Australasia's home for timber news and information

Andrews’ plans leave crews in limbo and fire season under threat

The Andrews government has failed to outline how it will deliver on its promise to employ 30 harvest and haulage crews to fight major bushfires and build strategic fuel breaks to protect communities. Source: Weekly Times On budget day, Treasurer Tim Pallas said 30 crews would be emplo
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Building approvals now as low as in 2012

Concerns are mounting in the building community with building approvals hitting their lowest levels since April 2012, impacting Australia’s ability to meet its housing targets says Master Builders Australia Acting CEO Shaun Schmitke. Source: Timberbiz “According to the ABS, new home b
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An orderly transition to the fantasy of plantations

According to Justin Law, Forest and Wood Communities Australia (FWCA) managing director the past three years have been a challenging battle to highlight the fate of timber communities in the wake of the original 2019 decision to end native forestry in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz It wa
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Opinion: Joel Fitzgerald – an unnecessary surrender to environmental activists

The decision by the Government of Victoria to accelerate the cessation of selective and sustainable native forest harvesting is an unnecessary surrender to environmental activists. It will result in even more hardwood being imported into Victoria from Tasmania and NSW. It will also ad
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Tracey Taylor new GM for Tasmanian Forestry Hub

Tracey Taylor has been appointed to the role of General Manager Tasmania Forestry Hub, replacing Simon Talbot who has held the position since September 2021. Source: Timberbiz “Since the Hub was established in 2019, it has had a very successful track record of providing information ba
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Alarm bells are ringing on increased reliance on overseas hardwood

Skyrocketing hardwood imports for Victoria, and WA industry closures should sound alarm bells for the Federal Government on sovereign capability. Source: Timberbiz Acting Australian Forest Products Association Chief Executive Officer Natasa Sikman said Federal Cabinet must discuss Aus
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Tasmanian Timber Awards 12 categories – entries are open

The Tasmanian Timber Awards are open for entries with 12 award categories open for submissions. There have been improvements built into the process following the learnings from previous years to ensure as many applicants as possible can enter across the categories. Source: Timberbiz C
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FWCA promotes becoming activists to gain a voice in Victoria

In 2019 on a weekend of extreme fire danger forestry contractor Brett Robin was working in emergency response fighting the Bunyip fire as a forestry dozer operator. The Bunyip fire ended up burning over 10,000 hectares incinerating an estimated 5000 greater gliders. Source: Timberbiz
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Victoria will now become largest importer of hardwood and paper

The Victorian State Government’s decision to end the native forestry industry effective January 2024 came as a shock to the whole sector, clearly with zero consultation with any forestry industry representatives, with Timber Towns Victoria calling the decision “reckless” a
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CFMEU’s O’Connor resigns from forestry advisory group labelling it a sham

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) national secretary for manufacturing Michael O’Connor resigned from the Victorian Forestry Plan Advisory Committee branding the group a sham following a decision to fast-track the end of native logging. Source: Timberbiz Co
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