Tasmanian Premier visits Timberlink’s Bell Bay facility

An AU$63 million upgrade is in the final stages of planning and will be underway and expected to be commissioned at the Bell Bay facility by the end of 2026. This will result in an increase of more than fifty percent in on-island sovereign timber manufactured from sustainably managed pine plantations.

The Premier inspected a number of developments at the Timberlink facility including construction of Australia’s only finger-jointed and primed outdoor timber products line, which has been partially supported by an AU$1,063,304 grant from the Tasmanian Government’s Department of State Growth On-Island Processing Program. The finger-jointing line is expected to be completed in late 2023.

Timberlink’s EGM Sales Marketing & Corporate Affairs, David Oliver, said “This new finger-jointed and primed outdoor timber products line will be the only one of its kind in Australia, and Timberlink is excited to be able to offer a locally produced product for the Australian market and reduce the need for imported timber.”

The Premier’s visit also included a tour of Timberlink’s wood-plastic composites plant, which is expected to be in full production in late 2023. This plant will produce wood-plastic composites products that will upcycle plastic waste and plantation timber mill residues, producing decking and screening for commercial and residential applications.

“This project significantly enhances Australia’s Sovereign capability to manufacture decking and screening products from upcycled materials,” said David Oliver. The wood-plastic composites plant will create new jobs and flow-on benefits for the economy. The energy to power the plant will be sourced from Tasmanian hydro power and a solar farm located on the roof of the new facility. Rainwater tanks will be installed to harvest rainwater which will be used for cooling in the manufacturing process.

Photo: Left to right: David Oliver, Premier Jeremy Rockliff MP, Nick Duigan MP, Scott Freeman

Source: Timberlink