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Major push for forestry school

The closure of a large sawmill near Scottsdale in north-east Tasmania could well see the start of a new learning curve for the forestry and timber region.

The mill closure, by Gunns – with the loss of 70 full-time jobs and almost as many casual jobs – has prompted a re-think on the future, and foremost in thinking is to turn the town into an advanced learning centre for the forest and timber industry.

Two Tasmanian Liberals – Jeremy Rockliff (Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Economic Development & Resources) and Sue Napier (Shadow Minister for Education, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries) – have been leading the charge for the learning centre.

And, they say, it’s not a flash-in-the-pan, kneejerk reaction as the State Liberals have been long-time supporters of the School of Forest Industries concept, and backed a feasibility study into the proposal at the 2006 State election.

Scottsdale already has the iconic EcoCentre. Will it also have an iconic forestry learning centre? Read more about this possible life-changing plan in the coming edition of Australian Forests & Timber News.