Geoffrey Cousins MR
“Garrett has sensibly and commendably reversed Turnbull’s decision and I applaud him for it. Now the Environment Minister should focus on the impact of the mill on native forest and air quality in the Tamar Valley.” Cousins also wants David Bartlett, the Premier of Tasmania, to step up. “By the time the potential marine impact studies have been completed, a number of approvals the Tasmanian Government has given will have expired. Bartlett said the Tasmanian people needed final closure on the mill decision as soon as possible. Presumably then he won’t let those approvals be extended.”
Paul Oosting Wilderness Society MR
The Society is also highly critical of the fact that Gunns has been given further extensions of time to complete research regarding several of the modules to be assessed. This extension comes on top of the one already granted in 2008 and could breach legal parameters and open up an avenue of legal appeal. “Gunns has consistently missed deadlines and failed to provide adequate information yet it continues to be rewarded with special deals and extensions of extra time,” said Mr Oosting. “Meanwhile, Tasmanians have their lives on hold, waiting for a definitive outcome of an assessment debacle that has been as divisive and destructive as the mill itself would be.”
Nick McKim Greens Leader MR
“The Peter Garrett of old would have stood up for our forests, and stood up for Tasmania by simply deciding that the mill could not go ahead.”
Will Hodgman Libs Leder MR
The Leader of the State Opposition, Will Hodgman, has welcomed aspects of today’s Federal Government announcement on the pulp mill and has expressed his firm wish that finance is secured in order for the project to proceed.
Geoffrey Cousins
Media statement
Monday 5th January 2009
From Geoffrey Cousins
Businessman Geoffrey Cousins today applauded the decision by Environment Minister Peter Garrett to not grant federal environmental approval for the Gunns Ltd Bell Bay pulp mill.
“The coffin was already nailed shut on the mill.” Cousins said. “Garrett’s decision screws it down forever.”
Cousins is still critical of the way former minister Malcolm Turnbull was going to let the mill be built, and the if it was not compliant, halt any use of it.
“Garrett has sensibly and commendably reversed Turnbull’s decision and I applaud him for it. Now the Environment Minister should focus on the impact of the mill on native forest and air quality in the Tamar Valley.”
Cousins also wants David Bartlett, the Premier of Tasmania, to step up.
“By the time the potential marine impact studies have been completed, a number of approvals the Tasmanian Government has given will have expired. Bartlett said the Tasmanian people needed final closure on the mill decision as soon as possible. Presumably then he won’t let those approvals be extended.”
Paul Oosting Wilderness Society MR
MEDIA RELEASE – Monday, 5th January 2009
Garrett leaves door open for pulp mill despite serious concerns over pollution
Gunns granted another extension following failure to meet assessment deadlines
Gunns, the proponent of the Tasmanian pulp mill has today again failed to meet deadlines and demonstrate that its project can satisfy environmental safeguards, The Wilderness Society said. The project should be abandoned for the benefit of the community and the natural environment.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has raised serious concerns about the pulp mill proposal; however he has also left the door open for construction of the mill to begin. Another deadline has passed and the Minister has said he is not satisfied, so the mill should not precede at all, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society Paul Oosting said today.
The flawed assessment of the pulp mill, which did not take into account the impact on Tasmania’s native forests or climate change, has nonetheless identified some very real environmental problems and granted the company a second extension to the completion deadline.
“Minister Garrett has indicated that he is not satisfied with aspects of the Environmental Impact Management Plan (EIMP), pointing to serious problems that remain for the project,” Mr Oosting said. “This is despite a flawed assessment that never looked at the massive impact the pulp mill would have on Tasmania’s native forests and the greenhouse pollution emitted by logging those forests.”
“This part approval leads to the ludicrous situation where construction on the mill can begin, without a full understanding of the impacts that running the mill would have on the marine environment and native forest ecosystems.”
“Peter Garrett has allowed the cart to go before the horse, for construction to begin before he knows all of the environmental impacts.”
The Society is also highly critical of the fact that Gunns has been given further extensions of time to complete research regarding several of the modules to be assessed. This extension comes on top of the one already granted in 2008 and could breach legal parameters and open up an avenue of legal appeal.
“Gunns has consistently missed deadlines and failed to provide adequate information yet it continues to be rewarded with special deals and extensions of extra time,” said Mr Oosting. “Meanwhile, Tasmanians have their lives on hold, waiting for a definitive outcome of an assessment debacle that has been as divisive and destructive as the mill itself would be.”
“This second extensions of time could breach the original conditions set down by Malcolm Turnbull and open up another avenue of legal challenge to the validity of the approval,” concluded Mr Oosting.
Nick McKim Greens MR
GARRETT COPS OUT ON MILL AGAIN
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Monday, 5 January 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett of letting Tasmania down after he gave Gunns Ltd yet more time to submit vital information that would allow its pulp mill proposal to be properly assessed.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that Mr Garrett should have simply told Gunns that he was not prepared to countenance any further delays, and that he would not issue the permits due to Gunns remaining unable or unwilling to do the required work.
“This project has divided the Tasmanian community like few others have in recent times, and Mr Garrett today missed a glorious opportunity to stand up for our forests and people by finally putting this project out of its misery,” Mr McKim said.
“This is a very disappointing decision, not only for Tasmania’s forests, but for Tasmanians who have fought so hard against this toxic proposal.”
“Gunns has received extension after extension due to its failure to do the necessary work, and for Mr Garrett to meekly allow further time is simply a cop out.”
“The Peter Garrett of old would have stood up for our forests, and stood up for Tasmania by simply deciding that the mill could not go ahead.”
Will Hodgman
Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the State Opposition
Monday January 5, 2008
Pulp mill
The Leader of the State Opposition, Will Hodgman, has welcomed aspects of today’s Federal Government announcement on the pulp mill and has expressed his firm wish that finance is secured in order for the project to proceed.
However Mr Hodgman said it should not take seven years for this or any other project to receive final approval.
“This pulp mill was proposed in 2004 and here we are at the start of 2009, and it now seems that final approvals may be some 26 months away,” Mr Hodgman said.
“The importance of ensuring that the mill meets stringent environmental guidelines cannot be overstated, but by the same token, what message does it send to potential investors in this state when an approvals process can turn out to be so tortuous, ham-fisted and long.”
The $2 billion pulp mill has been strongly backed by the Tasmanian Liberals, providing it meets stringent guidelines. It would provide a massive economic boost at a time when the Tasmanian economy is drifting, as well as help secure the future of the forestry industry.
