The Very Last Bunnings Tasmanian Oak Price List
It has been two years since I last updated the Bunnings timber price list.
https://blackwoodgrowers.com.au/2018/05/12/bunnings-timber-price-list-update/
Since then Bunnings, Australia’s largest hardware chain, has taken an increasing socially responsible position regarding its product sourcing.
All of Bunnings Tasmanian oak comes from the logging of public native forest, which has been the focus of bitter community conflict in Tasmania over many decades, and cost the Tasmanian community billions of dollars:
With politicians and the forest industry unable to resolve the decades-long forestry wars in Australia, Bunnings has decided to take matters into its own hands. From 1st January 2021 they will no longer sell public native forest timber that does not have FSC Certification.
https://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au/our-principles/sourcing/suppliers/
As there is no chance of certification happening between now and the end of the year this is the very last Bunnings Tasmanian Oak Timber price list.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/building-hardware/timber/dressed-timber/hardwood
The chart below shows the changes in price over the last 5 years. Large price increases in 2016 have been followed by minor price increases since then. The larger range of bigger sizes in 2020 shows Tasmanian oak prices breaking the $10,000 per cubic metre barrier!
None of these prices make for profitable public native forest harvesting, since 80% of the volume harvested is sold as low value woodchips. Never mind that no Government forest agency in Australia is run on a commercial basis. It is and always has been Welfare Forestry.
Bunnings is making the correct decision.
It’s time to end destructive, wasteful welfare forestry in Australia, and build a real, commercial forest industry.
So get your Tasmanian oak while you still can!