Friday Offcuts – 11 July 2025
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Offcuts.We lead with the launch of the Australian Government’s $300 million Timber Fibre Strategy, a key roadmap for industry growth that’s been welcomed by AFCA, AFPA and Forestry Australia. In New Zealand, exporters are seeing temporary relief from U.S. timber tariffs, while the latest Situation and Outlook report forecasts a 9% jump in forestry export revenue to $6.3 billion for the year to June 2025. Innovation features strongly this week, with Muon Space releasing first images from its FireSat constellation - the world’s first satellite network dedicated to wildfire detection. We also cover research into exoskeletons to protect forestry workers and a South Australian project to decarbonise heavy freight. Other stories include development approval for a 35-storey timber tower in Perth, Eastland Port’s new wharf to boost capacity, and the growing toll of recent NZ mill closures on local communities. Registrations are now open for ForestTECH 2025 in November. With Melbourne at peak season, early booking is advised. Speaker submissions are also welcome. Read on for these stories and more in another packed issue of Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
New Australian Government's Timber Fibre Strategy
The Albanese Labor Government has released, this week, the
Timber Fibre Strategy, which sets out a pathway for the future growth of
Australia’s proud forestry industry. The Timber
Fibre Strategy sets out 128 ambitious actions for industry and
governments to help build a sustainable, world leading sector with
products that are in demand domestically and internationally.The Strategy’s development was led by the Albanese Labor Government’s Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership and guided by close consultation across the forestry sector. The Timber Fibre Strategy charts a course for the forestry industry to embrace the future and help solve challenges facing the forestry industry, and the nation. A key opportunity identified in the Strategy is for the forestry sector to play a bigger role in tackling Australia’s housing challenges and delivering on the Government’s ambitious housing agenda. The Albanese Labor Government is investing $300 million in the future of the forestry industry, which includes:
The Government will work closely with the industry, and with states and territories, to respond to the Strategy. The Timber Fibre Strategy is available via the website. Source & image credit: Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tariffs - NZ timber and lumber products to the U.S.
With a population of 5.2 million people spread over a land area slightly less than the state of Colorado, New Zealand has a strong story to tell about free trade, farming and renewable forestry resources. No more so than when it comes to endorsing our high-quality softwood timber and lumber products that have gained popularity among American consumers in the home construction industry due to their appearance, superior machining properties and premium quality.Forests thrive in New Zealand’s climate and the sector supports a year-round harvest – with responsible production central to the industry. Plantation forests are sustainably managed (with large areas under global certification programmes), and are dominated by radiata pine, a productive and fast-growing softwood species. Processed outputs from our forest estates range from lumber, pulp and paper, panels, to engineered wood and remanufactured products. The strength of New Zealand pine compares favourably with that of most traditional construction lumber species. Appropriate conversion processes ensure that the higher-strength wood fibre near the outside of the log is sawn for building and construction. Our radiata pine is versatile and is excellent for an impressive range of structural and appearance applications. It is easily kiln dried or chemically treated to produce stable and long-lasting products. Due to limited domestic demand for our wood products, we have always taken great pride in developing relationships and exporting our timber and lumber to overseas markets, such as the United States. In 2024, we exported $US215 million of radiata pine products from New Zealand to the United States making the U.S. our third largest export market for forest products behind China and Australia. Although the $US215 million is minor when compared to the total global imports of $US2.3 billion of timber and lumber products into the United States, this trade is valued by both the New Zealand producers and the American DIY customers. New Zealand timber and lumber exporters are known for providing high value wood products into the United States, most of which is sold into the DIY end user’s market, such as Home Depot, Lowes and Menards. Given the healthy relationship between the United States and New Zealand on the trade front, the temporary relief of tariffs on timber and lumber imported into the United States has been welcomed. Though we realise that this tariff exemption could be short-lived, based on the outcome of the Section 232 investigation aimed at determining the global effects imports of timber, lumber and their derivative products have on the United Sates supply chain. As a small niche supplier of wood products that are needed by the U.S. domestic building market, there is a strong argument for keeping New Zealand timber and lumber imports tariff-free to avoid any additional price hikes and further supply chain disruptions. More >> Source: Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ Timber Fibre Strategy welcomed by industry
The national Timber Fibre Strategy released today by Minister
Julie Collins has been welcomed by the Australian Forest Contractors
Association as a roadmap to support the sector to realise its future
