21 GEORGE STREET, MORWELL 3840
TELEPHONE 0351354444
WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH, 2022
26
27
SHOWER OR TWO
$1.8 80 inc. GST
www.latrobevalleyexpress.ccom.au
30
MOSTLY SUNNY
28
SHOWER OR TWO
SHOWER OR TWO
photograph liam durkin
POLICE BEAT WITH ALYSSA FRITZLAFF PAGE 5
AFL in our backyard
Hawthorn’s Jaeger O’Meara dishes out a handball during Friday’s AFL practice match against Collingwood at Morwell. FULL STORY - VALLEY SPORT
COURT SHORT TIMBER mills around Victoria are bleeding, with even Australian Paper in the Latrobe Valley potentially threatened, as they are running out of wood supply due to the injunctions on harvesting in logging coupes ordered by the Victorian Supreme Court. The mills are likely to run out of timber before winter, when harvesting is not permitted, raising the possibility that industry will be without wood for much of the year.
Opal Australian Paper said in a statement that, like many organisations, Australian Paper was currently managing a challenging supply situation across a wide range of key inputs. “However, we are committed to ensuring that we continue to meet our ongoing customer requirements,” the company said. One mill owner, who asked not to be identified, said the decision of one judge had brought the industry and its employees to its knees.
The Supreme Court’s Justice Richards on December 23 injuncted all of East Gippsland and Central Highlands coupes, shutting down about 80 per cent of Victoria’s native timber supply. One court case is to be heard in May, but green groups have launched 10 court actions designed to prevent timber harvesting. Australian Sustainable Hardwoods at Heyfield is down 50 per cent on log deliveries to date. The managing director, Vince Hurley, said ASH just got through to Christmas
with supply of shining gum from HVP Plantations and certified timber from private property in Tasmania. However, it all depended on supply from VicForests. “If they stopped tomorrow, the mill would stop in four weeks. However, the real issue is winter. We might scrape through until May, but then all deliveries cease for three months and slow deliveries for another two,” he said. Continued on page 3
INSIDE TODAY: TAKE A BREAK, TV GUIDE, HOROSCOPES AND MORE
Darren Chester
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL LIVING
Member for Gippsland
40 + years of craftmanship
Shopping Locally Creates Local Jobs www.darrenchester.com.au
Morwell Curtains & Blinds ) morwellcurtains@gmail.com morwellcurtainsandblinds Morwell Curtains and Blinds
34-38 George St, Morwell
Call us on 5134 3652 and 0456 665 179
INSIDE TODAY
LOCAL STAR REFLECTS ON FINE CAREER VALLEY SPORT
SHEDS! IIF FY YOU OU NEED NEED A SHED, YOU NEED
EUREKA! Best price, Best Advice!
Deal with the locals with over 25 years’ experience.
188 Argyle Street Traralgon
Garages & Sheds PHONE: 5174 5311
GP1638005
By PHILIP HOPKINS
FOOTY TIPPING CHART