Australasia's home for timber news and information

Minister Symes dismisses plight of East Gippsland contractors

Victoria’s Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has again refused to meet with seven East Gippsland timber contractors and save their jobs. The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath said she was appalled at Ms Symes lack of compassion when she called on her to meet w
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Fennings mill out of logs, employees at risk

The supply of logs to the Fenning timber mill in Bairnsdale has “run out”, prompting Nationals MP for Gippsland East Tim Bull, to call for urgent intervention in Parliament. Source: Timberbiz “This is a highly regarded local company that employs 50 people and contributes much to our c
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Opinion: Rudolf van Rensburg – should New Zealand export its logs?

New Zealand currently exports around NZD3.5 billion of unprocessed roundwood a year. New innovative wood products combined with environmentally friendly construction can create value-adding alternatives which would more than double the current value of roundwood exports. The export of
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Opinion: Sean Ruthen on Tall Wood Buildings and the science that makes them

In the history of architecture and construction, there has never been a building material that has had as rough a ride as wood. This is not without reason. It has a limited record of use from ancient history simply because of its inability to withstand the ravages of time. Furthermore
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Friday Analysis: Buy Australian Timber could be difficult in Victoria, not as difficult as being a minister

Some great news for the timber industry in general this week has been tempered by the bad news still coming out of East Gippsland. The Buy Australian Timber First campaign sees a much-welcomed united push from all the big operators – AKD, Boral, Hyne, OneFortyOne, Timberlink and Wespi
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Norske Skog chooses trains over trucks for transport

For many years, transportation of wood chips from sawmills in Lillehammer, Norway to the wood processing industry in Halden has been done by trucks on road. Now trucks are being replaced by trains. Source: Timberbiz The transition from road to rail has come about as a result of cooper
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Stora Enso new HQ designs open for voting

Sustainable cities of the future will be built with wood. In Helsinki, a new sea front landmark is about to take shape based on the Office Building Concept by Stora Enso. This new wooden building will be the Stora Enso head office, showcasing the design opportunities offered by wood p
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Water repellent plywood for construction

UPM Plywood has released a new water repellent plywood that enables construction even in changing weather and humidity conditions. The water repellent yet breathable surface of WISA-SpruceWR slows down the absorption of moisture into the panel while allowing it to evaporate. Source: T
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Photo competition to celebrate memories of Sugar Pine Walk

Forestry Corporation of NSW has launched a photo competition to mark the passing of the iconic Sugar Pine Walk in Bago State Forest, following extensive damage in the 2019‐20 bushfire season. Sadly, the Sugar Pine Walk cannot be saved and work will soon begin to remove the burnt trees
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AKD Caboolture fire

AKD has thanked the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and its Caboolture site employees who helped control the fire at its Caboolture site last week. The fire was contained to the boiler fuel storage shed and AKD confirmed that no one was injured.The cause of the fire is as yet u
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