MEDIA RELEASE

Australia Urged to Expand Timber Plantations to Meet Future Housing and Sustainability Needs

Australia must significantly expand its plantation forestry estate to meet future construction demand and support national emissions‑reduction goals, according to leading timber engineering expert Professor Keith Crews.

Professor Crews, Director of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment (ARC Advance Timber Hub) and Professor at The University of Queensland’s School of Civil Engineering, outlined the sector’s challenges and opportunities during a recent interview on ABC Radio’s Nightlife – the Future for our Timber.

He emphasised that timber remains the only mainstream construction material that is both renewable and capable of storing carbon throughout its service life.

However, Australia’s plantation estate has remained largely unchanged for four decades, raising concerns about long‑term supply. Professor Crews said plantation area must increase by 15 to 20 per cent nationally to meet growing housing and mid‑rise construction needs, especially for softwood products.

The interview also highlighted the critical role of circularity. Professor Crews said better design for deconstruction, reuse and repurposing will reduce waste and enhance timber’s carbon benefits. He noted that when timber products are kept in long‑life applications or repurposed rather than sent to landfill, carbon remains locked in the material.

Community contributions to the interview demonstrated widespread public commitment to sustainable timber practices. Callers discussed repurposing demolition timber, salvaging high‑value hardwoods, and recycling engineered wood products. Professor Crews described these activities as “excellent examples of circularity in action”.

Land availability remains a challenge. Callers expressed concerns about competition between plantation forestry and agricultural production. Professor Crews said integrated land‑use models—such as agroforestry—could support both sectors, provided long‑term investment models meet landholder needs.

Innovation also remains central to future growth. Professor Crews highlighted new processing techniques and engineered wood products that increase fibre recovery from logs and improve the commercial viability of plantation resources.

Despite ongoing challenges, Professor Crews said he is encouraged by emerging policy momentum.

ENDS

Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has released a draft industry standard “Methods of Test for Mechanical Fasteners and Connectors” providing an updated and reliable framework for testing and determining characteristic capacities of timber connections.

Developed through an FWPA-funded research project, the standard was supported by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) and undertaken by the ARC Advance Timber Hub at The University of Queensland. The project has been led by Professor Keith Crews, Hub Director, who has played a pivotal role in coordinating research and industry collaboration throughout its development.

The draft Standard offers an industry-led alternative to AS 1649:2001, establishing robust testing protocols for sawn timber and engineered wood products (EWPs) until AS 1649 is comprehensively revised. It reflects international best practice and provides consistent testing methods for assessing the structural performance of both new and existing connection systems including bolts, dowels, screws, and other fasteners.

“This project is an important step forward for Australia’s timber engineering and manufacturing sectors,” said Professor Keith Crews, Director of the ARC Advance Timber Hub.

“The development of this draft standard ensures that our industry continues to evolve with accurate, up-to-date testing methods aligned with international benchmarks. It’s been a collaborative effort across research, manufacturing, and engineering communities, and we encourage all stakeholders to review and provide their feedback to help refine and finalise this essential standard.”

The draft standard has undergone rigorous peer review and been road tested through an extensive experimental program by the ARC Advance Timber Hub.

The ARC Advance Timber Hub would like to acknowledge Professor Crews for his leadership and commitment to advancing this important work over the past six years of putting this draft together.

If you are interested in learning more or providing feedback on the draft standard, please click the link in the image below and submit your comments by 30 November 2025.

The ARC Advance Timber Hub is proud to share that our Director, Professor Keith Crews, was recently featured in The Courier Mail (17 October 2025, page 5- to view the full article a subscription to The Courier Mail is required and can be viewed on this link), in an article highlighting innovative housing solutions for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

In the article, titled “House About a Flatpack Village,” Professor Crews discusses the potential of rapid flatpack modular construction—a method described as “IKEA on steroids”—as a sustainable and efficient way to deliver housing for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Athletes Village at the RNA Showgrounds.

Unlike traditional concrete construction, which can take up to a month to cure and reach full strength, modular housing can be assembled and disassembled in a matter of weeks using prefabricated materials. Professor Crews notes that this approach offers not only speed and efficiency during construction but also lasting value for the community after the Games.

As Director of the Australian Research Council’s Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment, Professor Crews leads more than 30 research projects exploring timber’s potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials such as concrete.

