Mick Stephens
With a record-breaking year in new housing activity in Queensland in 2015, innovations in wood technology and new laws allowing taller timber buildings, the future for the State’s forest and timber industry is looking brighter. Source: Timberbiz
Speaking at the Doing Timber Business in Queensland conference on the Sunshine Coast, Timber Queensland Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mick Stephens, said: “The Queensland timber industry is certainly feeling more optimistic coming off the back of high levels of new housing construction the past year, which has lifted timber sales and production.
“Steady demand for timber is forecast given growing population and building needs, particularly in south east Queensland.
“The increasing recognition of the renewability of timber, its low carbon footprint and the use of new innovative materials such as Cross Laminated Timber are all positioning the industry for growth.
“These exciting opportunities include the mid to high rise residential market, given recent changes to the National Construction Code which allows builders to use timber construction solutions in buildings up to 25 metres in height – or around 8 storeys.”
Queensland’s Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Leanne Donaldson officially opened the meeting.
“The forest and timber industry delivers many benefits to Queensland, not least jobs for approximately 10,000 people and an annual turnover of about $3.2 billion,” she said.
“The economic benefits are spread throughout the state and the extensive timber processing facilities in regional Queensland are the lifeblood of many rural communities.
“The Queensland Government continues to make a significant investment in forest and timber research. Indeed, the dedicated research facility at Salisbury is the largest of its kind in Australia.”
Mr Stephens said that timber industry looked forward to working with the Queensland Government to unlock its further growth potential as the preferred choice of sustainable building material in the 21st century, utilising both plantation and native forest resources.
The conference brought together policy makers and a broad cross-section of Queensland’s forest and timber industry, from growers, harvesters, processors, manufacturers and haulers to timber fabricators and retailers across the supply chain.
