Harvest Preparations Underway in Green Triangle
15-Dec-2008

Timbercorp Ltd has commenced work on the extension of its Hamilton’s office and the construction of a new harvest workshop complex.

Timbercorp Chief Executive Officer, Sol Rabinowicz, said the development represents the final preparations for the start of harvest of Timbercorp’s forestry estate in the Green Triangle region of Victoria and South Australia.

Mr Rabinowicz said the harvest was scheduled to commence in 2009 and that well over 1 million tonnes of wood fibre would be harvested by Timbercorp in the Green Triangle for the foreseeable future.

“The expanded facilities will house the increased number of staff that will either relocate to Hamilton from our Albany operation in Western Australia, or recruited from within the region,” he said.

“In total, approximately 200 new staff and contractors will be employed as part of the harvesting operation.”

Mr Rabinowicz said that the development also included a workshop for the harvesting equipment. An agreement with Komatsu Forests has been signed for the supply of $30 million worth of harvesting equipment.

“This new development represents a significant investment by Timbercorp, not just in these buildings, but also in equipment infrastructure and staff.

“Timbercorp looks forward to working with our staff, government and the community to ensure the many benefits associated with this expansion and with the harvest is shared,” Mr Rabinowicz said.

Port of Portland
Mr Rabinowicz said that Timbercorp had also progressed plans with the Port of Portland on the construction and use of an export terminal at the port.  More information relating to this agreement will be provided by the Port of Portland and forestry companies involved once final agreement has been reached.

Wood pellet mill
Timbercorp is also investigating the viability of locating a wood pellet mill on one of its tree farms within the region in association with Plantation Energy. Wood pellets are an alternative source of sustainable energy produced from biomass bi-products of plantation forests.

For more information contact: John Kiely, Forestry Communications Manager, on 0400 893 696 or Tim Browning, General Manager Forestry, on 0417887554