Private Forestry Southern Queensland

Ravensbourne & District Land Managers…This is for you!!

Bronwyn — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:37:01 +0000

Gary Clarke - New Staff member comes on board

Bronwyn — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:44:50 +0000

FARM FORESTRY EXTENSION AND IMPLEMENTATION

What happened to The Farm Forestry Program?

In late 2008 Noosa and District Landcare Group’s management committee decided to “terminate” their highly successful Farm Forestry Program that has been providing free adult education and extension services to the Sunshine Coast community for more than ten years. In partnership with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the Farm Forestry Program supported landholders to integrate native hardwood timber production into their lifestyles and landholdings. The program had considerable impact on the uptake of forestry across South East Queensland, incorporating environmental restoration with timber production to create a dynamic, resilient and productive system that successfully addressed a broad range of environmental issues while catering to a diverse demographic of landholders and primary producers.

However, a program with legs doesn’t fall far before it is up and running again.

Private Forestry Southern Queensland (PFSQ), based in Mary Street Gympie, has recognised that the services provided by the Noosa and District Landcare Group’s Farm Forestry Program must continue to be offered to landholders and the community.

Gary Clarke will be joining the PFSQ team as their Operational Manager, with responsibilities covering delivery of services previously provided by The Farm Forestry Program as well as extended duties associated with the overall role of PFSQ as a Private Forestry Development Committee (PFDC).

Gary has 25 years professional experience in natural resource management including:

* Eight years as a Forest Officer in the Queensland Forestry Service

* Five years private consultancy and landscape management

* Three years Resource Manager in the timber processing industry

* Eight and a half years as the Farm Forestry Program Manager for Noosa and District Landcare’s Farm Forestry Program

Gary has a great passion and knowledge of forests and forest processes that he applies to all his dealings with landholders and their forests. He has his own plantation and native forest projects under active management and also has a keen passion for making furniture from Camphor Laurel and native species.

PFSQ will now be able to offer a wider range of educational consultation and on-ground implementation services including:

* Total property planning

* Plantation consultancy and design

* Revegetation establishment and regeneration

* All aspects of plantation maintenance

* Fire management plans

* Weed management

* Forest infrastructure

* Plantation inventory

* Seedling supply

* Erosion mitigation

All consultancy and implementation will be delivered in a whole of landscape style, allowing for integration of existing farm practices and lifestyle objectives and maximum economic and environmental benefits. Gary has implemented many projects in partnership with PFSQ over the past eight years and has developed good working relationships with current staff.

To kick off the 2009 farm forestry season we will be holding a farm forestry field day at Uri Muri Plantations on Louis Bazzo Road at Cootharaba on the 18th April 2009. A flyer with workshop details will be sent around in the coming month. Gary Clarke will be starting work with PFSQ on the 2nd March 2009, although he will be contactable prior to March on 0413 967 833.

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This Machine is so Amazing*****

Bronwyn — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:26:01 +0000

This was sent to us and it just shows how advanced is the technology, not only in the Forestry Industry; but the fact that these machines have such amazing sensory input in a rough environment is quite stunning. When you open this YouTube site, you’ll see other clips showing tractors as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y&feature=related

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Coconut palms – the timber of the future

Bronwyn — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:09:43 +0000

Queensland Government
Department of Primary industries and Fisheries

Media Release

12 January 2009

We see them along our beachfronts and in many streets and gardens, but the iconic palm tree may soon have a new place in the Queensland lifestyle as a high quality building product.

Research conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has found that Cocowood, produced from coconut palm tree trunks, is suitable for use as high value flooring, bench tops, kitchen cabinets and furniture.

DPI&F senior technician Gary Hopewell said the latest findings from the three year $520,000 Cocowood project showed that processed coconut palm wood was actually superior to many other commercially available timbers.

”A number of Australian flooring product manufacturers are evaluating the material for their domestic manufacturing operations,” he said.

“Timber industry representatives from Australia, Fiji and Samoa, including flooring market and production specialists and potential suppliers and processors, are studying drying and processing technologies to ensure strict quality control of the product.

“Even medium density palm logs can be processed to make attractive veneers and plywood.

“The positive results achieved to date support development of palm stem processing in Pacific island countries of origin, with valued added flooring and other products produced in Australia.”

Many Pacific island nations including Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have large but ageing coconut palm plantations, where there is declining coconut and copra crop production.

Mr Hopewell said the project was looking at opportunities to use these plantations to generate new timber industries, and create new Australian export and consumer markets, while providing a new source of income for Pacific island peoples from a locally available resource.

