Westbury considered for new timber mill

Westbury is one of three sites being considered for a new timber mill expected to employ 30–35 people.

In February next year Neville Smith Forest Products expects to announce their decision on a location, at either Westbury, Scottsdale or Exeter. The company is currently doing scoping work on the project.

If the location is Westbury, the mill will be established at the Valley Central industrial zone.

CEO of NSFP Andrew Walker said the mill’s timber source will be eucalyptus nitens grown in north-west and north-east Tasmania.

‘It will be a value added product to be sold only in Tasmania and the rest of Australia in markets we already supply.

‘The timber should help ease the current shortage being experienced in the building industry.’

Mr Walker said the advantages of a Westbury choice for the site were that it was located between plantation catchments on either side of the Tamar and behind Devonport and Burnie.

‘It’s also centrally located for ports at Bell Bay and Devonport,’ he said.

NSFP currently produces Tas Oak hardwood products such as dressed timber, flooring, architrave mouldings and weatherboards.

The products are made from timber from government and privately owned regrowth and plantation estates which is processed in Mowbray and Southwood, near Hobart.