Pratt legacy lives on
From the Spring/Summer 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
The Visy Mill at Tumut will remain testament to the vision of Richard Pratt. Photo courtesy of Visy Industries
Prominent Melbourne businessman Richard Pratt died in April 2009, but his legacy to the timber industry in southern NSW lives on.
Richard had the foresight to recognise the huge potential of the pine plantations in the south west of the state to feed a vision - a world-class kraft pulp and paper mill - to produce strong packaging paper.
This vision dates back to October 1996, when the NSW Premier signed a memorandum of understanding with Richard, the Chairman of Visy Industries, to facilitate the development of a $350 million mill in Tumut that would help to create 600 direct and indirect jobs.
The mill commenced production in 2001, with Forests NSW to supply 40 per cent of the wood material needed by the mill, and the other 60 per cent coming from private sector timber plantations.
A $460 million expansion of the mill started in late 2007 is expected to be completed in October 2009.
Once this work is finished, it will bring the worlds largest privately-owned packaging and recycling companys total investment at the Tumut site to about $920 million since 2000.
When operational, the mills capacity will more than double, going from 310 000 tonnes of paper production a year to 700 000 tonnes.
This will boost the amount of paper being exported from the current 150 000 tonnes per year to 450 000 tonnes.
Visys mill remains a testament to a man of vision, who well and truly took the opportunity to use a resource by setting up a monumental business that not only supplies local markets, but earns valuable foreign revenue through exports.
Sarah Chester Public Affairs & Media, Albury
