By JIM BOWDEN THE determination of state governments to convert more and more sustainable productive hardwood forest to nature reserves has claimed another victim – the iconic timber railway sleeper that has been supporting Australia’s rail system for more than 150 years. The recent locking away of 101,000 ha of red gum forests in New South Wales was the final fracture in the derailment of a section of industry that has put 50 million timber sleepers into service across the country. But the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has a solution – pull out the timber tracks and replace them with concrete sleepers. It has signed off on a billion-dollar “do-it-as- fast-as-you-can” contract to replace all wooden sleepers on the rail line between Melbourne and Sydney and more than 500,000 new concrete sleepers have already been laid. But there’s a frightening flaw in this grand scheme – since the concrete sleepers have been laid, oozing mud has washed away the stone ballast leaving the sleepers and track exposed. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union claims the line is in its worst- ever condition and a train driver on the ABC 7.30 report says it is “a disaster waiting to happen”. “Anyone that goes on any of those tracks will tell you it THIS ISSUE • Tasmanian premier asks for ‘hurry up’ on forest debate • VicForests announces $3.6m profit Book on Kyogle’s timber history was a labour of love • Sign-off on grading standards urged • EWPAA expands certification skills to sawn timber • Hazard reduction – a burning issue • SET project helps build sustainable skills development End of the line Forest closures allow concrete to win lion’s share of railway sleeper market Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] ISSUE 145 | 04.10.10 | PAGE 1 6461 Cont Page 2 Derailed .. timber sleepers lose out to concrete.
Issue 145
Mar 24, 2016
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Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] 1issuE 145 | 04.10.10 | PAgE
By JIM BOWDEN
THE determination of state governments to convert more and more sustainable productive hardwood forest to nature reserves has claimed another victim – the iconic timber railway sleeper that has been supporting Australia’s rail system for more than 150 years.The recent locking away of 101,000 ha of red gum forests in New South Wales was the final fracture in the derailment of a section of industry that has put 50 million timber sleepers into service across the country.But the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has a solution – pull out the timber tracks and replace them with concrete sleepers. It has signed
off on a billion-dollar “do-it-as-fast-as-you-can” contract to replace all wooden sleepers on the rail line between Melbourne and Sydney and more than 500,000 new concrete sleepers have already been laid.But there’s a frightening flaw in this grand scheme – since the concrete sleepers have been laid, oozing mud has washed away the stone ballast leaving the sleepers and track exposed.The Rail, Tram and Bus Union claims the line is in its worst-ever condition and a train driver on the ABC 7.30 report says it is “a disaster waiting to happen”.“Anyone that goes on any of those tracks will tell you it
ThIs IssuE• Tasmanian premier asks for ‘hurry up’ on forest debate• VicForests announces $3.6m profit
Book on Kyogle’s timber history was a labour of love• Sign-off on grading standards urged• EWPAA expands certification skills to sawn timber• Hazard reduction – a burning issue• SET project helps build sustainable skills development
End of the lineForest closures allow concrete to winlion’s share of railway sleeper market
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6461
Cont Page 2Derailed .. timber sleepers lose out to concrete.
