2003, Glencross-Grant, Rex

Australian red cedar ('Toona ciliata, syn'. 'T. australis', 'Cedrela australis', 'C. toona', 'C. toona var. australis') is a native, rainforest tree in eastern Australia and has been widely used for a variety of purposes since early colonisation. Use has included cladding for farm buildings (such as shearing sheds, milk sheds, pig sties), structural and joinery timber in early colonial buildings, furniture, plywood, turnery, carving, inlay work, picture frames, lining, moulding, boat building (light), coach and vehicle building, sporting goods, gun stocks. High quality colonial and antique furniture is prized and commands high prices. Latterly it has become a highly valued timber in skilfully fashioned artworks. One of the problems of growing it as a plantation timber in eastern Australia is stunted growth caused by predation and damage of various insect pests. Trial plantations have been established offshore (on Norfolk Island) where early indications show immunity to insect predation. The objectives of this paper are to: 1. Provide a brief overview of the exploitation of 'T. ciliata' in the early colonisation of Australia, 2. Assess growth rates in two off-shore plantations on Norfolk Island and compare with other mainland rates, 3. Demonstrate the importance and value of 'T. ciliata' as a high value-added timber, and 4. Examine sustainable alternatives for enhancing the value of the timber beyond traditional uses. The project involved detailed measuring and assessment of growth rates and timber production of trees growing in private plantations on Norfolk Island. Measurements and assessments were undertaken in accordance with developed protocols for such work. Growth rates will be compared with those in plantations on the Australian mainland and elsewhere, where available. Preliminary results indicate improved growth rates on Norfolk Island compared with the Australian mainland and far less predation by traditional mainland pests such as the tip moth larvae, 'Hypsipyla robusta' Moore (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and others. The opportunities for high-end value adding for this timber appear open-ended. Use in creative artwork, such as sculpture, indicates conversion of a 'raw' milled product from $US500/m³ to $US45,000+m/³ - at least 90:1 conversion ratio. Early Australian colonial furniture, fashioned from red cedar is commanding record prices at auction. The appreciation of and price paid for the timber attests to the high value of such a beautiful, natural material. Is it small wonder then that red cedar has been christened "red gold"? The paper also explores additional work that could be done to fully utilise and capitalise on the high ratio conversion rate of the timber.

1996, Glencross-Grant, Rex

This study investigates the structural properties of Norfolk Island pine ('Araucaria heterophylla' - referred to previously as 'A. excelsa or 'A. robusta') to enable characterisation of the timber. The timber is used on Norfolk Island as a structural and decorative timber. Better utilisation needs to be made of the timber by determining its structural properties. These are determined by in-grade testing. No significant testing has been done in the past on Norfolk Island pine. It has previously been provisionally graded based on small, clear specimens. This project involved testing full-size, randomly selected, locally-produced timber. The work was undertaken in accordance with AS4063:1992 (a joint Australian/New Zealand standard). The results indicated higher shear and compressive strengths but lower bending and tensile strengths and modulus of elasticity. The timber is weakest in tension. The presence of knots had a significant effect on the results. Knot reduction by way of improved silvicultural techniques and/or knot excision/re-jointing will substantially improve utilisation of the species. Careful selection of timber members will be needed for specific loading applications.

2011, Moore, John Chisnall, Glencross-Grant, Rex, Mahini, Saeed S, Patterson, Robert

In 2006 the NSW Government announced a Timber Bridge Partnership program to upgrade timber bridges on regional roads. However, limited guidance was available to identify the most cost effective method of upgrading and at the time the most common construction methods available, involved concrete and steel. Hence, despite some timber bridges been replaced by new structures involving timber beams, many engineers and asset managers chose not to use timber. Two reasons for disregarding timber are the lack of adequate data about bridge reliability and lifetime cost. Other reasons relate to lack of knowledge, understanding, skill and confidence in working with timber. Examples are provided, firstly of some NSW bridges that have been part of the NSW Timber Bridge Partnership program and secondly of some overseas structures that have been cited in papers at recent international conferences. The outcomes address some of the research required to improve understanding of how to best upgrade the Australian bridge infrastructure. This paper provides an update and comparison of the state of the art timber bridge design and construction. Novel timber bridges have been recently constructed overseas, but many Australian designs are over 100 years old.

2006, Glencross-Grant, Rex

This paper explores the development of timber truss road bridges in New South Wales (NSW). In the early 1900s timber bridges were so profuse in NSW that it was widely known by travellers as the 'timber bridge state' of Australia. Timber truss road bridges evolved over at least five distinct stages culminating in the impressive trimmer, more efficient and unique composite designs of the early 1900s. Whilst the English and US influence was strong, there also developed an even stronger colonial 'can do' style. This came about through the need for greater economies, increased vehicle loading, improved materials knowledge, excellent quality Australian hardwoods and Australian-trained engineers, who in turn had a greater appreciation of local conditions. A combination of these factors led to revolutionary ideas in terms of timber bridge truss development, enabling larger, more durable and economic structures to be built. A number of these structures are still in service. Techniques are also discussed as to how some of these bridges have been kept in service, how there is an increasing consciousness of heritage value, how this can be utilised and how this is upheld against contemporary pressures for replacement.

