3. Action Plan: Timber Flows
 
There are within the Northern Rivers region at the present time a large number of persons—perhaps hundreds—who are involved at some level in the harvesting and milling of camphor laurel timber, and in the manufacture of products from this timber. In most cases camphor laurel is only one of a range of timbers dealt with, but it is often the major species, sometimes making up the substantial majority of the volume of timber handled. Most of the camphor laurel milled is stockpiled and used locally for the manufacture of furniture and other items. Manufacturers in most cases contract the harvesting and basic milling (slabbing) of their timber requirements.
 
It is difficult to separate the activities of harvesting and milling of camphor laurel as milling into slabs (at least) generally occurs on-site at the time of harvest. There are in operation within the region many (but the number is unknown) portable saw mills which are available to cut camphor laurel timber on a contract basis. Although some mill owners are in the business solely of cutting timber on contract, many are building stocks of dry timber slabs for later sale. Some have further diversified into manufacture.
 
Cinnamomum camphora is known to be susceptible to lyctid borers. There is general agreement among millers and others dealing with the timber that some form of preservative treatment is essential, but presently a range of chemicals and a variety of treatment techniques are in use. It is desirable that some uniform standard of treatment be applied to all camphor timber cut and sold in the region, and boron treatment appears to be the preferred option. Although relevant here, this issue is explored more fully in s.4.3.1. The remainder of this section deals principally with the question of timber flows, that is, with access to the camphor laurel resource, and with harvesting and milling of camphor laurel timber.
 
3.1 Logging, transport and milling options
 
It is evident from both field inspections and discussions with industry that the economically viable sawlog component comprises only a small proportion of the total camphor laurel resource (see table 2.2 where estimates of quantities available for sawn conversion were based on recovery rates of 10 per cent. at most). The remainder is clearly in the biomass category (with potential byproducts such as roots and oil). In some respects the slab resource can be regarded as a separate component to the sawlog resource as it falls into the specialty purpose category and there is more potential for flexibility in utilisation (e.g. sale of individual trees, on-property processing with portable sawmills, or stockpiling for auction).
 
In developing harvesting strategies, therefore, it is clear that in all but the very best quality stands a stand-alone logging operation is not economically viable. There are physical limitations such as harvesting costs (influenced by sawlog volume per holding, sawlog size, terrain and access), and log transport, including the availability of ‘bed logs’ for log trailers.
 
The resource itself falls into three categories (see further under Marketing Plan):
 
(i) That component of the resource considered by State Forests of NSW as suitable for clearing/logging and re-establishment to plantation and including mainly closed forests and the best ‘scattered’ sites.
 
(ii) That component that will not attract the interest of SFNSW and therefore must be harvested by another operative. This may include the full range of growth conditions, from closed forests to paddock trees.
 
(iii) That component on public lands controlled by either the Department of Land and Water Conservation, the Roads and Traffic Authority, or local government, for example street trees, planted trees in public reserves, and natural growth on roadsides and other public places.
 
It is envisaged that the most appropriate method of harvesting the camphor resource under category (i), including the biomass, sawlog and other products, will be through an integrated approach, probably at the time of clearing for plantation site preparation, using a contractor who has both clearing and salvage logging capabilities. The limited sawlog volume (and slab logs) could be delivered to processors using body trucks after being serviced and loaded using the site preparation contractor’s equipment.
 
The component of the resource within category (ii), even when it has the same characteristics as the category (i) resource, presents more of a challenge by virtue of the fact that the costs associated with its removal cannot be absorbed into a plantation program. Rather they will have to be borne by either the processor or the landowner, or both. Obviously the existence of a large biomass market will provide economies of scale in the harvesting of the total resource, including sawlogs and slab trees, with a simple cost structure possible whereby the sawmiller/slab processor pays the costs of that component of the resource. Where selective logging only is involved all costs will be borne by the sawmiller/slab processor. The smaller operation, particularly landowner harvesting, raises issues not only of economics but also in respect of occupational health and safety (s.3.5). The options for handling the public land component (iii) are presumably more straightforward because the public authority concerned is responsible for the removal of the trees. A co-operative approach between the existing camphor laurel industry and the public authority would facilitate the transport of logs or biomass to the processor by the public authority or stockpiling at a centralised, accessible location for subsequent removal by the processor. Existing council waste disposal/recycling facilities might provide such central, accessible locations.
 
