A northern Tasmanian Gunns timber plantation landowner is seeking like-minded people to form a stakeholder group to push for a speedy conclusion to the wind-up of the failed timber company. Source: The Examiner
Kendall Di-Giammarino ran newspaper advertisements last weekend calling for people affected to form a team to “drive a resolution”.
“The external management of the Gunns group is complex with many competing interests from each stakeholder group,” Mrs Di-Giammarino said.
She said that the impact of the Gunns collapse had been, and continued to be, hard felt by many Tasmanian families.
External management of the Launceston-based company started more than 12 months ago after former managing director Greg LeStrange called in voluntary administrators.
“It is being externally managed partly by KordaMentha as receiver and manager, and PPB Advisory as liquidator,” she said.
There was still no clear date for a resolution more than a year later.
Di-Giammarino said that the needs of the timber plantation landlords had been under represented in the Gunns wind-up.
Landowners like her and her husband had become increasingly frustrated at the length of time it was taking to resolve the Gunns issues.
“There has been no rent paid on many properties for more than 12 months,” she said. “If it was any other tenant, they would be evicted.”
The situation made it difficult for owners to do anything with their property.
“You can’t sell it, you’ve got an asset that should have a commercial return but it hasn’t,” she said.
Di-Giammarino wants to end her family’s relationship with Gunns.
“We would then be free to deal with the property as we want, to have unfettered access to our land to think of a clear path forward,” she said.
Those interested in finding out more about the proposed stakeholders group can call 0412 638327.
