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WA timber towns left ‘stunned’ after Parkside announces closure of Manjimup and Nannup mills
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West Australia’s timber cities have been left ”surprised’ by the velocity at which the business is shedding staff forward of a looming ban on the widespread logging of native forests.
Key factors:
- Greater than 20 jobs shall be misplaced when Manjimup’s timber processing centre closes this week
- It comes lower than two weeks after Parkside Timber introduced the closure of its mill in Nannup
- The WA authorities is ready to ban native logging from subsequent 12 months
Greater than 20 staff at Parkside Timber’s multi-million-dollar dry mill, which processes timber in Manjimup, are set to be out of labor when it closes on Friday.
It comes two weeks after 45 staff misplaced their jobs when Parkside closed its mill in the nearby town of Nannup.
The ABC understands the Queensland firm has made the choice that the mills are now not viable because the state authorities strikes to close down the native timber business by subsequent 12 months.
‘Absolute shame’
The Shire of Manjimup had hoped Parkside would hold processing timber for an additional two years.
Shire President Paul Omodei says his coronary heart goes out to the employees.
Mr Omodei, a former Liberal chief, took goal on the authorities for driving the choice.
“That is what occurs when governments make political choices about sustainable business,” he stated.
“The timber business is likely one of the authentic industries within the state.
“For the federal government to do what they’ve performed, with out a social and financial impression research, is an absolute shame.”
Mr Omodei stated the federal government wanted to indicate larger dedication to creating jobs in Manjimup, the historic centre of timber logging in WA.
“If the federal government had any good intentions they’d discover another business to relocate to Manjimup and make use of 100 folks,” he stated.
The ABC understands Parkside will proceed to course of a small quantity of timber in Nannup.
Authorities help for mill staff
WA Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis stated there was on-the-ground help to staff in each Nannup and Manjimup to assist mill staff with help funds and retraining.
“They’re on the bottom in these cities and shall be for a lot of weeks to come back,” she stated.
She was hopeful those that had misplaced their jobs in Manjimup would be capable of discover work.
“We all know that the shire president was, till a few years in the past, berating the state authorities about staff shortages,” Ms Jarvis stated.
“They’ve a extra diversified financial system; they’ve a giant agriculture sector.
“These 20 or so staff who’ve misplaced jobs in Manjimup at present — I might hope that the native financial system can decide them up.”
The state authorities has additionally provided help to timber firms.
Ms Jarvis stated she hoped enterprise would adapt and hold working.
“No different timber mill has stated they will be stopping processing or stopping deliveries,” she stated.
“It is our hope that these timber mills, notably these ones who’re supplying Western Australian timber companies, we might anticipate them to maintain buying and selling effectively into the longer term.”
Authorities response ‘insufficient’
However the Opposition known as on Ms Jarvis to hasten the implementation of its $80-million transition plan to assist affected staff, companies and communities.
Opposition spokesperson for forestry Steve Martin stated the federal government response was “insufficient and much too gradual”.
“The forestry business is already shutting down and the transition bundle for staff and communities is missing intimately and supply,” Mr Martin stated.
“At a time when the business is in determined want of help to assist transition staff and companies away from hardwood harvesting, the McGowan Labor authorities clearly has no plan in place.”
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