Jobs lost as Walfertan tannery closes
The Walfertan tannery in Aberdeen, Australia, has been
forced to close, leading to 23 job losses.
Walfertan’s executive manager David Topper said the
company made the decision last Thursday because of rising costs, including the
rising Australian dollar and the ‘‘flow on’’
from the carbon tax.
Mr Topper said continuing "restrictive"’ conditions on
effluent disposal and monitoring made it necessary to consolidate operations at
its Gunnedah plant.
"We have seen rising electricity costs over the last two years, including the flow-on effects of the carbon tax," Mr Topper said. "We are a large consumer of all utilities."
Prior to its closure, the tannery exported wet blue hides
to Europe and Asia for the automotive, upholstery and footwear industries. It
had been in operation since 1993.
