Farmers who have leases with Gunns to grow plantation timber have asked the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association to obtain legal advice. Source: Timberbiz and ABC Rural
They want advice to assist them in responding to the recent request from the administrator to continue the standstill on lease payments.
The landowners met in Launceston to discuss the latest developments concerning their leases with the appointed administrator of Gunns Plantations Ltd, PPB Advisory.
The administration period is due to end at the end of this month but PPB has proposed it be extended until the end of June.
In this standstill period, landholders receive no rent on the leases and the trees remain the property of investors in Gunns’ various schemes.
Part of the reason for the extension is for the administrators to secure a replacement responsible entity for the schemes.
PPB Advisory said there are about 560 leases with more than 330 different landowners, covering 220,000 ha.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis asked the TFGA to form a landowner committee and to arrange legal advice on farmers’ rights under the various arrangements.
The TFGA will be sending out meeting notes to the TFGA list of landowners including a request for a voluntary contribution of $100 to start this exercise.
