BULAHDELAH’S primary industries have had a difficult year with the recent floods only adding to the stress being experienced by many businesses.
A very wet summer leading into the recent East Coast Low and then almost immediately followed by flooding rains, has devastated many local businesses.
Anthony Dorney, Managing Director of the Dorney Group Bulahdelah, which operates the mills and associated services, said there were a number of factors that have led to worsening conditions for the timber industry.
“The Government has been cutting back on available timber and closing off compartments [for] the Koala Park which makes it harder to source logs,” he said.
“Also, the wet conditions have made it impossible to get the cut logs out of the forest with two floods this year hampering the sourcing of wood.
“In the last two weeks we have only been able to work at 20 percent capacity at our mills.”
He said many workers are broke and are unable to access relief payments.
“With the mills and associated services employing 120 people in our area and being the largest employer in Bulahdelah, it has a devastating effect on the entire local economy.
“If the workers have no money, then they can’t support the local businesses let alone look after their families and pay their rent.”
They have tried to source timber from over 600km away but found a lack of hardwood, and poor quality, are significant issues.
Normally they hold a month’s supply which gets them through very wet conditions but the stockpiles are depleted.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen in the last 40 years and we are really struggling and have had to stand down workers on 12 occasions this year.”
Cattle and dairy farmers have also cited the prohibitive costs of insurance as having a negative impact on business.
It costs tens of thousands of dollars just to insure fences, so it becomes an almost impossible task on a minimal income to protect their properties.
By John SAHYOUN
