Jobs boost for Bombala region

Bombala is set for a $60 million expansion of its timber milling capacity, with Willmott Timbers Pty Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Willmott Forests Limited, the successful tender for a long term sawlog parcel of 250,000 cubic metres per annum of plantation forest, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald announced today.

Minister Macdonald said Willmott Forests won the tender process from a strong field and negotiations would now begin on the wood supply agreement.

"There’s no doubt this is fantastic news for the Bombala region," he said.

"This contract will be a great boost to the area, with the new mill facility expected to commence production during 2010, and to be up to full capacity by 2012. The mill will employ 130 people directly and an estimated 300 or more indirectly."

 Mr Macdonald said the tender was for the development of a reliable and long-term market for sawlog and biomass material from the Monaro Region.

It was also a requirement that the winner develop the necessary processing capacity for the material within the Bombala area, generating regional economic benefits.

"Willmott Forests already has a processing centre in Bombala, which will undergo considerable expansion between now and 2010 when we expect the first of the new allocation to be available," Mr Macdonald said.

 "This is a tremendous advantage for Bombala, as Willmott Forests already has support from the council, has an existing site, staff and presence in the area."

"Their current operation already has good road access, so this will not be a critical issue for the company or the community. Any other road issues will be addressed by the local council, Forests NSW, and Willmott Forests as the project ramps up.

"This tender will also maximise the commercial return to Forests NSW from the sale of sawlog and biomass material grown in the plantations of the region."

"Willmott Forests has also won the right to explore with Forests NSW options to extract up to 70,000 tonnes per annum of biomass from plantation waste which may be used in applications such as power generation and biofuel."

Mr Macdonald said Willmott Forests is an integrated company that plants, manages, harvests, processes, supplies and replants softwood.

"This project will see them producing a large range of products, including decking, fencing, landscape, appearance, treated and structural grades," he said.