PAUL OOSTING
The Wilderness Society is today calling on Gunns and the CFMEU to create a win-win outcome in the long running controversy over the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. Gunns has the opportunity to buy two existing pulp and paper mills in north-west Tasmania, secure a plantation timber wood supply for the mills and in the process save over 500 jobs from being lost.
Media Release May 9th 2009
GUNNS COULD SAVE BURNIE AND WESLEY VALE MILLS
The Wilderness Society calls on Gunns to support a win-win outcome for jobs and the environment
The Wilderness Society is today calling on Gunns and the CFMEU to create a win-win outcome in the long running controversy over the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. Gunns has the opportunity to buy two existing pulp and paper mills in north-west Tasmania, secure a plantation timber wood supply for the mills and in the process save over 500 jobs from being lost.
“This presents a win-win outcome for jobs and the environment. Gunns could be buying these mills, securing their wood supply and investing in their upgrade, instead of constructing a new mill in the Tamar Valley.”
“The CFMEU should advocate that Gunns invest in the NW mills and divert its high quality plantation resource at Hampshire to these projects instead of creating a new Tamar pulp mill that would cost jobs in farming, fishing and tourism in the northern region.
A report by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) released by The Wilderness Society in January 2008 found that jobs in the NW mills would be threatened if Gunns’ Tamar pulp mill was built. The report states:
“However the AC (Allens Consulting, commissioned by Gunns) modeling did not take account of the likely impact (of Gunns pulp mill) on existing pulp and paper capacity in Tasmania. Two mills that are the most likely to be impacted are operated by Australian Paper at Burnie and Wesley Vale. These mills employ approximately 660 people directly and are responsible for a further 650 jobs indirectly.”
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“…the proposed Gunns mill could be the last straw for these plants (Burnie and Wesley Vale) due to constraints on wood supply and the risk of loosing key technical staff.”
“This presents a great opportunity to use Tasmanian plantation wood in existing local mills and keep existing, skilled Tasmanian jobs,” said Mr Oosting.
The Burnie and Wesley Vale mills need high quality resource security. Gunns plantation wood at Hampshire is planned to be sent to Japan even if the Tamar pulp mill goes ahead. Using that plantation wood in Tasmania’s mills would save jobs and enable the protection of native forests for their carbon, water and biodiversity values,” concluded Mr Oosting.
