A logging community in Victoria’s east Gippsland is struggling to deal with a downturn in the timber industry. Source: ABC Rural
Garry Squires, from the Orbost Chamber of Commerce, said the high Australian dollar is making it difficult for pulpwood exporters to compete globally.
He said his town, like many timber communities around Victoria, is shrinking because of a loss of government logging contracts.
“A logging crew is three people in the bush, three log trucks, an administration and a mechanic, so eight people contributes about $700,000 to the local economy each year.
“And we’ve lost five of those crews in the last four years. That’s $3.5 million not coming into the local economy.”