“With strong demand for flooring products in Asia, America and Europe, Cocowood products could be very lucrative for Queensland and our Pacific neighbours,” he said.

“By developing a Cocowood industry to provide a range of timber products, we could help reduce the demand for timber from old growth forests in Pacific island nations.”

This year the project enters a new stage with the further refinement of Cocowood processing for commercialisation and entry to domestic and international markets.

The Cocowood project is co-funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research (ACIAR). DPI&F is a partner agency with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Fiji Coconut Industry Development Authority, (CIDA), Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Samoan Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment and Strickland Brothers, Samoa.

Caption 1
Cocowood showing its distinctive woodgrain pattern
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Caption 2
DPI&F senior technician Gary Hopewell evaluating Cocowood samples.

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Burnett Mary Regional Group - funding launch.

Bronwyn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:12:24 +0000

The Burnettt Mary Regional Group had their Gympie funding launch for their NRM priorities involved with their ‘Better Catchments’, ‘Healthy Habitats’, ‘SuperGraze’ and ‘Reef Rescue’ programs.

More of these launches are scheduled for later this week so if you’re interested in what funding might be available to you as a landholder, a community organisation or any other entity, get in touch with BMRG and check it out!!

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‘MIS in crisis’ - from Daily Timber News

Bronwyn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:49:40 +0000

It appears that with the downturn in the financial markets and some poor growing seasons, the anticipated returns from some MIS companies are not eventuating. This article is from Daily Timber News

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Sean Ryan discusses Private Forestry issues with Scott Lamond- Rural ABC Radio

Bronwyn — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:31:12 +0000

Private forestry potential

“A good productive forest can return the same dollars as grazing.”

That’s according to advocate Sean Ryan from Private Forestry Southern Queensland, who says while it’s a long term investment, adoption of good management of private forestry, can drought proof property, increase cash flow and improve green credentials.

This audio link is a 15 minute discussion with various interviewees; Sean’s discussion is approximately 5 minutes.

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Spotted Gum

Bronwyn — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:51:41 +0000

Spotted Gum

On favourable sites, these species grow to 45 m in total height and 1.3 m in stem diameter, but attain only half these dimensions on poorer sites. They have straight slender trunks with smooth bark. This is shed in patches leaving slight depressions in the surface, which give a characteristic spotted appearance. Colour tones range from pink to grey-blue. Corymbia citriodora subsp variegata occurs mainly in the coastal areas of northern NSW andsouthern Queensland, but also in western areas of southern Queensland. C. citriodora subsp.citriodora – mid-north NSW coast to the Windsor Tableland, north Queensland. C. maculata – Bega (NSW) to mid-north NSW coast, and also a disjunct occurrence in eastern Victoria. C. henryi - northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Sawn timber from these species has been readily available from native forests, and spotted gum is currently the highest volume native hardwood harvested in Queensland. Open the PDF to see a sequence of photos depicting the stages of harvest for a Spotted Gum forest in South East Qld

Spotted gum sequence - Standing Timber to Milled Timber

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Rockhampton Workshop Series is flagged- maybe 2009

Bronwyn — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:33:59 +0000

We’re hoping to have a Native Forest 5 Day Management Workshop Series in conjunction with Central Queensland Forestry Association. We’ll keep you posted regarding the dates later in the year.

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The PFSQ Team

Bronwyn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:55:53 +0000

Cliff Raddatz - Field Operations Officer Employment Commenced: 15/10/03 (Casual)

Qualifications and experience: 35 years experience in State Government Forest Service including research, plantation establishment and native forest management.

Duties: Support Executive Officer in the delivery of forest management consultancies including forest management planning, inventory, harvest management, contractor liaison, marketing and sales

David Menzies, Forestry Extension Officer – Employment commenced February 2007

Qualifications and Experience: Bachelor of Science,(Environmental Science) and Certificate 11 Horticulture. David has spent some time within DPI&F and has extensive skills in Mapping, GIS and GPS interpretation.

Duties: Support the Executive Officer in management plan deliveries, Field Day and Capability training.

Bronwyn Lloyd - Administration Officer Employment Commenced: 19/08/2006 (Full time) Qualifications and experience: Extensive experience in office administration, payroll, accounts, etc

Kenneth Matthews – Consultant

Qualifications and Experience: Associate Diploma of Applied forestry, 26 years of timber industry/forestry experience including: 10 years in sawmilling, State Government Forest Service, Farm Forestry Extension, Private consultancy, timber research and management of PFSQ

Duties: Management and delivery of PFSQ’s commercial activities including native forest inventory, harvesting, marketing, management plans, property inspections and forest evaluations.

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