WA wood chip exports get the nod
Thursday 17 Apr 2014
Wood chips will soon be exported through the Esperance Port in WA following 18 months of preparation. An agreement between Esperance Ports Sea & Land (EPSL) and Australian Plantation Log Exports (APLE) has been approved and will see wood chips finally exported through the port.
APLE has been working closely with the Esperance Chamber of Commerce and Industry and EPSL for the last 18 months and said they were pleased with the breakthrough. Farmers who planted trees before the global financial crisis hit, will see the trees go when work begins in May of this year.
APLE logistics Manager Peter Sutton said he would work closely with landholders and contractors on the project. “It will be a seven year project that landholders have been very eager to see start”, Mr. Sutton said. “We have seen a lot of this come and go and there has been a lot of talk around the forestry industry in Esperance.”
Mr Sutton said APLE became involved after looking at projects around Australia. We amalgamated together and have been talking to the landholders about their options after finally being approved to export chips.
“More than 30 permanent jobs would be created by the project as well as supporting local industries including fuel, training and maintenance.” he said. Harvesting crews will be showing up in May to set up locations around Esperance.
Source: The Esperance Express
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