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] PAgE | issuE 145 | 04.10.10 2
shakes and it rattles and it rolls unlike any other track across Australia,” the union’s national organiser Bob Nanva said on the program.“We need an independent inquiry and an audit of the work that has been undertaken by the ARTC to date using billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money.”The rail line is Australia’s biggest and links the two largest cities with four XPT passenger services daily between Sydney and Melbourne and up to 30 freight trains.Fighter for forests Russ Ainley – he has an Order of Australia Medal for his services to the industry – is angry about all of this. “We warned them about it and they knew the problems they might face a long way back when they started reserving the red gum forests.”The chief executive of the NSW Forest Products Association added: “We discussed the likely outcome of a timber shortage and the closure of forests which has resulted in this massive infrastructure project using concrete.“Sadly, there is no option for them but to use concrete unless the government is prepared to make public infrastructure timber available from the reserved forests. It’s as simple as that.”Russ Ainley says there are 50 million timber sleepers in service throughout Australia. The maintenance schedule requires about 800,000 replacement sleepers each year, more than 50% of which are red gum timbers.“With the right ballast, the right timber species and the right timber treatment, these
wooden sleepers would go a 25-30-year cycle, and could push out to 50 years in a lot of places,” Mr Ainley said.But the purchase of timber replacement sleepers has been steadily declining and is down to about 300,000 replacements a year over tracks in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.“Importantly, where concrete sleepers were used and when there were concrete failures, the industry would supply up to 30 truck loads of timber sleepers overnight to fix the problem.”Sleeper manufacturer Austrak says concrete sleepers have a much longer life; they are more stable and are the way of the future. And they’re better for the environment, it says.Mr Ainley said the green credentials boasted about concrete, that it was environmentally friendly and long lasting, were a joke.[Around 900 kg of CO2 is emitted for the fabrication of every tonne of cementThe cement industry is one of two primary producers of
‘We explained theissue and warnedthem’: Russ Ainley
INDUSTRY NEWS
From Page 1
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Victorian Association ofForest Industries
Level 2, 2 Market StreetMelbourne 3000
Tel: +61 3 9611 9000 Fax: +61 3 9611 9011
Email: [email protected]: www.vafi.org.au
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Cont Page 7
Russ Ainley .. noise factor a big issue.
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AS the forest industry, unions and conservations seek to resume talks on the native forest debate in Tasmania, expected within a fortnight, the state premier is urging a wrap up of the roundtable talks on securing the future of the timber industry.The talks between the National Association of Forest Industries, Timber Communities Australia, the CFMEU, Environment Tasmania and the Australian Conservation Foundation have been going on for three months.Environmentalists and the industry are trying to resolve their long-standing conflicts over native timber harvesting and find ways to help the sector survive the economic downturn.
Premier David Bartlett has told state parliament it was time people working in the industry had some certainty.“I will be meeting with the full array of groups in the coming weeks and, yes, I will be encouraging them to wrap up
these talks, to put the stake in the ground so that we can move forward with certainly in the forest and forest sector,” Mr Bartlett said.Environmentalists are backing the premier’s calls to finalise the talks. Environment Tasmania’s director Phill Pullinger says they have made enormous progress.“There’s certainly been an incredible amount of good faith shown by all of those that have been involved in the talks and certainly we’ve been very heartened by the amount of common ground that has been found,” he said in an interview.“So we’re hopeful that the talks can reach a conclusion soon.”Meanwhile, NAFI and Timber Communities Australia have confirmed that no political party has been involved in the talks, nor are the talks being influenced by any political agenda.TCA chief executive Jim Adams says the debate has been an open discussion and there has been wide stakeholder consultation conducted by parties on both sides.NAFI chief executive Allan Hansard added: “As we’ve said since these talks began, at no stage have these negotiations involved representatives from governments. If and when an agreement is reached, the agreement will be brought to government through the appropriate channels at the appropriate time.”The debate outcome will be influenced by Gunns decision to exit logging native forests in Tasmania. The company had stated that “native forest is not part of our future” and that they are moving to a plantation-based business.Gunns acknowledged that the vast majority of Australians want their native forests protected.
Jim Adams .. wide stakeholder consultation.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Tasmania premier asksfor ‘hurry up’ on debate
ForestWorks performs a range of industry
wide functions acting as the
channel between industry, Government
and the Australian Vocational Education
and Training (VET) system.