The article also highlights the growing success of prefabricated construction in Australia, referencing a recent nine-storey apartment project in Spring Hill completed in just nine months; less than half the time it would take using concrete.

Professor Crews’ insights reflect the Hub’s ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable, innovative, and scalable construction solutions that support Queensland’s housing future and the nation’s transition to a low-carbon built environment.

Image courtesy of Emma Cross 

The Crisafulli Government has unveiled the Queensland Future Timber Plan — a long-term strategy designed to provide certainty for the forestry and timber industries while supporting regional jobs, sustainable growth and infrastructure needs.

Developed in collaboration with key industry, research, and community stakeholders, the Plan outlines a 25-year vision to secure the timber needed for the government’s target of one million new homes by 2044.

The ARC Advance Timber Hub has been closely involved in this process through membership of the Timber Supply Chain Ministerial Stakeholder Roundtable and direct engagement via Hub Director, Professor Keith Crews.

“It has been a great privilege for me to represent the ARC Advance Timber Hub in contributing to this significant policy development, which has been developed to ensure a sustainable timber supply to meet future housing needs for Queensland,” Professor Crews said.

The roundtable also included representatives from Timber Queensland, AgForce, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, the Housing Industry Association, Forestry Australia, HQPlantations, Australian Forest Contractors Association and leading timber companies (such as Hub Partners, AKD & Hyne).  

The Hyne Group CEO, Jim Bindon stated, “Our industry and its products are not only essential for building family homes and much needed infrastructure, but also for their by-products used in the manufacture of pallets, particle board, packaging, commercial scale potting mix to grow fresh food – to name a few.

“The Government is acutely aware, that as the population increases, demand for these products is only increasing, as is the need to provide employment amidst thriving, regional communities such as the Wide Bay.

“The need for secure, plantation pine volumes goes hand-in-hand to meet this demand which needs to be planned for now. As stated in the report, ‘The decisions we make today will shape timber supply well beyond 2050’.

“On behalf of the Hyne Group, we congratulate the Queensland Government and its collaborative approach in developing and delivering the Queensland Future Timber Plan.”

The Queensland Future Timber Plan focuses on five key pillars:

• Supply — securing sustainable timber resources for housing, construction and industry.
• Supply chain and market development — enhancing competitiveness on an international scale.
• Regulatory framework — modernising regulation in a way the community supports.
• Workforce — building and retaining a fit-for-purpose workforce in rural and regional economies.
• Research, development & extension (RD&E) — leveraging innovation to modernise the forestry and timber sector.

Among its major commitments, the Plan sets a target to expand Queensland’s plantation estate by 25,000 hectares by 2050, modernise forest management systems, and maintain both plantation and native forest resources to meet ongoing housing and infrastructure demand. Sustainable selective harvesting of native hardwoods will continue in state-owned and privately owned forests, while no reintroduction of harvesting will occur within the South East Queensland Regional Plan area.

 “The Plan provides the certainty and direction needed to rebuild confidence across the sector”, Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said. “The Queensland Future Timber Plan will help rebuild Queensland’s forestry and timber industry to build more homes for Queenslanders. Timber is the ultimate renewable resource—it captures and stores carbon and requires less energy and carbon emissions than materials like concrete and metal.”

Timber Queensland Acting CEO, Clarissa Brandt, welcomed the Plan as a balanced and forward-looking strategy that provides long-overdue certainty for the sector and regional communities, “This plan is a major step forward for Queensland’s forest and timber industry. For the first time in decades we have a long-term strategy that recognises the essential role our industry plays in housing, construction, regional jobs and environmental outcomes, setting a clear direction for growth and sustainability.”

Mrs Brandt added that the Plan’s five core focus areas align with the priorities raised by industry during consultation, including the need for long-term resource security, plantation investment, and support for private native forestry. “This Queensland Future Timber Plan is a strong foundation. With the right investment and collaboration, we can ensure Queensland’s most renewable resource continues to deliver for future generations.”

Over 1.35 million Queenslanders were reached through consultation, with more than 350 people directly engaged and 550 ideas gathered to inform the Plan’s first five-year action agenda. This broad consultation underscores the Plan’s collaborative nature and the shared commitment between government, research, and industry to ensure Queensland’s timber future remains sustainable and globally competitive.

