goals/plans. We mapped out a plan and marketing strategy to further strengthen our national membership structure. With the move to a fully national IR system, we could further promote our in-house expertise to members in all states. Colin Fitzpatrick: The initial change was to encourage greater internal communication between TABMA’s various divisions and then identify the businesses where TABMA had strengths and a degree of uniqueness. The businesses identified were the Group Training Organisation (GTO), whereby TABMA places trainees and apprentices with host employers,
Building Trade Credit which operates as a credit bureau for the building and construction industry and the Timber Tallying division which handles break bulk timber brought into Australia from Canada and the West Coast of the USA. Kersten Gentle: The first step was developing a set of fact sheets on important issues and building resources. For example, when the new credit laws changed with the PPSR requirements a few businesses went out and developed their own new company credit application form to ensure all the legal requirements were covered. This cost businesses anywhere up to $3000 to have this designed and legally checked off. FTMA Australia developed this tool for our members, paying for Silver Sponsors AB Phillips in conjunction with their legal team to develop a form that would suit all our members at a cost to the Association of over $3000 and we shared this with members for free, as part of their membership. Value for money is what everyone wants in business and it’s no different for Associations and FTMA Australia definitely provides value for money. Peter Llewellyn: We have had a website for some years. At one stage we set up a second website, thinking that one would be an ‘industry’ website and the other would have a more promotional role aimed at specifiers and other veneer users. However, it became apparent that there was some duplication of effort and the two have now been combined. Continued on page 14
Gather your colleagues for a night of celebrating the industry and networking with representatives across the value chain, Government ministers, Members of Parliament and Senators. The Australian Forest Products Association presents the 3rd biennial
Gala Industry Dinner TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2017
Location: The Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra Time: Drinks at 6:00pm and dinner at 7:00pm Hosted by: Acclaimed journalist, Ellen Fanning
Dress code: Black Tie/Evening Wear Enquiries: bernadette.cording@ausfpa.com.au 0409 962 250
Event sponsors: www.timberbiz.com.au
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INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE Continued from page 13 What have been some of the major changes your association has made in the past 5 years? Brian Beecroft: We negotiated and established a vast array of business partners who now give our members access to a range of discounts services and products including: Fuel discounts Energy Telecommunication Waste management Recruitment and labour hire Insurance and Finance First Aid products Drug & Alcohol Testing WHS Breathalyser Equipment Fire extinguishers and fire protection systems Protective clothing and safety wear We have just launched a timber industry trade credit insurance scheme in conjunction with FTMA and AB Phillips which is another prime example of a service members in the industry should find really valuable. We further focussed our attention on building strong long term links with key likeminded Associations in the industry like FTMA, TMA, FIAA, Timber NSW, ATIF, WADIC, TPAA and TCA. We have also entered into arrangements with a number of these Associations to provide assistance on industrial relations and workplace health & safety issues. It allows those Association to better focus on their core strengths like training or government lobbying while providing TTIA with an opportunity to fully use our in-house human resources as well as a valuable income stream. We market our strengths more in trade magazines and publishing sites to differentiate, for instance, TTIA having its own legal and safety staff rather than the use of outside contractors. Colin Fitzpatrick: The major changes over the past 5 years have been changing the corporate name of the association from TABMA (NSW) Ltd to TABMA (Aust) Ltd to reflect our national ambitions. Opening a branch in Adelaide in 2010, taking over the management of the then
independently run TABMA Qld in 2011 and opening a Melbourne branch in 2016. The acquisition of the Registered Training Organisation (RTO), FITEC (now trading as TABMA Training) was completed in 2015 enabling us to complement our GTO by having trainees trained within our own organisation. We have also expanded our range of services to include an IR advice line for members and a revamped WH&S inspection service. Kersten Gentle: Building relationships with members and other stakeholders is a key achievement of FTMA, however, our key achievement is that we are recognised within the supply chain. Years ago the frame & truss industry was lost in the timber industry supply chain and was dumped in with wood products, but with a loud passionate voice we have ensured everyone knows about our sector which has resulted in some great funding opportunities for members and the Association alike enabling us to participate in programs identifying greater markets for our sector. Peter Llewellyn: Still on the topic of communication, a recent change has been setting up a Facebook page. A further strategy may be to look at Instagram where images can be posted easily and the list of ‘followers’ can be expanded quite quickly. What have been some of the resultant changes to roles & responsibilities (both managerial and members)? Brian Beecroft: Realistically, the roles at TTIA have not changed dramatically as each staff member is responsible for building and maintaining their specific relationships with members. There has been more travel intra-state as TTIA membership has extended to places like Qld, WA and Tasmania. Managerial wise, I’m fortunate that as it’s a small team and each staff member needs limited supervision and are fully conversant with their roles and responsibilities. They have been involved in the timber products industry for many years, are fully qualified and prepared to be on call
¢ There’s always time to learn
7 days a week. Members have certainly had to adopt to an ever changing legal/ employment landscape with the need for continual policy development, training and implementation on a range of issues like drug and alcohol counselling, social media and intellectual property just to mention a few. Colin Fitzpatrick: Resultant changes have been a greater awareness of TABMA within the industry and a greater suite of services offered to members, including:• Trade credit insurance • IR advice • WH&S inspection service • Training of staff • Recruitment etc We now have individual Managers for each state who are totally responsible for the operations in those states and growing the awareness of TABMA. As well we have a national board
