GUNNS STEALS PRIVATE LAND AND PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR ITS PULP MILL PROJECT

MEDIA RELEASE – 9 February 2010

GUNNS STEALS PRIVATE LAND AND PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR ITS PULP MILL PROJECT

TAP Into A Better Tasmania today condemned the theft of private farmland through compulsory acquisition, to facilitate the construction of the water pipeline for Gunns Ltd’s proposed pulp mill.

Media reports today claim Gunns, and Department of Infrastructure and Energy Resources staff acting on behalf of Minister Graeme Sturges, have done secret deals for at least the past two years.

Gunns plan to run the pulp mill pipeline within an expanded easement, created at public expense, parallel to the Dilston Bypass and the East Tamar Highway.

This is despite assurances made by Premier David Bartlett in July 2008 that a ‘line in the sand’ had been drawn for Gunns’ proposed mill, and no further government assistance would be given to support the project.

“Backdoor Backflip Bartlett’ has lived up to his name by saying one thing and doing another. When Gunns whistle, Bartlett jumps. In this case to provide a controversial pipeline across valuable farmland,” said TAP spokesman Tony Saddington.

Plans to build the Dilston Bypass were heavily promoted by Liberal MP for Bass Peter Gutwein, Legislative Councillor for Windermere, and Launceston City Councillor Ivan Dean, and former federal MP for Bass Michael Ferguson, now a Liberal candidate for the March 20 State election.  All support the controversial pulp mill proposal.

“David Bartlett is on record stating no land will be compulsorily acquired for the pipeline. This is robbery by stealth, and it’s being financed by taxpayers because Gunns can’t afford to build it,” said Mr Saddington.

In late January it was revealed Gunns had a $240,000 culvert publicly funded for the mill pipeline: HERE
Tony Saddington, TAP Into A Better Tasmania