The sale of a Southland sawmill has been described as “devastating” for the local community, but the company that has bought it plans to integrate the mill into its own expanding timber operations. Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd has bought Southland business Craigpine Timber Ltd at Winton, with the sale effective from December 18. More than 50 job losses are expected as operations at the Winton sawmill will be reduced from two shifts to one. Kiesanowski said the Winton sawmill processed between 10,000m3 and 11,000m3 of product a month and was supplied by corporate forestry owners and farm forestry blocks. The holding company for Craigpine Timber Ltd, is Amalgamated Holdings Ltd, which was formed by the Black family.

Source: Stuff November 18, 2020 21:31 UTC