The State Government has compiled a short list of 14 private-sector proposals for a new woodchip export or processing facility in the Tasmania’s south. ABC News
Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent taking woodchips from Tasmania’s south to Bell Bay for export since the closure of the Gunns Mill at Triabunna in 2011.
The Government has received 19 expressions of interest for an alternative facility in the south, and 14 of those will now go through to the next stage of the EOI process.
Resources Minister Paul Harriss said none of the proposals required Government assistance.
“The significant part of the EOI process made it very clear to anybody who was coming forward with a proposal, that their business case had to stack up and that there would be no Government contribution to that,” he said.
There had previously been concerns about the export or processing facility resulting in a woodchip pile on Hobart’s waterfront.
The Minister also ruled that out.
“There will be no woodchip pile on Macquarie Wharf, so no storage and export of bulk woodchip from Macquarie Wharf,” he said.
Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said she was sceptical about the process.
“I would be surprised if there was any proposals that came to Government that stated there was a viable future in native forest woodchips,” she said.
“We haven’t seen any detail on these proposals.”
The Government will now seek a more detailed business case from the 14 short-listed proposals.
