PREVIOUS RELEASES

2009

• Master Tree Growers Program starts in Jarrahdale
  27/05/2009 - Small landowners from across the South West are taking part in a five week Master Tree Growers Program which started last weekend (24-25 May).
• Good prices for Ord’s tropical sandalwood
  25/05/2009 - Tropical sandalwood from Forest Products Commission’s research trials in Kununurra fetched above reserve prices at its auction at Harvey last Saturday (23 May).
• Response to fires improved
  18/05/2009 - Fire protection for the Forest Products Commission’s (FPC) expanding plantation assets took a big step forward with the recent acquisition of two gang trucks that will be based in the Gnangara and Collie work centres.
• Auction of Ord’s oldest tropical sandalwood
  15/05/2009 - The oldest tropical sandalwood to come out of Kununurra will go to the market for the first time at the Forest Products Commission’s (FPC) auction at Harvey on Saturday 23 May.
• FPC corrects inaccuricies in anti-forestry media release
  14/05/2009 - The Forest Products Commission today responded to a media release containing a number of incorrect statements, issued on Wednesday, 13 May by an anti forestry group.
• Foresters work with public to identify more old growth
  8/05/2009 - New areas of old growth forest in the Diamond karri forest have been identified and protected as a result of the close working relationship between the Forest Products Commission, members of the public and environment agencies.
• Conference puts tropical forest research in the spotlight
  19/04/2009 - A group of high-profile scientists has returned from a three-day tour of the east Kimberley where they investigated the potential for sustainable tree crops in Stage 2 of the Ord valley.
• FPC defers harvest of Chester coupe
  7/04/2009 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) will not harvest timber in Chester 01 coupe in season 2009.
• Protestor arrested
  24/03/2009 - An anti-forestry protestor was arrested this morning and four others were moved on by Police, after a man was found to be locked to a car, parked outside the FPC’s Rivervale office. The man was charged by Police with trespass and possession of cannabis.
• Manjimup Nursery yields 14.5 million seedlings for 2009
  20/03/2009 - The Forest Products Commission’s (FPC), Manjimup Nursery is currently in its final phase of its seeding program for 2009 with 14.5 million seedlings being grown ready for dispatch in June.
• Chester: FPC welcomes umpires's decision
  11/03/2009 - FPC General Manager Dr Paul Biggs today welcomed a new report from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), providing an exceptionally high level of detail on diverse ecotype zones (DEZs) in Chester coupe.
• SpiritWest and Forest Products Commission: turning plantation waste into renewable energy
  5/03/2009 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has signed a $20 million contract to supply plantation residues to SpiritWest Bioenergy Pty Ltd over a 20 year period.
• FPC harvesting approved by EPA
  24/02/2009 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has responded to recent statements reported in The Collie Mail, on Thursday, 19 February 2009.
• Fire claims south-west plantation
  17/02/2009 - The Forest Product Commission (FPC) has estimated the damage from a fire which swept through more than 1,300 hectares of trees in the Ferndale plantation near Kirup at approximately $4million to replace and $21million in potential stumpage value to the State Government.
• Grave concerns for Chester ecosystems, surrounding life and property
  13/02/2009 - The Forest Products Commission today has expressed growing concern at the activities of the Chester Forest Action Group, which is actually doing more harm then good through damage to the areas ecosystem.
• FPC plantations damaged by fire
  19/01/2009 - The Forest Product Commission (FPC) has estimated the damage from a fire which swept through more than 2,500 hectares of pine trees near Yanchep at approximately $100million to industry and $10million in stumpage value to the State Government.
• Independent research confirms the benefits of forestry
  11/01/2009 - An independent study has highlighted the primary social, environmental and economic impacts of the forestry industry in Western Australia.

