Australasia's home for timber news and information

Juken jobs may go

Gisborne New Zealand’s Juken wood processing plant is looking to halve its workforce because of a weak Japanese housing market, affecting about 100 jobs. Source: Gisborne Herald Staff from Juken New Zealand’s timber mill here were told of the proposal to cut production of plywood and
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Negotiations to reopen Prime sawmill in NZ

Some of the 100 workers faced with losing their jobs at a Gisborne, New Zealand sawmill could find work at nearby mothballed sawmill which plans to reopen. Sources: Stuff NZ, Gisborne Herald Eastland Community Trust (ECT) said it was in the “final stages” of negotiations w
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Pan Pac keeps watch on NZ log prices

A weather eye is being kept on escalating log prices by Japanese-owned Pan Pac Forest Products, whose Milburn sawmill is becoming one of the largest in Otago. Source: Otago Daily Times Log demand from China, which has steadily pushed up prices for the past 24 months, is beginning to h
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VicForest goes to the frogs

The Neerim South Wetlands played host to the 2017 Neerim Frog Festival, celebrating a decade-long rehabilitation of the wetlands by Neerim District Landcare group.  Source: Timberbiz Following a ‘pilot’ festival last year supported by VicForests, this year’s Neerim Frog Festival attra
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AFCA announces AUSTimber2020 event and co-ordinators

The Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) has announced the appointment of a new AUSTimber2020 event coordinator. Source: Timberbiz Business partners Brooke Adams and Kristen Smith have been appointed to the role of event coordinators. Together Brooke and Kristen will be re
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Rural and regional ad promotes wood in BAL-rated locations

With the height of bushfire season here for many Australians, thoughts turn to designing and building to minimise the risk of damage to homes in areas that may be affected. Source: Timberbiz While many people imagine that doing so would preclude the use of wood, it is not the case. De
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Demand for wood eats into European forests

More than half of Europe’s forests have disappeared over the past 6000 years thanks to increasing demand for agricultural land and the use of wood as a source of fuel, new research led by the University of Plymouth suggests. Source: Science Daily Using pollen analysis from more
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Should trees be burnt for energy

As the European Union Parliament debates changes to a directive on renewable energy, more than 650 scientists have signed a letter demanding an amendment to the directive’s definition of forest biomass. Source: Forest News CIFOR Under the current definition, nations and industries can
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Pop ups and high rise CLT the go for 2018

More pop-up shops, high-rises made of wood and the demise of big box shopping malls — these are just some of the architecture trends you can expect to see in 2018. Source: ABC News Celebrated Brisbane architect Michael Rayner said tastes were changing when it came to spaces in which p
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Timberlink Blenheim cause for complaints

The boss of a timber mill has played down the number of complaints lodged about its smoke emissions, pointing out the mill was once on the outskirts of town, but is now surrounded by houses. Sources: The Marlborough Express, Stuff NZ Neighbours of Timberlink in Burleigh, Blenheim have
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