The company is now in action on the site where Blue Ridge operated from until its closure in 2020, due to diminishing supply and contract changes.

Operations manager Noel Hall said the 30 employees at South Coast Timber are flat out with production of flooring, decking and cladding.

This comes as no surprise, with widespread shortages in building materials and no sign of building industry demands easing.

"Everything we make at the moment is going straight out the door," Mr Hall said.

According to Mr Hall, much of the material is being sourced from private property, as well as some from the Eden Management Area (Forestry).

"There are a lot of things we have got to get right, we lost half the mill when it was going to be closed," Mr Hall said.

"We are making it work with minimum resource, trying to keep the jobs in town."

Managing director Damien Bunting said he had been blessed with a great crew, some of whom he managed to retain from the old regime.

"It was important to us to retain those skill sets, we are seeing some of them disappear in Australia, especially in regional areas," Mr Bunting said.

"The guys that operate our saws and moulders are fantastic, they are training the next generation and they've been generous with their knowledge.

"I know for certain the mill is in good hands when I am not there," Mr Bunting said.

While it has been a somewhat stressful year since taking the venture on in October 2020, he said he was proud of how much had been achieved and there was excitement for the future.

Mr Bunting spends about 80 per cent of his time in Eden, with his children still completing schooling in Melbourne.

"When you do something worthwhile, you have to make some sacrifices - it's been tough, but worthwhile," he said.

Half the crew employed by South Coast Timber are under 28, of which the managing director is pretty proud.

"The future looks bright with the passing on of skills and we believe we will be able to go on to bigger things.

"In the old days there were two saws and 52 people working here, we are prepared to invest and make it a long term thing.

"We are transparent with landholders and want to work together with them. We go out of our way to ensure we know the source of all our logs, we need things done properly.

"A forest should be able to give forever if respected and looked after," Mr Bunting said.

Private Native Forestry is the sustainable management of native forests on private property for timber production, which can include harvesting timber for a variety of products such as flooring, construction timber, power poles, furniture and firewood.

Local Land Services are responsible for private native forestry advice and approvals. The NSW Environment Protection Authority is responsible for compliance and enforcement of private native forestry.

Mr Bunting said former manager of Blue Ridge Hardwoods Allan Richards left a legacy in the local timber industry.

"He had a lifetime in the industry, we're aspiring to continue in the same vein, providing good quality flooring and decking," he said

"Here we are a year in, we have retained that, I would like to think the quality is equal to what was before."

The impact a thriving business can make on a small community is something of which Mr Bunting said he was aware.

"I take very seriously the fact that 30 people are relying on us to make the right decisions, and I can't speak about our teams in glowing enough terms.

"They are great people who took a punt and we hope to continue to repay them with long term employment."

"We would like to support some local sporting clubs and get behind the community more, we are not just here to take a profit and run."

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