Plans to make Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf the export base for woodchips in the state’s south have been called “ludicrous”, “alien” and a step backward for tourism and Hobart’s cultural image. Source: Yahoo 7 News
Tasmanian Resources Minister Paul Harriss said the Government investigated a number of sites in the state’s south, including Port Huon, Selfs Point and Triabunna, before deciding on Macquarie Wharf.
“Other options were not economically viable or would have significant consequential impacts on other industries,” he said.
“There will not be a woodchip pile on the wharf, the investigation will be on the basis that woodchipping would occur offsite possibly at Brighton and Leslyvale” he said.
But Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas said it would go against the council’s plans for the city. “This is alien to our future concepts,” he said.
“I see no way this could work. Trucks, heavy duty trucks travelling down Macquarie Street, which we maintain.”
A committee dominated by Liberal MPs had already recommended the Government should not compulsorily acquire private land at Triabunna to access the town’s wharf.
Mr Harriss said the Government was committed to identifying a new port in the southern half of the state to ship out timber fibre from the southern forests.
“[There are] two substantial hurdles at Triabunna: the need to compulsorily acquire the site, and the need for significant reinvestment in infrastructure.”
Terry Edwards from the Forestry Industries Association agreed Macquarie Point was the Government’s only viable option.
“Obviously it wouldn’t be the most highly preferred spot and if you had another alternative reasonably available you would use it,” he said.
“But we’ve got to keep in mind the Tasmanian taxpayers have been paying $6 million a year to subsidise transport of woodchips from the southern forests to the Bell Bay port.
“Now that is not sustainable and cannot be continued long term.”
Opposition leader Brian Green said he would need more detail on the plan before he could give the plan his party’s backing.
“The issue of Macquarie Point has always been storage, weight on the wharf, concrete cancer,” he said.
“Whether you load it through containers, whether you have a flinger on the wharf on a temporary basis while the ship is in, these are all the logistical issues that we couldn’t get over in government.”
Mr Harris said under the plan Macquarie Point would be used for the next five years, but would not say what might happen afterwards.
“It is the Government’s strong view that tourism and forestry can co-exist and grow together,” he said.
“The decision I have announced today will facilitate the development of both industries.
“The Government has made no decision about the longer term future for wood fibre exports from the south, and it is my strong view that it would be premature.”
The State Government now plans to commission a more detailed report on the feasibility of an export terminal at Macquarie wharf. It said it would continue to support the transport of both harvesting and processing residues to the north for export.
The Government assured Tasmanians there would not be a woodchip pile on the wharf at Macquarie Point.
It said woodchipping would occur offsite, possibly at Brighton and Leslie Vale, that there would be an undercover storage on the wharf, and that shipments would be topped up by direct transport from the chip mills.
The Government said it would talk to all industry stakeholders, the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.
Mark Ryan from the corporation said he was not worried by the development.
“Even if there is a one to three year period where there is temporary storage of some woodchips I don’t see that in itself as potentially derailing what we’re doing,” he said.
