The 1986 Timber industry Strategy (TIS) required hardwood sawlogs to be licenced and allocated to the highest value end use.
In general, each tree harvested produces a range of wood products from high grade sawlogs through to material only suitable for pulpwood.
Once felled, logs were to be crosscut in such a way as to produce the largest volume of the highest-grade products.
In 1988, new hardwood sawlog grades were introduced. They replaced local sawlog standards which varied across the state for different forest types and ages.
The new log grades ranged from Adown to E, and were defined by several features such as:
- tree species – e.g. ash, mixed species, red gum.
- volume dimensions – centre diameter (under bark) and log length.
- small logs less than 40 cm in diameter were classified as D class. A lower class of E grade logs was introduced later.
- number of defective quarters with visible external faults such as branch stubs, swellings, gum veins, stain, sloping grain and dry sides.
- amount of pipe defect (rotten or absent wood from the centre of the log).
- termites and ambrosia infestation could reject a log or reduce its grade.
A new log grading card enabled a quick visual assessment and judgement of defects in the bush.
Sawlogs were then measured, graded, recorded and branded (or marked with plastic barcodes) by harvesting contractors or forest officers before being dispatched to sawmills.
E grade logs – the lowest grade of sawlog and often used for pallets, as well as pulpwood logs that were not sawlog quality, were usually sold by weight and are not manually measured with a tape.
A statewide audit of log grading was undertaken in 1996. Overall, the results were good, but there was some slippage between grades and improvements were required. As a result, a random sample check was made of all logs and pulpwood.
VicForests – Utilisation Procedures
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 