of directors which meets regularly in Sydney and a membership management committee in each state which regularly meets to provide advice on market conditions and prevailing opportunities in that state. Kersten Gentle: FTMA Australia is probably one of the smallest Associations within the timber industry supply chain but that doesn’t mean we are insignificant. We are loud, passionate and we don’t hide the fact that we exist primarily to represent the needs of the frame & truss sector. In saying we are the smallest, we only employ one Executive Officer and a very part-time administrative assistant. The rest of the work falls on a dedicated board who are always happy to assist. We have larger members who have the resources to develop a range of policies in house and they are more than willing to share information with smaller fabricators as they recognise as a sector we must lift the standards. Actually, I think this is probably the biggest achievement of FTMA Australia. Through networking and awareness fabricators recognise that the fabricator around the corner is not their competitor, steel and concrete are! Peter Llewellyn: We are now looking to members to provide examples of outstanding veneer use to support our Facebook initiative. We also discover which projects are using timber veneers in outstanding ways though our sponsorship of the Australian Timber Design Awards. Is the digital age forcing more change? Brian Beecroft: Absolutely. Most of our members now receive critical wage and legal information digitally. Our website has become an increasingly important gateway for members to access templates and up-to-date employment information, safety and business partner offers and discounts. That said, TTIA still believes strongly in the benefit of face to face relationships and we take 4 - 6 weeks out every year to run member seminars in most states, and have for more than 25 years.
¢ Timber plays a big role in our lives.
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INDUSTRY ROUND TABLE Construction Frame & Truss Supply Chain Market Implementation Group which we have just started. It is important to be inclusive within the supply chain and this is something FTMA Australia excels at. Peter Llewellyn: Greater concern about environmental issues has driven change in some areas. For example, we have had to develop data sheets about the use of formaldehyde in the adhesives used in sheet products. Specifiers are also interested to know that veneers are an extremely sustainable use of timber since many veneers are produced from one log. How would you describe the modernday association & what the future holds for such associations?
Colin Fitzpatrick: The Digital Age has encouraged TABMA to revamp our web sites for the Group as a whole as well as for the individual divisions. We are now very much aware of social media and we utilise Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to add to our appeal to the younger generation. We also provide our staff with smart phones, surface pro’s and i-pads etc. Kersten Gentle: Face to face meetings are important but whether it be through work, sporting clubs or schools, it is becoming harder and harder to get people out at night to attend meetings. FTMA Australia has been slower in this area than I would have wanted as I believe Webinar’s are a key tool moving forward and we will be introducing these in 2017. However, for me the hardest thing about the digital age is how many emails people actually get and what do they read and what don’t they read. When someone is running a business and having quote after quote come through the door, something has to give and unfortunately I think this is sometimes us and other media outlets. Voice to voice, face to face will always reign supreme when it comes to effective communication.
Colin Fitzpatrick: Companies are now much more aware of the need for staff training in various facets of their industry and their businesses. Industrial relations is very much to the fore in defining what organisations can and can’t do when dealing with staff matters and workplace behaviour. As well we are all now much more WH&S conscious ensuring that we provide a safe work place and environment for all of our staff. Kersten Gentle: Market changes definitely place pressure on change ensuring fabricators are up to date with the latest technology or have services to support them as they go in to new markets. The Prefabricated Ground Floor Cassette Market Implementation Group we ran in 2014/5 was a huge success and we expect the same results with the latest Mid-Rise Timber
Brian Beecroft: I think the modernday association is smaller and leaner than it was years ago. It needs to respond to members needs swiftly and with confidence or it will lose its support base. It copes with the same competitive pressure as its members and needs to develop and maintain its point of difference. Remember the scene in Jerry McGuire where the guy in the business suit said success in business is all about building relationships. Well, that is pretty much number one and the need to develop these with your members is critical in building/maintaining loyalty in the very competitive Association environment. Having individual industry specific Associations is a bonus for any industry and it should be a place where expert staff can provide a quality service for members. No one is owed a free lunch so any Association needs to employ sharp knowledgeable staff and be prepared to stand up and fight for its members when needed, with passion. I’m confident TTIA has the right attitude and skills to continue to be a valued resource for our industry members across Australia well into the future. Colin Fitzpatrick: The modern day Association must be up with or ahead of the latest changes in social media, the latest systems available to run a business and most importantly be in a position to
communicate with and assist members to successfully run their businesses. Encouragement of youth and equality of sexes is paramount in associations today and the TABMA Group is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Kersten Gentle: There have always been way too many Associations within the Australian timber industry. At one stage there were over 70 different groups/associations which has greatly reduced but still I believe there needs to be some sort of rationalisation to reduce costs. I remember one Australian timber company paying out close to $1million per annum to Associations which is outrageous. Yes, we all want our money and we want our sponsors and members to ensure we can continue to deliver our programs. However, we must look at ways in which we can work together, how we can share costs in areas such as marketing, insurances and web design just to name a few. There are a lot of personalities within the timber industry supply chain which results in barriers to communication at times but we must forge ahead and reduce costs, increase services and ensure the businesses we represent, especially the small to medium size family businesses are getting value for money. I believe there is a need for Associations and I don’t believe you can be everything to everyone. That is why I am confident FTMA Australia will continue to grow as we represent fabricators. If there is any issue between a fabricator and a supplier, we assist the fabricator to ensure a positive outcome. As the executive officer, I am passionate, I am loud and I am willing to always get off my backside to get the job done. My members are my family and we are always there to support them. Peter Llewellyn: In some ways the modern day association is doing the same job that industry associations have always done – namely, producing guideline documents, promoting products and advising consumers. In this way an industry speaks with a united voice, rather than giving mixed messages. The main change is in the methods used to get the message out.
