Australian tannery closed
Reports from Australia say that the Darkan Wet Blue Tannery of Darkan, Western Australia, has closed with the loss of 24 jobs.
Owned by Australian Leather Holdings, the tannery was the biggest employer the town, which is located 200km south of Perth.
Speaking to the local press, ALH director Graeme Monkhouse attributed to the closure to national overcapacity and increasing raw materials prices. "ALH has reviewed all options over the past 12 months in an attempt to keep the Darkan plant operating," he said. "The closure is not a reflection on the workforce but an acceptance of the economic forces of difficult supply."
Opened in 1994, the tannery had been operating at half its capacity. Community leaders now fear that the Wheatbelt town, which has a population of just 250, might die unless another industry can be established.