2010, Glencross-Grant, Rex

This paper discusses the shortages of engineers in Australia and how this impacts upon local government authorities in rural and regional areas. The reasons why this situation has developed are analysed and remedial proposals by key stakeholders are outlined. The response by the University of New England, through a partnership with professional institutions and several local government employers, is detailed. In particular, the content of their new degree programmes, for both school leavers and mature entrants, is explained along with the metaphorical bridges between these programmes to enable engineers at all levels to be developed. The paper explains how this approach is expected to attract and retain professional staff in rural and regional areas that have previously suffered from staff depletions.

2004, Patrick, Ian, McNeill, Judith, Stuart, Deidre, Wilkes, Janelle, Glencross-Grant, Rex, van der Muelen, Annie, Clibborn, Ben, Curtis, Murray, Cathcart, Max, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation

There is increasing pressure worldwide for firms to become more efficient in their use of resources and to reduce waste emissions to landfill, air and water. Consequently, individual firms and groups of firms are seeking to develop innovative and commercially attractive alternatives to waste disposal. Wastes are increasingly being regarded as 'by-products' rather than wastes and one firm's waste is increasingly being regarded as another's input. There is potential now to develop 'industrial ecosystems' where waste is re-used and the waste loop is closed. Closing the loop does, however, require a significant amount of multidisciplinary research in order to understand the nature of the waste streams available and the various options for transforming these, economically, into re-usable inputs. This report summarises the results of one such study. Because many rural towns tend to have similar waste streams, this study lays the groundwork for the development of industrial ecosystems in regional Australia. Regional centres such as Tamworth (NSW), where this study was undertaken, have agro-industrial estates that produce significant levels of organic by-product. The Glen Artney Industrial Estate (GAIE) in Tamworth is home to two abattoirs, a meat products manufacturer, livestock saleyard, hydroponic vegetable producer, industrial laundry and a range of other smaller service industries. There is also potential to double the number of firms operating within its boundary. A survey and analysis of the GAIE reveals that the major wastes presently produced include heat, carbon dioxide, various wastewaters, plant and animal waste products (including paunch). As part of the endeavor to understand how loops might be closed, this report provides a technical discussion of the major processes for transforming organic waste to energy. Included in this discussion are: direct combustion, gasification; pyrolysis; anaerobic digestion and alcoholic fermentation. The advantages and disadvantages of each process for the disposal of organic waste are also discussed. The nature, amount and type of waste produced suggest that the process of anaerobic digestion might have the most potential. This conclusion is supported by the imminent development of a commercial anaerobic digester at a similar agro-industrial estate in Wagga Wagga (NSW). There are, however, other issues that need to be addressed before general recommendations and development of this process can be recommended. These include OH&S issues, institutional (including legal and bureaucratic) constraints, possible problems in obtaining a constant, reliable quality and quantity of required organic inputs on which new systems will depend, and the development of efficient transport systems. More research is required in these areas.

2018, Moore, J C, Mahini, S S, Glencross-Grant, Rex

2012, Glencross-Grant, Rex

This paper describes the evolution of large-truss road bridges in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, citing specific examples of various genres. In particular, the high proportion of iron bridges constructed in northern NSW over approximately a 25-year period from around 1870 is highlighted. The proportion here was greater than the rest of NSW for the same period. Various postulates are canvassed as to why that might have been so. With the onset of periods of financial astringency, the engineering profession had to adapt and make changes to take account of worsening economic conditions and political imperatives of the times. Typical of such major changes at the time was a dramatic swing from substantive iron road bridges to much more slender, but astutely designed, timber truss bridges. These colonially designed, but US-influenced, 'lean and mean' timber bridges were a far cry from the earlier, stockier, high-maintenance versions that were inherited from British/European designs. In some respects, such innovative local design was a symbolic way of releasing the restraining shackles of the colonial past and the growth of a nation. For over 40 years, these new style timber bridges, of various forms of successive improvement, dominated bridge construction in NSW to the extent that NSW was euphemistically known as the 'timber bridge state'. It was not until innovations and improvements were made in steel production, steel fixing and concrete technology in the early 1930s that the newer materials started to replace timber.

2003, Glencross-Grant, Rex

Norfolk Island pine ('Araucaria heterophylla' - formerly known as 'A. excelsa' or 'A. robusta') is native to Norfolk Island and is used on the Island as a structural and decorative joinery timber. Improved utilisation can be made of the timber once its structural properties are known. This paper reports on unique in-grade structural testing of the timber. No significant full-size structural testing has been previously undertaken on 'Araucaria heterophylla'. Previous attempts at grading were based on using small, clear specimens. The project involved testing full-size specimens of randomly selected timber that was grown and milled on Norfolk Island and shipped to Australia for testing. Testing of specimens included bending, shear, tensile and compressive strength tests in order to determine specific structural attributes of the timber. The work was undertaken in Rockhampton and Sydney, Australia in accordance with 'AS/NZ4063-1993: Timber grading evaluation strength and stiffness'. Preliminary results indicated higher shear and compressive strengths but lower bending and tensile strengths and modulus of elasticity than expected. The timber is weakest in tension. The presence of knots has a significant effect on strength. Knot reduction through improved silvicultural techniques and/or knot excision/re-jointing will substantially improve utilisation of the species. Careful selection and grading of timber will be needed for specific structural applications. Alternatives for enhancing the value of timber in applications beyond normal building applications are examined and discussed. Future research options are also examined and suggested.