Has there been periphery pressure forcing change (e.g. training; building/construction; legal requirements; greater public awareness of good and services etc.)? Brian Beecroft: Certainly, government agencies with ever increasing red tape and compliance in the areas of workplace safety, employment, taxation and product accreditation have placed pressure on smaller employers to reconsider the benefits of continuing running businesses. Those that continue need expert in-house or external support. All of this comes at a cost. For Associations, increased compliance costs in areas like training (RTO accreditations) has made many reexamine a cost/benefit analysis.
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¢ Timber transforms into tranquility.
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NEWS
The compelling benefits and challenges of timber construction By John Halkett General Manager, Australian Timber Importers Federation
T
HE DOMESTIC building and construction sector in Australia’s largest cities continues to be in a boom phase, driven mostly by new apartment developments rather than traditional detached homes. Additionally, new housing is moving in towards city centres and development hubs. Higher density housing represents a major transition in the way Australians live in cities, with potentially about one million new homes being added to the housing stock in the next three decades through urban renewal and infill in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane alone. One major trend observed in the current apartment boom is the growth of timber mid-rise buildings that are able to take advantage of timber’s dexterity as a building material as well as its strong environmental credentials. Whether it’s the natural aesthetic attributes, engineering properties, durability or carbon sequestering credentials, timber is gaining traction as the building material of the 21st century. Timber is also a lighter material allowing ease of handling onsite – this is another compelling reason for choosing timber construction, especially in dense cities, where conditions are frequently restrained and space is limited. Timber can help manage a site better with less noise, mess and dust, and more safety. An important advantage of timber construction is that the building can be up in a matter of weeks. But is the domestic timber products industry prepared to meet the demand?
¢ International House, Sydney. Photo: Lend Lease
Though building and construction remain buoyant and timber demand is strong, the other side of the ledger shows domestic supply capacity flat-lining at best. Thankfully for the building and the construction sector, imported timber products are, and will continue to fill this widening demandsupply gap.
¢ Interior mid-rise CLT constructed apartment. Photo: Christoph Kulterer, proHolz Austria
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Without timber importers doing the heavy lifting, house construction targets would not have been achieved and the 26,000 imported timber product-linked jobs, estimated by the Housing Industry Association, and the construction and building sector would be under serious threat. Another positive development is the initiative taken by Forest and Wood Products Australia to have the National Construction Code (NCC) amended to allow timber buildings to push up to eight storeys or 25 metres. Though this will increase pressure on the supply side for the timber industry, it’s certainly a welcome development. Some mid-rise timber towers have already been erected, others are under construction and a good number are at the design stage. Architects, developers, designers, engineers, and builders have welcomed changes to the NCC that apply to both traditional timber framing and innovative mass timber systems – such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), which comprises of multiple layers of wood glued together at right angles under high pressure to form the large wall, ceiling, and floor panels, and glulam, which is produced by laminating a number of smaller pieces of timber together to form a single large, strong, structural component. Used as vertical columns or horizontal beams, as well as curved, arched shapes, glulam is available in a range of species and appearance characteristics.
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The NCC changes will allow architects to explore and demonstrate the potential of engineered timber, while also increasing the use of traditional timber framing. Ultimately, the code change will mean quicker, more cost effective and environmentally-friendlier construction of residential apartments, office blocks and hotel buildings. However, cross laminated timber, glulam, prefabricated flooring and other advanced engineered timber products that allow the industry to take advantage of the mid-rise building code amendments are not manufactured in Australia. They are imported by Australian Timber Importers Federation members. There’s no doubt timber product importers are making a major contribution to the building and construction sector, and to the timber product supply chain. Timber imports will continue to drive the availability of sophisticated engineered wood products that will facilitate both the predicted strengthening of the residential new housing market and the momentum of mid-rise building construction. Australia’s first CLT manufacturing plant will be operational this year and is expected to be one of the most technologically advanced plants worldwide. For the first time, projects will be able to use a CLT product that is designed and made in Australia from Australian timber.
