Owners of the Morgan sawmill in South Australia’s mid-north are calling for State Government help to save the local forestry industry. Source: ABC Rural
Morgan Sawmill, the largest private employer in the region, relied heavily on supply from the nearby Wirrabara forest, 90% of which was damaged by the recent Bangor fire.
Co-owner Ed Morgan said the fire spells the end for their business, with only two years worth of salvageable timber left.
“We won’t be able to survive,” said Morgan. “Hopefully the salvage will be managed in such a way that gives us two years, and after that our plan is to go through and source as much as we can from the local areas.”
Beyond then, the future of the sawmill, and its 44 full-time workers, is not known.
Morgan said they are now asking ForestrySA to commit to replanting the forest and to help subside freight costs involved with temporarily bringing in timber from other plantations.
He said if this can happen for a few years while the forest is re-planted, their business could survive.
“We’ve been in discussions with ForestrySA, and we’ve put forward a plan that would work, but we haven’t received any reply.” Luke Morgan, the third generation to own the business, said closing the sawmill would have a wider impact.
“I’m only 33, I’ve got a lot more years here.
“We can make it work, but we’ve got to influence more people who can make it work as well.”
ForestySA declined requests for an interview, but released a statement saying it had begun an assessment of the burnt area so salvage harvest can begin.
“It is business as usual for ForestrySA and contractors, who are focusing on clearing and salvage operations.
“ForestrySA is undertaking a detailed review of the plantation in order to develop a future strategy for the estate. This is expected to take a number of months to complete and will identify log supply options for the future.”
