Officiating at the opening of VicForests new Healesville office are (from left) John Lenders, Ben Hardman and Paul Barker while staff members (back) Mat Kavanagh, Jason Schaefer, Mick Hansby and Jarrod Logue (front) Narelle D’argue, Helen Town and Tim Sanders look on.By Kath Gannaway
STATE Treasurer John Lenders opened the new VicForests Central Highlands Regional Office in Healesville on Friday.
Mr Lenders is also the minister responsible for the state-owned VicForests, which now has regional head offices in Healesville and Orbost in addition to its corporate support office in Melbourne.
The former Healesville Post Office/Telstra building, which has been empty for several years, underwent a $100,000 renovation to accommodate the 25 staff members who have relocated from decentralised offices in the region, including Toolangi and Powelltown.
VicForests announced the restructure, which led to the new office, just over a year ago saying it would improve the way the business was conducted and ensure the best community value from harvesting Victoria’s state forests.
Member for Seymour, Ben Hardman joined Mr Lenders to welcome the organisation and staff members to the area.
Mr Lenders said Healesville, as the geographic gateway to the Central Highlands, was a fitting location for VicForests’ to have a major regional office.
“Being here will provide an opportunity for VicForests and the broader timber industry to improve its presence in this rapidly growing and changing region,” he said.
Mr Lenders said Victoria’s timber industry contributed about $3 billion, round 37 per cent, of the national industry’s total net value and accounted for around $600 million in exports. It represented almost 30 per cent of Australia’s total wood product exports.
“By managing the commercial sale and harvest of Victoria’s state forest resources, VicForests plays a critical role in the timber industry,” Mr Lenders said.
VicForests chairman Paul Barker chaired a board meeting at the new offices providing board members with an opportunity to look over the new set up and meet staff members.
Mr Barker said the opening marked the last formal step in an organisational restructure, which included converting to mill door sales and building a timber auction system to replace the licence system.
Mr Hardman said the timber industry in the district had been sustainably managed for over 100 years.
“It has provided jobs for many generations of timber workers and continues to generate value for the district and the state,” he said.
