29 October 2010
DAFF10/035L
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, today officially unveiled improvements to Australian Solar Timber’s processing facility at Kempsey on the mid north coast of New South Wales.
The Australian Government provided $843,000 in funding to Australian Solar Timbers to install a pressurised timber treatment facility, a new end-matching system and a new three dimensional scanning system.
Australian Solar Timbers is a grant recipient under the Forest Industries Development Fund, a grants program to support industry initiatives that add value to forest resources and improve employment growth and retention.
This funding supplements significant investment by Australian Solar Timbers to upgrade its facility.
“The improvements unveiled here today will help Australian Solar Timbers continue to make a valuable contribution to the forest industry, remain competitive, increase their output and branch out into international markets,” Minister Ludwig said.
Australian Solar Timbers is an Australian-owned company established in 1919 employing local people from local communities.
“The forestry industry makes an important contribution to the economic and social well-being of rural and regional Australia,” he said.
“Australia’s forestry and forest products industries turn over around $23 billion annually and support more than 120,000 jobs.
“With the support of the Australian Government, companies like Australian Solar Timbers will help to ensure the long-term economic viability of the forest industry in Australia.”
Australian Solar Timbers received three grants to install:
