A family of sawmill owners is breathing new life into Brooweena sawmill with around 25 jobs up for grabs. It comes three years after the rural mill shut suddenly in 2014, devastating local contractors. Source: The Fraser Coast Chronicle
New owner Ben Hall Sr, who has worked in sawmills across Australia for the last six decades, said the final negotiations for the re-opening of the mill had been finalised.
The reopening of the sawmill is part of a rebirth of Brooweena, according to one of the region’s business leaders.
Maryborough Chamber of Commerce president Lance Stone said the recent announcement of 25 jobs opening up at the mill will have a ripple-effect for Maryborough industries and the rest of the Fraser Coast.
He said the mill’s closure in 2014 was “a death knell” for the town’s livelihood.
“So to see someone with a long-term view of making it a success is a tremendous boost for the Fraser Coast,” Mr Stone said.
Jobs for the mill were first advertised earlier this year, but the mill’s new owner Ben Hall Snr said there had been delays in liaising with the former owners. He anticipated the mill would be ready next month.
Mr Stone said the new jobs would create a “ripple effect” for the Brooweena community.
“It will add value to everything else and potentially attract more jobs with the opening,” Mr Stone said. “It will have a positive impact on Maryborough as well, it means people will commute and come into town.
“This is a positive move, and I applaud the owners.”
Jobs for the mill were first advertised earlier this year but Mr Hall Snr said there had been some difficulties in liaising with the former owners which had led to unavoidable delays.
The revamped mill is set to support about 16 direct jobs, including timber stackers, chainsaw operators and crane drivers. Another six jobs are up for grabs with the logging crews, along with four truck drivers and a field supervisor.
“We will be taking people on next month and expanding the sawmill from there,” Mr Hall Sr said. “We’re also looking for the support of locals regarding locally-sourced saw logs. “The new Brooweena mill will rely on private property logs.”
The original Brooweena mill was closed in 2014 after workplace health and safety officers deemed a section of the site too unsafe to operate.
Mr Hall said he had already made arrangements with WPHS officers to have the mill ready next month.