Core services:
• Skill Standards
• Material Development
• Networks
• Strategic Skills Planning
• Project Management
• Data Collection• Research
• Industry Advice
• Career Advice
• Adult Learning Expertise
ViCTORiAPO Box 612, North Melbourne 3051Tel: (03)9321 3500Email: [email protected] sOuTH WALEsPO Box 486, Parramatta 2124Tel: (02)8898 6990Email: [email protected] Box 2146, Launceston 7250Tel: (03)6331 6077Email: [email protected] BRisBANEPO Box 2014 Fortitude Valley 4006Tel: (07)3358 5169Email: [email protected]
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MORE than 40 industry leaders, government support agencies, logging contractors and representatives of government support agencies and unions gathered in snow-clad Hobart last Tuesday to mark the release of the final report of a ForestWorks skills enhancement and training project that has run for the last four years in Tasmania.The program has played a key role in helping forestry businesses and redundant workers survive the economic crisis by up-skilling and diversifying the skills base of the industry’s workforce.Special guests included Bryan Green, state minister for energy and resources, Jeremy Rockliff, deputy Opposition leader, Mark Shelton, shadow forestry minister, Jane Calvert, ForestWorks chair and national president of the CFMEU’s forestry division, Allan Hansard, chief executive of NAFI, Jim Adams, chief executive, Timber Communities Australia, and executives of the Australian Forest Contractors Association.The 250-page report provided impressive statistics – 529 assisted trainees; more than 70 enterprises provided with
direct and ongoing assistance; 61 workers who lost their jobs assisted into new careers and support for the initiation of services to another 450
workers made redundant; and two registered training organisations (RTOs) provided with extensive development work to enable them to provide
ongoing services to industry.The Tasmanian Forest and Forest Products Skills Enhancement and Training Project (SET Project) was undertaken with financial support provided by the Federal Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.The SET project started in 2006 with the central aim to support the Tasmanian forest, wood, paper and timber products industries to enhance and maintain their workforce capacity by developing sustainable skill solutions.The scope of the project included the delivery of best-practice examples of skill development activities and practices, aimed at benefiting the entire Australian industry.“The industry has long recognised the challenges ahead, created by increasing globalisation and intensified competitive pressures,” the chief executive of ForestWorks Michael Hartman said.“Skills, training and education are key imperatives for an industry with strong economic future. In this regard, the industry campaigned for a
INDUSTRY NEWS
Cont Page 6
Skills, training and education .. key imperatives for an industry with a strong economic future.
industry gathering celebrates value ofskills enhancement and training project
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20
10
OCTOBER 20109: Queensland Timber Industry Awards Dinner. Sofitel Brisbane Central, 249 Turbot street, Brisbane. Contact: TABMA Queensland. Tel: (07) 3254 3166. Mob:0438 295 136. www.tabma.com.au
10-13: Australian Forest Growers national conference, Mount Gambier, SA. Chief executive Warwick Ragg. Contact national office: (02) 6162 9000.
12: ForestWood 2010. A pan-industry conference jointly hosted by the Forest Owners Association (FOA), Wood Processors Association (WPA), Pine Manufacturers Association (PMA), Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and supported by Woodco, NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) and Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association (FTMA). Venue: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.
15: VAFI annual dinner. Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne. Contact: Victorian Association of Forest Industries. Tel: (03) 9611 9000. Email: [email protected] Web: www.vafi.org.au
15-17: Melbourne Timber and Working with Wood Expo, Melbourne showground, Melbourne. Contact: (02) 9974 1393. Fax: (02)9974 3426 Email: [email protected]
16: Back to Creswick. A day of centenary celbrations, children’s entertainment, campus, nursery, bush tours, major historical exhibition at Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, (formerly Victorian School of Forestry), Creswick.
EvENTS
WHAT’S ON?19-20: MTC Global Woodmart: Gateway to International Wood Markets. The first ‘one-stop’ selling and buying platform for all suppliers and buyers of wood and wood products. Early bird discount 5%. Organised by the Malaysian Timber Council at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. Contact: Malaysian Timber Council. Tel: +60 3 9281 1999. Fax: +60 3 9289 8999. Email: [email protected] Web: www.globalwoodmart.my
29: TABMA annual dinner.LunaPark, Sydney. Incorporating theAustralian Timber Design Awardspresented by TDA NSW. Dinnersupported by TDA, NSW ForestProducts Association and FWPA. Contact: TABMA on (02) 9277 3172
NOVEMBER 20103-6: The Status and Trends of the Gobal-Pacific Rim Forest Indutry. The Role of Australia and New Zealand. Bayview Eden Hotel,
melbourne. Speakers: Dennis Neilson, director DANA Ltd, New Zealnd and Jim Stevens, manager, global business development, The Campbell Group, US. Field trip to Midway’s hardwood woodchip export operation owned by SPE management: and Pentarch’s Ilog export fumigation and loading operation. Contact conference organiser pamela Richards. Tel: 61 3 5781 0069. Email: [email protected]
15: Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia annual general meeting and conference. Gold Coast International Hotel. Tel: (07) 3250 3700.
