The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) has welcomed timber manufacturing business Timberlink’s announcement that it will construct its new $59 million state-of-the-art Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) manufacturing facility at Tarpeena in South Australia – right next door to Timberlink’s existing sawmill site.
CLT and GLT are innovative engineered wood products focused on replacing concrete and steel in the construction of new multi-storey buildings. Timber products store carbon, have low embodied energy in their manufacture, and are truly the ultimate renewable.
This positive news follows Timberlink’s announcement in 2018 of a $100 million investment in its Australian sawmills, including upgrades at its facilities at Tarpeena and at Bell Bay in Tasmania.
Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Ross Hampton said “This announcement from Timberlink is terrific news for Australia’s renewable forest industries during what has been a difficult and uncertain year. The investment demonstrates confidence in our sector, creating 50 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs once the new plant reaches capacity. As well it will supply innovative new engineered wood products for Australia’s construction industry.”
Chief Executive Officer of SAFPA, Nathan Paine said “This is great news for the Tarpeena community and a vote of confidence in the investment environment in South Australia. The SA government and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Forests David Basham MP should be congratulated on supporting the investment by committing $2 million in grant funding to the project.”
“Timberlink’s $59 million investment shows just how much the company takes innovation seriously and how committed the business is to Australia’s timber industry, and the regional communities it operates in,” Mr Hampton concluded.
The original media release is here: Media Release – Timberlink congratulated on innovative timber investment in SA