2008

• Sawlog supply has met contract specifications
  14/10/2008 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has rejected assertions by Gunns Limited that it failed to meet contract specifications in relation to the supply of native timber sawlogs.
• Media Release: STF: Good for the environment, great for local communities
  9/7/2008 - Students and their families from Wagin District High School took part in a major planting of 26.2 hectares of Acacia accuminata at Daradine, 30kms West of Wagin, raising $4,200 for their school at the same time.
• Technology boost for tropical sandalwood
  27/05/2008 - The tropical sandalwood industry may soon be able to use clone technology to ensure the best possible yields of sandalwood oil, thanks to scientific trials by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) and Nippon Paper Industries Co Ltd (NPI).
• FPC relocates
  13/05/2008 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has moved into its own premises in Stead Road after sharing offices with another government department for the past 16 years.
• Big timber slabs up for sale
  16/05/2008 - Larger than usual, exquisite rich, dark jarrah slabs and ideal weather conditions are set to make the next Forest Products Commission (FPC) timber products auction a must for all wood enthusiasts.
• Perennials fight rising water
  7/04/2008 - Farmers in the Oyster Harbour catchment recently attended a workshop on the potential of perennials in managing rising ground water tables.
• Timber sleepers best for global warming
  25/03/2008 - Today the Forest Products Commission (FPC) General Manager Dr Paul Biggs issued the following statement, in response to claims made by a lobby group over the Easter long weekend.

2007

• Forest Products Commission employee national safe work finalist
  12/02/2008 - The Forest Products Commission’s Safety and Training Consultant Bill Towie was recently announced as a National Australia Safe Work Awards finalist.
• Quality timbers up for sale
  29/02/2008 - Held quarterly at Harvey Mill, the Forest Products Commission’s (FPC) log auctions provide wood enthusiasts and craftspeople a unique opportunity to transform some of Western Australia’s best native timbers into works of art.
• FPC achieves second successive win in Nursery & Garden Industry Awards
  6/12/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) nursery at West Manjimup has achieved its second successive win in the state finals of the Yates Nursery & Garden Industry Awards.
• Forest Products Commission: new contract with Plantation Energy adds value to Albany plantation thinning
  31/10/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has signed a $12million contract to supply low grade plantation pine logs to Plantation Energy Ltd.
• Quality timbers up for auction
  2/11/2007 - Held quarterly at the Forest Products Commission’s (FPC) Harvey Mill, our log auctions provide wood enthusiasts a unique opportunity to transform some of Western Australia’s best native timbers into works of art.
• FPC achieves second successive nomination in Nursery & Garden Industry Awards
  17/10/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) nursery at West Manjimup has achieved its second successive nomination in the Yates Nursery & Garden Industry Awards.
• Forest Products Commission a finalist in 2007 WA Environment Awards
  16/10/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has been named as a finalist in the 2007 Western Australian Environment Awards.
• Auditor General’s report: Tracking timber logged from South West native forests
  27/09/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) today welcomed an independent review of its log timber tracking practices by the Office of the Auditor General.
• Trees for the future
  6/09/2007 - Esperance farmers were given a deeper understanding about the opportunities and science behind farm forestry at a recent education workshop.
• Forest Products Commission signs $50million contract with South West owned and operated business
  5/09/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has signed a $50million contract with Western Australian owned and operated company Pine Hauliers Pty Ltd for harvesting of pine from South West plantations.
• Forest Products Commission: turning plantation waste into renewable energy
  20/08/2007 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has signed a $10.5 million contract to supply plantation residues to Western Australia Biomass Pty Ltd.
• Fierce bidding expected at log auction
  8/08/2007 - The Forest Products Commission’s next log auction on 18 August offers a unique opportunity for wood enthusiasts to transform some of Western Australia’s best native timbers into works of art.
• First pine logs exported from Albany
  16/07/2007 - The first shipment of radiata pine logs is being loaded at the Albany Port today, Monday 16 July 2007 following an agreement between the Forest Products Commission and Pentarch Forest Products Pty Ltd.
• Nearly one million seedlings in 36 hours
  9/07/2007 - As part of the 2007 winter planting season, Forest Products Commission staff at the West Manjimup Nursery have worked hard to dispatch more than 900,000 seedlings for shipment to customers and organisations throughout Western Australia within just 36 hours.
• Forest Products Commission: Training for new recruits will showcase e-learning to forestry industry
  20/06/2007 - The Forest Products Commission is bringing e-learning to the Western Australian forestry industry with the development of a CD-ROM designed to help new forestry recruits learn at their own pace.
• Chance to bid for quality timber
  17/05/2007 - The Forest Products Commission’s next quarterly log auction on 26 May in Harvey offers wood enthusiasts a unique opportunity to transform some of Western Australia’s best native timbers into works of art.
• Plantation harvesting in hills planned for April
  27/03/2007 - The Forest Products Commission will start clearing remaining sections of three pine plantations in the Hills State Forest in April to supply its customers with timber for value adding.
• New market for pines
  27/03/2007 - Harvesting has started on thinning Albany’s radiata pine plantings following an agreement between the Forest Products Commission and Pentarch Holdings Ltd.