potential.Developed through the Albanese Government's Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership, the Strategy identifies the key roles that will be played by the forestry industry to help solve challenges facing Australia. AFCA CEO Tim Lester said the Strategy recognised that future success will draw together products, production and people. "The Strategy highlights that there are opportunities and challenges facing the sector. It also shows how governments and all parts of the industry can work together to deliver healthy forests, thriving regional communities and successful businesses. "Pleasingly, the document acknowledges the importance of forest services businesses as critical participants in the supply chain, and that their success is key for a sustainable and growing timber fibre sector, said Tim Lester. We also note the acknowledgement of the role played by forestry certification, such as AFCA's world-leading ForestFit™ standard and certification scheme, to support responsible and ethical supply chains while also providing assurance of environmental, social and economic sustainability. "Our congratulations to Minister Collins and the members of the Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership for this significant piece of work. AFCA looks forward to continuing to work with government and industry colleagues to achieve the aims of this Strategy and keep delivering the sustainable products that Australians want and need," said Tim Lester. Source: Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) Read More: Forestry Australia welcomes Timber Fibre Strategy as a science-led vision for forests and the future Forestry Australia has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s Timber Fibre Strategy, congratulating Minister Julie Collins and the Albanese Government for delivering a timely and important roadmap to support a sustainable, world-leading forest and wood products sector. More >> Source: Forestry Australia AFPA welcomes Albanese Government’s Timber Fibre Strategy to help realise sector potential A balanced and considered Commonwealth Government strategy with six key priorities to grow and strengthen Australia’s forestry and forest products sector, is being welcomed by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) as a plan to help us realise our industry potential into the future, Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Diana Hallam said. More >> Source: Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) .jpg) NZ Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries – June 2025
This Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) shows a
food and fibre sector on the rise after some tough years.
Thanks to the sector’s hard work, strong prices for key exports,
and a focus on strong relationships with our trading partners, record
revenue of $59.9 billion is forecast for the year to 30 June 2025.It’s an outstanding result that surpasses by $3 billion forecasts made in December and reflects the continuing strength and popularity of Kiwi products across the world. We expect sector export revenue to climb to an impressive $65.9 billion by 2029. The highlights for this year’s SOPI include:
Forestry Summary Forestry export revenue is expected to increase by 9 percent to $6.3 billion in 2024/25 led by stronger log prices and increased sawn timber export volumes as supply-side disruptions in processed wood products ease. The outlook is tempered by uncertainty surrounding log exports. China’s weak property market continues to dampen log demand, while available harvest volumes are relatively high. Further uncertainty exists with shifting global supply chain patterns in response to trade tensions, which may result in exporters needing to look to different markets. Domestically, low construction sector demand, high energy costs, and a soft economy are weighing on the sector. However, lowering interest rates and increasing labour availability may stimulate activity at home over the forecast period. Click here for full report Source & image credit: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries World’s first dedicated wildfire detection & monitoring satellite
Muon Space, a leading provider of end-to-end space systems
specialising in mission-optimised satellite constellations, has released
the first light images from its FireSat Protoflight, marking a
significant milestone in the development of the world’s first
dedicated wildfire detection and monitoring constellation. The images,
captured by Muon’s state-of-the-art six-channel multispectral
infrared (IR) instrument, demonstrate the exceptional capabilities of
this revolutionary IR technology for detecting and monitoring thermal
activities. Launched on March 14th aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission, the FireSat constellation is a collaboration between Muon and the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance to enhance global wildfire response by delivering actionable data to first responders, policymakers, and communities facing escalating wildfire threats. The satellite’s six-channel multispectral IR instrument – designed and built in-house – places Muon among a select group of commercial companies capable of developing and operating advanced space-based thermal sensors. Capturing IR imagery validates both the instrument and Muon’s vertically integrated satellite platform. A New Layer of Intelligence for Wildfire Detection, Tracking, and Response FireSat is capable of multispectral imaging across the visible, near-infrared, short-, mid- and long-wave infrared bands simultaneously. High-fidelity IR data is essential for detecting wildfires in their early stages, monitoring fire dynamics, and tracking other thermal anomalies. FireSat addresses a longstanding gap in space-based wildfire monitoring by delivering persistent, high-resolution, actionable intelligence to government and commercial users. Distinguished by its high-dynamic range (HDR) multispectral IR instrument, the FireSat Constellation is uniquely equipped to differentiate genuine wildfire events from false positives and enhance the accuracy and reliability of wildfire detection and assessment of fire intensity. The FireSat constellation will operate in LEO with an observation swath width of 1,500 km and an nadir ground sample distance of 50m. The instrument’s resolution, sensitivity and large dynamic range enable it to detect small cool fires 5×5 meters while also imaging without saturation for hot intense fires. As the demonstration mission for a planned 50+ satellite constellation, FireSat Protoflight will soon begin providing high-resolution thermal infrared data to meet growing demand across government, commercial, and environmental sectors. The full constellation will deliver global coverage, with each point on Earth observed every 20 minutes and key wildfire-prone regions benefiting from more frequent observations. The FireSat initiative is led by the Earth Fire Alliance and supported by Google Research, along with leading NGOs and philanthropic organizations including Google.org, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Environmental Defense Fund. This milestone builds on Muon’s earlier announcement that FireSat was successfully deployed and communicating in orbit. The company remains on track to launch the first block of three additional FireSat satellites in 2026, with full operational FireSat constellation capacity targeted for 2030. More >> Source & image credit: Muon Space  Driving SA’s forest trucks to net zero
Efforts to decarbonise freight transport are being accelerated
through a State Government supported project aimed at supporting South
Australia’s forest industries to reach net-zero targets.
