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Mount Gambier to host Austimber 2012

Posted on September 25, 2008, 5:05pm and updated on September 26, 2008 at 2:32 pm ,  4 views

The resounding success of the Austimber08 conference held in Mount Gambier in March has led to an announcement the next conference in 2012 will again be held in the city.

Australian Forest Contractors Association Board chairman Colin McCulloch made the announcement during a visit to the city yesterday where he told a civic reception it “wasn’t a hard decision” to choose Mount Gambier as the venue for the 2012 event.

“Mount Gambier is such a beautiful place and such an iconic community in respect to the timber industry,” Mr McCulloch said.

Mr McCulloch said the success of the 2008 was encouraging for the Australian Forest Contractors Association who were hopeful the 2012 event would build on the positive gains arising from this year’s event.

He said one of the best outcomes from Austimber08 was the high level of interest shown by educators from different training institutions from across the nation.

He was hopeful by 2012 the conference would also attract current and potential students, as a means to encourage skilled workers into the diverse industry.

“The next step is now trying to attract the students,” he said.

“Our focus will more than likely be to really promote ourselves through the TAFE system.

“We’ve got to continue to promote our side of the business as a valid first choice employment opportunity.”

Austimber08 general manager David Quill will continue in his role and has already begun planning for the 2012 event.

Mr Quill said the combination of the extra planning time and the experience and support gained from running this year’s event would improve the organisation of the 2012 event.

“The most important thing we learned from 2008 was we need more time…and the second thing we learned was we needed to concentrate things in one area,” Mr Quill said.

“This time we have an experienced team, the confidence of the community, the local government and the forestry industry.

“If it was good last time, it will be magnificent this time.”

One of the major changes will be the co-location of all conference activities on a single site, rather than in dual locations as with this year.

A site has already been earmarked for the 2012 event, 5km west of the Mount Gambier airport.

Mr Quill said the chosen site would showcase the broad scope of the forestry industry, as it is surrounded on one side by Foresty SA pine plantations and on another by bluegum plantations, both of which will be due for harvest in 2012, with another side lined by old growth natural forest.

SARAH DUFFIELD

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