2006

• Fierce bidding expected at log auction
  14/11/2006 - The Forest Products Commission’s next log auction on 25 November offers a unique opportunity for wood enthusiasts to transform a valuable native log into a work of art.
• Harvesting in Peel 'B' planned for October
  20/09/2006 - The Forest Products Commission is planning a thinning operation of the Peel ‘B’ Plantation located at the intersection of Sixty Eight and Eighty Roads (Loc: 1507) Baldivis during October.
• Draft review of Forest Products Act ready for further comment
  12/07/2006 - A draft report on a statutory review of the Forest Products Act 2000 has been prepared for public comment.
• Quality timber auction at Harvey
  15/06/2006 - A large quantity of blackbutt, good quality wandoo and a high grade feature 22 tonne karri log are expected to draw buyers to the Forest Products Commission (FPC) auction on 24 June at Harvey.
• Western Australia to pursue Australian Forestry Standard (AFS)
  25/05/2006 - The Western Australian Cabinet has approved in principle the pursuit of Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certification for native forests and plantations by theDepartment of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and the Forest Products Commission (FPC).
• WA company in million-dollar contract with Brunei
  17/05/2006 - Forestry Minister Kim Chance today announced the shipment of locally manufactured palatial solid jarrah doors as part of a million dollar contract to supply jarrah joinery for a project in Brunei.
• First Indian sandalwood plantations established in Carnarvon
  16/05/2006 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has established the first large scale Indian tropical sandalwood plantation trials in the Carnarvon area, with the aim of giving communities and pastoralists in the Gascoyne possible access to a valuable new tree species.
• Harvesting in Peel planned for June
  12/05/2006 - The Forest Products Commission is continuing its clearing operation of Peel ‘A’ Plantation during the coming winter/spring months.
• Pine harvesting due to start near Ellenbrook
  12/05/2006 - The Forest Products Commission (FPC) will conduct a clearfall operation of maritime pines on the Gnangara water mound west of Drumpellier Drive in the week commencing 22 May for three to four weeks.
• Preliminary oil results from a 14-year-old Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) plantation at Kununurra, WA
  28/03/2006 - Preliminary results of oil samples taken from young Forest Products Commission Indian sandalwood trees are producing good quality, but small amounts, of oil.
• Phase farming with trees: the acceleration of farm-forestry to combat dryland salinity
  28/03/2006 - The salinization of land and water resources is a major environmental problem in Australia, with projections of up to 17 million hectares of farmland being affected by 2050.
• Asian sandalwood buyers drawn to world leader Western Australia
  15/03/2006 - A group of up to 20 Asian sandalwood buyers arrive in Perth tomorrow for a landmark three-day symposium and field trip in Western Australia – now established as the world’s leading supplier of sandalwood.
• Strong Support for FPC trees
  3/03/2006 - Landowners have responded positively and quickly to the Forest Products Commission’s new commercial offer to plant trees – particularly in the mid west and Katanning/Albany areas.
• Baden Powell campsite temporary closure
  22/02/2006 - The Baden Powell campsite and Park Road has been closed due to plantation harvesting, but will reopen for the Labour Day long weekend and Easter.
• Western Blue Gum is Tops
  22/02/2006 - Seeing is believing – and here is proof that Forest Products Commission’s tree breeding program is producing some amazing results.
• Improved tree farming package for farmers
  30/01/2006 - Many Western Australian farmers are being offered a new and improved commercial tree farming package that will put more money into their pockets while delivering better environmental, social and economic outcomes for the State.