17-19: ForestTECH 2010 Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest Planning & Operations, Rotorua,NZ.
22-24: ForestTECH 2010 Tools & Technologies to Improve Forest Planning & Operations, Albury, NsW.
National Association ofForest Industries Ltd
(Est. 1987)PO Box 239,
Deakin ACT 2600Tel: (02) 6285 3833.Fax: (02) 6285 3855
Web: www.nafi.com.au
SUSTAINABLE.RESPONSIBLE.
The NationalAssociation of Forest
Industries (NAFI)is striving for an
ecologically sustainableAustralian societyachieved through
dynamic,internationally
competitive forestindustries.
NAFI’s mission is torepresent the interests
of members bypromoting theenvironmental
sustainability andthe prosperity ofAustralian forest
industries.
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] PAgE | issuE 145 | 04.10.10 6
funded project, able to pursue sustainable skills formation strategies.”The SET Project, initiated and managed by ForestWorks, was funded and supported by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).“After a challenging journey over four years, the project has concluded, accumulating extensive experience, significant achievements and facilitating learning to build understanding and management systems for sustainable skills development in the industry,” Mr Hartman said.He was speaking from the Future Forestry and Forest Science Conference in Melbourne last week, which celebrated 100
years of forest education in
Australia.
During the conference, an
indigenous elder of the Gumatj
clan in north east Arnhem Land
Djawa Yunupingu spoke to
delegates about the Gumatj
Corporation’s Yolungu forestry
project.
The role of ForestWorks in the
project was to help indigenous
workers learn valuable skills in
forestry, harvesting and housing
construction and furniture
making through on-the-job
skills training.
One of the sponsors of the
Melbourne conference,
ForestWorks distributed a DVD
of the Gumatj project to each of
the 150 delegates.
INDUSTRY NEWS
From Page 4
sET project helpsbuild sustainableskills development
Skills program .. enhancing and maintaining the industry workforce.
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carbon dioxide, creating up to 5% of worldwide man-made emissions of this gas, of which 50% is from the chemical process and 40% from burning fuel].“The noise pollution factor is another big issue,” Mr Ainley said.Speaking about the concrete sleepers and rail track on the ABC program, Karen Brill, a Wagga Wagga resident, said: “The whole track just bends and bows and the carriages just bounce along. And you can hear the carriages, well, the containers more so; they just bounce all the way through. And it’s so noisy – and scary.”This concern is magnified when the trailing tonnage on the track is considered. An entire train including the weight of cars is probably in the range of 10,000 to 16,000 tonnes, moving at speeds up to 75 km and hour.Mr Ainley said it was obvious concrete sleepers did not have the same resilience nor the ability to absorb sound as effectively as timber sleepers.
“And I’d imagine train maintenance costs are going to go through the roof. Axlebox bearing housings on the trains are going to wear out a lot quicker on concrete.”Mr Ainley said there had been little reference to the derailments of freight wagons on concrete sleepers.“The authorities need to be taken to task on this. At least
one freight wagon a day is derailed in NSW. Some are empty, but they just jack them
up and put them back on the line.”
A chilling conclusion to the ABC report came from a train driver: “The way the tracks are at the moment, it is a matter of time before a train derails.”
Editor’s note: The first railway line in Australia opened between Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station and Port Melbourne [then called Sandridge] on September 12, 1854. Timber sleepers from this track, removed for replacement after more than 50 years’ service, were used in the construction of several heritage buildings in the early 1900s, including two hotels, that still stand today in Melbourne city.
INDUSTRY NEWS
‘Concrete sleepers don’t have the same resilience or the ability to absorb sound’
The end of the line for timber railway sleepers?
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A3P has noted key policy areas relative to the plantation products and paper industry identified by the Gillard minority government for specific action:• Implementing a package of reforms to restrict the sale of illegally logged wood in Australia.• Climate change - continuing to support renewable energy through the RET, promoting energy efficiency in industry and households, and working towards the introduction of a carbon price (including broad consultation and consensus-building).• Support package for
Tasmanian forest contractors ($20 million).
