Forest industry backs $38 million private freight road for log transport

The forest industry has called on the State Government to back plans for a $38 million freight route to shift logs to the state’s north.

The state’s forest industry wants the Government to fund a road upgrade for the transport of logs.

THE forest industry has called on the State Government to back plans for a $38 million freight route to shift logs to the state’s North.

With hopes of finding a facility to export woodchips in the state’s South now dashed, a report by former Forestry Tasmania chief Evan Rolley recommended the Government consider developing a freight-only route for log trucks along the 40km Plenty Link Road and a new bridge across the River Derwent.

WOODCHIPS NOT WELCOME IN HOBART

Forest Industries Association of Tasmania spokesman Andrew Walker said he was pleased the Government had shown its willingness to back the recommendations in the report.

“The Rolley report called for priority for a new domestic processing plan and investment in an upgraded Plenty Link Road and rail infrastructure, along with new merchandising trials for value adding,” he said.

“We look forward to the State Government’s favourable support of these aspects of the long-term solution to southern forest residues.

“FIAT believes it is the State Government’s role to invest in appropriate infrastructure that underpins regional jobs, industry certainty that fosters increased private investment, which in turn delivers a favourable return to state-owned enterprises.”

Forest Industries Association of Tasmania spokesman Andrew Walker.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White on Tuesday said she was so far not convinced of the merits of the proposal.

“It is something that’s worthy of consideration but it would need to provide answers and solutions for a range of industries using that freight corridor and the community would need to understand whether or not they could access it too,” she said.

“Because of the congestion we have in Hobart it could be seen as an alternative for some traffic use to take advantage of an alternative route like that and I think it would be limiting our opportunities and the potential for the region if we only allow freight to use a new road rather than looking at how we can connect communities and provide safer routes and access.”

Greens environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff was unconvinced.

“Each of the items in Evan Rolley’s report comes with a multimillion-dollar ticket,’’ she said.

“We’ve either got upgrades to the Plenty Link Road which would lock out tourism and tourism operators and local residents at a ticket of $40 million. We’ve got a freight bridge across the Derwent River, who knows how much that would cost?”