Recommendation 3.1 That local councils, whether or not within the area to which the noxious weed declaration applies, consider the possibilities for the recovery of logs from trees removed from council land (and by other agencies from other public land) and their sale to timber users through council waste disposal/recycling facilities.
 
3.2 Cost estimates of timber harvesting and processing at farm gate, mill and kiln, including boron treatment of the sawn product.
 
Costs are considered for harvesting (in conjunction with plantation establishment, by a recognised logging contractor, and by the existing camphor laurel industry or the land-owner), processing at the farm gate, and sawmilling at a permanent site. The latter includes the cost of boron treatment and drying.
 
3.2.1 Harvesting
There are three main options for harvesting the resource:
 
(i) Harvesting in conjunction with clearing for plantation establishment, with part of the cost absorbed in the clearing costs.
 
Indicative costs are in the order of $15-$20/m3 with haulage about $0.15-$0.20/m3/kilometre.
 
(ii) Harvesting and haulage by a recognised logging contractor.
 
Because of costs (particularly associated with the moving of equipment), most contractors will not consider mounting a logging operation where there is an all up volume of less than about 100-200 cubic metres. Similarly, where only a small volume of commercial logs is scattered over a wide area, the operation is not viable because of high snigging and track construction costs. In the case of camphor laurel, a significant proportion of the resource falls within these categories. For that reason this option has not been costed (see iii below).
 
(iii) Harvesting by the existing camphor industry or landowner. To date camphor laurel harvesting has almost entirely been undertaken in this manner. All camphor laurel harvesting activities are either carried out by industry operators or individual land-owners, with no one sawmill employing a logging contractor. It is evident from discussions with the camphor industry that this approach to harvesting and delivery will continue in the future. It would not be affected by SFNSW plantation proposals, as that part of the resource would be harvested under option (i). It is evident that harvesting costs for camphor laurel are significantly higher than for the hardwood industry, with a low figure of $60/m3 that varies upwards depending on whether the landowner stipulates that the property be cleaned up after harvesting. To this can be added a nominal haulage cost of $0.15-$0.20/m3/kilometre.
 
3.2.2 Processing at farm gate (slabs and boards)
Information from existing camphor laurel processors suggests that production of slabs at the farm gate costs in the order of $90 to $120/m3, including transporting of a portable mill to the site. The milling of boards costs in the order of $130-$150/m3. The industry generally believes that milling on site is still the preferred option.
 
3.2.3 Sawmilling at a permanent site (including Boron treatment and drying)
Sawmilling costs will vary with recovery and therefore log form and defect. Indications are that costs are lowest for slabs (up to 90% recovery) and highest for sawn, small dimension boards (about 40% or lower for 100mm x 25mm, 150mm x 25mm, 150mm x 50mm etc). Based on average costs in a small sawmill, it is estimated that the cost of milling, boron treatment, racking and kiln drying camphor laurel are as follows:
 

Milling	$90-$150/m3
Boron treatment       (pressure)	$80-$100/m3
Kiln drying	$150-$200/m3
TOTAL	$320-$450/m3

 
3.3 Mainstream infrastructure applicable to camphor laurel
 
There exists within the ‘mainstream’ regional timber industry a range of infrastructure that potentially could be applied to the processing of camphor laurel timber. It would appear, however, that very little use of such facilities (milling equipment, drying kilns, preservative treatment facilities) for this purpose is likely to occur. For instance, the existing larger timber mills within the region are geared to processing large volumes of uniform product, so are not likely to be amenable to dealing with smaller quantities, on an irregular basis, of camphor laurel of non-uniform size and quality. It would seem to be axiomatic that new, purpose-built facilities will be required to process the region’s camphor laurel resource. This point is explored further below (s. 4.2.2).
 
