annual report - afca.asn.au · annual report australian forest contractors assocation advancing...

ANNUAL REPORT

AUSTRALIAN FOREST CONTRACTORS ASSOCATION Advancing Forestry Contracting Since 2002

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ............................................................................................................................................. 3

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT.............................................................................................................................. 5

2014/2015 KEY ACHIVEMENTS .............................................................................................................................. 7

KEY ADVOCACY AREAS ........................................................................................................................................... 7

2016 KEY DATES ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT ................................................................................................................................. 9

Woodworks Museum, Gympie, July 2015

ANNUAL REPORT


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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT I am pleased to present my chairman’s report

for 2014-15 financial year.

It has been a year of consolidation for AFCA

with David Keenan filling the role of general

manager for a period of four months and then

transitioning to Stacey Gardiner earlier this year.

I would like to thank both David and Stacey for

their efforts in representing our association in a

positive and proactive way and meeting and

assisting our members. I would also like to

thank Ray Walker, Denise DeBattista, and

Gavin Hanrahan for their work throughout the

year.

The 2014/15 year has been one where the

industry activity has been buoyant in market

demand both domestically and internationally.

The challenge of an increase in activity is

always a positive problem to have but there are

always issues that arise that must be

addressed. AFCA continues to be there to

assist our contractor membership in offering

assistance as required. The test of any

association or organisation is “does it make a

difference and who would fill the void if the

association was not there”. AFCA has been

there to assist and has worked closely with

industry in not only advancing our cause but

also ensuring that we don’t get blindsided and

caught in the cross fire when various conflicting

political strategies are advocated.

AFCA has worked closely with the Australian

Forest Products Association (AFPA) in ensuring

that government and opposition alike

understand the full implications of any change in

the Diesel Fuel rebate schemes and the flow on

effects for rural and regional Australia.

Recently through our association with AFPA we

have participated in a new policy proposal titled

“plantations –the missing link” which has as its

aim “to deliver 300 000 hectares of new tree

plantings in the right places –replacing 300 000

hectares of lost plantation. If the trees are not

being put in the ground, we won’t have a

sustainable industry and strategic long term

planning is required. Our country is ranked 7th

in total forested area of all countries in the

world, but we continue to have a trade deficit

with timber products. Australia has a reputation

of having some of the highest environmental,

safety and production standards in the world.

With planting of trees and letting them grow to

maturity and then processing these trees into

various carbon storages like buildings, furniture,

paper and assorted other products the carbon

cycle is being maximised and thus our industry

is a friend of the planet. To achieve this the

whole of the supply chain must be viable,

professional and sustainable. AFCA will

continue in this important role of advocating the

interests of its contracting members.

AFCA continues to focus on skills and training

issues for our members. Through our

association with plantation owners, processors,

industry councils and forest works we will

continue to advocate for a single national

recognition of our industry training and skills and

seek assistance where required, on behalf of

our members, to provide suitable training within

regional Australia.

Over the past couple of months, a many of our

members have been caught up in the Gunn’s

liquidation. We will continue to assist were we

can and are looking at ways to ensure our

members don’t have to face the stress and

hardship that they have faced in the future.

I would also like to thank all our industry

suppliers who have supported AFCA through

their sponsorship. We appreciate your support

and are always looking at ways to assist our

sponsors in their marketing of their products

with our members. Our sponsors also play a

key role in assisting with AFCA in its advocacy

role.

ANNUAL REPORT


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Recently with the support of one of our

sponsors, Linx Finance, we hosted twenty

senior financial representatives from the six

major banks in Australia and gave them an

overview of the industry from Plantation, harvest

and haulage through to Mill and processing.

Many of these financiers are the ones that

signed off on finance deals within our industry

for our members and this was the first time that

they actually saw our industry from the coal

face. Many of their pre conceived ideas were

changed for the better and they all remarked on

our industries professionalism, sustainability

and environmental credentials. Through field

trips like this and with the whole of industry

support (HVP, Australian Paper, Australian

Sustainable Hardwoods and a number of

Gippsland Contractors) we see this as another

way of getting our positive message about our

industry out and further assisting our members.

AFCA through its ownership of the forestry expo

Austimber2016 is taking the opportunity to use

the event to showcase to the general public the

whole industry’s professionalism, demonstrate

how we can provide a long term sustainable

industry in regional Australia, look after the land

base we work in and provide solutions to

environmental issues. I look forward to

welcoming you all to Gippsland, in the Latrobe

Valley during the week of the 11 to 16 of April

2016.

To all my fellow board members Joanne, Karen,

Ken, Phil, Denis, Aden and David thank you.

Your commitment and dedication is greatly

appreciated and you all have our industry at

heart. I would particularly like to thank deputy

Chair Joanne Wilson for her work within the

AFCA board over the past three years and wish

her and her family well in their exciting new

venture.

The future is bright, contractors value in the

supply chain is being appreciated, so let’s look

to 2016 and beyond with optimism.

Ian Reid

Chairman

The Linx Group Tour of Forestry, Gippsland, September 2015

ANNUAL REPORT


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GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORTSince joining AFCA in March 2015, following the

resignation of David Keenan earlier this year, I

have enjoyed the transition into the forest

industry from local government and feel I have

now gained a better appreciation for the industry

and on all aspects of harvest and haulage

operations and businesses. I would like to

thank David for his contribution and thorough

hand over when I commenced which made for a

smooth transition.

