Submission to the RPDC on the Draft Recommendations Report for the Inquiry into the establishment of marine protected areas within the Bruny Bioregion

The RPDC released its report on its recommendations for a new system of MPAs in the Bruny Bioregion.

The recommendations are generally good although there a major oversight means that the most significent kelp forest remaining north of Tasman Island in Fortescue Bay has not been recommended for protection.

(Download 69 KB PDF here)

| TOP |

TCT Strategic Plan Released

The TCT's new Strategic Plan has just been completed and is now available as a PDF download from the website.

(Download 197 KB PDF here)

| TOP |

TCT's Submission on Proposed Decision to
Approve the Tamar Pulp Mill

Minister Turnbull has invited comments on his proposed decision and the TCT responded.

(Download 44 KB PDFsubmission of 18/4/07 here)

| TOP |

TCT Pulp Mill Submissions to the Commonwealth

The TCT prepared two submissions on the proposed pulp mill. One was on impacts on forest while the other looked at the marine environment.

(Download 70 KB PDFsubmission of 12/4/07 here)

(Download 856 KB PDFsubmission of 18/4/07 here)

| TOP |

State Legislation Will Not Help Pulp Mill

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today reiterated that the proposed pulp mill must not, and can not proceed without assessment by the RPDC. TCT Director Craig Woodfield pointed out that the proposal must also be assessed by the Commonwealth Government, and that the mechanism for doing this was delegated to the State via the bilateral agreement. “On 26 October 2005, the Federal Environment Minister accredited the Integrated Assessment Process under the Tasmanian State Policies and Projects Act 1993 as the mechanism for assessing the pulp mill.” “Without an assessment process at a state level, there is no assessment process at a Commonwealth level, and there can therefore be no approval at a Commonwealth level. Our preliminary advice is that the project is dead, and state legislation will not change this.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 14/3/07 here)

| TOP |

Pulp Mill Can Not Proceed Without RPDC Assessment

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today reiterated that the proposed pulp mill must not, and can not proceed without assessment by the RPDC. TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that the withdrawal of the proposal by Gunns must not result in some form of enabling legislation from the Tasmanian Government. “If this occurs, then due process, transparency and accountability in Tasmania is well and truly dead and buried.” Mr. Woodfield pointed out that the proposal must also be assessed by the Commonwealth Government, and that the mechanism for doing this was delegated to the State via the bilateral agreement. “Without an assessment process at a state level, there is no assessment process at a Commonwealth level, and there can therefore be no approval at a Commonwealth level. Our preliminary advice is that the project is dead.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 14/3/07 here)

| TOP |

New Era of Environmental Degradation

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today attacked amendments to the Water Management Act, introduced into parliament this morning, which will remove the oversight of the threatened species and forestry experts as well as wind back appeal rights. TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that this proposal was nothing more than an attempt to silence critics of environmentally damaging large dam proposals, both internal and external to Government. He also revealed that the Minister had barred his Department from distributing the draft Bill to key stakeholders such as the TCT.

“The Tasmanian Government has never forgotten how the TCT exposed the Meander Dam for what it truly was through the appeals system. They are hoping to resurrect a number of previously failed dam projects are trying to gag us, scientists within the Government and the rest of the community in the process.”

Mr. Woodfield said that the number of appeals lodged on dam approvals was tiny, especially compared with other legislation.

“In the last seven years there have been less than 20 appeals over dams. Last year alone there were almost 100 appeals on residential building applications.”

”The only reason to change this law is to hide unsustainable development from independent scrutiny.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 13/3/07 here)

| TOP |

New Era for Logging

Tasmania’s peak conservation group has today participated in the formal launch of the Forest Stewardship Council of Australia (FSC) in Melbourne. FSC is an internationally recognised standard that features strong environmental protection.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that this is an exciting new development and has the potential to help break the deadlock in the forestry debate in Tasmania.

“FSC is as about environmentally sustainable logging. It enables private landholders to get a return from the timber on their land as well as look after the environment.”

The TCT is a member of Environmental Chamber of FSC Australia and a strong supporter of its standards.

“I encourage all private landholders to investigate the benefits of getting their logging operations FSC certified.”

Visit the FSC website at www.fscaustralia.org

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 5/3/07 here)

| TOP |

Scottsdale Log Solution Will Contribute to Global Warming

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today labelled plans to truck 300,000 tonnes of softwood logs from Strahan to Scottsdale as environmentally damaging. TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that the extra trucking would damage roads, increase roadkill and make a significant contribution to the State’s already high greenhouse gas emissions.

“A very rough estimate based on the 700 km round trip from Strahan to Scottsdale indicates that this exercise will produce an extra 2,000 tonnes greenhouse gases. And this is a very conservative estimate.”

This calculation is based on figures provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office of 2.7 kg of greenhouse gases produced per litre of diesel consumed.

Mr. Woodfield said that this was just the latest in the series of negatives that have resulted from Auspine losing access to local sawlog resource.

“This a perverse outcome, which will ultimately effect the social, economic and environmental bottom line of not just the northeast, but the whole of Tasmania.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 2/3/07 here)

| TOP |

Short Duck Season Still Unsustainable

Tasmania’s peak conservation group has today said that a shortened duck season is still an unacceptable and unsustainable response to the drought and stressed waterbird populations.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that this is the latest in a series of decisions made by the Minister which contrary to the advice of experts within his Department.

