Work has been suspended at a sawmill on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island indefinitely. Source: ABC News
RuralAus’ Parndana mill has been inactive since a fire in February damaged part of the structure.
The company says it has decided not to restart operations because it would not be profitable to do so right now.
RuralAus is confident the mill will run again in coming years and is open to commercial offers from outside parties to operate it.
Kristina Roberts from the KI Futures Authority said the mill employed two people.
“It definitely will have an impact on employment continuance,” she said. “We’re optimistic that as indicated by RuralAus that they are keen to continue looking at options to open the mill, in regard to looking at possibly biomass opportunities.
“It’s a major piece of infrastructure for the island, it’s a huge opportunity for employment, so we definitely will work with them and I think it’s disappointing that this has happened but it’s not from the lack of commitment by RuralAus to make it a profitable operation.”
