Garrett gives Gunns a two year extension - approves 13 of 16 pulp mill approval modules

On 5 January 2008 Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett identified serious concerns about the impact Gunns’ proposed pulp mill would have on the marine environment and insisted that more scientific work be completed. Despite this he proceeded to grant Gunns further approvals for its unpopular project and a second extension of time for it to be fully approved.

The majority of people oppose this polluting pulp mill and the fast-track assessment process that Gunns has been allowed to get away with. Minister Garrett must ensure no work begins on the mill before his new deadline of 2011. Photograph: Rob Blakers

The flawed assessment of the pulp mill - which did not take into account the impact on Tasmania’s native forests or climate change - has nonetheless identified some very real environmental problems that need further research.

The second extension means that Gunns now has until March 2011 to complete work relating to the environmental impact of dumping 64,000 tonnes of toxic pollution into Bass Strait each day. 

Even though the mill is only partly approved and this scientific work is incomplete, Minister Garrett has now cleared the way for Gunns to begin construction.

Minister Garrett has allowed the ludicrous situation where construction on the mill can begin, without a full understanding of the impacts that running the mill would have on the marine environment and native forest ecosystems. Mr Garrett has allowed the cart to go before the horse; for construction to begin before he knows all of the environmental impacts.

Gunns has consistently missed deadlines and failed to provide adequate information yet it continues to be rewarded with special deals and extensions of extra time.

Meanwhile, Tasmanians have their lives on hold, waiting for a definitive outcome of an assessment debacle that has been as divisive and destructive as the mill itself would be.

The majority of people oppose this polluting pulp mill and the fast-track assessment process that Gunns has been allowed to get away with. Minister Garrett must ensure no work begins on the mill before his new deadline of 2011.

Construction must not start before the science is complete and a full understanding of the harmful impacts on the marine environment is available. 

We still need your support to continue the campaign to ensure that Tasmania’s irreplaceable native forests are not destroyed and our climate and marine environment polluted by Gunns’ environmentally destructive pulp mill.