Plans to reclaim more submerged timber
AN Australian-first project that has rescued submerged timber worth millions of dollars from the murky waters of a hydro dam in Tasmania’s west could be expanded to open up water storages to loggers.
Resources Minister Guy Barnett said research from the University of Tasmania had highlighted the potential opportunity to salvage highquality submerged timber resources from the state’s hydro water storages.
Mr Barnett said the State Government was working closely with Hydro Tasmania to develop a framework that enabled the harvesting of more submerged timbers, providing the certainty industry needed to invest with confidence.
“Hydrowood has been successfully recovering timbers from the depths of Lake Pieman for a number of years, and it is expected that opening up other Hydro managed lakes for harvest can provide a unique opportunity to expand this industry, driving local investment and creating regional jobs,” he said.
At the start of its operations in 2015, Hydrowood estimated there could be $1.6 million worth of timber which could go to mills, artisan studios and auction houses to be processed and made into top-end furniture and building products.
International yacht and furniture makers are also eyeing the “sunken treasure”.
There is also potential to bring wood from four other Hydro lakes — Murchison, Macintosh, Burbury and Gordon.
OPPORTUNITY: Frank Board of timber company Hydrowood salvaging flooded forests in Lake Pieman.