Going for Gold on National Forestry Day

Queensland Government officials and timber industry representatives are meeting in Brisbane today to discuss utilising mass timber construction and other timber products together with establishing timber plantations to achieve a “climate positive” Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Timber Queensland’s Strategic Relations and Communications Manager Clarissa Brandt said the Timber 2032 Forum, hosted at the University of Queensland by Timber Queensland and the Australian Research Council Advance Timber Hub, is being held on National Forestry Day.

“National Forestry Day is the ideal time to highlight how the natural warmth and beauty of wood can enhance the overall atmosphere of the venues and athlete villages, creating a memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike whilst delivering an infrastructure and natural capital asset legacy for Queensland,” said Clarissa Brandt.

“Brisbane 2032 is a chance for Queensland’s timber industry to shine alongside our athletes.  Our beautiful hardwood and softwood timbers are the gold medal solution to lowering emissions and reducing embodied carbon in construction,” she said.

“Timber 2032 Forum attendees will also gain insights into another winning aspect of using timber; the health and wellbeing benefits associated with timber buildings to improve Olympic athletes, and subsequent residents, mental state, stress levels and performance.”

Mrs Brandt said the Queensland Government’s Brisbane 2032 Legacy Plan defines how to drive economic, social and environmental outcomes that ensure lasting benefits before, during and after the Games.

“Planting production trees ticks all the boxes for delivering a climate positive legacy.  A Legacy Plantation would deliver carbon sequestration to offset Olympic infrastructure construction, it would grow regional jobs now and into the future and it would help provide a solution to our growing timber production shortfall.

“To put this in perspective – by 2035 Queensland will face a timber production shortfall for house frames equivalent to the size of Cairns, because we don’t have the trees growing in the ground right now to meet that demand. The shortfall gap will only get worse if action is not taken.”

“Today is the perfect opportunity for Government decision makers to reflect about the important role of timber and wood in everyday lives as well as how it will be utlised for Brisbane 2032. Happy National Forestry Day 2023!,” said Clarissa Brandt.