The Queensland Future Timber Plan strongly aligns with the mission of the ARC Advance Timber Hub, to foster innovation across Australia’s timber value chain through collaborative research and partnerships with government, industry, and academia. The Hub’s contribution to the Plan reflects its commitment to ensuring Queensland’s timber future is both sustainable and forward-looking. Through ongoing research in areas such as engineered timber systems, circular economy design, and advanced manufacturing, the Hub will continue to support the Plan’s objectives and the broader goal of delivering low-carbon, renewable materials for Australia’s built environment.

For more information and to download the plan, visit the Queensland Government website:
Queensland Future Timber Plan

The ARC Advance Timber Hub is proud to celebrate the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services North Coast Regional Headquarters and Maryborough Fire and Rescue Station is one of six winning projects of the Built by Nature Prize 2025 — a global award recognising excellence and leadership in timber and bio-based construction.

Recognised for its exemplary integration of sustainable design, innovation, and responsible use of timber. The Built by Nature Prize celebrates projects that embody the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction — including sustainable forest management, life-cycle accountability, carbon storage potential, and the promotion of a timber building bioeconomy.

Selected from nearly 400 entries across 39 countries, 28 projects were shortlisted, and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services North Coast Regional Headquarters and Maryborough Fire and Rescue Station project won the Public Infrastructure category.

See All Winners and Commendations

See Shortlisted Public Infrastructure Category

Kim Baber, Principal Architect from Baber Studio was invited to London to accept the award.

“Winning this award for the design of the building is a true honour. To be one of only six winners internationally and taking out the Public Infrastructure category is a testament to mass timber in construction which I am incredibly passionate about.

“The great thing about this building, is it is entirely practical and within budget yet showcasing exceptional sustainability credentials. It can be done when designed specifically for the benefits of mass timber.

“Getting the right project team together was essential and I thank our project partners who came together tirelessly on this project. I would especially like to thank Katie Fowden from Hyne Group who initiated and led the innovative market led proposal with the Queensland State Government. I look forward to celebrating with all involved on my return to Australia” Kim said.

Kim Baber is also a Chief Investigator of the ARC Advance Timber Hub involved in ARC Advance Timber Hub Projects in the Value-Chain Innovation Research Node – 7.1 (Project Leader), 7.2 and 7.4.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services North Coast Regional Headquarters and Maryborough Fire and Rescue Station stands as an exemplar project of The University of Queensland’s Centre for Future Timber Structures (CFTS). The CFTS worked with Baber Studio, Bligh Tanner, Hutchinson Builders, Hyne Timber, and XLam, to design this Queensland Government market led landmark project showcasing the potential of timber.⁠ The project has helped change industry perceptions and challenge initial concerns over fire safety, illustrating the potential fire safety and sustainable outcomes of timber when used in significant infrastructure.⁠

The CFTS played a key role in the project’s development, including a full 3D scan of the existing structure to inform the design process and expert guidance from the UQ Fire team, which was led by Professor José L. Torero at the time. And during the construction of the project, a moisture monitoring campaign of the innovative CLT building was set up by ARC Future Timber Hub researchers from UQ’s School of Architecture (Dr Paola Leardini) and the QLD Department of Primary Industries’ Forest Product Innovation (FPI) team (Dr Maryam Shirmohammadi and Mr Daniel Field).

“This was the Southern Hemispheres first contemporary, engineered timber fire station and home to the regional operations, fully supported by fire engineering experts.

“It was strategically proposed to bust many myths about mass timber while also being located in Maryborough, aka, ‘timber city’ and our home since 1882⁠” said the Hyne Group’s General Manager, Katie Fowden.

“I would like to congratulate Kim Baber and Baber Studio for this international design recognition as well as the Queensland Government who approved the original proposal to proceed.”

⁠Established in 2015, the Centre for Future Timber Structures (CFTS) evolved into the ARC Future Timber Hub (2016–2021) and now the ARC Advance Timber Hub (2022–current) — continuing to drive world-leading research and industry collaboration to advance timber construction in Australia and beyond.

The Built by Nature Prize 2025, announced at the Built by Nature Summit in London on 16 October, highlights the world’s most responsible and innovative timber buildings — and this Australian project stands proudly among them.