• Support for innovation in Australian manufacturing (including the Pulp and Paper Industry Innovation Council).
• The provision of an extra $1.4 billion in investment in infrastructure and economic development of regional Australia.
• Tax summit - public forum of experts to discuss the Henry Tax Review.
A3P is working to build and sustain productive relationships with the ministers, their offices and departments.
Key industry policy areas identified
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NATIONAL plantation products body A3P will employ the certification services of the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia, a decision that will produce positive synergies for both organisations.A3P – the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council – will move its quality certification scheme across to EWPAA in January next year, ending its association with NCS International, one of Australia’s largest third-party certification bodies.This move will expand EWPAA’s product certification skills to sawn timber alongside its responsibilities for panels and engineered wood.“There is a lot of synergy potential here,” says Simon Dorries, general manger of EWPAA. “A lot of sawmills are co-located with panel processing operations so logistically the A3P-EWPAA arrangement is a good move.”The EWPAA quality control and product certification service began in 1963 as an industry-wide self-help program. The EWPAA laboratory in Brisbane became a registered National Association of Testing
Authorities (NATA) Laboratory in 1969. In 1994, the EWPAA quality control program was registered by NATA as a quality managed system under ISO 9002.The highest level of independence and credibility, however, was achieved in 1996 when the EWPAA quality control program and product certification scheme was directly accredited by the joint accreditation system – Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) – as a product certification program.
The EWPAA JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme is an industry-wide, product certification based upon the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Type 5 system.A3P has operated a product certification program for many years, referred to as the old Pine Australia scheme.EWPAA’s services to A3P will be supervised by EWPAA technical manger Andy McNaught.“Andy has all the qualifications for this. He is one of the industry’s best timber technicians and this puts him right in the area of his expertise,” Simon Dorries said.
EWPAA certification program moves into sawn timber.
INDUSTRY NEWS
EWPAA expands certification skills to sawn timber in service to A3P scheme
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Andy McNaught .. EWPAA technical manager.
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has postponed an announcement about its examination of Gunns Ltd’s proposed purchase of a softwood sawmill. Gunns is one of three parties looking at the former Forest Enterprises Australia sawmill at Bell Bay, which is being sold be receiver Deloitte. The other interested parties are Malaysia’s Samling and West Australian company Wespine.
gunns review delay
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NEW Zealand forest owners say other land owners should not be afraid to embrace the initiatives proposed by the Land and Water Forum.“We’ve been there, as acknowledged by minister [climate change] Nick Smith’s reference to the development of the NZ Forest Accord, when he released the forum’s report – A Fresh Start for Freshwater,” says Forest Owners environment committee chair Peter Weir.“The battles between environmental groups and the forest industry in the 1970s and 1980s have been replaced by a willingness to work together. “It hasn’t been easy at times. But it’s far better to work with others who have an interest in resource use, biodiversity protection and the environment, than to be slugging it out in the Environment Court.“Ultimately, all industries need the consent of their community in order to operate. This gives rise to two challenges – finding efficient ways to allow the community to have their say, and developing systems that prove your business is walking the talk.
“It may seem scary, but our experience is that land owners, environmental groups and iwi have a huge amount in common. We all want a strong economy where our children will have well-paid jobs. We all want to be able to swim and fish in our streams, lakes and rivers. We all recognise how important a credible clean-
green New Zealand brand is to the marketing of our food, fibre and tourism.”Mr Weir says the first collaborative initiative between forest growing interests and conservation and outdoor recreation groups was the New Zealand Forest Accord in 1992.As part of this, forest owners undertook to protect viable areas of native vegetation on their land and not to clear it when establishing new plantations. Conservation groups, for their part, recognised the importance of plantation forests in providing perpetually renewable fibre and energy that did not involve the depletion of natural forests.In 2007, these principles were endorsed in a Climate Change Accord, which also stated that policies should be consistent with customary rights and responsibilities of Maori; and with the Treaty of Waitangi.“Since 1992, despite some ups and downs, we have increasingly collaborated with environmental groups and iwi. We have also embraced the principles of audited self-management,” Mr Weir says.
