Queensland Sustainable Timber Industry Framework

The QLD Government announced a $200m Queensland Sustainable Timber Industry Framework on the 26 June 2024 including release of the terms of reference.

The Framework will be developed in partnership with stakeholders by mid-2025. It will present a 30-year plan to grow jobs, protect forest values and balance the many ways Queensland’s forest estate is used.

Development of the Framework will be supported by a Timber Stakeholder Advisory Group with representation from the timber industry, forestry experts, conservation sector, First Nations peoples, the Australian Workers’ Union, construction sector and outdoor recreational groups.

The ARC Advance Timber Hub is mentioned on page 6 of the Terms of Reference as part of the QLD Government’s work with stakeholders to determine key areas for supply chain development and optimisation to respond to Queensland’s priorities in housing and infrastructure, including establishing a Timber Supply Chain 2035 Strategy.

Professor Keith Crews: My Gottstein Fellowship Story

WoodCentral has published an article highlighting the importance of the Gottstein Trust in their focus on Professor Keith Crews, ARC Advance Timber Hub Director, who was awarded a Gottstein Trust Fellowship 30 years ago.

The Gottstein Trust is a national educational trust of Australia’s ultimate renewable industry – wood products grown in forests and plantations.  Through its annual granting of Scholarships, Fellowship and Skills Development grants, the Trust provides financial assistance for individuals right across the breadth of the forest products industry. This is specifically for the purpose of supporting them to gain knowledge and build their skills and networks in ways that also advance the industry.

WoodCentral – Professor Keith Crews: My Gotttstein Fellowship Story

Exclusive: Since 1971, the Gottstein Trust have awarded 160 fellowships. All have stories to tell, and all have made contributions.
Tue 14 May 24

Professor Keith Crews was a 34-year old civil engineer studying a Masters by research in 1990. Now he is director of Australia’s ARC Advance Timber Hub and organiser of the 2025 World Timber Engineering Conference. (Photo Credit: Professor Keith Crews)

 

 

Podcast – Timber Efficiency Research with Associate Professor Joe Gattas

ARC Advance Timber Hub Theme & Node Leader, Associate Professor Joe Gattas, at The University of Queensland’s School of Civil Engineering, was part of a recent episode of Pryda Pod.  Joe was interviewed about his research regarding improving timber production efficiencies by just 5% could unlock supply for an extra 8,000 homes to be built in Australia each year.

 

The University of Queensland and CENAMAD join in to boost wood construction

Professor Keith Crews, Director of the ARC Advance Timber Hub along with Hub Chief Investigators, Associate Professor Joe Gattas and Kim Baber visited Chile in April, Santiago and Concepción, to learn about wood and bio-product construction lines.  This delegation from The University of Queensland was supported by UQ PhD Candidate, Tomas Bravo. Chile’s National Centre of Excellence for the Wood Industry (CENAMAD) presented its actions regarding the value chain of wood and opened the door to future collaborations.

To learn more about this visit please see CENAMAD article: University of Queensland and CENAMAD join in to boost wood construction
You can convert article to English by choosing ‘English’ in bottom right corner of web page.

 

Jairo Montaño – Deputy Director of Research,  Pontifical Catholic University; with The University of Queensland delegates, Kim Baber, Associate Professor Joe Gattas, Tomas Bravo, Professor Keith Crews
Francisca Lorenzini, General Manager of CENAMAD; Sol Villanustre, Project Manager; Keith Crews, Director of ARC Advance Timber Hub; Tomás Bravo, doctoral candidate at The University of Queensland; Felipe Victorero, Deputy Director of CENAMAD Transfer; Associate Professor Joe Gattas, Theme & Node Leader of ARC Advance Timber Hub

 

Call for Abstracts – World Conference on Timber Engineering 2025

WCTE 2025 Call for Abstracts  – due 30 June 2024

The World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2025) is being held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 22nd June to 26th June 2025.

The WCTE is the world’s leading scientific forum for the presentation of the latest technical and architectural solutions and innovations in timber construction. It is considered the most prestigious international event in the field of timber technology for construction, timber structures, and the design of timber architecture.

The WCTE 2025 Conference Committee invites authors to submit 2-page abstracts / mini papers for review by the WCTE 2025 International Scientific Committee.

Submissions are sought for both oral and poster presentations, which must address the principal conference theme of ‘Advancing Timber for the Future Built Environment’.

For more information see: WCTE 2025 or download flyer.

Sustainable Timber Construction Seminar – Presentation Videos

On the 6 February 2024 at The University of Queensland (UQ) an in-person seminar was hosted by ASCE Australia Section and UQ School of Civil Engineering.

This in-person event brought together experts in the field to discuss the latest advancements and techniques in sustainable timber construction.

ARC Advance Timber Hub Director, Professor Keith Crews, and Innovative Solutions Theme Leader, Associate Professor Joe Gattas presented including Hub Partner – Aurecon. Aurecon representatives included Major Projects Director, Ralph Belperio and Associate- Buildings Structural, Callum Lillywhite. The last presenter of the day was John Bahoric, Technical & Project Director, WGA.

To view the presentation videos please see:

Aurecon commits to research hub

LAST week’s issue of Timber&Forestry eNews Issue 789, headlined the opening of ARC Advance Timber Hub. This week’s issue 790 has highlighted one of the Hub’s key supporters Aurecon, see page 9 for article.

Timber&Forestry eNews Issue 790

Aurecon Team at Hub Launch – Danette McLean (Principal, Circular Economy), Maria Rampa (Brand, Marketing & Communications Business Partner), Daniel Bree (Operations Director, Qld) with Hub Theme  & Node Leader – Associate Professor Joe Gattas.

 

 

 

ARC Advance Timber Hub Launch Presentation – Professor Keith Crews

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment (ARC Advance Timber Hub) was officially launched at The University of Queensland on Wednesday, 31 January 2024, with the aim of helping Australia’s timber and construction sectors transition to a circular and net-zero economy by stimulating rapid growth in timber innovation and uptake of use of timber in buildings.

Senator Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Education and Assistant Minister for Regional Development, was joined by ARC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson, The University of Queensland (UQ) Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Rachel Parker and ARC Advance Timber Hub Director, Professor Keith Crews, senior UQ leaders, and industry and university partner representatives to launch the 16.5 million, five-year research hub.

Professor Keith Crews 30 minute launch presentation can be viewed below.

Timber efficiencies could help ease nation’s housing crisis

University of Queensland researchers have found improving timber production efficiencies by just 5% could unlock supply for an extra 8,000 homes to be built in Australia each year.

Please see UQ News Article: https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/01/timber-efficiencies-could-help-ease-nations-housing-crisis

and article in Timber & Forestry ENews – Feb 1 2024 – Making more from what we have – Achievable production efficiencies could provide a part-solution for timber needs.