The Victorian Association of Forest Industries Annual Dinner will be held on 19 October at the RACV Club, Melbourne. Source: Timberbiz One of the premier events for the state’s forest and wood products industry and of particular significance with 2018 being a state election year, the

Australia-based forestry company New Forests will use landmark Australian genetic technology to boost productivity in its tropical eucalyptus plantations. By Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz New Forests has forged a partnership with Gondwana Genomics, a private company founded in 2014 wit

Australia’s housing approvals surged in March, rising 9.2% compared with February, totalling 19,452 separate approvals. While the monthly data was positive, the big stories are that free-standing house approvals are still growing and Victoria’s approvals remain at record levels. Sourc

The new National Institute of Forest Products Innovation has kicked into gear in South Australia, with an inaugural meeting of its industry-driven advisory committee electing Tammy Auld as Chair and planning a workshop to discuss the research priorities and strategy with all intereste

Representatives from the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the National Farmers Federation (NFF), including AFPA Chair Greg McCormack and NFF President Fiona Simson visited New Zealand to examine farm forestry operations near Rotorua. Source: Timberbiz The joint delega

513,811 bdmt – projected woodchip exports from Australia in April 2018, measured in bone dry metric tonnes, based on IndustryEdge’s unique vessel tracking and analysis -$23.03/m3 – the February 2018 discount for softwood log exports that were <15 cm diameter. Their exports averaged

Institutional investors, superannuation funds and trusts are a likely source of funds for a new venture by universities and industry that aims to establish tree plantations to meet Australia’s growing demand for wood. Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz The immediate focus is on Gippsland an

The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI), has thrown its support behind its members’ drive to extend their contracts with VicForests, the state government’s commercial forestry arm. From Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz Tim Johnston, the chief executive of VAFI said processor

Six Gippsland sawmills have renewed pressure on the Victorian Government, urging Premier Daniel Andrews in an Open Letter to save jobs, protect regional communities and return confidence to the timber industry. Source: Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz The G6, as the new group calls itself

448,686m3 – Australia’s log exports in February 2018, dominated by 403,136m3 of softwood logs AUD14.895 million – the value of dressed sawn softwood imports to New South Wales in February 2018, on a free-on-board basis 12.4% – growth in the value of timber windows imported to Australi

VicForests said that it respected the sentiments of South Gippsland Shire Council, that voted against native timber harvesting in Mirboo North.  “We urge the Council and the community to continue talking with us,” Alex Messina, VicForests General Manager Corporate Affairs said.  “Ther

Australia’s woodchip exports totalled 580,785 bone dry metric tonnes (bdmt) in February 2018, with hardwood chips at 494,345 (bdmt). Softwood chips continued their recent strength, totalling 86,440 bdmt. Source: IndustryEdge, Timberbiz Latest data analysed for the Australian industry

Landscape-scale forest planning and security of supply are key demands of the Victorian forestry industry for the next generation of the 20-year regional forest agreements (RFAs). By Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz All five Victorian RFAs, which are to be finalised by March 2020, must re

Victoria’s forest industry jobs and the environment have been assured certainty with the Australian and Victorian governments extending the Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) for East Gippsland, Central Highlands and the North-East regions. Source: Timberbiz The extension of the three

Australia’s forestry industry is finding it difficult to attract qualified or experienced people to work in this interesting and rewarding sector. Source: Timberbiz This is despite the fact that Australia’s forest industry is a dynamic and sustainable provider of regional employment,

Biofuels and bioenergy have now become an essential component in the world’s renewable energy mix. Source: Forbes Last month, French multinational energy company, Total and Bill Gates invested $14 million in a new biomass conversion technology from clean tech start up Renmatix.

Lumber prices have rallied more than 30% this year to reach their highest level on record, as US duties on imports of the commodity from Canada have contributed to tighter supplies and soaring home-construction costs. Source: Market Watch But analysts are growing wary of tall timber p

The Drax power station, Britain’s largest CO2 emitter, is launching a trial of “negative emissions” technology. Source: Quartz Drax has six power-generating units. Until 2013, they all burned coal but three of them have since been converted to burn wood. The switch-up came after the U

The team at OneFortyOne Wood Products was delighted to help Boandik St Mary’s recently with their fundraising efforts by donating assorted timber cut-offs from the Jubilee Highway Sawmill. Source: Timberbiz The donated timber has been crafted into handmade children’s furniture and toy

The launch of environmental standards in New Zealand for plantation forestry will ensure uniformity across councils, but may lead to an increase in the use of consultants. Sources: Otago Daily Times, New Zealand Herald, Southern Rural Life Rural consultants and rare galaxiids could be

Boss Fire & Safety, has released a whitepaper Optimising fire resistance in timber for interior applications that discusses the importance of internal materials in terms of fire hazards and standards. Source: Timberbiz Timber is conventionally thought of as a material best suited

Award-winning Brisbane eco-architect Mark Thomson and Responsible Wood Director has been appointed to the international judging panel at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam, the world’s largest global gathering of the architectural elite. Source: Timberbiz The festival, dedic

So far, more than 500 people and businesses have shown interest in the Hermal Group’s $190 million Cross Laminated Plantation timber mill and production facility to be built in Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz There have been 350 inquires about employment opportunities at the mill, and 150

The forestry industry has been hearing a lot lately about recent breakthroughs in Marker Assisted Selection using targeted DNA sequencing to identify specific tree traits, such as disease resistance, density, pulp yield and growth. Source: Timberbiz DTN spoke with the Gondwana Genomic