Restart nears for Huon mill

Back in March after fires

TA Ann will restart its Huon veneer mill just over a year after it was severely damaged by last summer’s bushfires.

Ta Ann Tasmania’s general manager Robert Yong said the company’s Southwood green mill at Lonnavale would resume operations from March and will initially employ 15 people.

Mr Yong said the decision to restart comes after a resolution and agreement from insurers of key areas of the insurance claim for areas of the damage.

However, Mr Yong said some unresolved insurance claims remain.

“We are very pleased to announce this decision despite unresolved insurance claims for damage to other major asset such as the boiler, waste line and buildings which continue to be investigated,” he said.

Ta Ann Tasmania’s veneer mill operation on the Southwood Rd site has been closed since a wildfire in January caused extensive damage to log processing and related infrastructure, the loss of power to the site and interruption to log supply.

Following the fire damage the company laid off 16 of its permanent workers.

Mr Yong said that so far more than $5 million had been spent on new equipment, maintenance and preparation for a restart.

He said more would need to be spent to replace other damaged infrastructure, pending the outcome of the unresolved claims.

“This means we will run the rotary peelers but not the boiler and dryers as the boiler claims are yet to be resolved,” Mr Yong said.

Some of the veneers would be sent to Smithton to dry for local plywood production and the balance would be exported.