Australasia's home for timber news and information

Friday analysis: Bushfires are yearly, COVID is not

For almost four weeks now, pubs, cinemas, restaurants, and indoor sports have been closed. Concerts, festivals, sports, weddings have been cancelled. Churches are closed. Only 10 people can attend funerals. We all seem focused on COVID-19 as we should be. But life does go on. Source:
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Australian and NZ Forest Products Map 2020

The fourth edition of the Australia & New Zealand Forestry Products Industry Map is out. This 2020 edition is a full-colour map combining the wood processing and manufacturing operations of both New Zealand and Australia. Source: Timberbiz The map features more than 50 major updat
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EPA NZ calls for information on neonicotinoids

Following a recent announcement, that grounds exist to reassess all neonicotinoid use in New Zealand, the EPA in New Zealand is calling for information on two neonicotinoids: thiacloprid and acetamiprid. Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that have been the subject of ongoing
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COVID-19, closed borders and the future of the housing market

Australia’s new house building pipeline appears to be stable in mid-April, with construction work able to continue in most situations. The rush by builders to complete work to the next payment stage, over concern of an imminent sector or site closure is reportedly following through th
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AFCA provides COVID-19 Recommended Guidelines and Procedures document

Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) members are being provided with a COVID-19 Recommended Guidelines and Procedures document which is being updated as new information becomes available.  Source: Timberbiz The website also has a list of resources that are also updated as
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Timber thefts from the Green Triangle

People illegally cutting down protected redgum and stringybark trees from Green Triangle plantations are being warned the ‘forest is watching’. Police and forest landowners have joined forces to target reckless wood thieves who are fearlessly entering privately owned forestry estates
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Tasmania urges government to include forest products as essential

The forest industry in Tasmania has written to the Tasmanian Minister for Resources Guy Barnett urging the Government to include Tasmania’s forest products industries as an essential service, should further restrictions on what businesses can operate be required to contain the spread
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Container crisis started in China to continue for months

As the COVID-19 pandemic crisis continues and deepens globally, shipping and freight continue to be the life blood for many nations. Beyond mere economics and trade, it is shipping and freight that delivers food and medical supplies to much of the world, every month. Source: IndustryE
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KIPT getting back on its feet after fire and flu

Twelve weeks since the devastating bushfires, Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers has made substantial progress on its business recovery and last week the company reached a milestone when it lifted the voluntary suspension on trading of its shares. Source: Timberbiz “We have kept the i
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Shane Fitzsimmons steps down as RFS Commissioner

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is stepping down as head of the volunteer organisation to take on a new government role. Source: Timberbiz Mr Fitzsimmons was RFS Commissioner for 12 years and his decision to leave comes after overseeing an unprecedented 2019-2020
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