Page 3579 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 September 2019
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versatile material that is lightweight and that can be cut, shaped and used in almost any application imaginable. When used correctly, it is extremely strong.
The use of timber in construction has evolved over many years. It went from being the primary material used for buildings—framing and structural elements, as well as cladding—to being just one of many options. However, the use of materials that provide consistent and low-maintenance finishes at a lower cost over the lifetime of products has seen a decline in the use of wood, not to mention a need by the construction industry to develop products that are fast and cost-effective to install, particularly in an economy where skills are scarce and affordability and longevity are being demanded by consumers.
There are some great stories of how the use of timber is being showcased in our local area. Canberra itself now has two of Australia’s largest mass timber construction buildings at the Kambri precinct at the ANU: the new Fenner Hall building and the Marie Reay Teaching Centre. The Kambri buildings are a great example of using timber construction on a large scale.
Whilst we acknowledge the benefits of timber construction, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the wood must be sourced from somewhere, and it is important that where trees are cut down they are replaced. Ms Cody notes in paragraph (1)(b) of her motion that forests and wood from these forests are a preferable source of energy when compared to fossil fuels.
The inclusion of this line in Ms Cody’s motion today is potentially quite encouraging for many Canberrans. Perhaps it signals a change in policy direction in terms of the use of wood heaters as a renewable source of heating. This is one of the very few truly renewable sources of energy. It is bizarre that this line has made the cut in Ms Cody’s motion. If the government endorses this view, why has it spent the last 14 years removing wood heaters from some 1,100 domestic homes as a source of heat generation? It is also worth noting that in many instances those wood heaters were removed with a subsidy being offered to install gas heaters. It shows that the environmental credentials of those opposite change from time to time.
It is also worth touching on Mr Rattenbury’s comment about the impact of particulate matter. I have long advocated that the subsidy for the removal of wood heaters should be extended to encourage the replacement of much more efficient wood heaters. For many households, wood is one of the most affordable sources of heating in a Canberra winter. With the increasing cost of energy prices, particularly gas and electricity, I think it is pertinent that members on the opposite side consider the hip pocket of Canberrans and their ability to provide a comfortable living environment for their families. Many of the new wood heaters are far more efficient than the old smokers that exist in suburbs such as Tuggeranong, as Mr Rattenbury has touched on. As of this month, the new Australian standards require that wood heaters produce no more than 1.5 grams of particulate matter per kilo of fuel, which is around a 60 per cent efficiency, an evolutionary world of difference from the types of heaters that were installed across Canberra homes in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
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