Chris Meddows-Taylor, mayor of Central Goldfields shire, told ProPrint that the book printer plays an integral role within the Victorian town’s 8,000 population, directly employing 360 people and boosting other local businesses.

“Printing history is a big part of the town. The printing industry and its services are really key to Maryborough,” he said.

“The local council has supported McPherson’s through the parallel importation laws passed in 2009 and we have supported the Book Industry Strategy Group report this year.”

The book printer’s ASX-listed parent, McPherson’s Limited, announced the proposed merger with Opus Group last month.

If the deal goes ahead, it will create an Asia-Pacific powerhouse, bringing together Opus’ Ligare businesses in Sydney and New Zealand with the McPherson’s plants in Maryborough and Mulgrave, Victoria.

Meddows-Taylor said the decline of the book printing industry in Australia was notable, but added that the merger should strengthen McPherson’s business in the face of threat from the import and digital market.

“I’m sure that there will some assessment about efficiencies, and difficult decisions will have to be taken, but let’s take the most positive approach. If we do nothing, the local industry will be increasingly vulnerable to the overseas market,” he said.

“I think it would be silly to say that there won’t be continual structural change, but I am hopeful that going through the process will strengthen the Australian book printing industry.”

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