A NEW consortium with strong Timbercorp links wants to take over scores of plantations the failed agribusiness giant was leasing from landowners in the Green Triangle and other parts of Australia.

The demise of Timbercorp and Great Southern has left hundreds of farmers in limbo over what will happen to the trees on their land and the income they are contracted to receive.

But the new consortium, TC Growers, plans to ask Timbercorp liquidator KordaMentha for the chance to review the leases, with the aim of proposing a transfer.

The consortium consists of Protavia, the group behind the proposed $1.5 billion Penola pulp mill, as well as superannuation scheme First Super and an unnamed international timber company.

According to the TC Growers website, it also includes the "operations management" of Timbercorp Forestry.

TC Growers spokesman John Roche said if a transfer of the leases was not possible, TC Growers could instead draw up new agreements with landlords.

Mr Roche said TC Growers had the support of Timbercorp grower investors at several capital city meetings recently.

But his proposal for lease transfers met a lukewarm response from landlords at a meeting in Hamilton last week.

He urged landlords to avoid legal action, as it could be lengthy and expensive.

He also discouraged them from pursuing their own market for the trees, if they tried to claim them, saying the prospects were poor and that landlords should stick together.

''It won't be as easy as saying ... the trees are mine. What are you going to do with them?" Mr Roche said.

Comments from the landlords at the meeting reflected growing unease over the situation.

Landlord Ian Ellis said some retired landlords totally reliant on the rent for their income were now in "desperate straits".

Mr Ellis said landlords were "not greedily seeking Timbercorp's assets", but if their rent went unpaid, they might have to claim the trees.

TC Growers is one of about 40 groups that have expressed interest in Timbercorp assets.

Meanwhile, Green Triangle landlords met in Hamilton last week to form a group to explore options. Group spokesman Sam Dohle said the group was seeking more legal advice.

This week, KordaMentha will also ask the Federal Court for more time for grower investors to decide whether to surrender leases past the limit of 28 days.