Dindi Sawmill will close by early October, and 17 local jobs will be lost.

Forests Victoria reversed a decision that allowed Dindi Mill to harvest timber from the forests from 2020-23 and 2023-26. VicForests had consulted around future supply arrangements. This process has now consulted.

The Local Paper understands that  the State Government will make contributions towards redundancy payments to the staff.

The closure of Myles Rd mill brings a close to the timber industry within the Murrindindi Shire.

Mr and Mrs McKinnell said that the decision to close was not made lightly. Staff have been advised of the closure, and some are making application for jobs to mills in Benalla and Yarra Junction.

After cutting is brought to a halt in early October, the Mill premises will remain open for a while to sell supplies, including scrap, to the public. The Mill is the only location locally where green timber is available.

An auction is likely to be held later this year, or in early 2019.

The closure follows the Andrews Labor State Government’s purchase of the Heyfield Mill. The Government has stated that it owns 49 per cent of the Heyfield Mill./

Mr and Mrs McKinnell said it was not their idea to close the Mill, they had family members who were able to run the mill for the next eight years.

They said they regretted the position in which the closure puts their loyal staff. One of the saddest aspects, Mrs McKinnell said, was that “great customers” would not be able to access their product locally.

The Dindi Mill opened in June 2009, after the Black Saturday fires on February 7, 2009.