For further information please see: Australian Timber Fire Station Shortlisted for Built by Nature Prize 2025 and Maryborough’s mass timber fire station wins international accolade

Gallery images courtesy of Baber Studio. Photography by Christopher Frederick Jones.

The ARC Advance Timber Hub congratulates our partner Scion on being recognised for its outstanding contribution to forestry science and innovation.

Scion’s commitment to advancing sustainable materials, timber design, and research excellence continues to set an international benchmark. This recent recognition highlights the organisation’s leadership in driving innovation within the forestry and timber sectors — from award-winning sustainable buildings like Te Whare Nui o Tuteata to groundbreaking scientific achievements across multiple disciplines.

As a partner in advancing timber and forest-based innovation, we are particularly proud of Scion’s achievements. Their leadership helps raise the global profile of timber science and sustainable forestry, while advancing the many opportunities for wood in construction, materials, and the bioeconomy.

On September 11 & 12 2025. the, ARC Advance Timber Hub (ATH) Director and 1990 Gottstein Fellowship recipient Prof Keith Crews  along with QLD DPI Forest Product Innovation Team Leader and 2024 Gottstein Fellowship recipient Adam Faircloth, were invited to present at the biennial Understanding Wood Science Course hosted by the Gottstein Trust in Canberra. The event that brings together industry, researchers, and fellows to share insights into the evolving role of timber and wood products in Australia’s built environment.

Professor Crews, delivered a presentation highlighting the intersection between novel technologies, wood design, and sustainability. He detailed how the ARC Advance Timber Hub’s work across eight nodes and 26 research projects is driving the transformation of timber into a central material for achieving a carbon-neutral built environment.

Professor Crews emphasised that the Hub’s research is not only pushing the boundaries of timber product innovation but is also directly contributing to Australia’s climate goals by demonstrating how engineered wood can replace carbon-intensive materials in construction. His address underscored the role of collaboration between academia, government, and industry in positioning timber as a cornerstone of sustainable design.

Mr Faircloth, went on to share findings from his recent international study tour, supported by the Gottstein Fellowship, see The Global Perception and Understanding of Vibration and Acoustics in Timber Structures, which is already informing the direction of Project 1.1 and Project 2.3 with Griffith University and QLD DPI. His research is helping understand the product specific factors that correspond to vibration, acoustic, damping performance on the dynamic and acoustic properties and manufacturing procedures of lightweight timber, mass timber, and hybrid floors.

Other Hub investigators who contributed as speakers at the event included:

• Kim Harris from AKD, presenting on Softwood Sawmilling

• Ralph Belperio from Aurecon, presenting on The Characteristics of Timber Suiting Major Projects

• Ian Blanden from Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), presenting on How Australia’s Research & Development Assists Industry to Meet Challenges & Create Opportunity

• Dr Fabiano Ximenes from NSW DPI, presenting on Forests, Plantations, Wood Products & Australia’s Carbon Balance

• Professor Tripti Singh from University of the Sunshine Coast, presenting on Durable Timber – Nature Plus Nurture

The ARC Advance Timber Hub were proud to see several of its Partner Companies—inclusive of AKD, Aurecon, Forest & Wood Products Australia, Hyne Timber, NSW DPI and University of the Sunshine Coast supporting the course and contributing to its success.

Images courtesy of Adam Faircloth & Gottstein Trust. 

We invite you to take part in a short survey exploring current practices, challenges, and opportunities in hybrid steel–timber construction—particularly steel-framed buildings with timber floors.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: Survey Link

This survey is part of a Royal Society-funded collaboration (IES\R1\251042) between the University of Surrey (UK) and the University of British Columbia (Canada). The project aims to capture region-specific insights into design, detailing, and construction, while also developing a shared database of steel–timber floor tests and numerical models. This database will support the creation of future design guidelines for these innovative systems.

The University of British Columbia is a partner of the ARC Advance Timber Hub, contributing to research projects such as:

• Project 1.3: New Hybrid Load Bearing System as an Incremental Step Towards the Adoption of Timber in Buildings

• Project 1.4: Fire Safety Design of Open Plan Timber Compartments

All responses are anonymous. However, participants may choose to leave their email address to receive project updates and a complimentary copy of the recent 300-page state-of-the-art review on steel–timber–(concrete) structures.

If you could also please share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested. Thank you for your time and support in advancing sustainable construction practices.