Australasia's home for timber news and information

Taking a CAB to protect Australia’s biosecurity

A landmark new initiative, Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity (CAB), will see a forecast initial co-investment of more than $55 million over six years from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, government, industry and a range of partners to strengthen the nation’s biosecu
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WorkSafe funding cuts hit forestry industry in NZ

WorkSafe is pulling out of funding safety programs to the tune of up to NZ$15 million a year, skittling a “really valuable” one in the high-risk forestry industry. ACC, which gives WorkSafe the money, says it stopping the funding will make no difference to the overall spen
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Fennell Forestry phase 2 of electric log truck trial

Fennell Forestry will receive a $200,000 cash injection from the state government to commence phase two of an electric log truck trial. Source: The Border Watch The funding for phase two of the Fennell Forestry project will examine how heavy vehicle decarbonisation can contribute towa
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Fire control plan a Tasmanian election priority

The Tasmanian Forest Products Association wants all candidates in the upcoming March 23 State election to support the state’s forestry sector being included in next year’s fire control plan. Source: Timberbiz Speaking at the launch of the second of its four key priorities for th
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Targeted op on-road for construction vehicles

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is set to launch an on-road targeted operation, focused on mechanical safety and compliance with mass, dimension and loading requirements of heavy vehicles operating in support of the construction sector. Source: Timberbiz NHVR Chief Operati
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Implementing Australia’s new National Biosecurity Strategy

The implementation plan to assist in delivery of Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS), a collaborative, national approach to protecting Australia from exotic pests and diseases backed by all government agriculture ministers, has been released. Source: Timberbiz First
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Preventing fires and explosions in biomass operations

In December 2023, more than 70 participants met in Tokyo for a full-day workshop Safer Biomass Handling and Silo Operations: Preventing Fires and Explosions. Participants included operators, engineers and maintenance personnel from electric power stations, trade association representa
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Kilsyth timber processor fined by EPA

A Kilsyth-based timber processor in Victoria has been fined $20,000 without conviction after an inspection by EPA Victoria found thousands of cubic metres of illegally stored industrial waste on the site. Source: Star Mail Lilydale Planet Safe Timber Pty Ltd, trading as CCA Pine, ente
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Apprentice and trainee safety committee in SA for 2024

An Apprentice and Trainee Safety Committee has been set up by the South Australian Government with apprenticeship safety a key area of focus for 2024. Source: Timberbiz The Department for Education, in partnership with the Skills Commissioner spoke to more than 1700 employers to educa
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Misdirected research could make Australia more flammable

Recent research suggesting that hazard-reduction burning increases bushfire risk has come under fire from the NSW Rural Fire Service. Source: Timberbiz RFS community risk director Simon Heemstra has echoed comments from Forestry Australia that there is no panacea for reducing the impa
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