Multi-million dollar fish factory gets conditional go-ahead at Triabunna

TASSAL has received a green light from the Environmental Protection Agency to build and operate an $11 million fish factory near Triabunna.

Tassal risk manager Justin O'Connor says Triabunna is an area in need of investment becau

TASSAL has received a green light from the Environmental Protection Agency to build and operate an $11 million fish factory near Triabunna — a likely boost for locals hit hard by the collapse of the forestry industry.

The factory, 5km north of the town on the Tasman Highway, will process all the fish waste generated in Tasmania — up to 20,000 tonnes — into fish oils, health products and fish feed.

Tassal says the project will generate 30 jobs ­during construction and 20 jobs when the factory becomes operational at the end of the year.

The Glamorgan Spring Bay Council will hold a special meeting next week to speed up its approval. Mayor Bertrand Cadart said he was “very confident that it will pass’’.

He said it was essential to approve the project as quickly as possible to provide jobs for Triabunna locals severely impacted by the forestry collapse.

“We want this to be on the move as soon as possible, it is very important to Triabunna and Glamorgan Spring Bay,” Cr Cadart said.

The EPA approval comes less than a week after rezoning laws were unanimously passed by the council to allow for the redevelopment of the Tria­bunna Mill into a multi-use tourism destination.

Cr Cadart said travel entrepreneur Graeme Wood’s multi-million dollar investment in the Triabunna mill was having a “domino effect” on the town.

Tourism entrepreneur Graeme Wood is the new owner of Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna.

“Slowly and surely the puzzle is starting to fall into place,’’ he said.

The EPA imposed conditions on the fish factory but said it could be run in an environmentally sustainable and acceptable manner.

EPA chair John Ramsay said seven of the nine representations about the factory were supportive.

“The two public representations that were not supportive were about the potential odour impacts on tourists and residents and the proposed irrigation of the wastewater at the site,’’ Mr Ramsay said.

Specific odour and wastewater conditions have been imposed by the EPA.

Triabunna Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Wisby said the business community was excited to see the company invest in Triabunna and hoped to see more.

“We hope a Tassie building company gets the contract to build the factory,’’ Mrs Wisby said.

“And they sub contract to local builders because we can do everything here, we have the cement, and we have all the skills.’’

Mrs Wisby said she hoped the existing Seafish Tasmania fish waste plant at Triabunna and Tassal would work together for the benefit of the town.

Tassal head of risk Justin O’Connor said discussions with Seafish were in progress.

Mr O’Connor said the company was very pleased that the EPA Board had signed off on its proposal.

“There is a skilled workforce in Triabunna and it is an area in need of investment in its economy because of the difficulties they have had with the forest industry,’’ he said.

The factory is dependent on funding from the $200 million Tasmanian Forest Agreement.