Taxpayers will take a $239,008 hit after the collapse of Gunns for roadworks, but above that there is also the cost to social services from the increased level of unemployment and subsequent hardship. Source: The Mercury

While taxpayer backing has been offered to help a potential Tarpeena sawmill buyer expand to safeguard 200 jobs thrown into doubt by the collapse of Gunns shareholders are unlikely to see any money returned. Source: Herald Sun, The Advertiser, The Australian, The Mercury

The forest sector in the Russian Federation needs to use innovations and breakthrough technologies to maximise its potential as a global mitigator of climate change and an important source of timber, according to a new study by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nati

Wood for Good, the timber industry sustainability and promotion campaign, has announced the start of a collaborative research and development project: Wood First Plus! The aim of the project is to create a central point of information. Source: Builders Merchants News (UK)

The Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood will be running a series of workshops and seminars in the coming months in Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz

At a morning function in Melbourne yesterday the HIA released the latest HIA Housing 100 Report stating the number of HOUSING 100 starts fell by 7.3% to 48,130 in 2011/12, their lowest level since 1996/97. Source: Timberbiz

The news that Gunns has gone into voluntary administration has ripple effects that extend well past Tasmania’s borders with workers and contractors in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia also feeling the sting. Sources: ABC South East SA, Australian Financial Review, ABC N

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), which represents private forest owners, says its prime concern with the announcement of Gunns going into administration is the status of trees on private land that had been contracted to the company. Sources: Timberbiz