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HOUSING AWARDS
Faultless workmanship on show in award-winning home Other award winners from across Australia in eight regions include:
Projects.
¢ Western Australian builder Spadaccini Homes’ HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year.
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A BUILDER Spadaccini Homes has taken out the top accolade winning the HIACSR Australian Home of the Year at the 2017 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards. This year’s award winning projects were unveiled before hundreds of industry leaders at the prestigious awards ceremony at the Hamilton Island Convention Centre. The HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards are the ultimate platform to showcase the talents of the nation’s top builders and designers. Winners are selected from state-based finalists, with awards in 21 separate categories. HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year is the highest honour in the residential building industry and was presented to WA builder Spadaccini Homes. The project also won the award for Australian Custom Built Home, partnered by Stramit Building
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The luxurious and immaculately designed winning home offers both glamour and a warm, comfortable liveable design. Judges were impressed by the home’s faultless workmanship, attention to detail and high quality finishes such as marble flooring, stone cladding and glass mosaics. HIA Managing Director Shane Goodwin said each year HIA members continue to astound judges with their exceptional display of workmanship and innovative design ideas. “These awards are the culmination of their hard work and effort shown for each and every project they have accomplished. “Congratulations to all our winners and finalists for their remarkable achievements this year.”
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HELM from NSW (Australian Apartment of the Year). Aria Property Group from Queensland (Australian Apartment Complex). Elliott Projects from NSW (Australian Townhouse/Villa of the Year). Virgon Constructions from Victoria (Australian Townhouse/Villa Development). Keir Constructions from North Queensland (Australian Specialised Housing). Averna Homes from Western Australia (Australian Spec Home). Space Constructions from Queensland (Australian Display Home). JW Constructions (QLD) from Queensland (Australian Renovation/Addition Project). Wabnitz Homes from South Australia (Australian Outdoor Project). Planbuild Homes from Queensland (Australian Project Home). Minosa from NSW (Australian Bathroom Design). Croese Building from the Hunter (Australian Bathroom of the Year). Sublime Architectural Interiors from Queensland (Australian Kitchen Design). Enigma Interiors from Queensland (Australian Kitchen of the Year). James Thompson from Queensland (Jim Brookes Australian Apprentice). Porter Davis from Victoria (Australian Professional Major Builder). Killarney Homes from the Northern Territory (Australian Professional Medium Builder/Renovator). Abode New Homes from the Northern Territory (Australian Professional Small Builder /Renovator). Merylese Mercieca from NSW (Australian Business Partner).
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PLYWOODS
Importance of product quality is key factor
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ITH A history dating back to the Egyptian Pharaohs, plywood has been used over the centuries for decorative products, packaging, boats, planes, buildings, and more. Plywood is an incredibly versatile timber product. In Australian construction, common uses of plywood include flooring, cladding, roofing, bracing, and linings. Its uses also include temporary structures for concrete construction, with overlaid formply often being used in the concrete form during the construction of concrete structures. Plywood sound barriers are visible along the edges of freeways and rail corridors in our capital cities. By changing the orientation of veneers, a uni-directional plywood product – better known today as Laminated Veneer Lumber – caters to an even wider range of uses; including joists, bearers, truss chords, lintels, portal frames, scaffold planks, power pole cross arms and more. Plywood, and more generally engineered wood, are products which have been historically relevant in Australian construction, and their versatility will continue see these products being used in detached housing, commercial, and medium rise construction.
Sourcing reliable local product With so many uses, plywood has to be reliable enough for the highest risk applications. Bonds need to be reliable and structural plywood needs to meet the stress grade that it claims. If these fundamental requirements aren’t met it will, at best, result in delaminated product having to be replaced or sag under load – both are issues that spell trouble for the installer and the suppliers. More significantly, a disregard for these fundamental requirements risks catastrophic failure and potential for loss of life. The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA), along with the plywood producers who subscribe to the EWPAA’s plywood certification program, recognise the high importance of product quality. The complexity involved in making a reliable plywood product is far greater than most people would imagine. Manufacturers contend with complex interacting variables in their processes. In spite of these variables, they voluntarily open their mills for regular audits of their manufacturing processes. In addition to their own in-mill testing they submit on a daily basis samples for independent bond and structural testing. Voluntary involvement in the certification program reflects producers’ commitment to delivering a fit-forpurpose product that can be trusted to perform. These are businesses who have invested millions of dollars in manufacturing equipment specifically to supply Australian markets. Their local manufacturing presence sets them apart from trans-global suppliers who can turn to other international markets if their products fail in Australia, or when the Australian market is flat.
