Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh, will see the jobs and investment delivered by Superior Wood’s Imbil and Melawondi sawmill and manufacturing plants on his he visit to Mary Valley today. Source: Timberbiz
Rod McInnes, CEO of industry body Timber Queensland, said the Minister’s visit highlights the vital contribution the hoop pine timber industry makes to the local economy.
“The last five years have been pretty tough for the Mary Valley so a world-class manufacturing business with big growth plans is a new chance for the area,” said Mr McInnes.
“Export opportunities are improving for this Australian native plantation grown timber as people around the world discover that it’s an excellent building product,” he said.
In October 2013, Superior Wood purchased the softwood sawmill including the kilns, the dry mill facility and low temperature drying, chop line and remanufacturing facilities in Melawondi.
The purchase offered stability to the 110 people already employed.
Superior Wood Director Skene Finlayson said the business was ramping up production domestically and internationally.
“We’ve got export contracts with China, Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan,” said Mr Finlayson.
“Opportunities are becoming available in other parts of the world, including the USA again, as some markets start to improve.”
Mr Finlayson said Superior Wood is on a mission to be the very best hoop pine sawmilling and value adding operation in the world.
“Major investment is just about to flow with state of the art value adding equipment ordered to compliment the excellent infrastructure the previous owners laid down,” he said.
