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WA’s Whittakers ceases log deliveries

One of Western Australia’s largest millers of native hardwood said that it has not been able to reach an agreement with the State Government on a viable volume of log resource and as a result its future is uncertain. Source: ABC Rural

Whittakers Timber Products is ceasing log deliveries and is preparing to close the green mill and part of the dry mill, making 44 people redundant.

The mill sources jarrah, karri and marri from WA’s sustainably managed forests under contract by the State Government.

The logs are used to produce a range of products including flooring, decking and joinery.

Melissa Haslam is the executive director of the Forest Industries Federation and says without an agreement on log resources the company can’t support new investment.

“The current process to review the Forest Management Plan is wreaking havoc on investor confidence,” she said.

“It’s virtually impossible for the mill to secure financiers under this sort of scenario.”

Haslam still believes there’s a strong future for mills in the south.

“If we can get a commitment to at least the current volume, which is 131 000 metres cubed per annum, of a good quality resource and at the right price,” she said.

Timber Communities Australia (TCA) said that the south west communities are set for economic disaster due to the mill closure as Whittakers is one of the major employers in the Bridgetown Greenbushes Shire, providing a lot of jobs and economic stimulus to the region.

TCA said that it’s time the state government provided certainty to the industry by ensuring the next forest management plan not only provides environmental sustainability but social and economic sustainability as well.

WA’s Forestry Minister Terry Redman provided the following in a statement.

“As Minister for Forestry, I am very concerned to hear of the redundancies at Whittaker’s and I am committed to working closely with them regarding the staff losses and how best we can support those workers and their families.

“I believe there is a place in Western Australia for an environmentally sustainable and economically viable forest industry and look forward to the new Forest Management Plan being completed as soon as possible.”