The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia has approved the development of a A$65m upgrade to a softwood mill at Bombala just days after the project’s backers went into receivership.
Willmott Forests applied for the upgrade but was forced to appoint receivers because of its bank debts.
The NSW government believes at least 110 construction jobs and 23 new mill jobs would be created with the expansion and it is keen to see the project still go ahead. Officials have also welcomed the extension of the existing international interest in Bombala’s mill via Willmott Timbers’ connection to Korea-based Tasco. Willmott Timbers, a subsidiary of Willmott Forests, is not in receivership.
The government has also approved plans to increase the mill’s softwood log capacity by about 300,00 tonnes annually.
