The Tasmanian Greens today said that the evacuation of residents from Gravelly Beach is a timely reminder of the unassessed risks from the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill.
Greens Pulp Mill spokesperson Kim Booth MP reminded the sitting Labor and Liberal MPs that the Gravelly beach evacuation is a chill portend of the dangers that the corrupt parliamentary approval of the pulp mill posed to the residents of the Tamar valley.
“If an ammonia leak from an old apple shed cool room is enough to evacuate the area then this is proof that the pulp mill must not be built in the Tamar Valley air shed, which in the event of a leak or explosion in the mills chemical plant, or a chemical truck rollover, would trap poisonous gas under the inversion layer and smother Launceston”
“The Gunns’ preferred option was for the use of an integrated chemical plant for production of bleaching chemicals even though it is not specified as Accepted Modern Technology in the Environmental Emission Limit Guidelines.”
“They received approval for this chemical plant with the passing of the Pulp Mill Permit, via Liberal and Labor members’ vote in parliament rather than a robust assessment.”
“The Pulp Mill Permit did not contain any regulation of chemical trucks associated with the proposed pulp mill nor any risk assessment should a chemical contamination occur.”
“Labor and Liberal members of parliament should hang their heads in shame for voting down the Greens parliamentary action to rescind the approval and revoke the pulp mill permits”
“Even though no rational commentator on the planet thinks that the proposed pulp mill is financially viable, tragically Labor and Liberal members of parliament are still calling for its construction”
“The Greens will continue to campaign against this dangerous and corrupt proposal until the approval is repealed or the liquidator tears it up.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Pulp Mill Spokesperson Tuesday, 23 April 2013
