By KATH GANNAWAY
“YOUR new digs are going to be fantastic,” Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford told VicForests staff following a tour of the new Woori Yallock regional headquarters this afternoon, Wednesday, 15 July.
Ms Pulford officially opened the building, which will see 30 jobs relocate from VicForests’ Healesville and Melbourne offices.
Built originally as Melbourne Water’s regional headquarters, it is located close to the town centre on Symes Road and co-locates on the site with other government instrumentalities, Parks Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the CFA.
The new office will integrate corporate and regional roles covering field-based work such as forest planning, surveying, harvesting, road and regeneration tasks, as well as sales, stakeholder engagement, finance and management.
The opening was attended by VicForests’ CEO, Robert Green and chairman, Gordon Davis, Yarra Ranges Council CEO, Glenn Patterson and O’Shannassy Ward representative, Cr Jim Child and staff from Melbourne and Healesville.
“VicForests’ new regional headquarters will boost local economic growth and give the Yarra Valley community certainty,” Ms Pulford said.
“We support a strong and viable timber industry,” she added, saying the government would continue to collaborate with the timber industry to address issues with a view to driving economic growth and creating jobs.
She said the timber industry played an important role, providing 21,000 jobs across the state including in country towns in rural and regional Victoria.
“Without the timber industry, these jobs would just not exist,” she said.
“I hope you have a great time here,” she said to the staff who will move into the building by the end of the month.
“I am heartened that you have a long-term lease.
“What that tells us is that you have long-term plans and a long-term future.”
VicForests CEO, Robert Green, and Cr Child also noted the benefits to the local community through the move.
“This is a good outcome for Woori Yallock and will see the town benefit from additional economic activity,” Mr Green said.
He said the move allowed VicForests to base themselves long-term in the Yarra Valley and remain part of its community.
“We look forward to continuing to have a presence in the region and contributing to the local economy.”
Cr Child said the facility would bring 30 jobs into the town.
“The benefit to local businesses is going to be fantastic,” he said.
“It’s a great outcome for Woori Yallock and, of course, for Yarra Ranges.”
He said it was also good to hear Minister Pulford’s encouraging words about the role of the timber industry and the points she made in regards to it being a viable, sustainable industry and VicForests’ ongoing commitment to that end.
Staff members from as near and far as Healesville, Hawthorn, Officer and Croydon rated more room, windows and the modern, open-plan office as among the benefits they are looking forward to with their “new digs”.