The State Government is investing $200,000 towards the Decarbonising the Freight Task – Driving to Net Zero project, a joint South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) and Tabeel Trading venture. The funding, provided under the South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, supports the Malinauskas Government’s vision of decarbonising forest freight to further reduce carbon emissions across one of the hardest-to-abate sectors – heavy freight transport. The Malinauskas Government is working side by side with industry to deliver solutions and drive success in this area by delivering low emission vehicles for the Green Triangle. Forestry is already the ultimate renewable, and this is yet another step the industry is taking to decarbonise its footprints. The project will include new technologies aimed at reducing reliance on diesel, with the end goal to decarbonise forestry’s freight trucks through electrification, which will deliver substantial carbon savings. The project presents an opportunity to deliver real, measurable decarbonisation outcomes. Funding will support Stage 1 of the project by developing:
The Decarbonising the Freight Task project aligns with the Master Plan’s goal of developing a clean and green circular economy. The South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, launched in February 2024, was developed by the Forest Industries Advisory Council of South Australia (FIAC-SA) as part of a State Government election commitment to provide a vision to further grow and develop South Australia’s $3 billion forest industry. More >> Source & image credit: Government of South Australia Comact expands local presence in Australasia
Comact, a leader in OEM high-calibre wood processing equipment,
is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Lakeland Steel,
based in Rotorua, New Zealand. This partnership marks an
important step in Comact’s global growth strategy and reinforces
its commitment to better serving customers across New Zealand,
Australia, and the South Pacific.As part of this new strategic partnership, Lakeland Steel will represent Comact in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific, strengthening its local presence and ability to serve customers in the region. Beyond sales representation, Lakeland will also support Comact projects by providing localised services, including engineering, drafting, manufacturing, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and repair, ensuring responsive, high-quality execution aligned with Comact’s standards. “This partnership brings together two organisations with deep expertise and a shared focus on customer success,” said Simon Potvin, CEO of Comact. “Lakeland Steel’s strong regional presence and technical capabilities make them an ideal partner as we expand our footprint in Australasia.” Founded in 1976, Lakeland Steel (also operating as Lakeland Engineered Projects) is recognised as a trusted partner for innovative sawmill solutions in the region. Their team offers end-to-end engineering services from their headquarters in Rotorua, supported by a state-of-the-art 3,200 m2 workshop, CNC equipment, heavy lifting gear, and a specialised 500 m2 paint and blasting facility. Together, Comact and Lakeland Steel are already delivering results. The teams are currently working on a major project for Red Stag Timber in Rotorua, involving the sale and installation of a Comact double fork stacker, a MoCo stacker, and all associated equipment and automation required to rebuild the outfeed line at the planer mill. The project is scheduled for delivery during the upcoming Christmas holiday period. The partnership reflects Comact’s long-term vision of supporting sawmills worldwide with cutting-edge solutions and local expertise. With this alliance, customers in New Zealand and Australia can expect faster access to Comact’s technologies, more localised service, and a strong foundation for future projects. More >> Source & image credit: Comact  Exoskeleton tech shows promise in protecting forestry workers
The same exoskeleton principles that protect grasshoppers, crabs
and similar creatures could also help protect the 25,000 or so workers
in the job with the highest injury and fatality rates in America,
forestry.“Forestry is vitally important to our economy and our standard of living, but its workers pay a high price, with an injury rate that is 40% higher than the average of all other industries and fatality rates that are 20 to 30 times higher,” said Jeong Ho “Jay” Kim, Ph.D., a systems engineering expert with the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. In a recent study, Kim and co-author Woodam Chung, Ph.D., a forest engineer at Oregon State University, were the first to objectively measure biomechanical stress experienced by professional timber fellers during actual timber felling operations. They also evaluated forest workers’ perceptions of wearable exoskeletons — emerging technology already being used in other physically demanding industries such as shipbuilding and automotive and aerospace manufacturing. Kim said that most forestry injuries and fatalities are associated with manual timber felling with a chain saw and related activities such as delimbing and cutting felled trees into logs and other smaller pieces. These activities