The possibility that the Gunns proposed pulp mill site on the Tamar River could be sold without the Pulp Mill Permit and used for other industrial purposes has been opened up in a new round of expressions of interest advertised by Gunns’ receivers …
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Gunns receivers and managers seek expressions of interest for Bell Bay industrial land
Story: Gunns’ receivers and mangers are seeking expressions of interest to acquire Bell Bay industrial land, according to the following advertisement in the Australian Financial Review.
The receivers and mangers of Gunns Limited are seeking expressions of interest to acquire approximately 550 hectares of land suitable for industrial development and other uses located in Bell Bay, Northern Tasmania.
Key highlights of the land offered for sale include:
Strategically located on the Tamar River with direct access to a sea port Access to essential infrastructure and regional centres.
Expressions of interest are sought from parties to acquire the property by 1 May 2015.
… although it is also open to purchasers to buy the accompanying permit to build and operate the pulp mill.
However Markets For Change remains concerned that any prospective purchasers and financiers beware of the history and ongoing strong community opposition to the proposed pulp mill, which relied on a fast track approval after it failed to meet the requirements of the statutory approval process.
Most alarming is a statement in the press by a representative of the receivers that uncertainty about wood supply has been rectified, as this could signal a renewed logging push in native forests which would ignite national and international opposition. The purchasers of Gunns’ plantation estate, Forico – a subsidiary of New Forests, have previously ruled out owning, operating or supplying the pulp mill.
“On the face of it reading the advertisement ‘seeking expressions of interest to acquire approximately 550 hectares of land suitable for industrial development and other uses’ the receivers recognise that this industrial land is more likely to sell divorced from its Pulp Mill Permit, which would be a mighty relief to the community if a use that respects them and the beautiful Tamar valley is now able to emerge,” said CEO of Markets For Change, Peg Putt.
“Yet the receiver is still talking up the pulp mill, and alarmingly is making the claim that wood supply issues have been resolved when we know that the former Gunns plantation estate is not available – surely this can’t mean we are looking at massive volumes of wood logged from Tasmania’s native forests with all the angst and controversy that would entail?”
“Even Gunns acknowledged that a native forest wood supply was unacceptable when they proposed the mill be entirely plantation-based, so what is the receiver talking about given there is not enough plantation wood in Tasmania to supply the proposed pulp mill?”
“The best solution is for the land to be sold without the Pulp Mill Permit and that land to be used for other purposes whilst the Pulp Mill Permit effectively becomes defunct.” Ms Putt concluded.
CEO of Markets For Change, Peg Putt.
