Community co-operative to preserve Northcliffe's unique timber history

27/12/02
Northcliffe's unique timber heritage is to be preserved following an agreement to sell the town's timber mill and mill houses to a community group which will use them for boutique timber enterprises and resident housing.
Minister for the South-West Jim McGinty today announced the signing of a contract of sale for the Northcliffe Mill and mill houses by timber milling company, SOTICO, to Northcliffe Timber Cluster Holdings Pty Ltd.
Mr McGinty congratulated the group on its vision and persistence in securing the contract of sale.
The timber mill has not operated for 10 years.
The Northcliffe Timber Cluster consists of nine people involved in small milling operations and furniture making.
They plan to re-establish a timber village, preserving a similar look and feel to those mill settlements which historically existed in the lower South-West, consisting of a working mill, a workers club, a mill office and housing for workers.
"It has taken nearly three years of hard work to get to this point. We are determined to preserve a traditional timber village feel for the Northcliffe mill site by enhancing the heritage value of the housing," said Cluster convenor Anne O'Donnell.
"I would like to thank both the State and Federal Government agencies which have helped us to make the acquisition of the mill a reality. Cluster members believe in Northcliffe and are prepared to invest in the future of our town."
Mr McGinty said the total commitment by the Cluster would be around $800,000 once the purchase was completed, the mill and mill houses had been renovated and the individual businesses had invested in new equipment.
SOTICO managing director Ron Adams said the Northcliffe Cluster had presented a workable proposal for the operation of the mill and mill houses.
"We are pleased to be able to assist a small Northcliffe group with the sale of the mill and congratulate the members on their hard work and professionalism," Mr Adams said.
Cluster Members last month completed briefings for the Manjimup Shire, current tenants of the houses and the Northcliffe community, outlining their plans for the future.
The timber village consists of two streets and 33 buildings. Of these, the mill office and store are to become part of the mill operation, 11 houses are currently rented and six houses could be made available for rental within a short time.
A further 10 houses could be made available within six to 12 months. The club is to be separated from the lease.
"This innovative group of operators will seek to make a viable industry at Northcliffe, while at the same time preserving the history of the timber industry which was for so long the lifeblood of the district," Mr McGinty said.
The State Government has supported the Cluster proposal since the original idea was first promoted in Northcliffe. The South-West Development Commission and the Department of Industry and Technology have worked with Cluster members, initially through the production of a detailed discussion paper on the site in January 2001.
Recently funding was approved by State Development Minister Clive Brown to assist the Cluster prepare and present a range of land planning, site use and business planning documents.
"The Cluster motto of 'Believing in Northcliffe, Investing in Our Future' has struck a positive note which the State Government has been keen to assist," Mr McGinty said.
Minister's office: 9220 5000