Stop myths about Tasmania's mill

Amid all the controversy surrounding the federal Government's pending decision over the new Gunns’ pulp mill, one fact has been overlooked: continuing to add value to Tasmania's regrowth forest and plantation resource is vitally important for securing the long-term wellbeing of timber families and their communities.

The Bell Bay pulp mill proposal builds on recent investments in new rotary veneer mills and substantial upgrades of sawmills throughout Tasmania. It is another big step forward in the value-adding journey.

Timber Communities Australia has conducted extensive research during the past four years to confirm that the science behind the project is sound and the mill will be of great benefit to Tasmania.

Following the demise of the previous proposal for a pulp mill at Wesley Vale, the then federal Labor government charged the CSIRO to develop, with public input, environmental guidelines for any future kraft pulp mill.

In 2004 the Tasmanian Government authorised the Resource Planning and Development Commission to review and update these guidelines with extensive public and scientific engagement. The World Bank recognised these guidelines as appropriate.

Bell Bay is the right location. It is home to Tasmania's largest industrial estate, including an aluminium smelter, ferro-alloy processing plant, power station and various timber processing operations, and is the main shipping port in northern Tasmania. The proposed pulp mill site is next to two operating woodchip mills on land zoned heavy industrial with an existing deep-water port.

It is important to note that Bell Bay's existing heavy industrial activity has not been a deterrent to the continued growth of the valued wine, tourism and fish-farming sectors throughout the Tamar Valley.

With the addition of an elemental chlorine-free pulp mill, this co-existence can continue. Our research shows that, throughout the world, pulp mills do coexist in harmony with wine and tourism, perhaps none more evident than in France.

The Bordeaux and Provence regions of southern France, for instance, are world leaders in tourism-based fine wine production. Each year Bordeaux alone produces 850million bottles of fine wine and attracts three million tourists. Both regions are also home to extensive industrial forestry, including a wide range of pulp and paper mills.

Sadly, these facts are ignored by opponents to the Tasmanian project.

The traditional politically motivated anti-forestry forces gathered to oppose the project.

It was clear they had one goal: to destroy the project with whatever means possible. The RPDC assessment process was attacked, including being bogged down in legal argument from the Tasmanian and Australian Greens directed towards an RPDC assessment panel member for apprehended bias.

The Greens succeeded. It brought about the resignation of panel member Warwick Raverty, although in doing so he disputed their allegations via his letter to the editor published in The Mercury newspaper on January 10. "I have decided to withdraw as a member, not because I agree with the Greens' submission. I do so only because of the importance of protecting the panel's assessment process and avoiding my membership of the panel becoming an issue (that) causes delays or disruptions," he said.

The Greens continued their attack on the RPDC process hoping to have it become an unworkable, never-ending process. Their strategy succeeded. They then moved to the new assessment process established by the State Government.

The State Government should be applauded for its courage in getting the project back on track. Ditto the state Opposition and legislative councillors for supporting the process. It would have been easy for the Opposition to oppose for opposition's sake, as a few armchair academics were calling for.

The fear campaign against the proposed mill reached new heights with a claim that it would cause all the snowcaps on the South Island of New Zealand to melt and Launceston would be deprived of drinking water. But the truth is that the proposed pulp mill will consume less than 2 per cent of the annual flows from the Trevallyn Dam, the source of Launceston's water supply.

Thankfully, following no less than four public comment opportunities, the project finally was assessed against the established guidelines (recognised as being the toughest in the world). That assessment proved to be robust, with only eight matters requiring improvement via special permits and conditions. State parliament has voted to approve these strict permits and conditions.

There was a last-minute, desperate attempt by the green movement in trotting out a few very well-heeled Sydney celebrities presenting themselves as experts on all things about pulp mills. This included a Telstra board member who has also overseen the impending demise of 257 Telstra jobs in Launceston. This same celebrity seems unwilling to meet timber-dependent families but is happy to meet the Greens.

The final decision lies with federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull in assessing the project against relevant sections of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. This has included three opportunities for public comment. Turnbull's department has approved the project, but it appears this is not good enough; he is seeking further advice from the commonwealth's Chief Scientist.

After so much scrutiny, Tasmania's timber-dependent families are looking for a timely decision from the commonwealth as we don't wish to see the project become a political football that will benefit only its political green opponents.