The 2015 Australian Timber Design Awards will be open for entries on 9 February. The awards are a national competition to promote and encourage outstanding timber design in the built environment professions. Source: Timberbiz Now in their 16th year, the awards are distinguished by a h

  The Reserve Bank Board voted to lower the Official Cash Rate for the first time since August 2013. Source: Timberbix “With Australia’s inflation pulse at its slowest in several years but domestic demand remaining weak, the RBA Board have cut rates to provide an opportunity for

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) building approvals remained at an elevated, albeit slightly lower level in December 2014, after reaching their highest-ever monthly level during November. Source: Timberbiz Figures released this week by the Housing Industry Association show that t

  The Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) has appointed a new general manager, Stacey Gardiner who will start with the organisation on 10 March 2015. Source: Timberbiz She will hit the ground running in a series of meetings with members across Australia. Ms Gardiner’

  The directors of Australian Forestry Standard Ltd (AFS) are deeply saddened by the unexpected death of CEO and National Secretary Richard Stanton. Sources: Timberbiz, The Canberra Times Mr Stanton died after falling from his pushbike last week in Canberra. He will be remembered

A diving enthusiast stumbled upon an ancient forest nestled under the North Sea while diving along the Norfolk coast. Source: RT (UK) Experts say it may have stretched as far as Europe in its heyday, and has been hidden since the Ice Age. Dawn Watson, a 45-year-old British diver, disc

After two years of slowed global recovered paper markets, expanding capacities of recycled fibre based paper and board will re-accelerate demand growth over the next 15 years. Source: Timberbiz Though the recovered paper markets experienced volatility over the last few decades, growth

  Scientists from Edinburgh Napier University and Sappi have developed a low cost way to turn wood into a wonder material that could be used to build greener cars, thicken foods and even treat wounds. It means Sappi will be able to produce the lightweight material on a commercial