By Raquel Mustillo
A STATE-OF-THE-ART timber manufacturing facility will be built at the Timberlink Tarpeena sawmill site, with the company announcing a $59m investment to establish Australia’s first cross laminated timber and glue laminated timber plant.
Scheduled to open in 2023, the new development will initially create 27 full-time permanent jobs, rising to 50 jobs once the plant reaches it capacity.
The timber plant will be the first of its kind in Australia and combines both engineered wood products in one facility.
Glue laminated timber are pieces of laminated wood layered together and glued on each other in the same direction, providing increased wood strength.
Cross laminated timber comprises pieces glued together at a 90-degree angle and gives the product similar characteristics to a concrete support.
Timberlink chief executive Ian Tyson said the facility was expected to create interest from the international timber industry as it would be unique to have a combined sawmill, glue laminated timber and cross laminated timber facility.
“CLT and GLT is the building material of the 21st century, the product is being embraced by leading architects, builders and designers and replacing concrete and steel in our cities with timber that stores carbon and is the ultimate renewable,” he said.
“Most of the product will be supplied into large buildings in capital cities so we could have built the plant closer to those cities.
“With the facility being constructed at Tarpeena, there are benefits with be located on the same site as our sawmill and the region and we’re delighted to be able secure this commitment from the South Australian Government and the District Council of Grant.”
Grant District mayor Richard Sage welcomed the announcement and said it would provide new employment to the mill’s current workforce of 200 people.
He said the production of engineered wood was likely to be driven by rising product demand for construction and building because of its cost-effectiveness and low carbon footprint.
“The product they will be producing is a very new innovation in the timber industry and they are bringing the latest technology from around the world which is fantastic,” he said.
“It is great for job creation and creating new products construction and means we can build multi-story buildings with timber.
“We hope the industry will get behind the innovative product and use it in construction.
“It really shows the timber industry is vibrant and is shoring up the sector for the future.”
The finalised location of the project has been supported by a $2m State Government contribution under the Regional Growth Fund.
Announcing the funding this week, Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the project would boost the local community and provide wide-ranging benefits to the entire state.
“These are quality, long-term manufacturing jobs that will be created in the region,” Mr Basham said.
“This will showcase the best of the timber industry and will create jobs and industry value for decades.”
The mill currently employs more than 200 people and contributes $150m to the regional community.
Timberlink expects a significant number of additional jobs will also be created during the construction phase.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said the government’s Regional Growth Fund recognised the importance of regional Australia to the prosperity of the state, with the latest round unlocking millions of dollars of investment in the Limestone Coast.
“The government’s regional growth fund was established to unlock economic activity in our region and this is exactly what this will do,” he said.
“These are high tech, secure, modern manufacturing jobs, exactly the kind our regional communities are built on”.
Barker MP and Federal Parliament Friends of Forestry and Forest Products chair Tony Pasin said the decision to build the facility at Tarpeena was a fantastic outcome for the Limestone Coast.
“Now more than ever we know the importance of local processing to secure our domestic supply chains,” he said.
“I look forward to the realisation of this project at Tarpeena which is a win for South Australia against tough interstate competition from the Victorians.”
