Australasia's home for timber news and information

Waterproof wood makes a splash

Innovative Finnish technology that makes wood waterproof and usable in bathrooms has won forestry giant Metsa Group as an investor. Metsa’s venture capital arm, Metsa Spring, has invested Euro 4 million in Finnish company Woodio Ltd, a leading developer of waterproof wood composite pr
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Australian researchers help balsa industry in PNG

The balsa export industry in the East New Britain Province (ENB) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is big business. Despite this, it faces major challenges with productivity and sustainability, market access and product development. Australian researchers have taken initial steps to work with
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Forestry, fishing and farming have highest work related injuries

New Zealand’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry had the highest rate of work related injury claims in 2018 according to Stats NZ. There were 190 claims per 1000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) in 2018 for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry. Source: Timberb
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Richard Stanton award – call for nominations

Responsible Wood is calling for nominations in this year’s coveted Richard Stanton Memorial Award for Excellence in Forest Management or Chain of Custody. This is the fifth year of the award which pays tribute to a man who devoted his life to sustainable forest management in Australia
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Japanese delegation visits Hyne Timber and Altus Renewables

A delegation from the Fraser Coast’s Japanese Sister City, Kasukabe visited Hyne Timber and Altus Renewables in Maryborough. The visit coincides with the five-year anniversary of the signing of the Kasukabe – Maryborough Sister City agreement in 2014 which followed the formation of a
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New criminal penalties for trespass and harassment

Tough new penalties could mean jail for those who incite property invasion and harassment with the passage of the Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 through the House. Source: Timberbiz Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationals, Michael McCormack, and
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Big River expands with Big Hammer

Construction industry leader, Big River Group is continuing to expand its national network and increase its product offering, with the acquisition of Big Hammer Building Supplies in Townsville North Queensland. Source: Timberbiz Whilst Big River already operates a building supplies di
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Hardwood chips demand strengthens daily – can we supply

A big deficit in the supply of hardwood woodchips is expected in the Asia-Pacific in the next three-to-five years, with demand in China, already the world’s biggest importer, expected to continue growing, according to Australian forestry giant Midway Group. Source: Philip Hopkins for
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NSW firefighters prepare for dry season ahead

Firefighters from Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Casino and the wider north coast were put through their paces this week; trained and tested at Forestry Corporation of NSW’s pre-season fire day held in Bom Bom State Forest. Source: Timberbiz Forestry Corporation is bolstering its firefightin
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Global Forestry Investments’ second director charged

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has charged a second individual in relation to its five-year probe into what was billed as an ethical forestry investment scheme, one of two schemes estimated to have lost victims around £20m. Sources: Financial Times, International Advisor Omari Bo
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