Huon ‘didn’t get anywhere with’ Feds

HUON Aquaculture knew as early as 2014 it could appeal against a government decision to expand salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, but held off because it wanted to work with the Government outside court, the company’s chief executive has told the court.

Peter Bender was cross examined yesterday as part of the case his company brought against the federal environment minister last year over the minister’s 2012 decision to expand salmon farming in the West Coast harbour.

Lawyer Shaun McElwaine, representing Huon Aquaculture’s competitor, Tassal, asked Mr Bender if the company had received legal advice in 2014 that it could appeal against the minister’s decision in the Federal Court but did not start legal action until last year. LORETTA LO LOHBERGER LO

“We continued to try and work through the issue with the Government ... we just didn’t get anywhere,” Mr Bender said.

He also told the court a reason for the legal action was that Huon Aquaculture, along with fellow salmon companies Tassal and Petuna, was told it would be liable for any damage caused to Macquarie Harbour.

Huon Aquaculture is arguing the minister made an invalid decision regarding the expansion of salmon farming in the harbour in October 2012.

Mr Bender said the company thought the decision was “right at the time” but later be- came concerned about the environmental impacts of the increased limit.

“We were concerned about the long-term viability of the harbour to sustain salmon farming,” he said. “The issue was it was destroying the environment and the harbour and that’s been proven since.”

Mr Bender also said Tassal was permitted to grow more fish per hectare than Huon Aquaculture was.

“It was costing us money because we were growing less because Tassal was growing too many. We didn’t want to grow more fish, we wanted Tassal to grow less.”

Mr Bender rejected suggestions from Mr McElwaine that Huon Aquaculture’s primary concern was an economic one.

The hearing is expected to finish tomorrow.