3.4 The regulatory regime relevant to the harvesting of camphor laurel
 
The two principal New South Wales statutes which presently affect the harvesting and/or clearing of camphor laurel trees in the Richmond-Tweed district are the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 and the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. State Forests of NSW are currently negotiating with both the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to determine the extent to which both pieces of legislation will affect their plantation proposals for camphor-infested properties. For the landowners who do not fall into the plantation scenario, however, it is very much their own responsibility to address these two pieces of legislation. Additionally, the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 has become relevant now that the declaration of Cinnamomum camphora as a noxious weed has been gazetted. These three statutes are commented upon below. No legal authority is implied in these comments, but they may serve as a basis for more thorough investigation.
 
3.4.1 Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 The objects of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act include: provision for the conservation and management of native vegetation on a regional basis; the protection of native vegetation of high conservation value; and the prevention of the inappropriate clearance of native vegetation. In this act, native vegetation is defined as several types of ‘indigenous’ vegetation, so does not include the exotic Cinnamomum camphora. The act may, however, affect the removal of C. camphora. through its incorporation (s.7) of the ‘protected land’ provisions of the Soil Conservation Act 1938.
 
Generally, protected land is any land, identified by an order published in the Gazette, which: has a slope greater than 18 degrees; is situated within, or within 20 metres of, the bed or bank of any specified river or lake; and which is environmentally sensitive or affected by or liable to be affected by soil erosion, siltation or land degradation. Clearance of protected land is subject, as is the clearance of native vegetation, to the development consent process under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, for which the Minister for Land and Water Conservation is the consent authority. Certain types of clearing are excluded from the operation of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act, and these include (s.12) clearing authorised under the Noxious Weeds Act. Given that camphor laurel is associated with riparian areas and steep land over much of its range, it is probable that the protected land provisions of this act will commonly apply to the removal of this species.
 
Recommendation 3.2 That the Department of Land and Water Conservation, as the authority administering the Native Vegetation Conservation Act, include within the Regional Vegetation Management Plan for the North Coast Region provisions specific to the clearing of Cinnamomum camphora from protected land. [Department of Land and Water Conservation]
 
3.4.2 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
The objects of the Threatened Species Conservation Act include: to conserve biological diversity; to prevent the extinction of and to promote the recovery of threatened species, populations and ecological communities; to protect the critical habitat of those threatened species, populations and ecological communities that are endangered; and to ensure that the impact of any action affecting threatened species, populations and ecological communities is properly assessed. As the act applies to plant-life and animal-life indigenous to New South Wales, it does not apply directly to the exotic C. camphora, but it does apply indirectly in that C. camphora may provide habitat to some indigenous species. Patches of C. camphora may also provide connectivity between remnants of native vegetation in a generally highly disturbed and cleared landscape.
 
The dependence on C. camphora of frugivorous rainforest pigeons such as Ptilinopus magnificus (wompoo) and P. regina (rose-crowned) has been well documented (e. g. Date et al., 1991). In addition, native plant species such as Macadamia tetraphylla and Davidsonia pruriens can occur as understorey species in camphor laurel regrowth. Moreover, larger stands of camphor laurel, particularly where they adjoin eucalypt forest or rainforest, may also provide habitat for some threatened mammalian species. Where such species are included in the schedules to the Threatened Species Conservation Act, and where a proposed activity such as broadscale clearing or even selective removal of C. camphora is likely to have a ‘significant impact’ on a threatened species, then the preparation of a Species Impact Statement (SIS) would be required.
 
