Reports from two Queensland research projects are now available on the Forest and Wood Product Australia (FWPA) website. The two projects have delivered valuable information for the native forest timber industry in Queensland. Both had strong steering committee input, as well as industry engagement and support. Source: Timberbiz
Improving productivity of the private native forest resource in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales demonstrated that active management of private native forests can improve the growth by up to four times when compared to unmanaged forests.
It also found that landholders could improve the condition of their forests by actively managing them, which in turn has flow-on benefits to regional communities through improved quantity and quality of timber available for local sawmills.
Increasing the value of under-utilised forest resources through the development of advanced engineered wood products delivered technologies that can transform small-diameter and sub-optimum quality logs into high-value construction and appearance products.
Significant opportunities to manufacture Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) were identified using rotary veneer produced from spindleless lathe technology.
Pure spotted gum LVL, and a spotted gum and hoop pine blend demonstrated superior mechanical properties over current commercially available LVL products.
LVL and plywood made from white cypress pine veneer, either pure or a blend with hoop pine, demonstrated natural termite resistance.
The project has seen commercialisation of veneer-based bridge components, with other opportunities being considered by industry.
