Dear Members of the Legislative Council,
I write not as an 'greenie' but as a very concerned resident of Launceston.
There is a reason I moved back to Launceston from 3 years living in Qld - our beautiful, clean state, in particular Launceston and the Tamar Valley.
While recently in the USA on our honeymoon, we visited the Napa Valley wine region, and were amazed at the amount of locals who had heard of the Tamar Valley, most notably for it's quality wine industry.
As you can gather, we are recently married and wish to start a family soon, and raise them here. However, we can not and will not expose them to the pollution risks associated with such a mill. My grandfather came out from England in the pioneer group that started the APPM mill in Burnie. Who can forget what Burnie was like in those days, the smell and the colour of the sea. Consequently he died from emphysema in 1994.
I cannot believe in this day and age, with the very real threat of climate change and global warming, where most governments are being pro-active re: the environment and trying to reverse the adverse effect of past generations, that we are considering building a polluting pulp mill, the rationale being - extra dollars to the economy.
Tasmania's economy is fine. People are happy here. Our population is growing. Tourism is thriving. People move or visit here for a reason - a sea change from the pollution of other metropolitan areas.
Already the Tamar Valley is prone to the pollution. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR A MILL.
Please don't be pressured into making a decision without a complete, full and accurate assessment. On that is transparent and inclusive.
Who will we hold accountable for the health and safety of our people?
PLEASE listen to the people. The people who elect you to represent us.
In ALL polls conducted so far, the majority say no.
I'm sure you're familiar with the recent poll in 'The Mercury':
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22293194-921,00.html
Should the Gunn's Pulp Mill go ahead?
Yes? 0% (45 votes)
No? 99% (6692 votes)
Total votes: 6737
Money can not buy health, happiness and quality of life.
PLEASE listen to the people. The people who elect you to represent us.
Our thoughts are with are with you all this week, and trust you will do what is right.
--
P Mannion