Peter Weir .. environmental groups and the forest industry willing to work together.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Land owners mustembrace new waterand land initiatives
United approach in New Zealand
ultimately, all industries need the consent of their
community in order to operate
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STATE-owned VicForests has announced a net profit of $3.592 million for the 2009-10 financial year.Chief executive David Pollard said the positive result was achieved through the sustainable harvest of less than 0.1% of Victoria’s native forests.He said this result was a turnaround of more than $8.6 million on the previous 12 months.A $6 million increase in sales revenue was a reflection of the significant community demand for wood products, he said.VicForests’ earnings before interest and taxes were $5.3 million, an increase of about $10 million from 2008-09.A salvage harvesting program also provided an enormous boost to local communities affected by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, sourcing 929,000 cub m of timber from trees killed by the fires.“The timber industry will be able to convert this wood into products worth $194 million,” Mr Pollard said.“These salvage harvesting operations provided 51% of the total volume of timber
harvested by VicForests in the past year and allowed this valuable timber to be utilised rather than rot away after being killed by the fires.“The program also reduced the need to harvest unburnt, or ‘green’, forest.”VicForests completed its largest ever aerial seeding program during 2010 aimed at regrowing forests across Victoria.More than $6 million was invested in the program which spread over 300 million eucalyptus seeds in forests throughout eastern Victoria, including areas affected by the
Black Saturday fires.“VicForests also submitted 5400 ha of forest to the Department ofSustainability and Environment (DSE) for approval following the completion of extensive regeneration work.Among other achievements, VicForests was successfully re-certified to the Australian Forestry Standard in February 2010.“This certification process thoroughly assessed VicForests’ practices and highlighted our commitment to the sustainable management of forests in
Victoria,” Mr Pollard said.VicForests sustainably harvests two million tonnes of eucalypt logs a yeary for a range of domestic and export customers and markets. The organisation commenced operations in August 2004 as part of the Victorian Government’s Our Forests Our Future policy which required the separation of forest policy, regulatory and commercial functions.Work is conducted by VicForests follows strict sustainable guidelines that has enabled it to be Australian Forestry Standard certified.
David Pollard .. positive results through sustainable harvesting.
Big earnings after harvesting from less than 0.1% of Victoria’s native forests.
INDUSTRY NEWS
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VicForests announces $3.6m profitSalvage operations boost local communities
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] 11issuE 145 | 04.10.10 | PAgE
INDUSTRY is pushing for early acceptance of new Australian standards for stress grading of structural timber, now in their second round for public comment.The standards AS/NZS 1748.1, AS/NZS 1748.2 and AS/NZS 4490 have been released by Standards Australia for a public comment period ending October 27.Entitled ‘Timber – Solid – Stress-graded for Structural Purposes’, the standards apply to the stress-grading of structural timber of any species using any method of grading, the qualification of grading methods used and verification of the claimed properties of the graded timber.Compliance with AS/NZS 1748.1 & 2 and AS/NZS 4490 will be mandatory for producers wanting to claim compliance with ‘AS/NZS 1748’.While the use of AS/NZS 4490 will be optional for producers wishing to continue grading to the current visual grading standards, they are encouraged to apply it to provide confidence of property compliance.A3P solid wood manger Peter Juniper said there was now some urgency in having the new standards published.“The standards committee has made a lot of changes and that is why the revised standards have gone out for a second round of public comment,” he said.“We are hoping these standards will be published as soon as possible; they contain a process for producers to use any grading system they choose.”Mr Juniper expected comments would be sorted for a final vote in November before a
submission into the Standards Australia process of editorial and publishing which was likely to be completed early next year.Industry can view the drafts and/or submit comments by selecting the ‘drafts for public comment’ tab (home page menu) on www.standards.org.au.A3P will be coordinating a submission in conjunction with its solid wood technical committee.Standards Australia has released a revised version of AS1720.1 (Timber Structures Standard) and there are some implications for producers of MGP (and possibly other) grades of structural timber, related to changes in structural design properties.A revised version of AS1684 (Timber Framing Standard) has also been released which contains amended span tables for MGP grades, reflecting the structural property changes in AS1720.1.Manufacturers of structural timber products have an obligation to ensure their products meet the structural property requirements of the relevant standards.