Product sustainability On top of the need for a reliable product, specifiers are increasingly interested in the sustainability credentials of timber products. All 18
¢ E WPAA lab staff doing mechanical properties testing on plywood here in the EWPAA lab.
manufacturers of plywood in Australia have Chain of Custody certification to AFS/PEFC standards, and a number also have FSC certification. The EWPAA is involved in ensuring that manufacturers have robust systems for determining the sustainability of their log and other wood inputs, and how they manage their wood flow. If you are purchasing or specifying EWPAA certified plywood product from an Australasian manufacturer, you are buying a sustainably sourced timber product.
Changes in regulations A major issue affecting the Australian building products industries has been non-conforming building products. Australian regulations have not been effective in ensuring that construction products are fit for purpose, or that they conform to the Australian standards they claim. This has been a frustration to Australian manufacturers as cheap non-conforming products are devaluing their markets and creating reputational issues through product failures. This problem has been recognised in discussions at the COAG Building Ministers Forum in December 2016, and is the subject of a Senate enquiry. The Queensland Government has recently tabled a Bill intending to address product conformity. Subject to appropriate allocation of responsibility and enforcement, this initiative has the potential to address issues with non-conforming products, reinforce the quality proposition of Australian manufacturers and have a positive impact on the quality of Australian building stock, and on the safety of people working in construction. Product certification is one way of suppliers gaining an assurance of product conformity. However, the rigor of product certification needs to match the risk. The conformity
of life-safety products should be based on an ISO type 5 certification system, encompassing initial testing and manufacturing audits, ongoing surveillance of the manufacturing process, ongoing surveillance testing, in-market assessment, and management system audits. This comprehensive process, particularly the element of ongoing market surveillance testing, ensures that a random sample of any product produced within this certification scheme will attest to its fitness-for-purpose, much the same as a random audit by health and safety auditors should attest to safe workplace practices. Certification which is based
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on a one-off test certificate is not an adequate basis for determining that a product conforms. Plywood has a well established reputation established over many years. Legitimately conforming products have been and can continue to be part of building solutions today and into the future. Specifiers and building products suppliers need a means of ensuring that they use conforming products. The EWPAA’s type 5 certification, and the capital investment of EWPAA certified manufacturers in domestic markets present a very strong case for products which conform.
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Wood Protection
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For more information, contact us; 1300 650 636 tanalised.au@lonza.com https://www.lonzawoodprotection.com/apac/insecticides-termiticides-family/ Proud sponsors of these upcoming industry events;
PLYWOODS
Everyone’s ‘herd’ about this specialist plywood manufacturer
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RISBANE-BASED Austral Plywoods actually started out as a dairy farm when in 1925 they began producing butter boxes for their dairy business. This grew into more uses for plywood until the business became just a plywood mill. The resource has changed greatly over the years, from sourcing North Queensland hardwoods and natural growth hoop pine from South East Queensland to present day plantation hoop pine. In 1986, the current owners (the Matthews and Clark families) bought Austral Plywoods from the Foxwood group, a subsidiary of Email. In the late 80’s, early 90’s, when plantation hoop pine forest became a sustainable resource Austral went to 100% hoop pine plantation logs as their only resource. “From the mid 1990’s, Austral changed direction from a mainly small structural mill trying to compete with the big boys to an appearance grade mill marketing towards a decorative rotary peel plywood for walls, ceilings and cabinetry work,” explained Austral Sales and Marketing Manager Gary Holmes, a man who has notched up more than three decades with the business. “This proved successful late in the 1990’s, supplying around 25,000 sheets of appearance grade plywood into the 2000 Olympic Games venues. “It was then that Austral Plywoods firmed its place as a leading premium
grade plywood mill in Australia,” he said. Austral Plywoods has supplied many high profile projects. “One of our favourite projects was the Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert hall is regarded as acoustically perfect, mainly due to the quality of hoop pine plywood. Then there was the Brisbane Supreme District Courts -- 12,000 sheets of “A” grade hoop pine plywood was used for wall lining, seating and furniture. “This project was where hoop pine multiply became a sought-after plywood for applications that need superior edge detail,” Gary said. In recent years, Austral Plywoods has seen the need for protection of plywood when used in exterior applications. “We introduced pre-finished Ariaply and Endurapanel, which have a unique coating system where the panels are dipped into the colour that contains a preservative, ensuring the panels are completely sealed. “Both products are the only plywood products that have a seven year warranty on the coating that it will not mould or craze,” he added. “Our resource is 100% plantation grown Hoop Pine, sourced from HQPlantations in south east Queensland. Our products have Chain of Custody certification under Australian Standards AS 4707:2006. The Austral Plywoods Chain of Custody, linked to the
¢ The acoustically brilliant Melbourne Recital Centre.
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¢ Stuart and Scott Matthews (joint CEOs) and Gary Holmes (Sales and Marketing Manager).The photo was taken inside the Brisbane Supreme Court where 12,000 sheets of Austral’s specialist hoop pine was used.
Australian Forestry Standard (AFS), was awarded through an independently audited process carried out by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA). “Manufacturing to Australian/ New Zealand standards, we maintain a process quality control system in compliance with the EWPAA-JASANZ product certification scheme. Our
¢ The lathe where the logs are peeled.
