Swanbank paper mill gets the green light

The proposed $1.2 billion paper manufacturing facility in South-East Queensland is set to become Australia’s premier production base for coated fine paper.

The company also announced the appointments of paper industry stalwart Joe Foster as its chief executive
officer and John O’Connor as marketing director.

Swanbank Paper director, Sam Winston Smith, said the announcements were significant milestones in the
development of the Ipswich facility, which will produce around 400,000 tonnes of coated fine paper a year
and employ about 250 people once it is operational.

“To my knowledge, this is the first EIS approval for greenfield white paper manufacture in Australia in over 50
years, which is a great achievement,” said Winston Smith.
“The addition of Joe Foster to our team is also fantastic news. He brings vast paper industry knowledge and
experience with him, which will give us an upper hand when it comes to the many opportunities that are open
to us.”

Australia and New Zealand together currently consume about 400,000 tonnes of coated fine paper each year
and about 330,000 tonnes is imported.

“The paper industry has a strong future in Australia and I’m excited to be joining a company that is dedicated
to developing the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly paper mill in Australia,” said Joe Foster.

“This is a growing market and the construction of Swanbank Paper means the Australian economy will save
up to $450 million a year in import costs. It will also give us the potential to establish a strong export industry
to meet rapidly increasing demand in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Foster was previously managing director of paper merchant Edwards Dunlop Paper and prior to that, was
CEO of leading office products supplier Corporate Express. O’Connor has extensive experience in supply chain focused operational and senior executive roles in
Australia, Europe and North Asia. Most recently he was Director of Supply Chain for PMP Limited, Australia's
largest printing and digital premedia business.


The manufacturing facility, which the Queensland government has declared a project of state significance,
will be located on 35 hectares at the proposed 2,200 hectare Swanbank Enterprise Park in Ipswich, which is
50 km west of the Port of Brisbane.
Modern technology supplied by Finnish firm Metso Paper will enable the facility to produce a world-class
product that will be internationally cost competitive and environmentally friendly.

Australian Paper’s Tasmanian Wesley Vale mill is the only other producer of coated fine paper in Australia and currently
produces about 68,000 tonnes a year.

“With bankable feasibility and pre-engineering studies already completed and now with EIS approval, we are
confident we will quickly secure the financial support needed to begin construction of the plant,” said Foster.
“Indicative support for the project from the financial community is good and we expect competitive funding to
be secured within the next six months.”

Construction of the facility is expected to take about two years to complete with a peak construction force of
850 people.

The EIS was subject to an extensive community consultation process with a broad range of stakeholders. An
important part of Swanbank Paper’s plan is to develop a local training and employment program in
partnership with Ipswich City Council and local education institutions with the aim of maximising local
involvement in the project.