Ken Dale
TimberforTumba is a new community cause to help the Tumbarumba Mill get support to bring plantation pine logs from further afield and retain as many jobs as possible for the town and economy. Source: Timberbiz
Tumbarumba Chamber of Commerce President, Ken Dale said the Chamber unanimously passed a motion to support the mill but were unsure how to assist,
“Our town is vibrant, and the mill is busy which is great, but we are far from recovered from the bushfires with some of the greatest impact on jobs yet to come unless we can get the support we need as a region,’’ he said.
“Approximately $3.5 billion has been committed to bushfire recovery efforts in NSW, some of which has certainly helped families and small businesses here but there is no avenue for the Tumbarumba Mill to get the support it needs to retain the most jobs by getting logs to the mill from further afield.
“They are not asking for a handout, they are asking for a hand up, putting in over $40 million of their own money but the additional freight cost for logs which are otherwise being exported, is almost $30 million over three years which cannot be competitively passed onto their customers.
“I encourage everyone to get behind the TimberforTumba initiative and get involved. This is critically important for the future of our town, jobs, our economic recovery and the supply of sustainably grown pine for the Australian market,” Mr Dale said.
The TimberforTumba Facebook page was launched just last week and quickly became a flurry of activity with, for the first time, an avenue for the community to help and get involved.
Attracting hundreds of likes and followers within hours, the first of a series of short videos went viral, viewed by thousands of people with hundreds of shares.
Comments such as: Anthony McKelvey: “Great initiative Tumba. Australia needs industry just like the one your promoting.”
And Gary Membrey: “Hopefully the government will see how important a strong family owned business in tumba needs as much help as the companies in the big smoke need! You are one massive employer in a small community, and it would be so sad to see you pull out on this community that needs you so much, so let’s go timba for tumba!!!!!!”
The Facebook page links through to a webpage, www.timberfortumba.com.au where you can learn more about the compelling reasons the Government should support getting logs to Tumbarumba that Hyne Timber have sourced from private growers. These logs are otherwise going to export with no current, Australian customer. You can also join the growing group of community partners by sending in your business logo.
The log supply to the mill is more than a mill and community concern, there is a significant downstream ripple effect if the mill cannot secure this support for three years when it can get self-sufficient solutions on track moving forward.
Hyne Timber’s customers are also voicing their concern, anxiously seeking answers to security of locally grown and manufactured timber for the construction sector.
Gary Walker, Managing Director of family owned Belmont Timber in NSW said he has written to the Prime Minister to voice his support for the Tumbarumba Mill’s urgent need to freight logs from outside their current, viable freight zone,
“Belmont Timber is proud of the fact we have only ever used Australian timber for the manufacture of our preassembled frames and trusses with large volumes coming from the Tumbarumba Mill,” Mr Walker said.
“The bushfires will impact the supply of timber for the construction sector and without support to get alternative logs to the mill, we will be left with no choice but to source from imported timber.
“If there is a solution to avoid us having to source imported timber while jobs are lost in Tumbarumba, we need to prioritise this solution now more than ever.
“We are committed to Australia’s economic recovery as best we can be. We want to source local wherever possible, supporting local jobs with secure supply chains, not subject to international freight, fluctuating exchange rates in an uncertain global economy,” Mr Walker said.
To support jobs in Tumbarumba and the Australian supply of sustainably grown plantation pine products, visit www.timberfortumba.com.au and like the Facebook page for updates.
