Forestry, Mining and Manufacturing drive regional Tasmania’s economic recovery.
Promising times: TMEC general manager Kent Wyllie, Burnie branch manager Daniel Goscombe, TMEC CEO Ray Mostogl, Elphinstone managing director Adam Elphinstone, Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel. Picture: Brodie Weeding
Growth in the forestry, mining and manufacturing sector is driving the economic recovery of regional economies says Tasmania’s leading industry bodies.
Long the lifeblood of regional communities, the forestry, mining and manufacturing sector are thriving on the back of high demand for Tasmania’s high quality natural resources.
“High quality, sustainably sourced timber products such as house framing, dressed Tasmanian Oak for flooring and architectural use and high-grade veneers are seeing unprecedented demand” said Nick Steel, CEO of the Tasmanian Forest Products Association.
“Value adding is the key to this growth and the industry has been working hard over the past decade to diversify the product range and value add on island, which is driving demand for timber supply, purpose-built machinery and skilled staff” said Mr Steel.
Similarly, the minerals sector is experiencing a boom of its own with new mine sites being established, others coming out of care and maintenance and existing operations increasing output.
“It is important to recognise for every job on a mine or mineral processing site, there are typically three to four times the number of jobs in manufacturing and service industries supporting those producers” said Ray Mostogl, CEO of Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council.
“This sector competes in a global market place, a person in Somerset, Roseberry, Penguin, George Town or Norfolk contribute to Tasmania’s minerals and manufactured goods being used in countries all around the world” said Mr Mostogl.
This growth comes as good news for large regional employers such as Elphinstone Pty Ltd, who are seeing demand for workers continue at their plants which are in regions that have been hit hard by the COVID pandemic.
Forestry in Tasmania employs around 5,700 Tasmanians and the combined mining and manufacturing sector employs a further 21,000 Tasmanians and it is these key economic drivers and the employment that they provide that keeps small retailers and businesses going through these tough times.
Media enquiries:
Stuart Harris
Media & Public Relations Manager, Tasmanian Forest Products Association.
Email: [email protected]