Softwoods Working Group

21/10/2026

🌳 UNDERSTANDING FOREST SCIENCE | TASMANIA 2026 – Have you registered yet?

Looking to deepen your understanding of Australia’s forests, plantations and forest science?

The Trust's Understanding Forest Science course is coming to Launceston, Tasmania, from 8–13 November 2026.

The five-day program brings together 14 expert presenters and combines classroom learning with field trips, offering valuable insights into:
🌿 Native forests and plantation forestry
🌱 Forest ecology, conservation and biosecurity
🌲 Forest management and plantation operations
🔬 Forest research, carbon and wood products

With opportunities to explore Tasmania’s diverse forest types firsthand, this is a great professional development opportunity for people working across forestry, timber, research and related industries.

📍 Where: Launceston, Tasmania
📅 When: 8–13 November 2026

Places are still available!

👉 Find out more and register via the Gottstein Trust:
https://gottsteintrust.org/
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https://gottsteintrust.org/grants-courses/understanding-forest-science-course/registration

09/10/2026

🔨🪵 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿

🌲📣 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭𝟬 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

🏗️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. Timber framing integrates easily with common plumbing and electrical systems, helping streamline installation and improve on-site efficiency.

🛠️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: timber's ease of on-site modification means plumbers and electricians can notch, drill and route services consistently with frames and trusses without specialist equipment or significant delays. In other words, 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿. Fewer installation headaches for trades means fewer callbacks and schedule blowouts for builders - 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲.

🤝 Together with FTMA Australia and WoodSolutions, we're 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲.

🔄 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆-𝘁𝗼-𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲. https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/resources

25/09/2026

🌲⚡ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲

📣 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟴 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

🪵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. Timber's versatility allows it to be cut, shaped and modified using familiar tools, helping builders adapt quickly when last-minute changes are required onsite to keep projects moving.

🔨 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: timber frames and trusses can be adjusted on site with standard tools and minimal specialist equipment, so unexpected changes don't mean costly delays or re-engineering from scratch. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀, and one your team can speak to with confidence.

🤝 Together with FTMA Australia and WoodSolutions, 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

🔄 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/resources

18/09/2026

🌲🔥 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟳 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

🔥 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲. Timber performs in a known and measurable way during fire, allowing its performance to be calculated, tested and designed for using established fire engineering principles and guidance.

🪵 Timber forms a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. That predictable behaviour can mean 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲 - potentially allowing safer evacuation for your family and better access for firefighters.

🏗️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱. Next time someone says timber isn't safe in a fire, you can point to the fact that 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, using established fire engineering principles rather than assumption or perception. That's a powerful thing to be able to say to a builder, a specifier, or a homeowner who's hesitant about timber. For those manufacturers producing panelised wall frames or flooring cassettes, the 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, ensuring that engineered fire performance is delivered exactly as specified.

🤝 Together with FTMA Australia and WoodSolutions, we're helping industry start more informed conversations about timber.

📣 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁.
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09/09/2026

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 - Week 6
Think termites mean you should choose steel over timber? The NCC tells a different story.
For termite risk management, appropriately preservative-treated timber and steel are both recognised as materials not subject to termite attack.
That means treated timber framing is a recognised solution for building in termite-prone areas, backed by established building requirements and proven products.
It’s time to replace old perceptions with the facts.
FTMA Australia and WoodSolutions, helping put timber back in the conversation.
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18/08/2026

🌲 National Forestry Day 2026 | Grown for Australian homes 🏡

Today, SWG and the Murray Region Forestry Hub celebrate the people and businesses behind Australia’s renewable timber supply chain.

Across our region, our members are growing the trees, producing the timber and creating the frames that become Australian homes.

From seedlings in the nursery and sustainably managed plantations, through to timber processing, manufacturing and construction, forestry supports regional jobs and communities while supplying a renewable resource for the homes Australians need.

This National Forestry Day, we’re proud to recognise our members and the important role they play - growing today to build Australia’s tomorrow.

🌱 Grown in our regions.
🪵 Made into timber.
🏠 Built into Australian homes.

11/08/2026

📣 MEDIA RELEASE | Roadmap - Securing the future of the South West Slopes plantation timber industry

The Softwoods Working Group has today issued a media release calling on NSW election candidates and political parties to back the infrastructure and policy priorities needed to secure and grow the South West Slopes plantation timber industry.

The SWG always aims to work with the NSW Government to develop solution supporting regional NSW, especially the contribution of its timber plantation industry which includes 125,000 hectares of sustainably managed plantations, supporting more than 5,500 regional jobs and its $2.3 billion annual contribution to the regional economy.

The Roadmap outlines the priorities for the region including critical regional road upgrades, bushfire preparedness, coordinated blackberry management, plantation investment and investigation of a Strategic Plantation Economic Zone.

With the NSW election approaching, this is an important opportunity to put the future of our region’s plantation timber industry and the communities, jobs and manufacturing it supports firmly on the agenda.

🌲 Read the media release and learn more about the priorities we are putting forward 👉 https://zcu.nz/xJYG?m=0

22/07/2026

Congratulations to all recipients and thank you Hyne Timber for such fantastic and ongoing community support.

The Hyne Community Trust Committee is pleased to announce the successful recipients for the 2026 round of grants.
Funding is now committed to both the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed for a new shed extension as well as the Tumbarumba Golf Club for replacement doors to the training and main function room.
Trust Chair, Kerrie Downes said 2026, once again, saw a high calibre of applications as part of the competitive selection process:
“The Committee’s assessment and selection meeting is the most challenging meeting of the year with consideration for budget, and maximum benefit to the broader community.
With several eligible applications received this year, robust discussion and tough decisions have resulted in what we believe, will be a great outcome for the community.
The Tumbarumba Men’s Shed is held in extremely high regard for the products they make and, the important mental health benefits in keeping people connected and engaged in the community.
They are limited by capacity so by supporting the funding of a new, additional shed, the Trust can make a real lasting benefit for our community.
The Tumbarumba Golf Club is also recognised as a multiple use facility for our community, run by volunteers and delivering much needed training, services and events. The Trust is, once again, pleased to be supporting the improvements to the Club.
On behalf of the Trust, I congratulate the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed and the Tumbarumba Golf Club on their successful Trust applications and we look forward to the progress of their respective initiatives”.

25/06/2026

🌲 Great to meet with Carlie Porteous, Executive Officer of Softwoods Working Group, and Kristina Kaminski, Manager of the Tumbarumba Hyne Mill, during their visit to Parliament House.

We discussed the vital role the timber industry plays in supporting workers and regional communities, and why a sustainable forestry industry matters for Australia's economy. 🪵

Australian Forest Products Association AKD Softwoods