| News and Media Releases |
LONG DERSERVED RECOGNITION OF AN AUSTRALIAN STANDARD IN SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT BY GBCA
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Media Release November 2009 |
The Green Building Council today has finalised the highly controversial issue that has been in debate for over three years. The recognition of the Australian Forest Certification Scheme that is underpinned by two Australian Standards for forestry and chain of custody of wood and wood products, AS 4708 and AS 4707
The AFSL greatly appreciates the initiative taken by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and the Minister of Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, following the demands from industry stakeholders and the CFMEU to review the release of the first draft of the GBCA MAT-8 Timber criteria assessment framework, that was restrictive and prescriptive and help bring on this positive outcome.
More Information...click here [pdf 140kb]
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Green Building Council releases revised Timber credit
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Media Release November 2009 |
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has announced the release of a revised Green Star Timber credit effective January 1, 2010, which allows for equal consideration of Australian forestry schemes.
The announcement, part of the ongoing Green Star Materials review, follows a detailed review of the GBCA's Timber credit, conducted by an independent Timber Expert Reference Panel.
With the revised Timber credit, all forestry schemes will need to satisfy five 'Essential' criteria to be eligible. This will provide one Green Star point to timber certified by any scheme which applies for and can meet these criteria.
More Information...click here [pdf 51kb]
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Timber Design Awards - Announce 2009 Winners
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Announcement November 2009 |
The 2009 Australian Timber Design Awards grand prize has been awarded to Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture (architects in association) for the Tree of Knowledge Memorial in Barcaldine, Queensland.
The Ausralian Forestry Standards was a Silver Sponsor of the Timber Design Awards in 2009 - Sponsor of the Best Use of Australian Certified Timber Award (Regional and National)
All forest certification is good as the first step towards a sustainable environment.
We congratulate Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture (architects in association) for the Tree of Knowledge Memorial and their use of certified timber.
Congratulations to all the winners on their excellent use of timber – when thinking timber think certified and when thinking certified think home grown and produced.
Go to TDA website to see a list of all the winners and runner-ups...click here
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ABC - Greenwash - Article by Mark Poynter
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ABC online November 2009 |
Reportedly, an increasing proportion of Australians are not convinced that human activities are solely responsible for global warming....
While this is generally assumed to reflect the increased airing of contrary views by climate change sceptics, it may also reflect increasing cynicism about rhetorical messages of catastrophe that flow all-too freely from 'green' activists campaigning on many fronts.
For several decades, activists have raised community awareness of environmental issues by maximising the exposure of short, media-friendly grabs that are overly simplistic and largely fact-free. Nevertheless, their success in many areas suggests that this approach resonates well with the majority who don't think too deeply about environmental issues.
Go to ABC website...click here
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Green Timber Woes - The AGE - National Times online
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The AGE November 2009 |
The independant Green Building Council is facing unprecented pressure...
from State and Federal Governments to change its environmental standards for sustainable timber.
A small story ran about the issue in the Sydney Morning Herald last week, and another in The Age this morning, but Greenlines thought it worthwhile to flesh out some of the broader issue. The Green Building Council (GBC), is a voluntary not-for-profit organisation backed by a range of organisations paying membership fees.
Its main connection to Government is through the voluntary green-star program. Some government departments at the state and federal level also use the Council’s code as a guide. Others, like the Federal Environment Department, are members of the Council and pay membership fees.
Go to The AGE website...click here
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CALL FOR RECOGNITION OF AUSTRALIA'S SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES -Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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Media Release November 2009 |
State, territory and federal governments yesterday called on the Green Building Council of Australia to recognise sustainable forestry practices in the domestic industry.
State, territory and federal governments yesterday called on the Green Building Council of Australia to recognise sustainable forestry practices in the domestic industry.
The issue was discussed during yesterday’s Primary Industries Ministerial Council in Perth.
It has been a headline issue at both the recent Forest and Wood Products Council meeting and the Forest Industry Leaders Ministerial Roundtable.
The Green Building Council of Australia oversees the green building credit rating system a voluntary system which rates the environmental design and construction of buildings.
More Information...click here[pdf 121kb]
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World's Best Buildings and GBCA under strain... Architecture & Design
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Articles November 2009 |
Australian projects among world’s best buildings
Three Australian projects have taken out some of the most prestigious prizes at the World Architecture Awards in Barcelona.
Klein Bottle House on the Mornington Peninsula, by Charles McBride Ryan, took the World’s Best Home award. Article by BY GEMMA BATTENBOUGH
GBCA under strain over timber code
THE INDEPENDENT Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is under strain from state and federal governments to adopt a union-backed sustainable timber code.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is pressuring ministers to urge the GBCA to adopt industry-led timber standards.Article by BY GEMMA BATTENBOUGH
These articles is courtesy of Architecture & Design Magazine (www.architectureanddesign.com.au).
