A PROMINENT timber processor has announced plans for a $50m-plus development expansion in Mount Gambier, which will create a fully integrated “world class” reconstituted wood products manufacturing facility.
Borg Manufacturing has lodged an development application with Mount Gambier City Council to deliver a four-stage milestone expansion project.
The “modernisation” project includes a construction of a cutting edge particleboard manufacturing line and a new large-scale warehouse.
The news comes amid the region’s timber processing sector enjoying a period of renewal with tens of millions of dollars also being poured into regional Timberlink Australia and OneFortyOne processing sites.
Construction works for the Borg development has an estimated cost of $50m, but this does not include production machinery and equipment.
In a statement to The Border Watch yesterday, Borg planning and development manager Mark Daniels said the company was thrilled to announce its major expansion blueprint.
“Borg Manufacturing have lodged a development application with Mount Gambier City Council seeking approval for a proposed expansion to our existing particleboard facility at Jubilee Highway West, known as the Lakeside site,” Mr Daniels said.
He said the application was currently on public exhibition.
“The proposed facility will incorporate the latest in manufacturing technology, being a substantial investment in Mount Gambier which will strengthen the business and long term sustainability of timber manufacturing for the region,” Mr Daniels said.
Importantly, he said the proposed facility would ensure the long term security for staff in the region and a positive flow on effect to other industry related businesses.
“The proposal will also provide the opportunity to create around 100 construction related jobs,” Mr Daniels said.
“Subject to obtaining the required approvals from council and government agencies, Borg Manufacturing would hope to have the proposed facility operational within two years thereafter.”
According to the project’s development overview, the project is expected to drive increased production for the company that currently operates at White Avenue and Jubilee Highway West.
When fully completed, the existing particleboard line on site will be gradually decommissioned and re-purposed for other industrial use.
While Borg already employs nearly 200 people in Mount Gambier, the development is expected to drive a 10pc upswing in employment within its operations.
According to plans lodged, the expansion will be spread across a number of allotments with frontages to Commercial Street West and Jubilee Highway West.
The overall combined site will cover 60 hectares.
Borg – a leading Australian manufacturer of decorative joinery product for commercial and residential building markets – purchased the former Mount Gambier Carter Holt Harvey facilities in 2018.
Borg operations in Mount Gambier are split across two sites – White Avenue and the Lakeside site.
Both sites produce similar particleboard, including finishing and laminating lines.
These sites have a combined gross output of 270,581m3 of finished product, which includes input of 302,478 tonne of raw materials being wood chip and timber residues from surrounding plantations and forestry operations.
The other half of the Jubilee Highway West site has been operating as a nursery.
Both Borg sites operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. No change is proposed to these operating hours.
Mount Gambier City Council is now calling for submissions on the proposal, which close on Monday, February 3.
Around 50 property owners in the vicinity of the site have been notified of the application.
