WESTERN Victorian communities have breathed a collective sigh of relief over the Timbercorp forestry asset sale.
But lingering fears remain about whether foreign company Global Forest Partners will invest back into the regions, of which it now owns so much.
And many remain resentful towards federal Managed Investment Scheme rules that have enabled such large parcels of land to be gathered with tax breaks, and now sold, to international companies.
Timbercorp's demise led to several contractors and suppliers losing money, downsizing or going broke.
Businesses reliant on the bluegum industry now hope harvest will proceed, with all of its promised jobs.
One group with the most at stake in the short term is landlords owed rent.
Timbercorp Landlords Forestry group chairman and Hamilton farmer Ian Ellis said most were delighted they would be paid overdue rent.
He said most landlords had wanted to be paid and not forced to terminate leases and claim the trees.
As a landlord owed rent, Mr Ellis said his main interest was in there being a reliable company that paid its bills.
"That's the narrow point of view, but as an Australian, I'm always concerned when Australia loses ownership (of its assets)," Mr Ellis said. "In my mind, too many of our assets are owned off-shore."
Another landlord, from near Penola, said he has already received his overdue rent from Global Forest Partners.
"But I'm a bit concerned whether they know what they've bought. A lot of these trees are not producing like they would have been expected to," he said.
Federal Member for Wannon David Hawker said the sale was welcome and would ensure jobs stayed in the area.
He said MIS projects had been a "huge benefit to the region" that gave many wool growers the chance to "sell with dignity" when wool prices collapsed in the 1990s.
However, this view is not held by all in the community.
Many younger farmers are concerned that MIS projects continue to give investors unfair advantages and prevent new entrants into farming by inflating prices.
Katrina Rainsford, a Southern Grampians Shire councillor and Victorian Farmers Federation Hamilton branch president, is calling for more debate on MIS.
"We should not celebrate this fire-sale. This is some of the best land in Australia that has now gone into overseas ownership. Is this really what we have come to?" she said.
"It's falsely inflated land prices and disadvantaged owner-operators.
"We need vision for Australian agriculture and family-owned small business, not retirement packages for those who have given up on the sector.
"MIS is helping to undermine Australian sovereignty, what we fought wars to protect."