For full article...click here [pdf 133kb]
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CFMEU...Take action against GBCA
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Media Release November 2009 |
Natural Resources Ministerial Council meeting must act on jobs destroying, unscientific Green Building Council
CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division National Secretary Michael O’Connor has called on today’s meeting of the Natural Resources Ministerial Council to take action against the Green
Building Council and its refusal to accredit domestic sustainable timber products for its six star green building credit rating.
The union is planning to make it an important election issue in regional seats in upcoming state elections if state ministers don’t defend local jobs.
More Information...click here [pdf 93kb]
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In The Balance - article courtesy of In-wood Magazine
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Article October 2009 |
Zany Rating System Puts Spoke In The Wood Works
The Green Star rating process created and implemented by the self-styled international arbiter of sustainable construction, the Green Building Council, seems to confirm the view of German philosopher Friedrich
Nietzsche that, “In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule.” Peter Harington’s report on the New Zealand situation adds weight to the notion.
The Green Star building concept was founded in America and worked reasonably well in local conditions. But when imposed almost unchanged on the Australian building industry
it was an instantly bad fit – not least because it specified only FSC-accredited timber, which is still virtually unprocurable there.
Reproduction of this article is courtesy of In-Wood magazine (www.inwoodmag.com) and restricted to this website.
For full article...click here [pdf 207kb]
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Standards in Turmoil - article courtesy of In-wood Magazine
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Article October 2009 |
Restructuring of Standards Australia has thrown the timber industry into a spin, and the preservations sector appears to be particularly affected,
writes Arch Wood Protection executive Peter Carruthers.
The major problem arises from the reinvention of Standards Australia under a new ‘business model’ – essentially with a strong focus on cost recovery, and being a for-profit entity rather than an under-funded industry service.
Now, if you want the organisation to develop a Standard for your industry or product category, you (collectively) will have to pay the full cost. No more free riders; no more unaccounted benefits; no more unfunded committee efforts – no pay… no Standard!
Reproduction of this article is courtesy of In-Wood magazine (www.inwoodmag.com) and restricted to this website.
For full article...click here [pdf 122kb]
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CANOPY - A3P weekly newsletter
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Newsletter September 2009 |
The Procurement of Wood and Paper Products from Sustainable Sources - news story in Issue 153
A3P is encouraged by advice from State Governments indicating their support for the procurement of wood and paper products from sustainable sources. In May 2009 the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) agreed that Victoria
would provide a report to the Council on its proposal to require government endorsed procurement and sustainability guides for wood and paper products to recognise the Forest Stewardship Council and Australian Forestry Standard as
international third-party forest certification systems. A3P has since written to PIMC Ministers urging them to adopt a similar position and A3P is encouraged by the positive replies received which detail current and planned policy initiatives and changes to existing procurement strategies including:
–being signatories to sustainable procurement frameworks that provide a national approach to integrating sustainability into public procurement;
–development of tools and guidelines that promote a consistent approach to sustainability criteria and standards, supporting procurement of third party certified sustainable goods and services;
–development of sustainable buying guides; and
–commitment to sustainable procurement practices and policies for wood and paper products.
A3P looks forward to working with the Australian and State Governments, including through the PIMC, to encourage recognition and procurement of wood and paper products certified as being sourced from sustainably managed forests.
For more news in this Issue...click here [pdf 130kb]
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AFSL Stakeholder forum wrap-up
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Brief August 2009 |
Australian Forestry Standard Limited (AFSL) hosted a well received Stakeholders Dialogue Forum in Brisbane last month. The forum was attended by approximately 40 delegates who were given the opportunity to listen to key presentations from a range of experts and to network with their peers.
– Simon Dorries, EWPAA’s General Manager,discussed the issues associated with certification in New Zealand and Papau New Guinea.
– Chris White, Senior Sales Manager of Moxon Timbers highlighted some issues timber merchants have with Chain of Custody certification.
– Andrew Aitkin, GBCA’s Green Star Rating Tool Manager and Queensland Manager, addressed the Green Star programme in relation to its rating tools and timber credit review.
More Information...click here [pdf 275kb]
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AFS Stamp of approval for WA forests
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Media Release July 2009 |
The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has acquired the coveted Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certification
The certification means consumers who buy wood products sourced from Western Australian native forests can be assured their merchandise originated in an internationally accredited forest.
Forestry Minister Terry Redman said the certification recognised the FPC and its practices in harvesting and regenerating native forests were environmentally sustainable and protected the biodiversity of the State’s forests.
More Information...click here [pdf 108kb]
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GBCA Assessment Framework for Forest Management Certification Schemes
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Media release June 2009 |
Australian Forestry Standard Limited addresses the MAT-8 ‘Timber Criteria’ Assessment Framework proposal - Released 19 June 2009
The AFSL supports the recognition of timber certified under an internationally recognised certification scheme in Green Star rated buildings and clearly sees the benefits to the environment of GBCA driving the Green Building agenda. It is the AFSL’s view that the current approach has developed into a much more complicated process than is necessary and our concerns remain with the MAT-8 ‘Timber criteria’ framework, the validity of the outcome of the Timber Experts Reference Panel (TERP) and the assessment process as presented in this draft document.
More Information...click here [pdf 397kb]
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