Following on from the devastating bushfire season, the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and the situation is evolving rapidly. While the economic impacts cannot yet be calculated, the welfare of our people, members and community are our number one priority.
Like many office-based organisations, FWPA staff are now working remotely and practicing social distancing. We aim to continue our work and activities and we don’t expect any disruption to our services at this stage.
FWPA’s role is to create and disseminate information to a broad range of audiences, from industry members to building specifiers, regulators, school teachers and the general community. While the economic impacts of the pandemic will be substantial, there will be an ongoing demand for information and upskilling during this period of disruption. We will therefore ramp up our online communication activities with more webinars, e-learning, podcasts, videos and social media posts.
In this edition of ForWood, you will read stories about our work in bushfire recovery, rebuilding in bushfire prone areas, exploration of new approaches for sector in relation to an industry-owned product trust mark and the circular economy, as well as our ongoing communication activities.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.
Ric Sinclair
Managing Director
0407 329 372.
Rebuilding with resilience by industry and community in bushfire-prone areas
The recent fire season caused extensive damage and
loss to Australia’s plantation and natural forest resources, and destroyed many properties. In response, Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has been working to extract key practical learnings and develop educational materials to help better prepare industry stakeholders and the community for future bushfire events. As such, we are undertaking a number of initiatives that aim to help ensure resilient homes are built — and rebuilt — in bushfire-prone areas.
Listen in — building safely with wood in bushfire prone areas
Check out the latest episode in the WoodChat podcast series. It includes an interview with Boris Iskra, National Codes & Standards Manager at FWPA, about best-practice methods of building with wood in bushfire prone areas. Boris provides useful information on regulations and discusses the important work FWPA is doing to provide resources about building resilient homes with timber.
During the episode, the hosts also speak to Nigel Bell, Principle of ECOdesign Architects + Consultants who builds in bushfire-prone areas, to gain some insights into what concerns he tends to hear from clients, and how he responds.
A new industry tick of approval? Exploring a trust mark to certify the quality of timber products
FWPA has commissioned a report into the potential advantages of an industry ‘trust mark’. The goals of the mark would be to reduce and eliminate the risk of products which are not fit-for-purpose entering the Australian market, and to create a level playing field for all manufacturers to supply products that are credible.
From koala identification to smart software ... the many ways FWPA’s voluntary matched funding supports industry advancement
FWPA’s voluntary matched funding initiative works to strengthen the research capacity of the forestry industry, by supporting some of the most innovative scientific projects in the field. Over the past three years, the calibre and quantity of supported projects has demonstrated the value of the initiative.
Going full circle... forest industry urged to work together to capitalise on circular economy
In a new report, researchers have called for more collaboration between forest industry stakeholders across the supply chain, to inspire more product re-use and minimise waste.
The report considers how the industry can embrace the principles of the circular economy. In doing so, further steps can be taken towards overcoming issues around resource scarcity, waste generation and the environmental impact of operations.
Embracing the latest tech to engage Australia’s school kids on forestry
Thanks to the magic of FaceTime, more than 150 students from around Australia were given the opportunity to talk in real time to a forest worker out in the field — all without leaving their classroom!
Have your say! Join our marketing and communication interest group
FWPA’s marketing team will hold an online interest-group meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday 22 April, between 10am and 4pm, and we’re keen to involve as many members as possible!
WoodSolutions — building the construction industry’s knowledge of mid-rise and timber requirements
With the help of FWPA guides, engineering and design professionals can easily build their knowledge on timber-related requirements in mid-rise construction, helping meet the growing demand for professionals with a strong understanding of this area.
A new WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide(Mid-rise Timber Building Structural Engineering) and its accompanying webinar series aim to provide structural engineers with the information required to confidently design a mid-rise timber building.
New substrate could increase use of bonded and coated hardwoods in construction
A new substrate has been developed that enables hardwoods to respond better when glues are applied.
The new technology implies the potential use of bonded and coated hardwoods for a much broader range of applications in construction.
Young research scientist wins grant to develop a drone for tree sample collection
FWPA congratulates Sean Krisanski — a mechanical engineer and University of Tasmania PhD student — on being selected as one of the winners of the 2020 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Krisanski was recognised for his research into the development of an ‘arborist’ drone that can take samples from the forest canopy, giving scientists access to samples that until now have not been easily reachable.
