The Hodgman government should move to repeal the controversial Pulp Mill Permit, and free up the Gunns’ Longreach site for potential alternative investors who may be interested in utilising the site for non-pulp mill purposes, Greens Leader Kim Booth MP said today.
“Given reported comments by the CEO of the Tasmanian Industry Chamber of Commerce, that the ‘proposed pulp mill was too far gone’, it is time the state also catches up with the times and the investor mood and repeal the pulp mill permit,” Mr Booth said.
“The Gunns’ pulp mill proposal at Bell Bay has been a millstone around the community’s neck, and a blight upon the political landscape for far too long.”
“Local businesses and individuals have been left high and dry waiting for Gunns’ outstanding debts to be paid, and the receivers, Kordamentha, have clearly struggled to divest the remaining assets, over a drawn out and protracted process.”
“Potentially there are buyers interested in the Bell Bay site, but who are put off by the associated pulp mill permit.”
“It would send a positive signal for the government to repeal the controversial pulp mill permit, and make it clear that alternative options for the site can be considered.”
“We have already seen that a local north-east company, Dorset Renewable Industries, has just bought the previous Gunns’ Scottsdale land at the Ling Siding site, for a proposed renewable energy business. We need to clear the way for such potential projects at Long Reach.”
“The TCCI recognises the pulp mill won’t happen, private forestry businesses see there is no future in it, and it is past time the state government catches up, ends the misery and wipes the slate clean of this toxic and corrupted pulp mill project once and for all,” Mr Booth said.