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A-Bond products have a Super E0 rating, the lowest formaldehyde emission rating obtainable.” Second generation joint CEO’s Stuart and Scott Matthews are committed to maintaining the high quality products and excellent customer service Austral Plywoods is renowned for. No pun intended but ... the cream really has come to the top!
¢ The sander.
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PLYWOODS
Plywood: the broadest product offer in Australia
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LYWOOD IS one of the most popular timber choices among the Australian construction industry thanks to its unparalleled versatility. Big River Group, one of Australia’s leading manufacturers and distributors of timber and building products, installed its first veneer peeling lathe in 1947 in its Grafton site. The opening of the Junction Hill site followed in 1960, with new lathes and dryers for processing high-grade timber veneers, and in 1983 the company installed its first plywood pressing assets to begin the production of formply. Now, 70 years on, the company has one of the largest plywood product offers in Australia. This is in part thanks to the $17million upgrade of the group’s Wagga Wagga site, purchased in 2007. The investment increased the site’s production capacity four-fold, and greatly expanded its product range. The Wagga Wagga plant focuses on high-volume commodity lines while the Grafton site produces specialist timber, having been equipped with a new spindleless lathe and scarfing machine. Although the manufacture of plywood hasn’t altered much in the last century, these changes to the Grafton Mill allowed Big River Group to develop and refine more niche applications of plywood. Indeed, Big River plywood can be tailored to suit an extensive range of applications, and is now often used as a feature material. The range includes: Armourply and Armourpanel These hardwood plywoods are manufactured in Grafton from several different Australian native species. As F22 and F27 plywoods, these are some of the strongest available in the world. Armourpanel is the decorative finish version and it maintains the high-strength properties, while also lending itself well to high-quality decorative finish. Applications include flooring in high-demand commercial buildings, components in furniture and cabinetry, and feature walls, floors and ceilings in apartments, homes, offices or shops. Continued on page 22
¢ Lounge and kitchen in Big River Armourpanel Spotted Gum plywood. Photo by Grant Kennedy.
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To discuss your requirements in more detail and for further technical information please get in touch: Australia Tim Evans Business Development P 0417 726 741 tim.evans@ivsltd.com.au New Zealand Paul Norris Forestry Manager P 1800 812 498 paul.norris@ivsltd.co.nz Colin Malcolm IVS Laboratory Manager P 1800 812 498 colin.malcolm@ivsltd.co.nz
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PLYWOODS Continued from page 22
Formply Big River Armourform is one of the strongest formply products in the world and can be made up to an F27 stress rating. It has been used on countless concrete formwork constructions sites both nationally and internationally, and is a key product for both sites. The high-strength hardwood formply manufactured in Grafton can be found in many cattle and stock crates and trailers around the country where the durable hardwood veneers used in its construction allow it to endure harsh environments. Formply can also be used decoratively in furniture and cabinetry as it’s available in a range of thicknesses, strength ratings and finish qualities.
Structural plywood A leading commodity for the Wagga Wagga Mill, structural plywood can be used in multiple ways; from flooring and bracing in residential and commercial constructions, to furniture manufacture, portable buildings, home handyman jobs and many more. Several different treatments and finishes can also be used to considerably extend its capabilities. For example, it can be chemically treated to resist pest or fungal attack in high exposure and exterior applications, and it can be machined for a decorative finish or to resist surface checking from harsh weather. Soundbarrier is a product that utilises both of these processes to create a highly durable timber. It is used to line a number of highways, commercial sites, schools and even home yards.
¢ Big River veneer joining at Wagga Wagga Mill.
Anti-slip plywood This specialist plywood is manufactured in Grafton and is available in a variety of thicknesses and strength ratings. The anti-slip coating can be applied in yellow, black or grey allowing the product to be colour matched to its surrounds. Applications include temporary walkways and ramps at construction sites, as well as permanent installations such as disabled access ramps.
Bridgeply Bridgeply is primarily used to repair existing timber bridges, saving substantial time and money compared to re-building, or repairing using traditional hardwood plank bridge decks. (see our special feature in the May edition of Australasian Timber). It’s manufactured through a collaborative process utilising both sites for different production steps. Both sites can manufacture plywood in 2400 x 1200, and 1800 x 1200 panel sizes, as well as cut to size. Grafton Mill has a scarf joining machine which allows plywood machining to almost any sheet size within the limits of transportation. The longest order made to date is a 13.1m sheet of Bridgeply, which was carried on a 14m long semi-trailer. As testament to Big River Group’s strong service culture and technical expertise, the industry heavyweight has several new manufacturing initiatives planned over the next year, and innovation for Australian plywood is set to thrive.
Now, 70 years on, the company has one of the largest plywood product offers in Australia. ¢ Big River Formply being loaded at Grafton Mill.
