NEW ONE-STOP SHOP TO ATTRACT, SUPPORT AND PROMOTE WOMEN IN BUILDING  There are many opportunities available for women in the industry, now made easier with a dedicated space to help connect them with the right resources. Master Builders Association of New South Wales, in partnership with the NSW Government, has officially launched a digital one-stop shop to attract, support, and promote women in the building and construction industry. The new website, Women Building NSW, marks a significant milestone in the industry’s efforts to promote inclusivity and diversity within the industr ..read more

WASTING NO GOOD THING THOR’S HAMMER IS GIVING TIMBER A SECOND LIFE Thor’s Hammer re-milled timbers salvaged from Sydney house demolitions for the Amy Elleway House project. Canberra-based artist studio was built with recycled cladding, furniture and salvaged flooring from buildings in Sydney. Thor’s Hammer recycles rustic bridge, wharf and factory timbers into feature and entrance posts. In 1994, one of our Timber Trader News subscribers, Thor Diesendorf began collecting unwanted left-over timber from local demolition sites to create custom furniture and kitchen tops. Today, ‘Tho ..read more

SYDNEY BUILD EXPO HITS ANOTHER HOME RUN! Welcome to the May 9 edition of Timber&Forestry enews. Stories include: The Sydney Build Expo wrap up; WoodSolutions new EPD database; LIGNA 2025 topics announced; using wood in new early childhood learning spaces; how to avoid lateral torsion buckling… all this and more. Enjoy the read…  Download this issue ← Previous Issue Next Issue ..read more

CALLS FOR MORE PREFAB GROW OFFSITE MANUFACTURERS ARE DELIVERING, BUT THE MARKET NEEDS EDUCATING In March, Federal Minister for Science Ed Husic told a press conference ahead of a national Building Ministers’ meeting that prefab and modular housing could play “a big part” in getting homes built more quickly. “That’s why I’ll be talking with state and territory colleagues about identifying obstacles that might be holding back the rollout of these types of houses,” he said. As the communiqué that came out after the meeting laid out: “Ministers committed to improving regulatory certainty for t ..read more

TILLING HEADS NORTH WITH TOWNSVILLE OPENING Welcome to the May 2 edition of Timber&Forestry enews. Stories include: Giant pine scale solutions trialled; Tilling’s Townsville party; Gottstein Trust looks for new trustees; Housing crisis impacts and solutions; Responsible Wood and industry leaders host Chinese delegation; FWPA protects giant crayfish; Sydney Park’s new trees; Notre-Dame de Paris’s rebuild project is PEFC certified… all this and more. Enjoy the read…  Download this issue ← Previous Issue Next Issue ..read more

RADICAL SOLUTIONS AT RADIAL TIMBER Ricky Dent from Earth Systems jumped at the chance to install biochar technology so near to home. Radial Timber in Yarram, Victoria, has made a name for itself as a highly sustainable business. It’s planted over a million hardwood plantation trees as part of a 20-year plan to establish a 2000-hectare reserve. It designs for durability and with a focus on the circular economy, aiming to reuse elements of buildings when they are no longer needed, and, as the business name suggests, uses radial sawing to maximise recovery from smaller logs. So, when an o ..read more

800 ISSUES AND GROWING EVER STRONGER Welcome to the April 24 edition of Timber&Forestry enews. Stories include: Celebrating the 800th Enews; WA droughts causing mass dieback; Rental crisis hits record levels; High Court win for Tas forestry; A timber treasure commemorates a politician who supported ANZACs; FSC’s new regular column showcases sustainable rubber boots… all this and more. Enjoy the read…  Download this issue ← Previous Issue Next Issue ..read more

WA’S LARGEST TIMBER FRAME APARTMENT COMPLEX A BOOST FOR HOUSING Western Australia’s largest timber frame apartment complex is a step closer with the Cook Government, through DevelopmentWA finalising the sale of key land within Midland’s high-profile urban renewal precinct to Bluerock Projects. In what is being hailed as a boost to Western Australia’s long-term housing supply, the 51 residence, Tuohy Gardens, will be hailed as the Western state’s largest timber project. The affordable build-to-rent model provides secure, long-term, affordable rental accommodation. Tuohy Garden Apartments is t ..read more

FROM LITTLE SEEDLINGS A TIMBER LEGACY GROWS Welcome to the April 18 edition of Timber&Forestry enews. Stories include: NSW timber legacy continued; Award season ahead as NTHA confirms state awards; Boost for mass timber with large WA build; Fire risk extended for NZ as dry conditions continue; Chinese paulownia trees in Australia… all this and more. Enjoy the read…  Download this issue ← Previous Issue Next Issue ..read more

MORE WORK NEEDED TO BUILD 1.2 MILLION HOMES The government’s priority should be growing the building and construction workforce. Despite a myriad of Federal Government housing initiatives, Australia is on track to fall over 110,000 homes short of its National Housing Accord target. Master Builders Australia has released its 2024 building and construction industry forecasts which, for the first time, cover the full five-year period of the Accord. From 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2029, Master Builders forecasts 1,087,325 new home starts. “We’re seeing inflation starting to near its target ..read more