CONSTRUCTION of a timber processing plant at Tantanoola Enterprise Park is well advanced with the main shed being built this week.
Roundwood Solutions commercial manager Justin Jagger said the company was on track to commission stage one in December resulting in an additional eight people being employed at the former Kimberly-Clark pulp mill site.
Mr Jagger said 60 jobs would be created during the construction phase, spread across three stages and continuing next year.
“This weekend we established a facility which is currently 46 metres wide by 44 metres long,” he said.
“By stage two it will be an additional 66 metres in length.”
Mr Jagger said the company was also working with Teagle Excavations to make sure the site had space for a chemical treatment facility.
Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll said the establishment of Tantanoola Enterprise Park within the council district was excellent news for industry growth and employment.
“We have had great success working with Roundwood Solutions previously and it’s fantastic to see a world-first timber treatment facility in our region,” Mr Noll said.
“It’s a real win for Wattle Range as it will ensure employment opportunities in the near future, but also in the years to come.”
Mr Noll said Roundwood Solutions, which also has a plant in Yahl where 65 workers are employed, worked closely with the council to have its timber processing site based in Tantanoola.
“We as a council encourage other businesses to come forward and see what other opportunities this region has to offer,” he said.
“Wattle Range is always open for business.”
Roundwood Solutions is the largest wholesale supplier of timber posts in Australia and Tantanoola Enterprise Park will be 40ha in total.
Kimberly-Clark Millicent ceased pulping operations in 2011 and the site had been unused until work began earlier this year.
