Supporting business growth with threefold capacity increase

Dongwha Timbers’ softwood sawmill facility in Bombala allows the company’s annual sawing capacity to increase significantly. Great news for business, and the local community.

From 100,000m³ of round logs to 300,000m³, and from 30,000m³ of treated timber to 150,000m³. That’s the difference Australasia’s most efficient mill is making to Dongwha Timbers’ operations.

Now, up to 180,000 tonnes of treated sawn timber can be produced at this high-tech mill and put to good use for outdoor building, decking, landscaping and fencing.

Getting to this point involved an expansion, including a new wood yard, green mill, kilns, dry mill, treatment plant and associated infrastructure and administration – all using the latest European sawmill technology. Wood Beca (formerly Beca AMEC) oversaw the expansion, right from conceptual reviews through to detailed design and project and construction management. The local team were fully integrated into the Dongwha organisation and local community, even to sponsorship at Australian Day events in the community.

Dongwha was able to track progress, and identify and solve potential operational problems ahead of production thanks to our practical sawmill project experience. Delivering the project successfully involved design teams and construction monitoring presence from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Some staff were based on site during the final 18 months to oversee the works and ensure it met key deadlines.

As an important facility and employer in Bombala, engagement with the community was critical to this project’s success. That’s why we delivered around 45 tours of the new facility to staff, state, federal and local politicians, and community stakeholders.

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