Timberlink invests into its Tarpeena sawmill in Australia as it transforms into an internationally competitive radiata pine business. The mill upgrade, to be completed in 2021, will increase both the volume of renewable plantation pine logs that can be processed and the yield per log.

Lumber

Timberlink invests in its Tarpeena sawmill in Australia

Timberlink invests into its Tarpeena sawmill in Australia as it transforms into an internationally competitive radiata pine business. Timberlink, owned by Australia's New Forests, is investing $90 million over the next 3 years to secure local jobs in the region for the next generation, as the company says in the press release received by Lesprom Network.

Key to the early stages of the project is the construction of a new electrical substation for the town of Tarpeena. This is expected to improve the reliability of electricity supply for the township with all new hardware, modern design features and more reliable components.

The mill upgrade, to be completed in 2021, will increase both the volume of renewable plantation pine logs that can be processed and the yield per log. Timberlink is committed to training and upskilling its staff to run the new machinery and there will be no job losses as a result of the upgrade.

Around 20% of Australia’s softwood timber is imported, and to ensure Timberlink remains internationally competitive, the business is expanding and investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and create more structural timber for the domestic market. The investment includes a completely new saw line, the installation of a new stacker and edger, coupled with addition of a contraflow kiln and a new batch kiln for drying timber. A new drying shed will also be built as part of the project.

The Timberlink Tarpeena mill supports 680 direct and indirect jobs in the area whilst contributing over $180m to the local economy. This generational investment will create 200 jobs in the construction phase and secure the 210 permanent full-time jobs at the mill for the next generation.