FURTHER WORK STARTS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW TIMBER TRADE AT MOURILYAN
Further earthworks have started at the Port of Mourilyan in readiness for timber log exports through the port.
Ports Corporation of Queensland CEO, Brad Fish, said the latest works would complement the extensive earthworks undertaken at the port over the past six months.
He said contractors started work this week on site preparation works for an area which will ultimately accommodate part of the log stockpile area for Pentarch Forest Products Pty Ltd ‘s new timber trade at Mourilyan.
“As outlined at our recent public information session, the existing carpark area for the public boat ramp will be expanded and relocated to the area south of the Coast Guard Building.
“Portion of the area which is currently being prepared will be used for the new carpark area.”
Mr Fish said the work heralded an exciting new phase for the port with results now being realised after efforts over a number of years to encourage new Mourilyan trade.
He said that depending on final agency approvals and commercial agreements being reached between PCQ and Pentarch, over $5 million may be invested to accommodate the establishment of an export log facility and possibly a woodchip facility at the port.
PCQ as the port authority at Mourilyan has been working with Pentarch to develop suitable design models for the trade.
Mr Fish said the new trade was significant and would have positive economic benefits for the region generally and provided a wider customer base at the port.
“This is important for the port’s economic performance and will allow better economies of scale to be achieved for general port services.”
Once the log exports start and to a greater extent if the woodchip proposal goes ahead, new jobs will be created in the region and additional work will flow to local contractors.
Mr Fish said introduction of the trades required some redesign of public and work areas within the port.
“Our aim is to have port operations located as close as possible to the wharf facilities.”
Mr Fish said design was now complete for the new carpark area. “There will be an additional 10 car and trailer spaces created in the new area compared to the existing space.
“Following the feedback we received at the recent public information session, PCQ has also incorporated some overflow carpark space and made the vehicle and trailer turning area at the top of the ramp as user friendly as possible.”
PCQ will provide detailed information on the new arrangements closer to the changeover to the new carpark area, which is expected to be in about two months.
Approval for the log storage and exports has been granted under the Integrated Planning Act and an application for woodchip storage and exports, under the same Act, is under consideration by various agencies including the EPA, with a decision expected soon.
Pentarch Forest Products, a major exporter of plantation grown softwood from Australia and New Zealand, has signed a 15 year contract with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries to harvest pine plantations located in the Cardwell area, about 80km south of Mourilyan.
Pine logs from the Cardwell have been exported through the Port of Townsville since 2004 and Pentarch is looking at Mourilyan as a more viable option due to the geographical location of the plantations.
In preparation for development at the port, PCQ recently completed a $2 million earthworks project which created a new hardstand area via the filling in of a drain area adjacent to the public boat ramp carpark area.
The new hardstand area covers about 1.5 hectares.
In other recent work at the port local company Sugarbag Station completed construction of a livestock holding facility.
ends
12 June 2007
For further information:
Gary Campbell
Manager Corporate Relations
Telephone 3224 4346
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