Lennon’s pulp mill pipeline dream

Vica Bayley MR Wilderness Society

40,000 households letterboxed about Paul Lennon’s pulp-mill pipe dream
MEDIA RELEASE – 5th June 2008

PULP MILL PIPELINE PUBLIC MEETING TO PUT SPOTLIGHT ON STATE BUDGET

40,000 households letterboxed about Paul Lennon’s pulp-mill pipe dream

The Wilderness Society has begun letterboxing 40,000 homes in Launceston and the Tamar Valley with information about Paul Lennon’s proposal to publicly fund the pipelines servicing Gunns’ environmentally damaging pulp mill. The leaflets highlight positive comments recently made by Premier Bartlett that appear to distance his new government from the obsessions of the former Premier.

A public meeting will be held in Launceston next Tuesday evening to highlight the issue and encourage increased public scrutiny of the upcoming state budget.

“Paul Lennon’s plan was for the taxpayer to foot the bill for the pipeline and other pulp-mill infrastructure, costing the public tens of millions of dollars and triggering compulsory-acquisition powers to force the pipeline across private property,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.

“Premier Bartlett has been making very positive comments on this issue and has ruled out diverting more public money into funding the pulp mill.”

“We welcome this shift towards a more responsible position on the use of public money. The upcoming meeting is an opportunity for the public to show its support for Premier Bartlett’s new approach to the pulp mill.”

Speakers at the meeting include former Tasmania Together board member Gerard Castles, Launceston City Councillor Jeremy Ball, local resident Buck Emberg, and Geoff Law from The Wilderness Society. Launceston City Council Deputy Mayor Rosemary Armitage will chair the meeting and the Premier has been invited to speak.

“While Premier Bartlett’s comments have been encouraging and very well received by the public, the contents of the State Budget, due two days after the public meeting, will be the proof of the pudding,” said Mr Bayley.

“This meeting will shine a spotlight on the State Budget and be a very clear call on Premier Bartlett’s government to begin a new era and cut the supply of taxpayers’ funds to the pulp mill.”

Pipeline Public Meeting 6.30pm, Tuesday 10th June,

Tailrace Centre, West Tamar Highway, Riverside, Launceston