THE proponents of a multi-million dollar timber mill and energy plant have pledged to minimise the environmental impact during the facility’s construction and operation.
Shield Resources has been given the green light to build a facility which aims to produce 300,000 cubic metres of timber planks and 1.56 million tonnes of bio-granular fuel per year near its existing timber veneer site at Kalangadoo.
The $40m venture is expected to create 60 jobs during the construction period, with 90 positions expected to be created during the operational phase.
Shield Resources chief executive Suzie Li said although environmental impacts were inevitable, the company was committed to following the recommended guidelines to minimise the effects on Kalangadoo residents.
“From day one, we have been close with the community and have listened to their concerns,” she said.
“All of the planning and design was done considering these concerns, which are mostly around the noise and traffic.
“The EPA has already given us a recommendation which will help minimise the impact on the environment.”
Ms Li said the site was selected due to its central location to plantations, as well as an already qualified labour force.
“Our target is to get locals who live and work nearby, because that way it is easy to maintain the workforce,” she said.
“Around Kalangadoo, there are a lot of people with experience in the timber industry who are ready to start working.
“If there are highly skilled positions which cannot be filled by local people, we intend to attract high skills people from other areas.
“Mount Gambier is the second largest city in South Australia, it is very well established and that will help attract people with high skills to come and settle here.”
