Forestry and timber stories

Tasmania has been lauded for its stunning architectural designs featuring timber. The much-acclaimed Freycinet Lodge Coastal Pavilions, by Liminal Studio, took out the Excellence in Timber Products category at the recent Australian Timber Design Awards in Sydney. The pavilions were praised for a design that sits lightly amongst the bush setting and echo local rock formations with a curved glass and timber exterior incorporating charred red ironbark cladding. Mention was also made of the construction process. The pavilions were prefabricated in Hobart and delivered to the site in small modules that were wheelbarrowed from the Lodge’s carpark, thus ensuring minimal environmental damage. Other Tasmanian structures – MACq 01 Hotel by Circa Morris-Nunn Architects, and the Wukalina Walk huts by Taylor and Hinds Architects – also won awards at the 19th annual Australian Timber Design Awards.

7 December 2018, Edition 201

Tasmania’s timber industry has been given a big boost with a $100 million investment from Timberlink in production assets. This is set to be rolled out over the next three years and will be invested at Timberlink’s Bell Bay facility, in the state’s north, as well as it’s Tarpeena Mill in South Australia. The money allocated for Bell Bay will be used to install new planer mill equipment, improve existing site infrastructure and improve safety with an upgraded internal road system. Timberlink CEO, Ian Tyson, says this demonstrates that the timber industry is thriving: “It supports the investment strategy of the soft wood sector for Tasmania. It shows the enormous future the timber industry has, both globally and within the domestic market.” Timberlink is the leading producer of plantation timber in Tasmania, sustainably growing quality pine in certified plantations.  

12 September 2018, Edition 198

It’s a fascinating collaboration. A team of wooden boat builders from the USA is preparing to travel to Tasmania where they will spend months crafting a keel-boat out of our beautiful timber. This will be one of the star attractions at the 13th MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival in February. The seven boat craftsmen are all alumni of the renowned North West School of Boat Building in Washington. They will be arriving in Tasmania in November to begin their mission to build a classic American keel-boat, the Haven 12.5. In the meantime, specialty timber for this project is being sourced and prepared. Hydrowood – reclaimed from the cold depths of flooded hydro lakes where it has been preserved for decades – is being donated for the task. Celery-top pine, a popular wood used in boat building for centuries has been selected as the timber of choice. It is a rot-resistant old-growth timber that bends well and can be used for either structural timbers or planking in boat building. To view the finished product, put a note in the diary for the 2019 MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival which will be held on 8 – 11 February along the Hobart waterfront. For more information visit www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au.

10 July 2018, Edition 196

After much speculation, Hampshire has been unveiled as the site of Hermal’s massive $190 million timber mill in Tasmania’s north-west. The Melbourne-based Hermal Group settled on Hampshire after scoping sites in the wider Burnie area. The location of the 80-hectare facility – a twenty minute drive from Burnie – is ideal as it is close to Forico who will be supplying the bulk of the timber. Hampshire was also one of the two sites that Gunns considered for its ill-fated pulp mill before settling on the Tamar Valley. Hermal special projects manager, James Lantry, told The Examiner that the company had secured an outstanding site for a world class facility. Once completed, it will be Australia’s largest plantation-based hardwood mill, and the first ever hardwood cross-laminated production plant. Premier Will Hodgman has described the mill as “an absolute game changer”. It is expected to employ 160 people during the construction period due to begin later this year. The mill will employ more than 200 people when it is operational in mid-2020.

12 June 2018, Edition 195