Job certainty for ForestrySA workers in the state’s SE

News Release: Minister Leon Bignell, Minister for Forests

Forestry workers in the state’s South East will benefit from greater job certainty, with OneFortyOne Plantations (OFO) set to take over plantation management from ForestrySA.

OFO will make employment offers to ForestrySA staff in the South East who are predominantly involved in providing plantation management services to OFO. Staff will transfer on their existing employment terms and conditions, including leave entitlements.

Extended contract staff who accept OFO’s offer will, shortly after starting work with OFO, receive a further offer of permanent employment with the company.

Speaking in Mount Gambier today, Forests Minister Leon Bignell said OFO had guaranteed the permanent jobs would be maintained at their current locations until June 30, 2018.

“This is aimed at providing increased job security for ForestrySA workers and their families in the South East,” he said.

“The staff will have greater employment certainty, and will have the opportunity to further their forestry industry careers with OFO.”

OFO will also make offers to some other ForestrySA staff.

ForestrySA’s operations in the Mid North and Mount Lofty Ranges will not be affected by this announcement.

There will also be no impact on fire management. OFO will provide the same level of fire protection and management within its forest estates, and ForestrySA will continue to provide fire protection and management outside the estates.

There will be no change to conditions relating to log rotation length, domestic supply arrangements, annual reporting requirements, or replanting obligations, ensuring the long-term future of the forestry industry in the South East.

The State Government will retain ownership of the forest land, water, and carbon rights, and ForestrySA will maintain a staff presence in the South East.

Dave Rumker, a Managing Director of Campbell Global – which provides the independent Chair of One Forty One Plantations Pty Ltd – said the company had been impressed with, and are very appreciative of, ForestrySA’s professionalism and expertise in managing the OFO assets.

“Their dedicated commitment in support of OFO over almost three years of operations has been critical to our success in the region,” he said.

“We are excited about, and look forward to, the opportunity to directly employ FSA staff in the South East Region, providing ongoing career opportunities for staff that have supported OFO since inception.”

Minister Bignell acknowledged the excellent contribution ForestrySA staff had made to managing the forest plantations in the South East, and encouraged them to consider signing on with OFO so they could continue their great work for the benefit of the region and the State.

Background

In 2012 the State Government announced it had sold up to three forward rotations of the pine plantations in the South East to OFO for 105 years in return for an up-front payment of $670 million.

As part of the sale agreement, ForestrySA was to manage the OFO plantations in the South East for a five year term which expires on 17 October 2017. ForestrySA has a last right of refusal to provide management services to OFO for a further five years at the expiry of the current agreement.