QLD Field Trip: South Burnett
Visit the picturesque South Burnett region with Forestry Australia Queensland in Spring. Learn about the growing production of hardwood plantations at a farm forestry scale and see how plantation-grown timber can be processed at Boonenne Sawmill. Meet members of the forestry community and enjoy a social dinner and tour of the historic Taabinga Homestead. We will have a range of expert presenters, including Neil Halpin (Verterra), Dr Kevin Harding (Harding Forestry Services), Tim McDonnell (Koppers), Prof Mike Bell (University of Queensland), Dr Glenn Dale (Verterra), Saul Clough (Green Collar) and Andrew Keenan (Boonenne Timbers). Please note this field trip will be capped at 30 participants.
Title: Environmental values of hardwood production plantations on marginally productive farmland
Date: Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 September 2024
Meeting Point: Meet at Neil Halpin’s property, 32 Karingal Rd, Booie QLD 4610
Meals: Morning teas included, Saturday lunch – BYO, Saturday dinner – at the Kingaroy RSL
Transport: Self-drive, we will try to arrange carpooling
Equipment: Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Bring sunscreen, plenty of water, a hat or a hard hat, rain gear, closed shoes or boots
Registrations (Inc. GST): Forestry Australia Member: $20 | Non-members: $30
Registrations close: 4 September 2024*
*This event will be capped at 30 participants.
PROGRAM
Day One
10:00 am – Meet at Neil Halpin’s property, 32 Karingal Rd, Booie QLD 4610, morning tea (provided) and introduction. Kitchen and toilet are available.
10:30 am – Walk and talk through a 17-year-old hardwood plantation, discussing silviculture, soils & hydrology, harvesting, wood science, genetics, etc.
1:00 pm – Lunch (BYO). Kitchen and toilets are available.
1:45 pm – Travel to the “Berry” Crumpton plantation in convoy.
2:15 pm – Inspect the Berry 200ha+ ex-HQPlantations hardwoods plantation, the best in the Burnett! Discussion on salt, hydrology, line x species planting, pest control, early age harvesting, companion planting with leucaena, genetics, etc.
4:00 pm – Travel back to Kingaroy and your accommodation.
4:30 pm – Free time
6:00 pm – Meet at Kingaroy RSL for an evening meal.
7:00 pm – Presentation on carbon farming, biodiversity and green capital.
Presenters: Glenn Dale and Saul Clough.
Day Two
8:00 am – Travel to Boonenne Timbers, 157 Boonenne Rd, Goodger QLD 4610.
8:30 am – Sawmill tour and demonstration and discussion on the processing of plantation hardwoods.
Presenter: Andrew Kenan
10:00 am – Travel to Taabinga Homestead, 7 Old Taabinga Road, Haly Creek Queensland 4610.
10:15 am – Morning tea and tour of Taabinga Homestead, built in 1847.
11:00 am – Visit 17-year-old hardwood plantation on different soils to the Halpin property. Discussion on silviculture, soils, merchantability, fire and genetics.
12:00 pm – Attendees travel home.
Past QLD Events
Field Trip: Mount Mee
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Field Trip: Bunya Mountains
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QLD Field Trip: Sherwood Arboretum Tour
Date: Saturday 6 May 2023
Field Trip: K’gari-Fraser Island
Forest Management Impacts
Dates: Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October 2022
Field Trip: Chinchilla
Dates: Friday 5 – Sunday 7 August 2022
Networking Event: Townsville
Manufacturing of waste hardwood (WPC) & inspection of recently harvested African Mahogany logs
Date: Sunday 16 January
Location: QPlas P/L Factory, 80 Shaw Rd, Townsville
AGM & Field Trip in Gympie
USC Research trial plantings
Date: Saturday 20 November 2021
Field Trip: Araucaria plantation management, fire recovery and tree planting at Jimna
Date: Saturday 20 March 2021