Boats built on growth

Region gets a lift from aquaculture investment

A ST Helens company has revolutionised the region’s proud boat building tradition, says Break O’Day Mayor Mick Tucker.

Lyndcraft Boats yesterday launched three vessels to be used by the state’s aquaculture industry — one for Spring Bay Seafoods and two for Tassal’s operations at Okehampton Bay and Port Arthur — worth $2 million.

And there are more on the way. Lyndcraft Boats director Greg Lynd said six more boats would be manufactured for Tassal as part of an estimated $4 million investment.

Mr Lynd said his company was building boats for many players in the state’s aquaculture industry.

“I build boats for recreational and commercial fishermen. We’ve got barramundi farms in Western Australia, kingfish farms in South Australia and NSW, and a major percentage of the oyster industry and the salmon industry in Tasmania,” he said.

“Without the aquaculture industry, Lyndcraft Boats would not exist and a lot of my contractors or suppliers would also not exist.”

Cr Tucker said the success of Lyndcraft Boats was translating to success for the Break O’Day community.

“Boat building has been here for a long time, but Greg and his team are taking it to the next level,” he said.

“Because they do so much, a lot of people come and stay overnight here. We had over 30 people stay here last night and this sort of thing happens on a regular basis.

“And they have also ex- panded their workforce, they are helping our people find jobs. So they are really vital to us.”

State Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said it showed the importance of a sustainable aquaculture industry to Tasmania.

“It’s a great demonstration of how the growth of the aquaculture industry has guaranteed employment for thousands of Tasmanians right across the state, not just by the salmon companies themselves but indirectly in other areas such as infrastructure manufacturing and trades,” he said.