State Forests awards its biggest harvest and haulage contract worth $40 million

State Forests has recently awarded its biggest harvest and haulage contract worth $40 million, with the harvesting and haulage work going to local company Crozier Tumbarumba Pty Ltd, who will use Toll Finemores Transport for the haulage component.

“It’s a 10-year contract and the biggest logistics contract that State Forests has awarded to date, so it is very exciting and great news for the local Tumbarumba community,” State Forests group manager log merchandising Mr Phil Stelling said.

“Crozier have been operating in the Tumbarumba area, supplying the Tumbarumba mill and other customers, for more than 35 years,” he said.

“Both Crozier and Toll are local companies that are well known and well regarded by State Forests”.

“Crozier’s services are required primarily to supply increasing volumes of softwood sawlog to the local Tumbarumba sawmill owned by Hyne and Son, who are very supportive of the tender outcome.”

The supply of timber under the new contact will start in February 2004.

The timber will come from State Forests plantations in the Tumbarumba, Rosewood and Batlow areas.

Mr James Crozier said that the combination of Crozier and Toll would maximise productivity without compromising safety.

“The 10-year contract will allow us to continue to provide training and employment locally, while maintaining support for community events,” he said.

Crozier plans to buy a new Timbco harvester and a Timbco forwarder.

Mr Alan Finemore said Toll considered Crozier to be a quality organisation and the company was pleased with the tender result.

To service the contract, Toll will initially be purchasing two new ‘B’-double vehicles equipped with central tyre inflation to be supplemented with additional vehicles as the volume ramps up over time.

“We are looking forward to a long and beneficial association with Crozier,” Mr Finemore said.

Media contact: Phil Stelling on 0409 713573.

Photo available: Sarah Chester on (02) 6036 2110.