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ASSOCIATIONS
National conference honours past icon with special award By Kersten Gentle Executive Officer / FTMA Australia
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HE 2017 FTMA Australia National Conference was held at the beautiful Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove on 15-16 May and, like previous years, the numbers increased and the feedback has been fantastic. The FTMA Conference is always focused at networking and learning and we therefore start with the Red Activities Day on the Monday which is proudly sponsored by Pryda Australia and Vekta Automation. Delegates can choose to participate in golf or another activity which this year included a half day adventure at South Stradbroke Island with 4WD Buggies on the sand, Segway and Sand Dune boarding. The golf which was played at the prestigious Palm Golf Course had the added enticement with AB Phillips putting a $30,000 Hole in One prize for Hole 6. Steve Harvey from Timbertruss came so close but missed out on the big money and no doubt a whopping shout at the bar by less than a metre. The winning team was Steve Harvey and Jim McAdams (TimberTruss), Richard Knowles (CHHWP) and Lachlan Magee (Choice Energy) with Graham Leddy (Versace) winning Nearest to the Pin and John Oulton (Pine Design) having the longest drive. The Red Activities Day finished off with the Official Ice-Breaker
¢ L-R: Jeff Stratford (Pryda), Justin Flanagan (Calco), Nick Barnes (Pryda) and Christine Flanagan (Calco).
which was held at Dreamworld in the Peter Brock Centre where all of Peter Brock’s cars were on display. Delegates were joined by the collections owner Peter Champion who even started up the last of the
¢ L-R: Reg and Jenny Owen with their son Glenn and Wife Maryanne.
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big V8s. Of course we love a big of competition and throughout the night delegates were invited to test their skills and speed on the V8 Simulators with the overall champion being Alex Hull of MCM Frame & Truss. The inner child came out in everyone as they lined up for their turn on the Dodgems bashing in to friends and foe as they sped around the track in what looked like total chaos at times. The conference, a full day event, was held on the Tuesday and included fabricator panels, workshops, speakers and a great trade display by our valued sponsors. The topics varied from credit advice, OHS, Industrial relations, fit-for-purpose timber, production costs, steel versus timber, market forecasts and new market opportunities. All the speakers were well received and the information gathered from the workshops is invaluable information gathered to use in projects such as the Mid-Rise Timber Buildings Market Implementation Group and gathering delegates thoughts on the issue of steel in the market place. The fabricator panels, in my opinion, are vital as these are the true experts and fabricators can learn so much by sharing information that helps lift the standards of the industry. Topics such as training your staff and employees with timber knowledge, how your business has handled the prefabricated floor cassettes and of course the allimportant knowing your business costs were key issues discussed with
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nine fabricators on three separate panels. The conference finished with the National Conference Dinner which as always was proudly sponsored by Multinail Australia. Delegates started with the pre-dinner drinks sponsored by Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products and the 50 Mojito’s on order didn’t go far as everyone quickly got in to the spirit of the Luau on the Lagoon with many delegates dressed in their best Hawaiian shirt or dress. The dinner was also where we presented the Inaugural Clive Martella Service to Industry Award. Clive was an essential person within the FTMA Board. Not only was he one of the people who worked hard to get the National Association going but he remained a Director throughout his time on the board. He was Kersten’s go-to person with technical, production or business issues and he always came through, not only for her, but for other fabricators as he was always willing to share information to improve the standards of the industry and help his competitors. Sadly, Clive Thomas Martella passed away on 28 September, 2016, at the young age of 62 after a short but courageous battle with cancer, leaving behind his beloved wife Ruth and three adult children, Catherine, Treina and Clive Jnr. It was beautiful to have Ruth and Clive’s sister Sue Maxwell with us at the conference dinner to present the award. Before Clive passed away we told www.timberbiz.com.au
ASSOCIATIONS
¢ Clive’s wife Ruth Martella (left) and his sister Sue Maxwell presenting the award to the Inaugural Recipient of the Clive Martella Service to Industry Award, Reg Owen.
¢ Ed Serrano (Vekta Automation) with Brendan Schneider (Sunbury Wallframes).
¢ L-R: Alastair Woodard (WPV), Ashley and Mel Young (Fortruss) and Elizabeth van der Plaat (High Country Frame & Truss).
him we would be honouring him with the Clive Martella Service to Industry Award. Typical of Clive he said he didn’t need it as he was truly a humble person but he meant so much to us that we need it. We want to continue his legacy by recognising people who shared his passion for our industry. A group of four industry leaders who were all Clive’s friends, Michael Read (Keith Timber & Hardware), Doug Maxwell (Clive’s brother-in-law and business partner in MB Prefab Framing), Steve Collier (TimberTruss)
and Phil McCormack of McCormack Hardwood Sales were appointed to the selection committee. There is no criteria for the award as we wanted the award to reflect Clive’s values .. someone who went out of their way to help people and businesses in the industry ... someone who was honest and committed to seeing the national frame and truss industry innovate and grow ... someone who has made a great commitment to our industry. Reg Owen, formerly of RJ & JJ
¢ L-R: Michael Blyth and Peter Celep of Tilling with Multinail’s Wendy Boyd.
