Sitting outside the Long Reach site … copping abuse, and encouragement …

Dear Readers,

I’m sitting against a tree by the side of the East Tamar Highway – on the George Town Road.

I’m at the junction of Gunns’ private road which leads to their wood-chip mill and to the proposed pulp mill site. To the east of me, beyond the highway, is the area of bush that would contain a water reservoir, and solid waste landfill area and a quarry, if Gunns had had their way.

Behind me, to the west of the highway and extending to the river Tamar, is a wood chip mill, which has several disused yellow machinery. I am here to protest against any further activities by Gunns that relate to the Pulp Mill Project. So far, nothing has moved in or out of the site while I’ve been here.

No workers, no equipment – just security.

As you know, The Permit expired earlier this week and both the Government and the EPA have been trying to off-load responsibility for this. It’s as if they are playing pass the ‘hot-chestnut’. I am displaying a banner which says:

“STOP the PULP MILL”

but I wish I had one which said:

“PULP MILL PROJECT now ILLEGAL”

or

“CONSTRUCTION now ILLEGAL”.

You see, with the expiration of the permit, activities which were permitted by The Permit are no longer permitted by the Pulp Mill Assessment Act (or by any other Acts which might be related, such as the LUPAA and the WMA). No construction works may proceed, and if they do, they are to be viewed as illegal.

Furthermore, to the extent that Gunns and the Government have argued that commencement of the project encompasses other ‘pre-construction’ activities, I am tempted to wonder whether transporting equipment to the project site is similarly illegal, or for that matter, whether the expiry of The Permit has meant that project workers and contractors can no longer enter the site.

Be that as it may, I am here to protest – a legal and peaceful protest. We know that Gunns have claimed to have commenced work on the site – work that is no longer permitted – and I say to all of you …

‘Now is the time to come and voice opposition to any continuance of the project. I’ll be here each day, so please come up and say hello. Bring a chair, there is space between Gunns’ boundary and the highway in which you can legally protest and be safe from the traffic.

Be aware that the site is patrolled by security (there could even be remote cameras). Any entry beyond fence lines will be regarded as trespass. Actually I would like some company, as I’ve just had an aggressive tirade from the occupants of a 4WD who u-turned to drive within a metre or so of me and made me the butt of their abusive malice. I have passed on their registration number to the local police, who have been supportive, they have no problems with my side-of-the-road protest and will assist in keeping the peace. I have to say that before the abusive 4WD, a George Town couple pulled up to wish me well.

Please come and spend some time here, I’ll be here 7 days a week. If not, then say ‘Hi’ by phone if you like, on 0418 139 231 – but please, no negative stuff. Abuse over the phone is not permitted by law, neither is the construction of the pulp mill, come to think of it.

Till my next update,

Garry Stannus, from Gunns’ entrance to the Long Reach site.

PS: some Aerogard would go down okay…

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The Final Nail?