Reclassification of 'D Grade' Sawlogs as residual

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Woodchip Driven Logging in the Otways: An Economic Analysis

Reclassification of 'D Grade' Sawlogs as residual

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The massive increase in production of Residual logs
appears to be partly a result of reclassifying ‘D grade’ Sawlogs as Residual.

The decline in D Grade Sawlogs is due to competition from the softwood industry and increased sawmill productivity costs. Sawmillers are rejecting "D" grade logs. "D" grade logs are being reclassified as Residual logs by damaging them with heavy machinery during the clearfell logging operation in the forest.

Logging contractors have a strong financial incentive to downgrade logs to Residual as they are paid more for Residual log per cubic metre than for Sawlogs. (Refer Auditor General's Special Report No. 22, page 119 to 121)

Source: See Freedom of Information data

Sawlogs cracked using heavy machinery will now become woodchips
Log Dump at Garvey’s Creek Dec. 1998 (Otway State Forest)




Woodchip Driven Logging in the Otways: An Economic Analysis
	Reclassification of 'D Grade' Sawlogs as residual

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