This paper is an attempt to identify and quantify the subsidies paid to Gunns and the logging industry in Tasmania. Drawing upon broad community input via the online newspaper www.tasmaniantimes.com , it was compiled by Andrew Bent and edited by TAP.
Summary of findings
1. Taxpayer funding diverted to support pulp mill and logging
Report prepared by TAP, 2007.
Gunns Ltd and the Tasmanian Government both trumpet the economic benefits of an anticipated $6.7 billion boost to the state economy with 1617 new jobs from construction and 292 jobs long term.
A Better Australia and TAP conducted two workshops with approximately 120 members to plan strategies to stop the pulp mill.
Sorted outputs from TAP/ A Better Australia presentations on 21 Jan 2008
What concerns does audience have for the future?
Social issues
Unrealisable expectation
The next TAP public forum in the series will be on alternative futures for our forests.
When 7pm - 9.45pm Monday 25 February 2008.
Where Riverside Community Centre, off Brownfields Lane behind the Riverside High School, West Tamar High way, Launceston.
Speakers
Speakers
Mike Scott (engineer) email - Mike_Scott@acl.com.au
Frank Strie (master forester) email - schwabenforest@connect.net.au
Kim Booth (Greens MHA) email - kim.booth@parliament.tas.gov.au
Decisions by Forestry Tasmania about the State's forests centre on producing one main low value product – pulp wood, but at what cost?
This is the first forum in a series jointly organized by ABA (A Better Australia) and TAP (Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill) to examine current and future problems confronting Australia and to develop strategies for dealing with them.
The format is an open public forum, democracy in action you might say, led by guest speakers with the emphasis firmly on public participation. If you have something to say, you will be heard.
WHERE: Community Centre behind Riverside High School, West Tamar Rd, Launceston (entrance off Brownfield Lane)
WHEN: Monday January 21st at 7.00pm
Facts the Tasmanian Government and Gunns Ltd don’t want people to know about the proposed Tamar valley pulp mill, Tasmania, Australia.
Timber company Gunns Ltd wants to build a ‘world scale’ pulp mill in the clean green Tamar valley. The proposal is planned to go ahead despite majority opposition from Tasmanians and Australians and massive risks to food production and fisheries, from air and water pollution, water shortages and release of carbon stores into the atmosphere.
The Tasmanian Government has not investigated the financial risks of the mill to the State and documented the subsidies. The economic viability of the pulp mill has not been tested in public.
Below are three studies of the financial impact of Gunns' proposed pulp mill from individual members of the community, presented in an attempt to redress this important gap in the assessment.
Small temperate island, pleasant location, substantial tax advantages.
Agents - Lennon, Green, Kons and Associates.
Is there enough water for the Tamar valley pulp mill?
The proposed pulp mill will consume significant volumes of water from the Trevallyn Dam which is fed by streams in the South Esk basin.
A water audit of inputs and outputs from the South Esk basin over the summer period of 2006-07 unveils a story of declining supplies and increasing demands.
The audit highlights a covert competition for water security involving Meander valley irrigators; Midlands farmers; domestic consumers in Campbell Town, Ross and Tunbridge; domestic consumers supplied by Esk Water; environmental flows to sustain river health; consumption by expanding plantations in the headwaters; and direct use by the proposed pulp mill.
Selected reports and submissions on Gunns proposed Tamar valley pulp mill are organised by category.
2. Economic and planning risks
6. Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
