Government Announcement Welcomed

Wood is Product of the Future – Government Announcement Welcomed

Woodco (the Wood Council of New Zealand) has welcomed today’s announcement by the Forestry Minister, Jim Anderton that new, government-funded building projects will need to commission a wood design option.

“This is a very positive initiative. Wood is a strong and versatile building product and both wood and forests have tremendous sustainability credentials,” says Doug Ducker, Chairman of Woodco.

“There are huge opportunities to use wood in commercial buildings in New Zealand. The likes of schools, hospitals and prisons in the government sector are obvious examples of buildings and structures that can readily be built with wood – and from which the private building sector can take a lead.”

“We look forward to some big ticket wood building projects getting underway that showcase wood’s strength, versatility and environmental credentials.”

The Government’s initiative is also well timed with a major wood industry development, research, information and promotional programme due to be launched in the next two months.

“As mentioned by the Minister, this programme, co-funded by industry and Government, will include a major web-based information component to support engineers and architects making wood building decisions,” says Ducker.

Mr Ducker also noted the Minister’s recognition that the sustainability of materials used in construction is an important part of a building’s total sustainability credentials.

“It’s the sustainability of the materials, and how they are produced, that delivers the really big environmental benefits –particularly climate change benefits. That is why, on a proper life-cycle analysis, wood has no environmental peer amongst building products,”concludes Ducker.

ENDS

© Scoop Media