The Australian Forest Products Association NSW (AFPA NSW) welcomes the NSW Government investment in social housing, including fast tracking 1,400 new homes, and calls on the Government to specify as much timber as possible is used in construction to maximise environmental as well as social outcomes.  

Chief Executive Officer of AFPA NSW Sue Grau said, “NSW has recently announced it wants to see state greenhouse gas emissions reduce to 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. Using timber wherever possible will assist this worthy goal. 

“There are about 25 softwood pine trees used to build the average home and half the weight of every one of those trees is stored carbon. In fact, a timber framed house stores the equivalent greenhouse gases as would be produced by three cars driving for a year. 

“Our state softwood industries replace every tree they use, planting more than 10 million seedlings every winter, so the system is completely sustainable and renewable,” said AFPA NSW CEO Sue Grau.

In addition, new developments are allowing mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber panels, to replace far more carbon emissions intensive products in medium rise buildings

The original media release is found here.