Whittakers to expand SW sawmill capacity

Timber group Whittakers will employ 33 extra staff over the next year as it expands production at its Greenbushes sawmill in the South-West.

Whittakers announced today it had reached an agreement with the Forest Products Commission to process an additional 14,400 tonnes of jarrah sawlogs at Greenbushes.

Whittakers mills jarrah, karri and marri sawlogs for applications in furniture-making, flooring and joinery.

Whittakers chief executive Trevor Richardson said Whittakers had the capacity in place to expand to those levels.

""Under these new arrangements we will be able to operate more efficiently with certainty in pricing and log supply," Mr Richardson said.

Mr Richardson said Whittakers would welcome any experienced personnel to be stood down at Gunns Manjimup to fill some 33 job vacancies over the next 12 months.

FPC acting general manager, David Hartley, said the state government had worked hard to stabilise the industry after a difficult period.

"The industry is still adjusting to a regrowth timber resource and Whittakers' decision to expand its operation signals that it is starting to turn around," Mr Hartley said.