Sawmill expects jobs boost

Kaituna Sawmill, in the Kaituna Valley, could create 45 new jobs if it is granted consent to increase its annual log throughput.

General manager Matt Bond said the mill processed about 75,000 cubic metres of logs a year, which was equivalent to about 13 truck-and-trailer loads a day. The mill, owned by Nelson Forests, has resource consent to process 150,000 cubic metres a year, and has applied for consent to double that output.

Depending on the resource consent outcome and the capital, the company could increase worker numbers from 65 to about 110, Mr Bond said.

The company would have a better idea about new job numbers by the end of the year.

Up to 1 million cubic metres of logs are being harvested a year in the Marlborough region, including Rai Valley, the Wairau Valley and the Sounds, and that is expected to increase to about 1.5 million cubic metres within five years.

Marlborough Regional Forestry chairman Francis Maher said the increase came as thousands of trees planted in the 1980s matured. The Kaituna sawmill and Flight Timber processed a relatively small percentage of logs harvested from the region, while the rest was shipped out before processing.

Mr Bond said the increased processing would create more income in the region and more jobs.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 17:00 30/06/2011

Ben Curran

JOBS BOOST: Roger Singer, stacker operator at Kaituna Saw Mill which is in the process of increasing milling capacity.