The Gladstone Ports Corporation in Queensland now has the second largest log export operation in Australia, processing one shipment per month with a new woodchipping facility. The new log and woodchip is a collaborative effort to salvage timber plantations that were impacted in the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Marcia earlier this year. Thousands of hectares of trees were left wind-thrown and damaged, and needed to be salvaged as soon as possible.

GPC has been working closely with HQ Plantations to finalise a contract to commence export of the damaged trees and woodchip from Auckland Point. The woodchip operations include chipping, stockpiling and export, and will be coordinated by HQ Plantations. The first shipment of 38,000 tonnes of logs was sent to China last week. It is envisaged that woodchip exports will commence in September.

Source: Gladstone Observer