Jan Cameron sells Spring Bay mill stake to site co-owner Graeme Wood

PLANS to convert the former Triabunna woodchip mill into a $50 million tourist attraction appear back on track.

Spring Bay Mill - artist impression

PLANS to convert the former Triabunna woodchip mill into a $50 million tourist attraction appear back on track with a dispute between the site’s owners finally resolved.

Jan Cameron yesterday confirmed her stake had been bought by her estranged business partner Graeme Wood.

Work on decommissioning the woodchip mill ground to a halt last month after Ms Cameron and Mr Wood engaged in a pitched legal battle.

Graeme Wood at the site of the proposed Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna.

It is believed she was less than enthusiastic about a proposal to convert the site into a hotel, education venue, con­ference centre and botanical garden.

Yesterday Ms Cameron cast doubt on the project’s viability but said she hoped it would succeed.

Mr Wood could not be contacted yesterday, but last month he told a state parliamentary committee he ­intended to see the project through to completion.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Michael Kent said his personal belief was the venture would now go ahead.

“And the quicker the better,’’ Cr Kent said.

He said a rapid resumption of the project should dispel community scepticism, which had been palpable since legal action was started in October.

“All the talk that goes around and around, with people wondering what’s going on and when it’s going to happen,’’ he said.

Cr Kent said he had not ­succeeded in making contact with Mr Wood, who was understood to be travelling but, from what he could determine, he was strongly in favour of the project.

“It’s better than nothing. There’s a spade in the ground, it’s giving the area a way forward. Let’s be part of that, what ever it is,’’ he said.

Earlier this year the project was thrown into doubt with the State Government mulling a decision to compulsorily ­acquire the mill site as part of a proposal to rebuild the forests industry.

The legal action between Mr Wood and Ms Cameron came hard on the heels of a State Government decision in October not to interfere with the site’s redevelopment.