In the Mercury 13/10 Ken Jeffreys, the general manager of corporate affairs and tourism for Forestry Tasmania suggests that my apology to Gunns Limited is one example of a recent setback to the “anti-forestry” cause.
Mr Jeffreys is welcome to draw this conclusion but it seems to me that he has not been paying close attention to the facts.
Firstly, I am not an anti-forestry protester. I have been a consistent commentator regarding potential health impacts of broadacre conversion of native forests and farmland to monoculture plantation. I am certainly not opposed to sustainable native forestry.
I have apologised to Gunns simply for presenting my concerns about the safety of Burnie woodchip piles directly to the media prior to discussing them with the company.
In 2002 I was asked by concerned Burnie residents to look into this matter.
I remain unconvinced of the safety of situating large woodchip piles so close to the Burnie central business district and where inshore winds can, and does, blow dust over the city.
A recent critique of the report which was obtained and paid for by Gunns in 2002 seems to validate my concerns.
Dr Frank Nicklason
West Hobart
Picture: Ken, left.
Dr Frank Nicklason
