Thread: Melbourne Supplier of Railway Sleepers

Check out redgum.org.au for some good info and links around the issues of conservation.

(this is the actual address it will take you to)
http://www.npansw.org.au/web/conserv...dgum/index.htm

SBD,
I would beg to differ with you. Many people do indeed give a f$#K, just not enough, nor often in the right places (compounded by the problem that many who doe care give up, are defeatist and apathetic about the situation).
I don't know if RRG is one of the best managed 'logging resources', it may be, but somehow that feels a little like pointing out from a line of sexual assault victims 'the least raped'.
I don't mean to be provocative here.
There are a lot of problems caused by RRG logging. In places it is being done too close to the waters edge, and the common removal of only the largest trees (where it is not being clear-felled) causes problems for the forests, and for the ecologies they are part of (lack of log-hollows and river snags for example). Grazing is also a big problem for the ecosystems... but that another issue (even though they fight conservation on the same front as the loggers).
In many areas being 'managed', paradoxically, there is actually a problem of too many trees- too many small trees in high density. To get back to a sustainable and working ecosystem, some of these areas will actually need to be selectively thinned out to allow others to reach maturity.

But, I do agree with most of what you say. By and large the greatest problem we are creating for the RRG forests is the changes we have made to their hydrological cycle. Most forests no longer receive their annual flooding, their 'big drink', and the few forests that actually do (around the Barmah Choke etc) have the same problem as the ecologies within the river (and plays havoc with fish breeding etc)- a reversal of flows (when it should be flooding it is being stored upstream, when it should be low it is being 'delivered down the pipe' and is flooding...). Paradoxically again, the forests around Barmah-choke have an opposite problem to most of the others- they are too wet- or that is they never get a chance to dry out (this is because the water level through the choke is kept artificially high)...

Big problems... and a lot of misinformation going around (by both sides).

I like the partial-solution of treating this beautiful timber as more than simply rubbish firewood or railway sleepers (95% of what is is currently used for). Economic influences can do a lot work for us, if we set the value right- and as the RRG industry is now only marginally profitable, there is a long way to go. Hopefully the fact that concrete sleepers have been proven more economical, and superior, will stop the logging of RRG for sleepers soon- but then the guys who log for sleeper don't like that do they? nor do the old fellas in town who run the newspapers, etc, etc (if in doubt look into the Shepparton Adviser and its rather shamefull IMHO one sided capaign of fear against the recent VEAC recomendations for a Barmah-Millewa national park).

Some problems really do seem a little big for most people, such as climate change, global poverty etc.
Problems like this, that we can reach out and touch, that is right in our back yard... we really should not give up on this IMO.

On a sappy note (forgive the pun) I find it is good to go for a good walk through some of these forests, to where you can find one of the few remaining big old boys- get the feel of the place, of the wonder of these forests and magnificent trees. They are worth saving, fighting for, and respecting- IMHO.

And after a few photos- rant over.
Hans.

Good points Hans.

FWIW my wood merchant (firewood that is) reckons that the RG coming into Melb for burning is all from NSW because of Vic restrictions.

Let me say in passing that I rarely buy firewood any more; just burn my turning mistakes or run the heat pump.

Well I contacted Rob at Yarrah Timber and did the trip to visit him. I was lucky to score a huge peer pylons timbers, most of it being brush box and some red gum it must be about 2+ cubic meters in sizes sleeper or large sizes. I am stuffed moving the huge stuff. I now have over 4 cubic meters of timbers with stuff I have collected from around my neighborhood and that I salvaged from Al's.

The kicker was that he is moving yards and he was going to burn it if no one took it - can you believe it. He just has to much of the stuff. So I got the lot for a $100. This stuff has zero root, no grit, no nails only 2 metal bolts that are lose and easy to remove,

He sells A grade sleepers for $20 and they are they and square and no rot or splits, then they get as cheap as $6 for in the garden grade or good enough for re-sawing into planks. Well worth having a look.

Great haul TS

Sharpen your tools for the brush box.

Thanks rsser,
yeah, I've been rather lucky not having to buy any firewood for many years now (even in my last place where an open fire was our primary source of heat for 2yrs)- having had a plentifull supply of urban/city timber (chopped and stacked around where I live).
Now, If I spot one, I am more likely to pull out and work a piece of old redgum from the firewood pile- then like you say, the scraps and the stuff ups go back there.

Nice score Thumbsucker
Is there any more of that 'special price' stuff left that you got?

and finally
one last plug- and then I'll shut up (get off the soap box).
VEAC took a long time to complete their careful study and release their draft proposal (click on the link and check it out if you want).
Bracks had offered very strong support to the process- yet Brumby has folded in to the usual suspects and has already rejected most of it.

The Age
No to red gums report
September 27, 2007


PREMIER John Brumby has rejected a plan to flood the Murray's dying river
red gums with billions of litres of water.

With up to 75 per cent of the river gums in distress, a draft report by the
Victorian Environmental Assessment Council recommended the creation of four
new National Parks, reduced logging, and flooding of the forests.

The recommendations have been met with bitter opposition from graziers and
the timber industry, who say the proposals could cost up to 80 jobs.

Mr Brumby told protesters demonstrating against the red gum plan that the
water proposal would not be supported. "I have made it very clear that
proposals in relation to water, if they found their way into the final
report, I can tell you would be emphatically rejected by the Government," he
said.

The council will report in February.

If you care about conserving pretty much the last healthy slab of RRG forest, and don't know about it already, please look into and read about the Barmah-Milewa forest and campaign.
Put some pressure on Brumby to actually do what VEAC has recommended.

this is a photo of the Barmah-Millewa forest, a last island of refuge amongst a sea of transformed land.
Do something about saving it while we still can.

(sorry about the Rant Thumbsucker)

RSSER - it is

I found yarra timber from a site that sources environmentally sustainable sources of firewood.

Any sleeper that is not up to grade is cut into fire wood and sold. If I needed to buy firewood I know were i would be going.

Originally Posted by hansp77

Is there any more of that 'special price' stuff left that you got?

Yes - I think the prices are his usual - he is moving the last of stuff, if you go in now and point to whant you want, he will sell. First in best dressed.

Originally Posted by hansp77

(sorry about the Rant Thumbsucker)

No problem.

The recommendations have been met with bitter opposition from graziers and
the timber industry, who say the proposals could cost up to 80 jobs

You have to be joking right 80 jobs what happens when their is nothing left. Were are your jobs then?

hey TS,

Originally Posted by martrix

hey TS,

I need to build my small pile - I will have to a camera tomorrow. I will post then.

Finally moved the sleepers into the back courtyard, it was a major task, as most weight over 100 kg each, the average size is 280 x 120 x 2500. Piled them up three x three. Attached are the photos. Not a bad score.

Some of the Pylons have 6 large metal pins at set intervals, they are solid and easy to remove, you can see it in photo four.

I have covered with roof sheeting now.

These pylons are the ones I kept six more I gave the swmbo for our no dig vege garden.

A great haul...and a worthy score. You have my congratulations!!

And to all with their RRG concerns.....it isn't giving away too much to suggest that I and my colleagues are at the pointy end of the RRG and river management debate. And we are part of the River community too.

Meat in the sandwich of apathy and ignorance so to speak.....and it'd be damn nice to have some better quality bread in the future - on both sides. But in the meantime we'll punch on regardless.