EWPAA Media Release
14 July 2022
Timber to play a big role in a Net Zero Future for the Built Environment
The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) welcomes the announcement by the Federal Minister for Education, The Hon Jason Clare MP and Australian Research Council (ARC) of $3 million in research and development (R&D) funding to establish an ARC Research Hub to ‘Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment’ based at the University of Queensland (UQ).
The Timber Hub (led by UQ Professor Keith Crews) aims to support the transformation of Australia’s timber and construction sectors by stimulating growth in innovation, increasing the uptake of timber products used in buildings, and establishing a roadmap for change.
EWPAA’s Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Matthew said, “This new funding and industry’s strong support for the Timber Hub recognises that our renewable timber products can reduce emissions and waste, store carbon, provide skilled jobs, and build the types of new homes and businesses needed in a net zero future.”
“Timber is a renewable biological resource that can be manufactured into a range of essential products, including many innovative engineered wood products, which should be the preferred building materials in a low emissions and circular economy that can also provide many social, environmental, and economic benefits.”
“We are proud to be a partner organisation and see the Timber Hub’s identified R&D themes of manufacturing innovation, building product performance, supply chain optimisation, low emissions, and circular economy closely align with our industry’s strategic objectives,” Mr Matthew concluded.
Inquiries: Gavin Matthew, CEO of EWPAA. (b) (07) 3250 3700. (m) 0429 990 528
* About EWPAA. Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of a broad range of engineered and solid wood products located throughout Australasia. https://ewp.asn.au/
