Australasia's home for timber news and information

Forestry stats look good for Australia

Australia’s total sawlog harvest has reached a record high of 33.1 million cubic metres, a rise of 10%, with gross value also a record $2.6 billion, up 13%, latest figures show. Source: Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz Exports also increased by 11% to $3.5 billion, driven by woodchips, ac
Continue Reading →

Bill Gates invests $14m in biomass

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.
Continue Reading →

Record lumber prices can’t last in the US

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
Continue Reading →

Negative emissions power station burns wood

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
Continue Reading →

OFO donates timber to St Mary’s

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
Continue Reading →

Environmental standards may lead to use of consultants

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
Continue Reading →

Optimising fire resistance in timber

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
Continue Reading →

Mark Thomson responsible for judging architecture in Amsterdam

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
Continue Reading →

Hermal is a shot in the arm for Tasmania

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
Continue Reading →

DNA markers: their immediate use in tree breeding

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
Continue Reading →