require forceful exertions, awkward postures, repetitive motions and hand-arm vibrations. As a result, more than 70 percent of forestry workers experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders, primarily in their shoulders and lower backs. These risks are magnified by the isolated, rugged conditions in which this work takes place — often on terrain with unstable footing and unpredictable weather, Kim said. Kim and Chung’s work was supported by the Economic Development Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and published in the International Journal of Forest Engineering. Study participants were recruited as a convenience sample through local forest industry partners, the Pacific Northwest Agriculture Safety and Health and USDA Forest Service District Offices in Oregon and Idaho. The study had two parts. First, to identify the types of exoskeletons that would be most appropriate and beneficial, the researchers measured the biomechanical stress levels of 10 currently employed professional timber fellers — nine men and one woman, all age 21 or older — who performed manual timber felling while wearing sensors. Inertial measurement unit sensors were placed on the participants’ torsos (the midpoint of sternum) and the outside of both arms directly below the shoulder. As the participants worked their shifts of three to four and a half hours, all three sensors continuously synchronised via Bluetooth and saved the data. When the work shifts were completed, the researchers removed the sensors and saved the data into a cloud server. These participants also completed a paper survey that assessed how much they knew about exoskeletons, how accepting they were of the concept, and their perceived barriers and risks of using exoskeletons. In addition, another 12 currently employed foresters (all men) took the same survey online. More >> Source: Texas A&M University  Mill closures leaves hurt small towns
When hundreds of jobs were lost in August with the closure of
two mills in the Ruapehu district, the fallout “majorly” hit
Angie Robson’s Coach Cafe lunchbar and takeaway shop in
Raetihi. Overnight, business dropped by a third as mill workers cut their spending in the town, she said. She had to lay off a full-time worker, her husband, who took another job to pay the bills, while on top of that she suffered a stress-related heart attack, she said. About six large families have shifted to Australia, Taupō, and further afield in search of work, said Robson. The 2023 Census count said the town had a population of 1119 people. What it was now was unclear. More >> Source: Stuff See also: Kinleith pulp and paper mill falls silent after 71 years, 150 jobs lost (1News) Perth approves Erben’s 35-storey timber tower
A major 35-storey timber tower by developer Erben has received
development approval from the City of Perth’s Metro Inner
Development Panel, marking a significant milestone for
sustainable architecture in Australia and placing Perth at the forefront
of global timber construction and design.Designed by Rothelowman with planning and landscape architecture by Urbis, the project at 108 Stirling Street will become one of the world’s tallest hybrid timber towers, delivering 351 build-to-rent apartments — including studios, one- and two-bedroom units — and 64 short-stay accommodation suites. The development introduces a new residential model to Perth, aiming to foster a strong sense of community and set a new standard for high-quality rental living. Communal spaces and thoughtfully crafted apartments are central to the design, which encourages interaction and a vibrant lifestyle. 108 Stirling Street will utilise a hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction, reinforced by a concrete core and mass timber columns. More >> Source: Build Australia Image credit: Erben NZ myrtles susceptibile to myrtle rust biotypesMyrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is a serious plant disease that impacts native species like pōhutukawa, rātā, maire tawake and ramarama. In New Zealand, we only have one biotype – pandemic – present, but there are several different biotypes of the myrtle rust fungus that infect different host species overseas. A biotype is a group of organisms having the same or nearly the same genotype. These biotypes found overseas pose a significant biosecurity threat.In a paper published in January, Scion researchers collected seed (with permission) from North Island populations of kānuka, mānuka and pōhutukawa and plants were grown overseas to investigate their susceptibility. There was only a Iimited amount of Lophomyrtus (ramarama, rōhutu) seed available, so it wasn't tested. Seedlings were screened against Eucalyptus and other biotypes to check for susceptibility and resistance. All of the myrtle species screened developed symptoms following exposure to each of the biotypes tested. A similar pattern of relative susceptibility was found among the myrtle species tested. Pōhutukawa was the most susceptible species tested, followed by mānuka, then kānuka. Some seedlings showed evidence of full resistance (more so in kānuka and mānuka). The myrtle rust fungus produced its sexual spore stage on all the NZ myrtles tested, indicating that sexual reproduction between different biotypes of the pathogen might be possible. Why