INDUSTRY NEWS
* Independently tested to the highest standard; guaranteed to comply with Australian standards; certified under JAS-ANZ accredited product certification scheme; guaranteed to be safe and to carry the designated design load; complies with the Building Code of Australia; meets safety and quality requirements accepted by unions; meets all Workplace Health & Safety requirements.
Engineered Wood Products Association of AustralasiaPlywood House, 3 Dunlop Street, Newstead 4006, Queensland, Australia
Tel: 61 7 3250 3700 Fax: 61 7 3252 4769 Email: [email protected]: www.ewp.asn.au
EWPAAg u A r A n t E E d *
Early sign-off onstress grading
standards urged
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] PAgE | issuE 145 | 04.10.10 12
MORE than 400 timber workers and friends gathered at Kyogle last weekend for the launch of a book recording the illustrious history of the region’s forest industry.The launch of ‘Ramblings of the Timber Industry’, an historical account of the lives and times of early timber workers in the area, marked the culmination of more than three years of dedicated research and assembly of facts and photographs by Pam and Doug Campbell.Guests from Victoria, Sydney, Dorrigo, Brisbane and Caboolture mingled and reminisced at the event, their memories sparked by a static display and exhibition of timber industry machinery and equipment and a display of 5000 photographs.A gathering in the local hall sang a rousing rendition of Advance Australia Fair and stood in silence to recognise and remember those lost in accidents while working in the forest industry.Together with friend Elaine McLean, the Campbells have toiled, often from 10 in the morning to midnight, cataloguing photos and putting together the stories of 60 men and women involved in the
sawmilling industry, as well as short histories of timber companies such as Munro and Lever, Duncan’s, Ford Timbers, and the Roseberry and Green Pigeon mills.“The book started out as a history of the timber industry in the Kyogle Shire, but it spread further than that as people moved around and worked in other places, or bought sawmills elsewhere,
like Duncan’s and Munro and Lever,” Doug Campbell said.While the book was three years in the making, it had been a dream of Mr Campbell for more than 30 years. “It’s been my passion to write a book like this for well over 30 years, probably closer to 40 years,” he said.The book was launched at the Kyogle Memorial Institute by Jim Muldoon of Grafton, one of the characters featured in
the book. Jim is the son of the late Jim Muldoon snr, who was senior manager at Duncan’s Grafton mill at Swallow Road.
The 440-page book contains 867 photographs and the stories of 60 men and women involved in the sawmilling industry, as well as short histories of many of the region’s timber companies, going back to the 1880s.
Two leather-bound editions were auctioned by state Lismore MP Thomas George and fetched $2500 and $3000. A third unsigned book brought in another $2000 – all of which will assist the valuable work of the Kyogle and District Historical Society.
Guests started arriving at the reunion at 8 am last Saturday, but things didn’t officially kick off until Jimmy Newman blew the Long Creek steam whistle – just like his father had for many years at the mill.
The book can be purchased from the Kyogle Historical Society, the Kyogle Tourist Information Centre, the Kyogle Newsagency and the Little Book Shop in Keen Street, Lismore, or call (02)66321930. It sells for $120.
NoSTalgIa
Book on Kyogle’s timber history wasa labour of love for husband and wife
Pam and Doug Campbell with their newly-published book Ramblings of the Timber Industry at the timber workers’ reunion ball at Kyogle last Saturday night, watched by proud son Jason.Picture by Doug Eaton.
Charlie and Heather Henry from the Gold Coast with Leo Laarhoven, ex compny secretary for Duncan’s Holdings’ northern division.
Tim and Patsy Evans from Caboolture.
Rob and Lexie Hurford from Hurford Hardwood at Lismore.
