Nannup will feel job losses

The loss of 26 jobs at Nannup’s timber mill is the biggest economic crisis the town has faced for 60 years, the Shire president has said.

Tony Dean told the Times the ripple effect from the redundancies would be felt throughout the community.

Nannup Timber Processing is shedding half its staff in a bid to restructure and stay afloat.

Mr Dean said the losses were in the region of 10 to 15 per cent of Nannup’s entire workforce.

He said the Shire held a crisis meeting in the town hall last Thursday, but he was not confident about people finding work.

“So far the Minister has not offered any assistance,” he said.

“The Government is silent on this. We wonder if they know what’s going on.

“We’re blessed or shackled with being custodians of the State’s forest and we think we deserve more than help.”

Mr Dean said NTP was paying redundancies in three instalments instead of a lump sum, which had ramifications for Centrelink payments and pensions.

He said unless Nannup could find a new industry, future employment prospects remained uncertain.

After 38 years working at the mill, Ron McKirdy will be jobless five days before Christmas. The 64-year-old was gutted the dry mill would shut down completely.

“There’s nothing we can do,” he said.

“We have to take it as it comes.

“It’s a grave concern financially ... I’ve got a mortgage to pay.

“Some people have been there longer than me.

“The bloke next to me was 42 years and he’s gone.”

Mr McKirdy said he thought it was the beginning of the end.

“The knock on effect probably won’t be felt straight away but it will happen,” he said.

“People will leave (Nannup) eventually.

“They can’t stay here doing nothing.”

Warren Blackwood MLA and former Forestry Minister Terry Redman said Nannup had been neglected by Government until 2008, but not any more.

Mr Redman cited nearly $4 million of State Government investment on the early learning centre, the town centre upgrade, the new mobile communication tower at Quongup and the Nannup to Albany Munda Biddi trail extension as evidence of this.

He said as Forestry Minister he initiated support services for impacted workers and he remained supportive of Shire community projects designed to stir economic growth.