this research is important These findings highlight the need for development of tools to differentiate between strains and biotypes of myrtle rust for rapid diagnostics to monitor for and respond to incursions. Identifying host ranges for different biotypes could be used to investigate the connection between host associations and virulence and improve our understanding of the evolution of virulence towards or away from multiple hosts. Connecting global expertise This programme exemplifies Scion’s connections with national and international researchers, including Plant and Food Research and Manaaki Whenua (both groups in the Bioeconomy Science Institute), and researchers in Australia, South Africa, Uruguay and USA. Our expertise in forest pathology and biosecurity research enables us to protect not only commercial forest species but extends to native species. The programme acknowledges mana whenua for granting permission to collect seed used in this research, and funding from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (through the Catalyst Fund), Ngā Rākau Taketake, Ministry for Primary Industries, and Better Border Biosecurity SSIF from Scion. Find the full text article here. Source: Scion --(2022)2.jpg) Eastland Port launches log operations at wharf 7
Eastland Port has marked a significant milestone in its
ambitious Twin Berth project, officially commencing log stevedoring
operations at the newly commissioned Wharf 7. This strategic
move is a critical step towards enhancing capacity and efficiency for
the Tairāwhiti region.In a seamless transition, managed in close collaboration with partner Qube Ports New Zealand, the vessel Latika Naree was successfully moored on Tuesday, becoming the first log export vessel to utilise the new facility. The operation, conducted for customer Fortuna, establishes the recently dredged Wharf 7 as the port's primary log export berth moving forward. Eastland Port extended its gratitude to the management team at Qube for their role in ensuring a safe and successful operational launch. The relocation of log operations unlocks the next phase of development, enabling construction partner Ritchie Civil to commence the strengthening of the Inner Breakwater and the redevelopment of Wharf 8. This work is essential to achieving the project's ultimate goal: the capacity to simultaneously berth two handymax-sized vessels, a significant boost for the port’s customers. Reflecting on the day's success, a port representative shared their firsthand experience. "It was a privilege to join the marine team to berth the Latika Naree at its new home on Wharf 7 and to also see the AAL Hong Kong depart. Witnessing the skill and precision of our teams and partners in action provides a deep appreciation for the expertise that drives these complex operations." The successful launch of Wharf 7 signals strong momentum for the Twin Berth project, promising a more resilient and capable future for Eastland Port and the regional economy it serves. More >> Source & image credit: Eastland Port Vale Laurie Moodie As a well-known sawmill manager for many years we send our condolences to the the extended family on the recent passing of Laurie Moodie. His career included a long-standing role as Site Manager at Tachikawa Forest Products in Rotorua working closely with Koji Tachikawa for many years.Mr Tachikawa has acknowledged his colleague and long-time friend fondly: "Since first meeting Laurie Moodie at Tasman Lumber’s Rainbow Sawmill in 1989, we’ve maintained a special friendship for over 35 years. As a comrade in arms, I found Laurie a brave, strong man, straight talking and honest. Socially he was a good drinker, great singer, loyal husband and strong father figure; a god-father to the Moodie family. Down to earth, he treated everyone equally, ready to listen to others’ ideas, to measure them through the framework of his extensive timber industry experience. However, in this he was intransigent only changing his position when convinced others were right." "I hired him to manage our New Zealand mill against the advice of our J/V partner suggesting a university graduate would be better. But I did not listen to their advice. I was looking for a tough sawmiller, one prepared to share my vision and destiny, to build something worthwhile from scratch. Laurie quickly adapted to our technology and methods, and proved accepting of wider technology and market demand, contributing his own ideas on new, better way to improve production. To this day I have no regrets about my decision." Since my departure from New Zealand, our friendship has continued with regular contact when I was in New Zealand and ongoing dialogue marking special events in our family. As my last words to him, I’d like to dedicate the song MY WAY which we sang many times together: “We did it our way”. A funeral service was held at Osbornes Funeral Directors Chapel in Rotorua on Thursday, 10 July. .png)
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and one to end the week on... manure on strawberries?
A friend suggested putting horse manure on my strawberries. I’m never doing that again, I’m going back to whipped cream. And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers.  Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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