Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks says workers who were made redundant from a Southland timber mill are in a good position to find other jobs if they have the right attitude.
Fifty-six Blue Mountain Lumber employees received their pink slips when they arrived at work this morning.
Winstone Pulp, owner of the mill near Tapanui, announced on Tuesday that it would cut jobs and restructure, because of a drop in demand for framing timber.
Winstone Pulp International (WPI) has been a subsidiary of Malaysian company Ernslaw One Ltd since April 2008. Six years ago the mill laid off 80 employees.
Mr Hicks told NZPA the news was bad for the rural community
"It's a terrible situation for the community to be in, but I feel more sorry for the people who have lost their jobs today."
However, he said the group were in a good position to regain employment if they were flexible and able to learn a new trade.
The abundance of beef and sheep farms in the area should be able to absorb some of those who were made redundant, he said.
"Work and Income will also be working very closely with those who have lost their jobs," Mr Hicks said.
Winstone Pulp mill managing director Dave Anderson said 48 jobs would remain.
He told Radio New Zealand 12 people volunteered for redundancy following the meeting on Tuesday.
Union officials had been working with mill bosses since the announcement was made.
