New era dawns … ? Paul Tapp’s picture of Triabunna …
Two Australian millionaires will transform a key Tasmanian woodchip mill into a major tourist attraction, in a blow to the State Government and the forestry industry.
The Triabunna mill was sold to Wotif.com co-founder Graeme Wood and Kathmandu clothing brand founder Jan Cameron in 2011 for $10 million. Both are passionate environmentalists.
The forestry industry and the State Government have been desperate for the site to re-open, but Mr Wood has confirmed to 7.30 that will not be happening.
Environmental Protection Authority approval for the site to operate lapsed in May and it has now entered a rehabilitation phase.
The multi-purpose development will be known as Spring Bay Mill and will seek to boost tourism on the island, which is facing a faltering economy.
“I think it is time to move on. I’m interested in the future, I’m interested in economic development [and] Tasmania needs it badly,” Mr Wood said.
“I see this as the most effective way of achieving that.”
Mr Wood and Ms Cameron had maintained the site, formerly owned by timber giant Gunns, would be re-opened to forestry, even putting the running of the mill out to tender.
But Mr Wood is unapologetic about keeping it closed.
“We never got one tender that made economic sense and the reason for that was wood-chipping makes less and less sense internationally,” he said.
The value of woodchip exports fell by over 40 per cent in the past five years.
But James Neville Smith, who runs Neville Smith Timbers, a major player in the Tasmanian forestry industry, is not impressed …
• Tim Morris: Development heralds new era
• Nick McKim: Liberal pulp mill grovel shows warped political priorities
• ABC: Industry warns loss of Triabunna woodchip mill will be forestry death knell
• Peter Whish-Wilson: Abbott must rule out reckless pulp mill obsession
• Pete Godfrey, in Comments: Bloody hell the mill has been closed now for years, how is that going to affect the industry in any way. Woodchipping on mass is dead, otherwise Gunns would still be running Tasmania. Gunns closed the mill because it was unviable, why would a ship travel the extra distance to Triabunna anyway when truck drivers get paid a pittance to take the logs from the southern forests all the way to Bell Bay. What a joke, the real story is more likely that the mill was old, rusting and in need of far too much maintenance to keep it going. The board and management of Gunns have shown themselves to be inept businessmen who relied on taxpayer handouts and a puppet government to survive. Good Riddance. Glad to hear another nasty chapter of the book is closed and hopefully Mr Woods and Ms Cameron will do very nicely with such a lovely site.
• Tim Morris: Growth signs in Tasmanian economy
• Ben Quin, Triabunna, in Comments: It remains a hopeless position for the old Tasmanian forestry industry. If its leaders believe that economic viability remains rooted in the dream of a revived export woodchip mill at Triabunna, then it is an industry that should rightly be put to bed and lights out. No more stories from that book, thanks. The next chapter is the one about how Gunns was good for Triabunna and all its navvies.We should get enthusiastically behind Woods’ proposal. Triabunna will thrive with a new agenda.
• ABC, Thursday: Marina plans for Triabunna woodchip mill tourist development hit a (Tasports) snag
• Christine Milne: Abbott stop gambling with Tasmania’s economic future
• Nick McKim: Coalition must honour reserves funding
• ABC: Liberals reaffirm their policy to dismantle forest peace deal despite funding pledge
