Timber jobs boost

Job opportunities for ex-timber workers were recently given a $775,000 boost at Piedmont.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently visited Nationwide Trees at Piedmont, near Noojee, to announce the grant from the state government's "Forestry Transition Fund".
The grant will be used to construct a multi-use production and dispatch shed, helping the business meet growing demand.
To support this growth, impacted forestry workers and their families are being recruited via the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program and trained to work in the new facility - tripling the business' workforce.
One former mill employee has already been employed in an administrative role.
Nationwide Trees has also employed ex-timber workers to do excavation work on the site in preparation for construction of the dispatch shed
"Nationwide Trees is just one example of the great projects that the Forestry Transition Fund is supporting following the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria," Ms Spencer said.
Nationwide Trees managing director Glenn Fenton said the $775,000 grant would greatly assist the business expand its capacity and operations.
"We designed this project to maximise the use of local contractors and suppliers during the build and provide employment for former forestry workers and their families," Mr Fenton said.
The wholesale nursery supplies a broad range of deciduous and broadleaf seedlings, rootstocks and some conifers to the nursery industry, orchardists, landscapers, local authorities, farm foresters, planting contractors and consultants.