Australasia's home for timber news and information

Forestry scholarships in NZ for Maori and women

Applications have opened for 2021 Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships, which will support more Māori and women to pursue careers in forestry science. According to the recently released Forestry and Wood Processing Workforce Action Plan, Māori make up only 22% of the forestr
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Master Builders supports plans for building sector and industrial relations changes

The Prime Minister’s speech to signpost the Government’s approach to building economic recovery was encouraging on many fronts. According to Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia the Prime Minister’s recognition that there is much worse economic news to come is important espec
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HIA wants changes to building onsite award

HIA has asked the Fair Work Commission to consider changes to the Building and Construction General Onsite Award that helps employers and employees in the residential building industry stay connected despite the impacts of COVID-19. Source: Timberbiz “Home builders and trade contracto
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Nationals and Greens buy in to the Eden-Monaro by-election

The Nationals have opened nominations for the Eden-Monaro by-election despite expectations they would not pit the party against the Liberals. The by-election is to be held on July 4 following the resignation of Labor’s Mike Kelly due to health reasons. Source: Timberbiz Meanwhile, Beg
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WA government’s ‘foolhardy’ experiment blows up says FIFWA

The Western Australian state government’s latest “foolhardy” experiment with outsourcing forest industry governance to activists has blown up in the face of Environment Minister Stephen Dawson. Source: Timberbiz That’s the view of the state’s peak timber industry body, the Forest Indu
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Canfor closes Canadian sawmill with other locations in slowdown

Canfor will close its Isle Pierre sawmill located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. The closure will take effect in the third quarter of 2020 following a wind down of operations. The closure is a result of an insufficient supply of economically viable timber following the
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Katerra CLT factory gains 3 certifications

Katerra’s cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory in Spokane Valley, Washington, US has received Chain of Custody (CoC) certification under three major certification programs: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the Programme for the Endorsement o
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Deere gets ahead harvesting large trees

John Deere’s H219 is a new harvester head built for large harvesters and tracked carriers for harvesting large trees. The two-wheel-drive H219 has two-gear feed motors. The feed force and speed are optimized according to the tree size. Grip of the felled trunk is tight, delimbing is e
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ABARES insights into Australia’s forest fires

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) released its insights article: Stocktake of Fire in Australia’s forests, 2011 to 2016. Principal Forest Scientist Dr Steve Read, Acting Assistant Secretary of Biosecurity, Fisheries, Forestry and
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KIPT seaport again under fire from abalone farm

Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber’s proposed $40 million seaport at Smith Bay has again raised the ire of a neighbouring abalone farm and the local council. Neighbouring abalone farm Yumbah Aquaculture has written to the local council highlighting a series of concerns over a harbour p
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