19 January 2010

Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products Australia has revealed plans for a "world class" plywood mill, based on its existing Myrtleford plant in Victoria. Site work will apparently begin in May.

The company says the unstated "major investment" demonstrates its commitment to the future of the Australian wood products industry and the employment that it supports in regional Australia. (That will be reassuring to unions in the area, given that CHH laid off about 90 people on the site last year.)

The Myrtleford facility began sawmilling and pulping operations in 1975 as Australian Forest Industries. Plywood manufacture was added in 1981. The whole thing was bought by CHH in 1995 and the pulp mill was shut four years later.

Construction of the new plymill is scheduled to begin in May and is expected to start producing product a year later. The company says the existing sawmill and plymill will continue to operate during construction and some of the existing buildings and associated plant will be incorporated into the new plymill facility.

CHH has invited feedback from interested parties regarding the proposed upgrade by visiting the www.chhwoodproducts.com.au website. (When we tried the link there was no evidence of any information about this project, or invitation to find out.)

Maybe an email to mill manager John Browne This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it will produce better results.