ABC Online
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has refused to approve Gunns’ planned Tasmanian pulp mill, saying more environmental studies need to be done. Mr Garrett says the proposed $2 billion mill in the Tamar Valley cannot go ahead until more studies are undertaken on its potential impacts to marine environments. “National environment legislation requires that I take a precautionary approach to environmental protection,” he said in a statement. “I am not satisfied, with that in mind and informed by the advice of the Independent Expert Group (IEG), that I can grant final approval for this mill without fully understanding its potential environmental impacts. “That includes having a thorough understanding of the potential impacts of the mill’s effluent discharge on Commonwealth marine waters and absolute confidence in the proposed management and response strategies that are proposed to put in place to protect the environment.” Read more here
