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Category: Tourism / Rural Tourism / Regional Development

Mayor calls on millionaire to reveal plans for former Triabunna mill site

Sunday, 21 Feb 2016 16:58:55

View from the old Triabunna woodchip mill site, which owner Graeme Wood plans to develop for tourism. (ABC News: Richard Baines)

A local mayor has called on millionaire environmentalist Graeme Wood to put his plans on the table for a tourism venture at a former woodchip mill in Tasmania.

Mr Wood purchased the Triabunna mill in 2011 with plans for accommodation, performance spaces, a cooking school and gardens.

However, the State Government has expressed concern about reports Mr Wood was scaling back his plans.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council Mayor Michael Kent said the community was anxious to see the site developed.

"Absolutely, but they're getting a bit tired... you know, when? How? Why?" Mr Kent said.

"Unfortunately from a council perspective we haven't seen or heard from a development application.

"We would like to see something on the table, certainly, if possible, this year."

Some locals said they doubted the grand scale of Mr Wood's original plans but still supported a development of some sort.

Triabunna once thrived off logging and wood chipping but the loss of those jobs has left the town in an economic lull.

Local businesses are confident about the prospects for the mill development.

"I think the community in general is going to be supportive of anything that's going to produce employment for young people in this area," Tony Wright, owner of the Triabunna Cabin and Caravan Park, said.

"Graeme Wood has made a lot of statements about his vision and his dream and I can't imagine he wouldn't be committed to doing this."

Mr Wood has not denied scaling back the plans.

He told the ABC the project will evolve over time and he is investing a lot of money in getting it right.

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