Australasia's home for timber news and information

VicForests Timber Release Plan feedback needed

VicForests is seeking feedback on the proposed changes to its Timber Release Plan. The TRP change proposes an additional 59 new coupes in the Benalla-Mansfield, North-East and Tambo Forest Management Areas. Source: Timberbiz VicForests CEO Monique Dawson says that as part of this chan
Continue Reading →

Friday Analysis: Victorian forestry fighting back

There are signs the timber industry is getting organized for a fight in Victoria. Well, better organized. The Australian Forest Products Association started the ball rolling some time ago working at times with joint media releases with the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (V
Continue Reading →

Nationals’ minister Walsh astounded that Labor won’t fight for jobs

  Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has again refused to fight for jobs in Victoria’s timber communities – including those in her own electorate of Northern Victoria. Source: Timberbiz Federal Labor has slammed the Andrews Government’s plan to ban Victoria’s native timber industr
Continue Reading →

WA trials online timber auction and finds success

With COVID-19 changing the way everybody lives, Western Australia’s Forest Products Commission’s Timber Auction has had to move with the times and go online. Forester – Senior Timber Assessor Steve Davis says it was unknown how successful this auction would be, given that logs a
Continue Reading →

VicForest hamstrung by more Supreme Court injunctions

VicForests has had another legal injunction stop its operations, after the Supreme Court heard allegations it had breached logging regulations in 14 coupes in the Central Highlands. This new court action places further pressure on the agency, which is now facing five court challenges
Continue Reading →

Statistics show plantations sizes dropping in Australia

The area under hardwood plantations across Australia has continued to drop according to Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences estimates in its Australian plantation statistics 2020 update. Source: Timberbiz Australia’s total commercial plantation area i
Continue Reading →

Opinion Peter Attiwill: Kirkpatrick attack overshadows reality of bushfires

Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick, supported by five co-authors, makes a spirited attack on timber harvesting (Logging has a clear link to bushfires, 8 June). That is unfortunate because it overshadows the very real issue of how we manage our fire-prone landscape. Kirkpatrick attacks a peer
Continue Reading →

Opinion Graeme Elphinstone: conservative extremists have caused Tasmania to limp

During my life I have seen many industries and businesses built up by people who have had vision, a passion for the future.  I think back to our Hobart waterfront and Henry Jones IXL and the massive orchard and fruit growing industries throughout Tasmania that supported that industry.
Continue Reading →

Plans to add to Cumberland State Forest

Discussions are underway between the Forestry Corporation of NSW and a landholder to add nine hectares of privately managed forest to Cumberland State Forest in West Pennant Hills. Source: Timberbiz Acting CEO Anshul Chaudhary said that while the proposal to rezone and develop the nei
Continue Reading →

Victorian Minister Symes’ claims about native timber drop off – off target

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has called on the Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes to withdraw her comment in State Parliament that “COVID-19 has led to a drop in demand for native timber products”. Source: Timberbiz The Chief Executive Officer of AFPA
Continue Reading →