October 10, 2012
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says Australian Paper has shown an ongoing commitment to the region by approving a $90 million expansion at its Maryvale Mill this morning.
The mill’s parent company Nippon Paper has approved the spending of $90 million to build a wastepaper recycling plant, which will create 140 jobs in the construction phase.
The project will also provide 14 new jobs and secure 100 existing indirect positions.
The Federal Government has provided $9.5 million towards the project.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said today’s announcement was a vote of confidence for the Latrobe Valley.
“This project will provide a significant boost to the local economy, and help to restore business confidence which has copped a battering because of the Federal Government’s carbon tax policies,” Mr Chester said.
“It is great news for workers at the mill, but also small businesses and tradespeople across the broader Latrobe Valley community.
“The Latrobe Valley has been trapped in a period of uncertainty for some time – but with the scrapping of the Gillard Government’s plan to close down power stations and this new investment in the Maryvale Mill, our region’s future is more secure.”
The Maryvale Mill is Australia’s largest integrated pulp and paper manufacturing complex, producing more than 500,000 tonnes of paper every year. It has operated in the Latrobe Valley as a pulp and paper mill for over 75 years since 1937.
Mr Chester said the mill had been instrumental in the growth of Traralgon and Morwell and commended Nippon Paper for its continued investment in the Latrobe Valley.
“The mill is the largest private sector employer in the Latrobe Valley with approximately 900 employees,” Mr Chester said.
“The community benefits from another 4000 indirect jobs through its operations and $100 million in wages to the local economy.
“This investment provides long-term security for those workers and means the mill will continue to make a significant contribution to the local and regional economies.”
Construction of the new wastepaper recycling plant is expected to begin later this year with initial production scheduled for 2014.