Ta Ann reveals extent of bushfire damage to veneer mill

Ta Ann has revealed just how badly bushfires have damaged its veneer mill at Lonnavale as woodchip and sawdust piles at the plant continue to smoulder.

Bushfire damage at the Ta Ann mill in the Huon Valley. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE Ta Ann veneer mill at Lonnavale has been so badly damaged by fire that it will be unable to resume normal operations for months, the company has said.

Damage to the plant has been estimates at millions of dollars.

More than a week after an out-of-control bushfire swept through the area, woodchip and sawdust piles at the plant continue to smoulder, Ta Ann Tasmania executive director Evan Rolley said.

The full extent of the damage has not yet been assessed.

“We can’t yet put a figure on the cost of the damage but it will be in the multi-millions,” Mr Rolley said.

“The wild fire has caused extensive damage to log processing and related infrastructure and other damage that is not immediately visible is still being assessed,” he said.

“There is a lot of smoke around the site from a fire smouldering in woodchip and sawdust piles in holding areas at the mill which is being controlled by sprinklers, powered by a temporary diesel generator.”

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The road to the plant is closed and thick smoke has made the plant unsafe for all but those involved in fighting the fires and security staff.

“Power is unlikely to be restored for some months and we have requested specialist engineers from international suppliers of operational equipment to assess whether there has been internal damage to other key plant components,” Mr Rolley said.

“The impact of the fires on commercial forests and plantations and therefore on future log supply is also unclear at this stage.”

Mr Rolley said Ta Ann was meeting the plant’s 42 employees and their unions this week to decide on options for their employment, including the option of redeploying some people to the company’s Smithton plant.