During the past few months I have continued to

build relationships with stakeholders across

industry and have appreciated their support and

patience as I become more familiar with industry

and the many associations that exist. The

opportunity to be part of the development of a

national policy working with the Australian

Forest Products Association who lead its

development has been invaluable. With

collaborative effort regarding policy and

advocacy the industry will be able to achieve a

great deal.

One of the first items I identified needed to be

addressed was to reconnect with members

given AFCA had gone through some changes

over the past year which I believe led to

inconsistent communication for a period of time.

In order to achieve this the Board supported a

member survey and I considered it appropriate

to contact each member individually to touch

base.

The results of the survey allowed me, as

someone not familiar with the industry, to gain a

quick overview of the key challenges and the

way in which our industry operates. It also gave

many members a sense that AFCA was moving

forward. Contacting every member was a

significant task in itself and I would like to thank

Gavan Hanrahan who returned to AFCA and

played a significant role in reengaging with

members.

I have also had an opportunity to meet a

number of members through the delivery of my

first round of regional meetings, with seven

being held across the states. The regional

meetings have allowed me to hear firsthand

some of the challenges and issues which each

region is facing. This information has formed

the basis of much of the advocacy work which

will be completed over the coming year. I look

forward to the next round and I am already

considering key speakers in order to maintain

the relevance of these to members.

AFCA also has a number of partners and I now

have a greater understanding our partners, the

range of services they provide and their

contributions to AFCA. Without the ongoing

support of our partners there is no doubt AFCA

would not be able to participate in the many

committees, councils and industry discussions

as it currently does. Over the next few months I

will be looking at ways to expand our

partnerships and ways in which we can engage

differently with them.

As part of our ongoing commitment to our

partners AFCA’s will shortly distribute to all

members our first Members Business Directory,

which recognises our partners and will assist in

providing stronger links between our members

and partners.

At the end of June, AFCA’s State Field Officer,

Ray Walker commenced working as a fee for

service arrangement in Tasmania after a long

agreement with Forestry Tasmania ceased.

Whilst it has meant new processes and a way of

operating, Ray has ensured the process has

been a smooth transition. I would like to thank

Ray for his ongoing commitment to AFCA and

the importance of health and safety.

I would also like to thank the Board for their

ongoing support and the time they have spent

hosting me in different regions, their passion for

the industry is clear and the importance that

Forest Contracting Business continue to have a

voice. I look forward to for their ongoing

support.

ANNUAL REPORT


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Finally, a special thank you to Denise, who

manages our head office, for her ongoing

support and assistance to ensure AFCA

operates smoothly. She has made my transition

easy.

I look forward to the year ahead and working with

the Board in developing a strategic plan for the

future which will ensure we stay on course and

achieve what we need to. From my perspective,

it is now important for me to consolidate the

knowledge I have gained over the past few

months and take this information forward to

actively advocate on behalf of members,

particularly in the lead up to the federal election

and budget processes. I also look forward to

working with industry to influence policy and

direction of future activities and initiatives within

the forest industry.

Lastly, having never attended an AusTimber, I

have high expectations on what will be delivered

as part of the event next year in the Latrobe

Valley, Victoria in April next year. From current

planning it appears that it is shaping up to be a

fantastic show case of the industry and I look

forward to seeing many of our members and

industry there.

Stacey Gardiner

General Manager

Tour of forestry facilities in Western Australia, May 2015

ANNUAL REPORT


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2014/2015 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Member Workshop and Annual General

Meeting with presentations from key

industry stakeholders, including the Hon.

Senator Colbeck

Contributed to a collation group through

providing a direct case study within the

publication ‘Powering Regional Australia:

The Case for Fuel Tax Credits’

Contributed to the development of ‘A

National Policy’ to promote investment in

the forest and wood products industry

Submission to the Forest Industry Advisory

Council

Submission to Tasmanian Regional Forest

Agreement Third Fiver yearly review

Submission to the National Heavy Vehicle

Regulator on policy changes

Representation on a number of committees including; - New South Wales Forest Industry

Taskforce

- Tasmanian Forest Industry Safety

Standards Committee

- Victorian Forest Work Health and

Safety Committee

- Victorian Skills and Training Advisory

Committee

- Tasmanian Forest Industry Advisory

Council

- Australian Forest Products Association

Bi - Annual Member Survey to drive the

future direction of AFCA

Regional Meetings including;

- Coffs Harbour;

- Western Australia, Bunbury

- Launceston, Tasmania

- Gympie, Queensland

- Albury, Southern NSW/Northern

Victoria

- Mt Gambier, South Australia/Western

Victoria

- Manjimup, Western Australia

KEY ADVOCACY AREAS Promote the value of the Forest Industry

and the development of policies that

sustain and support industry growth

Work with all levels of Government and

industry to reduce transportation barriers

and improve network access

Work with industry to improve employment

attraction and retention for Forest

Contracting Business

Review existing, and identify new

opportunities to provide training and

enhance skill development

Promote a Health and Safe working

environment

Represent Forest Contracting Businesses

throughout the industry and improve

industry recognition and

Identify and improve contracting conditions

Blue Gum Plantation, Western Australia, May 2015

ANNUAL REPORT


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2016 KEY DATES

AFCA Board Meetings 2016

Friday 5 February: Launceston, Tasmania

Wednesday 16 March: Phone Conference

Tuesday 12 April: Traralgon, Victoria

(AusTimber)

Thursday 23 June: Gympie, Queensland

Tuesday 26 July: Phone Conference

Friday 26 August: Coffs Harbour, New South

Wales

Friday 14 October – AGM, Mt Gambier,

South Australia

AusTimber2016 Launch, November 2014

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