Australian Paper celebrated the official opening of its $90 million paper recycling plant last night, demonstrating further confidence in the Latrobe Valley.
Australian Paper has built an office paper recycling facility at the Maryvale Mill, which is the only one of its type in Australia.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed the company’s investment in Gippsland.
“It is a valuable show of confidence that Australian Paper has been prepared to invest in the Latrobe Valley diversifying production at its Maryvale Mill,” Mr Chester said.
“Australian Paper’s $600 million pulp mill upgrade in 2009 was the largest private capital project in Victoria in that decade.
“The new office paper recycling facility will divert 8,000 tonnes per year of waste paper that would have ended up in landfill into recycled paper.”
The project will see Planet Ark partner with Australian Paper to aid in waste paper collection and promote the use of a new 100% Australian made recycled paper range.
Mr Northe said Australian Paper was the largest employer in the Latrobe Valley, providing more than 900 full-time jobs.
“It is estimated the Maryvale Mill provides a further 4800 full-time jobs indirectly,” Mr Northe said.
The Maryvale Mill is Australia’s largest manufacturing site and produces a wide range of packaging, printing and office papers including the well-known REFLEX copy paper brand.
CAPTION: Pictured at the official opening of the Latrobe Valley’s new $90 million Australian Paper Recycling Plant are (left to right) Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Richard Colbeck, Nippon Paper Industries Chairman Yoshio Haga, Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, State Member for Morwell Russell Northe, Australian Paper CEO Kunihiko Kashima and Victorian Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh.