Owen in Warrnambool, a business now known as Owentruss which is run by Reg & Jenny’s sons Peter & Glenn Owen, was the inaugural recipient of this award as he is exactly that sort of person. He is a true industry entrepreneur and there is no doubt without his involvement in our industry throughout many decades our industry would have struggled. Reg, like Clive, firmly believes that the key to success in business is to have the right people in place and look after them.
Reg, like Clive, believes in sharing information to help fabricators grow which in turn helps the industry become stronger and there is no doubt at all through Reg’s innovation that he has not only helped the frame and truss sector grow, but has shaped it through his innovative machinery. All in all the conference was a great success and achieved what it set out to achieve, bringing the industry together for much needed learning and networking.
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 mult-billion dollar industry. FTMA Australia thanks our dedicated supporters and encourages you to support those who support your industry
Australasia
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ASSOCIATIONS
Taking skills to a new level
Safety management system prevents WH&S prosecution
By Colin Fitzpatrick Chief Executive Officer Timber & Building Materials Association (Aust.) Ltd
Brian Beecroft
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ABMA TRAINING is delighted to advise that the Parkside Group has committed to upskilling a number of its workers through Certificate 3 qualifications funded by the Queensland State Government Department of Education and Training (DET). The Parkside Group is a large Queensland based multifaceted and diverse company. Privately owned, Parkside is a leading player in saw milling, timber manufacturing, land and property development, home construction and retirement industries with operations from Cairns to Sydney with a client base across Australia and Asia now employing hundreds of Australians. Over the next 6-9 months, 16 staff will undertake qualifications in saw milling and processing, timber merchandising and leadership and management. This is a significant commitment by the Parkside Group who recognise the value of upskilling their staff leading to greater efficiencies, increased job satisfaction and staff retention. It is intended that more staff will participate each year once the initial programs have been completed. TABMA Queensland encourages all TABMA members to take advantage of the available Queensland Government funding to upskill their staff into nationally recognised qualifications. Just contact Alicia Oelkers at alicia@tabma.com.au or June Dunleavy at juned@tabmatraining.edu.au for further information.
TABMA Website The new TABMA website is now up and running and we invite members and non members to go to www.tabma.com.au inspect the site and observe the many ways that the TABMA Group can assist your business.
CRM The TABMA national management team recently held a day-long meeting to discuss the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management scheme (CRM). There were presentations by CRM providers which led to lively and interesting debate. We also discussed our plans for the 2017/18 financial year and how we can further grow the TABMA Group to ensure we remain the peak industry body.
TABMA Victoria We are pleased to announce the appointment of Joanne Thomson to the role of Area Manager-Melbourne Metropolitan. Jo, who has a wealth of experience in the group training field will join TABMA on June 19 and will report to Natalie Reynolds who oversees all matters TABMA in Victoria.
Chief Executive Officer TTIA
D
O YOU have an effective safety management system? Is this safety system being implemented in your workplace? A TTIA Member attended a TTIA seminar some time ago and heard from Ken Hocking (TTIA’s safety manager) that all companies are required to have an effective safety management system. Realising that his company did not have such a system, this manager asked TTIA to develop a safety management system for his company and to visit and assist them to implement this system on a 6 monthly basis. In this case, 14 months after this event, a worker in the company had a serious injury in which a WorkSafe NSW inspector came to the workplace to investigate. This inspector examined the company’s safety system and found it to be adequately implemented and decided not to prosecute the company for the injury. This potentially saved the company $100,000 from fines and legal costs as well as a lengthy court case. Serious crush injury in a NSW sawmill In another WH&S incident, a twin edger operator noticed that the log carriage had come off the track and left the cabin to investigate. The operator was trained to isolate the machine if any maintenance occurred on the machine, however, he was only investigating the problem so switched off the saw but did not isolate it. When the operator was examining the problem, the maintenance person came over and decided to put the carriage back on the track. Once the carriage was back on the track it moved forward as there were still hydraulics to the machine and the maintenance person’s leg was crushed under the log carriage.
It took 2 hours to get the maintenance person free of the carriage and he was in a serious condition in hospital. Once again TTIA stresses the issue of machine isolation. TTIA safety manager regularly comes across operators maintaining machinery that has not been completely isolated. This is a major risk that timber companies need to police. The company now train their operators to isolate the machine whenever they exit the cabin. The TTIA operates the timber industry’s premier in-house Workplace Health & Safety Unit. If you require assistance in this area or if you would like a WH&S audit of your existing safety system, please contact Ken Hocking on 0418 280 335.
Annual wage increase 2017 The Fair Work Commission released the 2017 Annual Wage Review decision under the Fair Work Act, 2009 on 6 June 2017. This decision increases the modern award wage rates by 3.3% and the national minimum wage from $672.70 to $694.90 per week, being $18.29 per hour, based on a 38 hour working week. This constitutes an increase of $22.20 per week to the weekly rate or 59 cents per hour to the hourly rate. The increased rates will take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2017. The increase is fully absorbable into over award payments. Employers should check that their wage rates match the appropriate classification levels in the award.
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