Bob McMahon
A demonstration by residents of the West Tamar will take place outside the West Tamar Council offices in Riverside at 2.00pm on Friday August 15 2008.
MEDIA RELEASE August 15 2008
TAP Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill
ANOTHER BATTLE IN THE PIPELINE WAR
A demonstration by residents of the West Tamar will take place outside the West Tamar Council offices in Riverside at 2.00pm on Friday August 15 2008.
Gunns who “require” pipeline easement land administered by the West Tamar Council and owned by the electors of the West Tamar, recently approached the West Tamar Council.
“Gunns insisted they meet only with the general manager of the West Tamar Council, Ian Pearce, and demanded there be no elected representatives present,” said TAP spokesperson Bob McMahon. “What a disgraceful demand and an even more disgraceful acquiescence by the general manager to that demand.”
“Last August, bowing to public pressure, the West Tamar Council unanimously voted in favour of a motion put by Mayor Easther expressing no confidence in the pulp mill assessment process adopted by the State Government ‘as it denies individual citizens their democratic right to be heard’,” said McMahon.
“The Council cannot now enable the pulp mill pipeline by allowing Gunns to acquire, on their own terms, land owned by the electors of the West Tamar, without betraying the people they are meant to represent.”
TAP letterboxed an information leaflet to residents of Trevallyn and Riverside likely to be impacted by the proposed pipeline. Three critical questions were outlined in that leaflet:
Why is the Council about to grant access and probably a legal covenant over the easement required for the pipeline free of charge, when Gunns are offering landowners 30% above valuation?
Why is the Council considering granting access and land without evaluating the risks and potential short and long term damage to resident’s property, the huge disruption to residents during the installation of the pipeline and residents’ health and safety during this large scale construction project?
Why is the Council considering the matter without advising ratepayers about the loss of democratic rights to seek compensation for harm under Section 11 of the PMAA, about the residents’ rights in relation to insurance claims, and the Council’s own public liability position.”
“If this Council thinks for one minute they can fall back into their old acquiescent way of doing Gunns’ business for them, they’ve got another think coming,” warned McMahon.
“TAP is insisting the Council issue a statement to all residents within 30 days, by September 14, explaining their position on the pipeline, legal rights of residents under Section 11 of the PMAA, and how and when residents will be consulted before a Council motion is tabled and voted on,” concluded McMahon.
