First shipment of plantation bluegum woodchips leaves Albany

13/3/02
The future of the State's timber industry has taken a step forward with the first shipment of plantation woodchips from Albany, Premier Geoff Gallop said today.
The export of bluegum woodchips holds significant economic and environmental benefits for Western Australia.
It will create nearly 400 full-time, part-time and casual jobs this year and about 630 jobs when the industry is exporting 1.5 million tonnes in 2007.
The Premier officially opened the Albany Woodchip Mill and saw the first loading of woodchips bound for Japan in a ceremony attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Federal Members of Parliament and heads of the Japanese consortium involved in the multi-million dollar joint venture.
"The plantation timber industry is a key component of the Government's policy to end logging in old-growth forests," Dr Gallop said.
"This new mill will provide a significant boost to the State's plantation timber industry. It is a clean, green industry that demonstrates there are alternatives to the logging of old-growth forests.
"Plantations are vital to the new timber industry and its long-term sustainable future."
The woodchip mill has involved the investment of $52million, including a $17million contribution from the State Government. While 40,000 tonnes of woodchips will leave on March 14, it is estimated that one million tonnes of plantation timber will be processed in this mill by 2007, earning up to $80million annually.
The Forest Products Commission plays a key role on behalf of the Government in planting and managing about 26,000ha of bluegums for the Australian Plantation Forest Company of Australia. Albany is now the premier bluegum region in the nation.
The woodchips will be sent to Oji Papers Nichinan Mill in Abaratsu, Japan to produce products such as paper, business forms, thermal paper and high quality printer paper.
The Albany Plantation Forest Company of Australia is a consortium of Oji Paper Company, Itochu Corporation, Senshukai and Tohoku Electric Power Company. The Albany Plantation Export Company is a consortium of Oji Paper Company and Itochu Corporation and is responsible for purchasing of logs from all tree growers, harvesting chipping and export of woodchips.
Premier's office: 9222 9475