❓ A parliamentary question regarding the sale of logs for railway sleeper production, questioning the government's commitment to phasing out native timber use and seeking details on contracts and specifications. The response clarifies the policy, details log sales, and explains the use of low-grade logs for sleepers as environmentally sound.
AnsweredQoN 6101Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Regarding the contracts of sale for the logs used to produce these railway sleepers, -
(a) what is the name of the buyers;
(b) what species, grade and quantity of logs (in tonnes and cubic metres) are they buying;
(c) what base and gross price per tonne and cubic metre do they pay the Forest Products Commission (FPC) for the logs;
(d) when do the contracts begin and end; and
(e) are there any conditions regarding the products the buyers are to produce from these logs?
(2) If yes to (1)(e), what are they?
(3) Will the Minister please table all contracts of sale for logs used to produce railway sleepers?
(4) Will the Minister please table the specifications for the railway sleepers made from logs sold by the FPC?
(5) Given that the Gallop Government was elected on the basis of the policy that ‘Labor will ensure that Westrail ceases the utilisation of native timber for new railway sleepers, and shifts to a total reliance on alternative materials such as concrete, steel and plantation timber,’ will the Carpenter Government ensure that this policy is implemented?
(6) Will the Government include in the contracts for the sale of logs, other than 1st and 2nd grade, the same requirement that is in the contracts for the sale of 1st and 2nd grade sawlogs, namely that the buyer must process into value added timber products, which do not include railway sleepers, all logs delivered to the site?
(a) what is the name of the buyers;
(b) what species, grade and quantity of logs (in tonnes and cubic metres) are they buying;
(c) what base and gross price per tonne and cubic metre do they pay the Forest Products Commission (FPC) for the logs;
(d) when do the contracts begin and end; and
(e) are there any conditions regarding the products the buyers are to produce from these logs?
(2) If yes to (1)(e), what are they?
(3) Will the Minister please table all contracts of sale for logs used to produce railway sleepers?
(4) Will the Minister please table the specifications for the railway sleepers made from logs sold by the FPC?
(5) Given that the Gallop Government was elected on the basis of the policy that ‘Labor will ensure that Westrail ceases the utilisation of native timber for new railway sleepers, and shifts to a total reliance on alternative materials such as concrete, steel and plantation timber,’ will the Carpenter Government ensure that this policy is implemented?
(6) Will the Government include in the contracts for the sale of logs, other than 1st and 2nd grade, the same requirement that is in the contracts for the sale of 1st and 2nd grade sawlogs, namely that the buyer must process into value added timber products, which do not include railway sleepers, all logs delivered to the site?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 May 2008
Responded by
Minister for Forestry
Response time
37 days
1)
(a - b) Railway sleepers are produced from time to time by some of the following buyers of third grade sawlogs or bole sawlogs from the Forest Products Commission:
Contract quantity (p.a.)
Contract quantity (p.a.)
Buyer
Product
tonnes
Cubic metres (m
3
)
Australian Craftwood & Timbers Pty Ltd
Jarrah third grade sawlog
15,000
12,000
Redmond Sawmill
Jarrah third grade sawlog
2,000
1,600
Dwellingup Sawmill
Jarrah third grade sawlog
1,000
800
Whiteland Milling
Jarrah third grade sawlog
1,000
800
Whiteland Milling
Jarrah Bole sawlog
11,160
9,000
(c)
Product
Approx base price
(inc GST)
Approx base price
(inc GST)
Approx gross price (inc GST)
Approx gross price (inc GST)
$/t
$/m3
$/t
$/m3
Jarrah bole sawlog
76
94
84
104
Jarrah third grade sawlog
66
82
74
92
Note: Total log prices vary depending on cartage distance from forest to mill. The above prices are based on a distance of 95 kilometres. Prices are effective as at 1 January 2008. Gross price is base price plus Forest Products Commission charges for administration, road construction and maintenance and in-forest costs, and is the price paid by the buyer.
(d)
Buyer
Start Date
End Date
Australian Craftwood & Timbers Pty Ltd
1 July 2004
31 December 2013
Redmond Sawmill
1 January 2005
31 December 2013
Dwellingup Sawmill
1 July 2006
31 December 2013
Whiteland Milling
1 July 2004
31 December 2013
(e) Yes.
(2) The sawlog buyers are required to process the logs in Western Australia into "Value Added Products". Value Added Products include sawn products used for furniture, flooring, joinery, decking and veneer. Low grade logs and portions of bole sawlogs of insufficient quality for value adding may be used to produce lower value sawn products for general construction and sleepers.
(3 - 4) Yes.[See tabled paper no. ]
(5) Current Labor party policy states that it will ensure that Westrail ceases the utilisation of native timber for new railway sleepers and shifts to a total reliance on alternative materials such as concrete, steel and plantation timber.
In December 2000 the previous Coalition Government sold Westrail to Australian Western Railroad, a private company, over which this Government has no such control.
(6) No, as low grade logs, which are unsuitable for value adding, are currently the most environmentally friendly material for producing sleepers.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a - b) Railway sleepers are produced from time to time by some of the following buyers of third grade sawlogs or bole sawlogs from the Forest Products Commission:
Contract quantity (p.a.)
Contract quantity (p.a.)
Buyer
Product
tonnes
Cubic metres (m
3
)
Australian Craftwood & Timbers Pty Ltd
Jarrah third grade sawlog
15,000
12,000
Redmond Sawmill
Jarrah third grade sawlog
2,000
1,600
Dwellingup Sawmill
Jarrah third grade sawlog
1,000
800
Whiteland Milling
Jarrah third grade sawlog
1,000
800
Whiteland Milling
Jarrah Bole sawlog
11,160
9,000
(c)
Product
Approx base price
(inc GST)
Approx base price
(inc GST)
Approx gross price (inc GST)
Approx gross price (inc GST)
$/t
$/m3
$/t
$/m3
Jarrah bole sawlog
76
94
84
104
Jarrah third grade sawlog
66
82
74
92
Note: Total log prices vary depending on cartage distance from forest to mill. The above prices are based on a distance of 95 kilometres. Prices are effective as at 1 January 2008. Gross price is base price plus Forest Products Commission charges for administration, road construction and maintenance and in-forest costs, and is the price paid by the buyer.
(d)
Buyer
Start Date
End Date
Australian Craftwood & Timbers Pty Ltd
1 July 2004
31 December 2013
Redmond Sawmill
1 January 2005
31 December 2013
Dwellingup Sawmill
1 July 2006
31 December 2013
Whiteland Milling
1 July 2004
31 December 2013
(e) Yes.
(2) The sawlog buyers are required to process the logs in Western Australia into "Value Added Products". Value Added Products include sawn products used for furniture, flooring, joinery, decking and veneer. Low grade logs and portions of bole sawlogs of insufficient quality for value adding may be used to produce lower value sawn products for general construction and sleepers.
(3 - 4) Yes.[See tabled paper no. ]
(5) Current Labor party policy states that it will ensure that Westrail ceases the utilisation of native timber for new railway sleepers and shifts to a total reliance on alternative materials such as concrete, steel and plantation timber.
In December 2000 the previous Coalition Government sold Westrail to Australian Western Railroad, a private company, over which this Government has no such control.
(6) No, as low grade logs, which are unsuitable for value adding, are currently the most environmentally friendly material for producing sleepers.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.