Future of historic Mount Gambier timber mill in doubt as Bedford buyer backs away

Decades of purpose-driven work for disabled employees hangs in the balance at Bedford’s timber mill, with the union warning of devastating fallout.

The future of the Bedford-run timber mill in Mount Gambier that has given disabled workers purpose for decades is now hanging by a thread, with unions warning the fallout could be brutal.

The mill, opened in 1977, employs about 50 people, including roughly 30 supported workers with disabilities, but its future is in crisis after Bedford’s new buyer signalled it does not want the mill or the 30 acres of land it sits on.

Bedford’s Attamurra Road site includes Dovetail, its timber and furniture manufacturing mill, and the Learning and Experiences sensory hub, which offers art and cooking programs that teach life and social skills for people with disabilities rather than provide employment.

Co-administrator Robert Smith from McGrathNicol said the freehold land at Mount Gambier was not included in the Disability Trust’s proposal for the wider Bedford group.

He told creditors last week that administrators are now trying to find other options for the site through either a revised bid or a separate buyer.

But CFMEU organiser Travis Lawson said either path looked increasingly like a “lose-lose” outcome for workers.

CFMEU organiser Travis Lawson says the future of the Bedford-run timber mill in Mount Gambier is at risk.

“Bedford was asking for about $9 million to sell that asset to the Disability Trust but they said they aren’t interested in the timber mill or the land,” he said.

He said the Trust only appeared willing to consider taking on the sensory hub, meaning supported workers in the mill would likely lose those jobs and be offered alternatives.

“As it stands, these mill employees wake up every day knowing they are going to work. Many have been there for years and years. It is meaningful work and they are proud of it,” he said.

“I doubt they will want to shift to the sensory hub. They just want to be gainfully employed like everyone else.”

Mr Lawson also warned the mill cannot simply be relocated.

“A lot of the equipment is brand new. They got over $3 million of federal government money and it was completed about a year ago.”

He said a private sale would also pose problems, as major timber companies only outsource work to Bedford to support disabled workers, not because they rely on the mill’s services.

It comes as union officials will meet with McGrathNicol on Friday for an update.

Mr Lawson said both supported workers and about 20 “open” workers, many with families and mortgages, were now “really frightened” about their futures.

“I fear this is heading for a bloodbath of job losses,” he said. “People are in limbo and the consequences look like they will be devastating.”

It follows the loss of 52 open-employment jobs at Bedford after the sale of its food and beverage arm, Cultivate, to Seventeen Hills Proprietary Limited last week.

Among them was Adrian Jones, who said he was “gutted” to suddenly lose his job.

The CFMEU has lodged a dispute with the Fair Work Commission over what it says is a lack of consultation on major workplace changes.

The matter will be heard on Thursday afternoon.

Originally published as Future of historic Mount Gambier timber mill in doubt as Bedford buyer backs away