Timber Towns Victoria Acknowledges Mill Closure in Yarram
12 November 2025
Timber Towns Victoria Acknowledges Mill Closure in Yarram
Timber Towns Victoria acknowledges the announcement by AKD, Australia’s largest softwood producer, that it will close its Yarram sawmill in Gippsland. The decision, which affects 73 employees, comes amid reported challenging market conditions and a prolonged nationwide slowdown in housing construction.
Last month, a delegation of Timber Towns Victoria stakeholders toured the Yarram mill, meeting with workers and management as part of a three-day industry tour in Wellington Shire. The tour brought representatives from eleven of the state’s timber regions to inspect the plantation estate, two of the country’s largest sawmills (including the AKD Yarram mill), and specialist processors that sustain its supply chain.
Timber Towns Victoria President Cr Karen Stephens said the closure underscores the pressures facing regional timber communities.
“It is disappointing to see this mill closure in the small town of Yarram in the heart of Gippsland. This is a community that Timber Towns Victoria Members recently visited and toured through highlighting their products and innovations. We can only hope the impact to the community can be minimised by other local mills and businesses.”
Wellington Shire Mayor Cindy Madeley, whose council is one of the eleven regions represented by Timber Towns Victoria, emphasised the importance of supporting affected workers and families.
“We share the pain and uncertainty this brings and will do everything we can to support affected workers and their families, especially with this news coming so close to Christmas.
“We are pushing the State Government to provide appropriate levels of support for the families affected.
“We will advocate strongly for opportunities for economic diversification and are willing to talk to prospective industry investors to determine interest in the site.
“Our communities are strong and resilient, Council as always, will continue to stand beside Yarram and our broader region to ensure that it remains a vibrant place to live and work.”
Timber Towns Victoria will continue to work with industry, government, and community stakeholders to support displaced sawmill workers.
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About Timber Towns Victoria
Timber Towns Victoria (TTV) is an incorporated Local Government Association formed in the early 1980s, representing the interests of municipal councils in forestry matters on both public and private land. It represents eleven different timber regions, including Wellington Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Latrobe City, Baw Baw Shire, Moorabool Shire, Ballarat City, Colac Otway Shire, Moyne Shire, Glenelg Shire, West Wimmera Shire and Gannawarra Shire. According to Cr Karen Stephens, TTV President: “Timber Towns Victoria continues to be a strong advocate for the community and industry to the State Government on the impact that changes to legislation have regarding the timber industry and our communities.”
Quick links
- Timber Towns Victoria tours Wellington Shire region showcasing timber towns businesses and communities 10 October 2025
- Timber Towns Victoria 2024 – 2025 Annual Report
- Timber Towns Victoria Welcomes Funding – Timber Towns Victoria 23 September 2025
- Timber Towns Victoria celebrates 40 years of operations whilst visiting local businesses and communities in the Baw Baw Shire region – Timber Towns Victoria 22 August 2024
Media Enquiries
JASON ROSS – PUBLISHER
Phone: +61 (0) 448 190 055
Email: jason@woodcentral.com.au
Website: www.woodcentral.com.au
TTV Contact: 0488 900 645 or secretary@timbertownsvictoria.com.au