The East Gippsland Milling project provides machinery and labour to East Gippslanders who have been heavily affected by three years of drought, major Fires of 2020, and COVID-19 – at no cost to them.

Article by PP Bernie Farquhar from The Rotary Club of Mitchell River, Bairnsdale, Victoria

Both the Hon Tim Bull Member for Gippsland East and Hon Darren Chester Federal Member for Gippsland have claimed this is one of the best projects running after the disaster, it ticks all the boxes from using a waste product lying on the ground, turning it into a useable commodity to replace fences and yards and providing an incredible mental health lift to people that have struggled for 5-7 years.

The East Gippsland Milling project utilises fallen timber that has occurred during the fire activity of 2020 and produces fencing posts and rails, for the rebuild of fences and cattle yards lost in the devastating fires. We have achieved zero waste, utilising the sawdust, bark and off cuts, leaving a zero impact on the property.

This unique project will not only assist in the supply of timber it will and has already provided the much-needed motivation to farmers to assist in the rebuild of their properties and their lives.

Community Initiated Project

This project is governed by local community organizations, representatives of the Lions Clubs and Rotary Clubs have formed a committee of Management which is Incorporated to oversee the project development and governance.

Six previously unemployed East Gippslanders have now been employed, trained and mentored by our local TAFE in the use of the Lucas Mill, and have all achieved accreditation in a Forestry Management course FWPCOR2205. Our committee has assisted in the creation and development of their business and there is now three contracting businesses in the field.

Rotary donated the first 2 Lucas Mills, Lions have purchased 2 vehicles, 4 trailers, 2 skid steers, chain saws, and equipment to assist in the milling operation.

A full OHS Manual, Code of Conduct, Environmental Health Policy and Remuneration Policy have been established and on-going development of these document will be managed and implemented by the Committee of Management in conjunction with the contractors.

The Response from landowners has already proven this unique project must be fully funded for 5 years. In one response from a farmer’s partner, she stated we saved her husband’s life, he was overwhelmed and lost and the project provided focus and a renewed vision for their future.

Financial out goings per year are based on 2 mills with 4 mill operators and one project manager working 40 hours a week for 30 weeks of the year and all equipment operating costs, we will require $485k per year and $1.940 million for the life of project.

This project can be easily duplicated and deployed in any state or territory in a couple of weeks, using timber that has fallen from fires, floods or other disasters, our ongoing vision is to obtain funding to assist farmers is installing and rebuilding their property infrastructure using the cut timber and help rebuild their lives.