Recommendation 3.3 That the authority administering the Threatened Species Conservation Act (DLWC) be encouraged to formulate a policy, supported by appropriate legal instruments (e.g. SEPP), on the removal and replacement of Cinnamomum camphora to ensure the consistent application of the provisions of the act to proposals for timber harvesting operations likely to affect threatened species within areas of vegetation containing C. camphora. [Department of Land and Water Conservation, National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Forests of NSW]
 
3.4.3 Noxious Weeds Act 1993
The objects of the Noxious Weeds Act are to identify noxious weeds in respect of which control measures need to be taken, specify those control measures, specify the duties of public and private landholders as to the control of those noxious weeds, and to provide a framework for the state-wide control of those noxious weeds by the Minister and by local control authorities. The recent gazettal of Cinnamomum camphora as a category W4 noxious weed under this act in some areas will affect the harvesting of the species. For example, clearing authorised under the Noxious Weeds Act is excluded from the operation of the Native Vegetation Conservation Act. It is uncertain, however, whether it will affect the provisions of the TSC Act in relation to the impact on threatened species. The fact that the areas which contain the most significant infestations of camphor laurel have been excluded from the declaration lessens considerably its potential effect on resource availability. Indeed, its effect, which remains unclear, may be insignificant. Notably, it is the areas outside the scope of the declaration that have been the focus of investigations by State Forests of NSW regarding replacement of camphor laurel with native hardwood plantations.
 
Recommendation 3.4 That the effects of the noxious weed declaration on access to and availability of camphor laurel timber within the region be monitored. [Far North Coast County Council]
 
Recommendation 3.5 That opportunities be embraced for linking timber stand management with noxious weed control plans to provide for long-term timber supply (albeit only once-off, the presumption being that replacement with other species will occur at least in the areas where camphor laurel is a declared noxious weed). [Far North Coast County Council]
 
3.4.4 Replacement procedures
Arising from the above, there is a strong need to ensure that immediate follow-up occurs to clearing and removal of camphor laurel, whether for timber production, plantation establishment, or weed control. The procedures necessary for replanting with approved species need to be set up by the relevant authorities. Besides Local and State Government, there also needs to be contact with community groups such as the Sub-tropical Farm Forestry Association, Landcare groups, Greening Australia, and the Nursery Industry Association. Close co-ordination will be necessary between the loggers/clearers and the replanters.
 
Recommendation 3.6 That procedures be established for replanting with approved species areas from which camphor laurel is removed.
[Far North Coast County Council, Department of Land and Water Conservation, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Southern Cross University, Greening Australia, Sub-tropical Farm Forestry Association, Landcare groups, Nursery Industry Association]
 
3.5 OH&S standards on timber harvesting sites
 
There are four principal issues relevant to the harvesting of camphor laurel that have implications for occupational health and safety:
 
3.5.1 Falling of multi-stemmed trees
Both manual falling of multi-stemmed trees and cutting of multi-stemmed trees that have been pushed as part of a clearing operation present significant challenges for the chainsaw operator. Only the most competent operators could undertake such tasks on a regular basis, with advanced training necessary for inexperienced operators. Some of the potential problems with the manual handling of multi-stemmed trees (whether falling or cross-cutting) include gaining safe access to individual stems, chainsaw kick-back as a result of the cutter bar coming into contact with other stems, availability of an adequate escape route as the stem is falling, and inter-locking of stem crowns.
 
3.5.2 Falling in closed forest conditions
Manual falling of trees in closed forest conditions can lead to hang-ups, particularly with smaller trees that do not have the crown weight to propel them to the ground. In such circumstances, further cutting of the hung-up tree to attempt to put it on the ground poses a serious risk to the faller. The alternative of leaving the tree hung up also has the potential to place the faller and others at risk.
 
Where trees are unable to be effectively felled they may sit on the stump, which also poses a potential danger to the operator because the felling direction may change (it may come back over the stump).
 
From an OH&S viewpoint the optimal method of falling would be either by pushing the tree, or by mechanical falling. Otherwise, training courses leading to a competency-based accreditation scheme would be necessary for chainsaw operators. The difficulty with this is that the volume of sawlog in most stands is insufficient to warrant a piecework rate for falling and therefore there is a cost factor involved in felling for waste or even biomass production. In addition, the concept of landowners falling trees to supply sawlogs or biomass in an informal contractual arrangement with a purchaser means that the responsibility for workers compensation insurance may then lie with the landowner. This would represent an impediment to supply.
 
Clearly, then, the optimal methodology for falling trees lies with either pushing and mechanical delimbing, or mechanical falling and delimbing.
 
