Tassal slams woodchip port plans

TASMANIAN salmon farming giant Tassal has criticised plans for a woodchip export facility near Dover, saying the site could not coexist with Tassal’s nearby leases in Port Esperance.

The State Government has granted Southwood Fibre consent to lodge a development application with the Huon Valley Council for the $42 million facility, which would be on 28ha of Crown land at Strathblane.

Tassal head of engagement Barbara McGregor said its lease and the woodchip facility could not coexist within the proposed footprint, with a loading ship to be positioned about 200m away and the development site 300m away.

“The health of our fish is paramount, and we would have concerns from a biosecu-

ALEX LUTTRELL

rity perspective with the proposed development operating so close to our lease,” she said.

“Our Dover lease is integral to our operations and we have no plans to retire or relocate this.”

Tassal has contacted the developer this week, seeking an immediate meeting.

In light of the opposition between Tassal and Southwood, Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff asked Premier Will Hodgman in Parliament yesterday which industry his Government would support.

Mr Hodgman said due process needed to occur.

“That should be for the planning approvals authority to make a decision when the proponent is able to lodge its DA and to progress its proposal without support of the State Government,” he said.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment has said that if planning approval was given, the applicant would still be required to obtain separate consent from Crown land before starting any works.

Landowner consent has also been given, meaning the public now has the opportunity to comment on the proposal during any planning process.

More than 1200 Dover residents have signed a petition addressed to the Huon Valley Council, opposing the facility. The required number of signatures for the petition to be submitted to council is 700.