End of the line for Corryong mill

Keith Smiley

Corryong’s Walker Sawmill has been an integral part of a beautiful and breathtaking environment, working hand in hand with locals for a mutually beneficial outcome which has stood the test of time for over 80 years.

But it will all come to an end later this year because of the Victorian Government’s decision to shut down the native timber industry.

“It was with heavy heart that I decided to shut the sawmill and hand back the remaining 12 months on our VicForests licence but the recent decision by the government to close at the end of December has rendered every Victorian sawmill worthless as far as processing our own native sawlogs,” Walker’s Managing director Graham Walker said.

“We have an annual contract and hope to secure a further contract to extend our life up to December 2023. The decision to end native forestry in Victoria is the cruellest and most ridiculous decision that has ever been made, and purely based on city votes, not scientifically based,” Graham said.

In a letter to the Corryong Courier, Mr Walker laid the blame for the mill closure squarely at the feet of the Victorian government.

“The decision to end native forest logging is ripping small communities like Corryong apart,” he said.”

“Our business has been supporting wages since 1965 and the flow-on effect to all our suppliers will be felt heavily as over $4.5-5m per year was going into the economy and supporting other businesses.

Graham followed in the footsteps created by his grandfather Bob Walker, and Graham’s dad, Max.

Bob had come from Tasmania to spot mill on farmers’ lands, setting up a tractor-driven bench to mill timber, supplying timber for buildings in places like Yackandandah and Tallangatta. They would walk a team of six horses in one day from Tallangatta to Shelley to setup a camp, living in tents.

The sawmill relocated to Corryong because it was rich in mountain ash and had essential town services. The new mill was part owned by William Horton & Co who were wool buyers but could see a future in timber.

“Logs were sourced from VicForests locally but in the 1990’s we purchased a licence to acquire logs from New South Wales,” Mr Walker said. “We employ 22 staff, have a full workshop, including welding and maintenance, a Canadian twin breaking down saw with Gibson line-bar for milling logs up to 110cm girth and 7 metres long; alongside a Gibson Twin Edger for processing logs 4 metres long and up to 60cm girth. Two Grey engineering benches are used to rip the flitches to size for timber or pallet timber. This is docked to length and stacked by manual labour. Our pallets are manufactured on a Viking QC306 nailing machine and then the pallets travel through two paint booths before being automatically stacked ready for the B-Double trucks,” said Graham.

Spot Pallet Supplies began as the side-string of the hardwood timber mill where the fall-down of timber was better suited for pallets. Max Walker purchased the tree heads left behind, and value-added this by cutting pallet tim- ber, which is only 1165mm in length, giving the advantage of being able to cut out knots and defects; considered a revolutionary idea because it utilised logs that would be left to burn in the next bushfire.

Max was the pioneer of integrated logging and instigated a policy of removing all the low grade logs and heads of trees to re-saw them for pallet timber.

This operation began in about 1967 where a “Spot Mill” was again setup in Brown’s yard in Corryong to cut pallet timber.

Walker’s Sawmill or “Spot Pallet Supplies” as it is more widely known, has been producing timber and pallets for CHEP for more than 50 years.

In 1998 Graham was struck down with a mystery illness and sent to London for diagnosis; then America to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion.

“I had a virus that mutated

Government removes controversial ACCU water rule

From page 3 in Queensland for multiple benefits.

“Queensland was a big loser from the existing barrier which effectively blocked the ability for farmers and landowners to access carbon credits for new plantations in areas that received over 600 mm annual rainfall. We do get lots of rain in many parts of Queensland which can support carbon farming with wood production,” Mr Stephens said.

“As an industry we have worked tirelessly to get this barrier removed so that plantation and farm forestry can compete on a level playing field with other landbased carbon farming activities under the scheme.

“It is disappointing it has taken many years to get this issue resolved under successive Governments, but when it comes to public policy we take the view that common sense will ultimately prevail.”

The Victorian Forest Products Association said the decision was a win for forestry and the environment, and importantly, the decision would improve Australia’s sovereign timber capability. The amendment clears the way for planting up to 100 million trees Australia-wide by 2030.

The South Australian Forest Products Association has been in discussions with the South Australian Govern- ment about the importance of seeking the early removing the ‘water rule’, as access to the carbon market will incentivise investment in South Australia’s plantation and farm forestry estate which will lead to more trees in the ground to help meet our future fibre needs whilst at the same time helping the South Australian Government achieve its net zero targets.

“The removal of this red tape barrier is great news because it will help us get more trees in the ground which will help us meet the fibre needs of the community tomorrow. COVID-19 showed us the importance of sovereign capability in fibre supply and today’s announcement by the Federal Government is a step forward in making that happen,” SAFPA CEO Nathan Paine said.

To further support new carbon farming projects and Australia’s forestry industry, the Government is also providing $73.8 million in grant funding to support the establishment of new plantation forests.

The grant funding supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantations to help expand Australian timber supply, contribute to carbon reduction and create regional jobs.

“New long-rotation soft- a gene and my body was destroying my muscles,” Graham said.

“By 2001 I was in a wheelchair and in 2005 on a ventilator at night to breathe, then in 2010, a tube for nutrition and fluids followed by the need for 24-7 ventilation.

In 2017 when dad was forced to retire at 94, I managed to keep operating, cutting power bills by installing 900 solar panels, upgrading the sawmill, boosting production by 50 percent. I installed CCTV cameras to manage the sawmill remotely as I wasn’t able to be onsite, requiring carers and 24-7 supervision in case my ventilator failed.

“My biggest setback came in 2020 when my right lung collapsed, followed by a further collapse five days later, and another care-flight from Albury to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne where I have been on a first name basis since 2010.” wood and hardwood plantations will help Australia meet future demand for timber, while ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the forestry industry,” the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt said.

“The removal of the water rule demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to support the plantation forestry industry.

“The plantation forestry industry is a big employer in regional areas, and this move will encourage industry to take a bigger role in helping Australia bring down emissions whilst also providing an important resource.”

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