3.5.3 Snigging with farm tractors
In those situations where the resource is confined to paddock trees, riparian trees or small copses, and the economics of harvesting are such that the landowner undertakes the felling and snigging rather than a recognised contractor or processor, the issue of machinery suitability is important. OH&S considerations such as tractors being equipped with adequate roll-over protection (ROPS) canopies and a safe snigging system (i.e. not simply snigging from the draw bar) may affect the availability or otherwise of much of this resource.
 
3.5.4 Liability
In the normal forest harvesting situation, sawmills require logging contractors to be registered companies with their own insurance coverage. Whilst the smaller camphor laurel processors may not insist on this (although they should), the larger companies utilising the bulk of the biomass resource almost certainly will.
 
3.6 Opportunities for co-operation
 
There exist many opportunities within the existing camphor laurel industry for co-operation in several aspects of timber processing and marketing. Some of these opportunities are considered in the following section (4. Marketing Plan). In general, however, it can be said that there is an urgent need for some structure to be adopted by the existing camphor laurel users that will facilitate interaction between them. At very least this structure should be at the level of an informal network which will facilitate business transactions within the industry; ideally it should be at the level of an informal industry association which meets regularly to consider and act upon questions of standards, research, and product promotion. Ultimately it might be at the level of a formal, incorporated industry association or co-operative, but this is considered to be inappropriate at the present stage of the development of the industry.
 
3.7 Other issues relevant to timber flows
 
From discussion with persons engaged in harvesting and milling camphor laurel, it is evident that the following are issues of relevance to timber flows which require some urgent consideration.
 
3.7.1 Operation of portable mills
A large number of portable saw mills are already in operation in the region, cutting slabs and boards from camphor laurel trees growing mainly on private land. This sort of activity is likely to increase now that land-owners in some shires are compelled to remove the trees from their properties following the declaration of the species as a noxious weed. It is also likely that the need will arise more frequently to transport logs from several locations to one central repository for processing by a portable mill. It is important that councils adopt a consistent approach to the question of the operation of portable mills for camphor laurel control especially with respect to whether this is an activity for which development consent is required.
 
Recommendation 3.7 That councils within the Northern Rivers region, especially those subject to the noxious weed declaration, consider the question of portable mill operation, and the associated transport and stockpiling of camphor laurel logs, with the view to adopting some consistent policy on the matter that does not unreasonably hinder the removal of these trees. [Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils]
 
3.7.2 Contracts with land-owners
As camphor laurel becomes a more popular commercial species, land-holders will increasingly be faced with the question of what rate of royalty they should expect to receive from contractors wishing to operate on their land, and increasingly be in the position of making agreements with contractors over such rates and over obligations of contractors with regard to post-harvest clean-up operations and other matters. It would appear to be in the interests of the emerging camphor laurel industry that there be not only some standardisation of royalty (with allowance for variation in size, quality and accessibility) but a standard form of contract between cutters and landowners which clearly sets out the rights and obligations of both parties.
 
Recommendation 3.8 That legal assistance be obtained to design a form of contract that could be adopted generally within the region for the removal of camphor laurel timber from private land. [Camphor industry association, Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils, State Forests of NSW]
 
3.7.3 Potential for stand improvement
The creation of stand improvement demonstration plots may work to engender public confidence in the potential for camphor laurel to be managed for timber production. Stand management has already been mentioned in the context of noxious weed control plans (s.3.4.3), but this might also be done in connection with State Forests plantation establishment on camphor lands, and through Landcare groups which might use such trials as a means of generating their own funds through timber sales.
 
Recommendation 3.9 That opportunities be embraced for establishing stand improvement demonstration plots to engender public confidence in the potential for camphor laurel to be managed for timber production. [State Forests of NSW, Landcare groups, Sub-tropical Farm Forestry Association]
 
3.8 References
 
Date, E. M., Ford, H. A. and Recher, H. F., 1991. ‘Frugivorous pigeons, stepping stones, and weeds in northern New South Wales’, in Saunders, D. A. and Hobbs, R. J. (ed.) Nature Conservation 2: The Role of Corridors (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney), pp. 241-245.
 

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