Dover woodchip port plan impasse

PREMIER Will Hodgman says he believes Dover can have “fish and chips” after Southwood Fibre and Tassal announced they had failed to reach a resolution over a proposed woodchip port.

The two organisations met to discuss the project after Tassal said in late May the woodchip port could not coexist with the company’s salmon leases in Port Esperance.

In a statement yesterday, Southwood Fibre chief executive James Neville Smith said the meeting had shown a resolution could not be found without government assistance.

“Representatives of both the aquaculture and forest sectors have sent a letter to the Government seeking leadership on this important issue,” he said.

Mr Neville Smith said a development application for the woodchip port would not proceed until discussions between the Government, aquaculture’s peak body and forestry’s peak body provided a way forward.

Mr Hodgman said his Government would do what it could to support investment in key sectors of the economy.

“I believe we can have fish and chips, there’s no reason why that can’t occur, but it needs to be managed mindful of existing arrangements that exist with Tassal,” he said.

A Tassal spokesman said the company, along with Huon Aquaculture, had written to Mr Hodgman seeking a meeting on the issue. The company has concerns over biosecurity and said it has no plans to retire or relocate the Dover lease.

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

More than 1200 Dover residents have signed a petition opposing the facility.