Don't forget to like the SWAN Facebook page for regular updates on forestry and timber topics. I will include a selection of the more popular stories in each newsletter.
Timber Tools tell tall tales
The West reported that the soon-to-be-opened interpretive centre inside Railway House has seen the addition of a number of historical timber tools that will help tell the story of Busselton’s timber history.
Several Busselton residents have donated tools to the centre which will be displayed alongside the recently preserved Ballaarat Engine. Some of the tools that have been donated include a broad axe, a replica swamper spoon, an adze and a cant hook.
Busselton Historical Society president Brian Slee said timber from Busselton had been exported all over the world and used on several railway lines, including the North Indian Railway Line. Read more
Several Busselton residents have donated tools to the centre which will be displayed alongside the recently preserved Ballaarat Engine. Some of the tools that have been donated include a broad axe, a replica swamper spoon, an adze and a cant hook.
Busselton Historical Society president Brian Slee said timber from Busselton had been exported all over the world and used on several railway lines, including the North Indian Railway Line. Read more
Tree on a Chip
Phys.org reported that trees are constantly pulling water up from their roots to the topmost leaves, and pumping sugars produced by their leaves back down to the roots. This constant stream of nutrients is shuttled through a system of tissues called xylem and phloem, which are packed together in woody, parallel conduits.
Now engineers at MIT and their collaborators sandwiched together two plastic slides, through which they drilled small channels to represent xylem and phloem. Read more
Now engineers at MIT and their collaborators sandwiched together two plastic slides, through which they drilled small channels to represent xylem and phloem. Read more
Albany wood Pellet Plant to REopen
An Australian wood pellet processing plant is set to be recommissioned due to a low Australian dollar and increased international demand.
Plantation Energy secured $7 million of funding from multinational energy company ENGIE to recommission the plant in Albany, on the south coast of Western Australia.
The three-year venture to secure funding was aided by advisory company Argonaut, which had been working with Plantation Energy owner Renewable Heat and Power Limited (RHP).The plant will have the capability to produce 250,000 metric tonnes of wood pellets a year, making it the largest plant of its type in Australia.
Wood pellets are used in coal-fired power stations as a renewable energy replacement, with major markets in Europe and Japan. The process of producing wood pellets involves making an energy-dense wood pellet from sawmill residue and woodchips milled to less than 5mm in size. Read more
Plantation Energy secured $7 million of funding from multinational energy company ENGIE to recommission the plant in Albany, on the south coast of Western Australia.
The three-year venture to secure funding was aided by advisory company Argonaut, which had been working with Plantation Energy owner Renewable Heat and Power Limited (RHP).The plant will have the capability to produce 250,000 metric tonnes of wood pellets a year, making it the largest plant of its type in Australia.
Wood pellets are used in coal-fired power stations as a renewable energy replacement, with major markets in Europe and Japan. The process of producing wood pellets involves making an energy-dense wood pellet from sawmill residue and woodchips milled to less than 5mm in size. Read more
Timber CLT construction the only way
In the AFR, leading British architect Andrew Waugh says Timber construction is the only way cities can build enough housing for their growing populations and keep within agreed climate change emissions reductions.
"Urban housing is what it's about," Waugh told The Australian Financial Review. "London is supposed to be building 50,000 homes per year – it didn't even make one-third of that target last year. We need to densify our city. The only way to do that really, without making a massive impact on the environment, is to look at low-carbon technology."
Australia lags the northern hemisphere in CLT use, but the industry got a boost last year when the building code changed to make approval for buildings of up to eight storeys. New Zealand company XLam is planning its first Australian production plant in Wodonga, on the Victoria-NSW border.
10-storey Dalston Lane is all timber. It has no concrete core and no steel frame. Timber is used for the entire structure – including nine lift shafts, consisting of 12 metres-by-three-metres CLT panels that are 110 millimetres thick, standing on their end. Read More
"Urban housing is what it's about," Waugh told The Australian Financial Review. "London is supposed to be building 50,000 homes per year – it didn't even make one-third of that target last year. We need to densify our city. The only way to do that really, without making a massive impact on the environment, is to look at low-carbon technology."
Australia lags the northern hemisphere in CLT use, but the industry got a boost last year when the building code changed to make approval for buildings of up to eight storeys. New Zealand company XLam is planning its first Australian production plant in Wodonga, on the Victoria-NSW border.
10-storey Dalston Lane is all timber. It has no concrete core and no steel frame. Timber is used for the entire structure – including nine lift shafts, consisting of 12 metres-by-three-metres CLT panels that are 110 millimetres thick, standing on their end. Read More