Pulp Mill stench will drive away customers.
“New Forests must immediately rule out any support for Gunns corruptly approved, toxic, Longreach Pulp Mill to ensure Tasmanians know where they stand”, said Greens Leader Kim Booth.
“New Forests have broad community support at the moment, due to their stated intentions to seek FSC certification and manage their plantations for solid sawn timber, not for pulp.
“However, reported statements by Forico CEO Bryan Hayes is in conflict with previous statements made by New Forests CEO David Brand and other executives of the company, that not only were New Forests not interested in the pulp mill, but also that there was no hope of that project getting up.
“It now appears that the ghost of Gunns has permeated Forico with the stench of the pulp mill.
“Tasmanians have had enough of the corruption that saw the Longreach pulp mill obtain permits without proper assessment and will rally again in their tens of thousands were any company foolish enough to contemplate construction.
“Gunns found out the hard way that if you thumb your nose at proper process then the community withdraws support and by allowing Forico to re open those divisive wounds, will have a profound effect on support for the sawn products produced by New Forests Timber Link saw mill at Bell Bay.
“It is also gob smacking that a company such as New Forests would allow Forico to give false hope to a potential buyer that this project has any chance.
“Jobs at Bell Bay and Timber Links reputation are on the line and I am calling on CEO David Brand to re state the companies position in regard to the toxic Longreach Pulp Mill.
“Tasmania deserves better than that”, concluded Mr Booth.
• Community opposition to the pulp mill remains steadfast “It’s time KordaMentha cut their losses and accepted these remaining ‘assets’ are all but worthless. The pulp mill dream will never be accepted by the community. For the majority of Tasmanians it has been nothing but a ten-year nightmare,” Ms Layton-Bennett concluded.