Advertising: Tel +61 7 3256 1779 Email: [email protected] 13issuE 145 | 04.10.10 | PAgE
IN the wake of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission findings there is an increased public expectation that agencies such as Forestry Tasmania should do more to protect forests and communities through hazard reduction burns.The commission recommended that the fuel reduction burning program be significantly expanded to burn at least 5% of the forested areas of Victoria each year. The recommendation has been adopted by the Victorian government which has allocated nearly $400 million to be spent over the next four years.Fuel reduction burns are an essential strategy to help prevent unplanned and often uncontrollable wildfires which put human life and the natural environment at risk.In Tasmania, 5% would, for state forest alone, equate to at least 25,000 ha undergoing hazard reduction burns each year, compared with the long term Forestry Tasmania average of less than 8000 ha a year, and even less in recent years.In order to meet the commission recommendation and adequately protect rural communities and forest, a significant increase in activity would be necessary and would require a lot more flexibility in the planning and execution of burns.This financial year the Tasmanian government has allocated $500,000 towards a strategic broadacre burning program, with the funds to be managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service.A fuel reduction burning target which considers area alone may not be helpful. It could encourage fuel reduction burning of areas which may serve no useful fire control purpose. Of far greater
importance is the long-term contribution to the reduction of risk to life, property and natural values. Burning of sizeable strategically located strips, such as that along the northern side of the Lake Leake Road, already partly completed by PWS and FT Derwent district staff, is typical of a valuable burn, reinforcing the effect of the burn undertaken several years ago in state forest and the Douglas-Apsley national park.At the same time, we are faced with an increasing number of competing environmental considerations, and we need to ensure that such demands are appropriate to the location in which the fuel reduction burning is to be undertaken, and that trade-offs between competing demands are assessed objectively and transparently
on a risk management basis.Our ability to undertake hazard reduction burns is restricted by the pre-burn planning considerations including special values such as karst, wedge-tailed eagles and threatened plant species, the expectations and requirements of the owners of adjoining properties, wind and other weather conditions, community events and smoke management.Suitable weather conditions are critical and may necessitate repeated postponement of a prescribed burn, so that the fire remains within control, the smoke produced does not aggravate existing smoke levels in the airshed, such as smoke arising from other burns and from domestic wood heaters.A final consideration when burning in spring is the possibility of residual fires, smouldering in heavy logs or stumps which may come to life in the summer under high fire danger conditions.When all of these considerations are taken into account, it is clear that there will be limited opportunities for fuel reduction, and every suitable opportunity should be seized and used.Fuel reduction burns may result in some short-term and
possibly long-term damage to community, environmental and biodiversity values. The challenge for us is to maximise the benefit while minimising the extent and duration of any damage done.The alternative is to wait for an area to be burnt by wildfire, which will inevitably occur sooner or later in these areas. The damage resulting from such a fire is likely to be far greater in extent and duration than the damage done by fuel reduction burning. It would also mean we would no longer be managing the forest estate, we would simply be gambling with its future. IN the wake of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission findings there is an increased public expectation that agencies such as Forestry Tasmania should do more to protect forests and communities through hazard reduction burns.
The commission recommended that the fuel reduction burning program be significantly expanded to burn at least 5% of the forested areas of Victoria each year. The recommendation has been adopted by the Victorian government which has allocated nearly $400 million to be spent over the next four years.Fuel reduction burns are an essential strategy to help prevent unplanned and often uncontrollable wildfires which put human life and the natural environment at risk.
Flexibility key in planning and execution of burnsHazard reduction – a burning issue
FoREST oPERaTIoNS
Tasmania has allocated $500,000 towards a strategic broadacre burning program.
ByTONY BLANKSFire Management
Manager
Forestry Tasmania
‘The damage from wildfires is likely to be far greater in extent and duration than the damage done by fuel
reduction burning. It would also mean we would no longer be managing the forest estate, we would
simply be gambling with its future’
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MGW 2010 will be the first “One-Stop Selling and Buying” platform in the South East Asian region for international suppliers and buyers to meet and conduct business.
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Post code: Country:
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Why you should visit?1. The first dedicated business exchange for producers, importers, exporters,
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2. Business Matching meetings for international buyers with exhibitors from Malaysia and other key supplier countries.
3. An excellent platform for business networking, especially for establishing linkages with timber industry members from fast-growing Asian economies, notably China and India.
Wood Products and Panels
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