MEDIA RELEASE
Today, the 4th Anniversary of Gunns’ formal application to build a pulp mill, The Wilderness Society is calling on Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett not to give Gunns a birthday present of another extension for the pulp mill…
… “On the 15th of December 2004, just two days after launching a writ to sue 20 leading conservationists in Tasmania, Gunns launched its pulp-mill proposal. Four years on and they have still been unable to meet basic requirements of even the fast-track assessment process. If Gunns can’t even meet the requirements of a fast-track assessment how can they be trusted to safely operate a heavy industrial facility in a populated valley?” said Mr Oosting.
MEDIA RELEASE – December 15, 2008
JANUARY 5TH SHOULD BE END OF THE ROAD FOR GUNNS’ PULP MILL
Today, the 4th Anniversary of Gunns’ formal application to build a pulp mill, The Wilderness Society is calling on Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett not to give Gunns a birthday present of another extension for the pulp mill.
Previous Federal Environment Minster Malcolm Turnbull gave Gunns 1 year to the 4th of October 2008 to obtain the full approval for the pulp mill by having an Environmental Impact Management Plan assessed. Gunns was unable to meet that deadline but Mr Turnbull’s successor as Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, granted Gunns an extension until the 5th of January 2009. It now appears unlikely Gunns will be able to meet that deadline as they have only obtained approval for 4 of 16 modules.
“Gunns have had special favour after special favour which has resulted in the threat of a pulp mill hanging over the heads of the Tasmanian community for 4 years,” said Mr Paul Oosting pulp mill campaigner for The Wilderness Society.
“Peter Garrett needs to make a commitment to the people of Tasmania that come January 5 if the pulp mill isn’t fully assessed he will reject Gunns’ application and rescind all existing approvals for the pulp mill,” said Mr Oosting.
“On the 15th of December 2004, just two days after launching a writ to sue 20 leading conservationists in Tasmania, Gunns launched its pulp-mill proposal. Four years on and they have still been unable to meet basic requirements of even the fast-track assessment process. If Gunns can’t even meet the requirements of a fast-track assessment how can they be trusted to safely operate a heavy industrial facility in a populated valley?” said Mr Oosting.
The Wilderness Society will write to Peter Garrett calling on him to publicly make a commitment to end all approvals if the full EIMP has not been approved by Jan 5 2009.