“The Minister cannot provide one single expert to support his decision to continue with the season.”

“The only responsible reaction to the well-documented reduction in numbers and health of waterbirds this year is to cancel the season altogether. This is no longer just an animal welfare issue, it is a sustainable resource management issue.”

Mr. Woodfield said that duck shooters who supported the season under these conditions had little credibility.

“South Australian duck shooters have accepted that there should be no season this year because of the impacts of the drought on waterbird populations. Tasmanian shooters obviously have no such qualms.”

(Download 43 KB PDF media release of 1/3/07 here)

| TOP |

Clock Ticking on Devil Extinction

Delegates at the Devil Facial Tumour Disease scientific forum that finished today in Hobart have been told that the Tasmanian devil may only be 10 to 15 years away from extinction, and the window of opportunity to avert this calamity is rapidly closing.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield says that such statements emphasise the importance of the continued support for the program, but also that it is essential that new initiatives be considered to try and save this species.

“The extinction of the Tasmanian devil would alter our terrestrial ecosystems almost beyond recognition. It would also be a massive economic and social loss for our state.”

“The entire Tasmanian community must get involved, and the Tasmanian Government needs to show real leadership and provide real resources. If we do not, then generations to come will remember us as the ones who this most iconic of species disappear forever.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 20/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Colourful protest to Deliver 500+ Anti Duck shooting Postcards

Members and supporters of Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will today protest against the opening of Tasmania’s Duck Shooting season in Hobart.

The protest will be staged at 12:30p.m. outside the Department of Primary Industries and Water offices on the corner of Macquarie and Murray Streets with protestors dressed in colourful vests and carrying giant windsocks and flags that will be used to scare away ducks from the shooter’s guns on the wetlands.

Campaign to end Duck Shooting Co-ordinator for AACT, Chris Simcox stating: We want to send a clear message to David Llewellyn that duck shooting is not a sport and the recreational shooting of ducks should be banned. Tasmania is falling behind on the animal welfare front with Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales all having banned this barbarism.

Recent aerial surveys conducted by waterbird expert Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of New South Wales, showed duck numbers to be critically low across the Eastern states due to the drought. Professor Kingsford has recently stated publicly that, the long-term survival of some duck species will be placed at risk if this year’s duck shooting season goes ahead in Tasmania.

(Download 56 KB PDF media release of 20/2/07 here)

| TOP |

TCT writes to Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Suggesting that the Gunns Pulp Mill needs a support package for shift to Hampshire

Shifting the prposed mill to Hampshire would remove many of the environmental issues from this debate.

(Download 42 KB PDF version of letter 16/4/07 here)

| TOP |

Government Misrepresenting Support for Changes
to Dam Approvals Process

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today revealed the extent to which the Tasmanian Government bureaucrats are misrepresenting the level of support for proposed changes to large dam assessment and approval processes.

In 2005, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water called for submissions on the operation of the Water Management Act. Thirty one were received, which the TCT has recently accessed. Of these 31, only 3 expressed significant concerns about the dam approval process being too stringent. On the other hand, more than half of the submissions received expressed concerns that water management need to be tightened up and greater environmental protection implemented.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that it was obvious that the Tasmanian Government was only interested in the views of a minority of a pro-dam lobbyists.

“We have been officially told that in light of the response to the Minister’s call for submissions, it is “understandable” that the Government intends to change the law to make building large dams easier.”

“This has now been shown to be absolute nonsense. The bottom line is that the State Government wants to try and build more environmentally damaging, economically unviable large dams, and is willing to change the law to facilitate this.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 20/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Dorset EDG Dairy Plan Flawed and Unviable

Tasmania’s peak conservation group has today labelled the Dorset EDG proposal for a massive increase in dairy production in Tasmania’s northeast, as highlighted in yesterday’s Examiner, as flawed and unviable. TCT Director Craig Woodfield says that the whole proposal is predicated on a series of decade-old dam proposals that are unviable, and in most cases, unbuildable. “What we are seeing here is a classic Tasmanian strategy – flogging a dead horse. Rather than look for new and innovate ways of dealing with the State Government-induced crisis in the northeast, the Dorset EDG has dragged out something that has already failed to work.” Mr. Woodfield said that any attempt to railroad these dam proposals through the system would result in a bitter and protracted fight with the conservation movement.

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 15/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Waterhouse Dam Cannot be Built

Tasmania’s peak conservation group has today released advice from the Forest Practices Authority that the Waterhouse Dam, proposed for the Boobyalla River in Tasmania’s northeast, cannot be built.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Water has publicly stated that the failed Waterhouse Dam is one of the reasons that amendments to the Water Management Act will be rushed through parliament later this year. The amendments will, amongst other things, limit appeal rights.

However, in documents obtained by the TCT, Tasmania’s Chief Forest Practices Officer advised the proponents of the dam in 2003 that the dam could not be built. He said at that time that “…my advice to you is that I do not believe that the Board’s obligations under the RFA, the NHT 2 Bilateral Agreement and the Board’s moratorium on clearing endangered forests would allow it to certify a forest practices plan for the clearing of the Waterhouse Eucalyptus ovata forest. In my view, any such forest practices plan submitted to the Board would be refused.”

TCT Director Craig Woodfield says that the Tasmanian Government appears ready to once again ride roughshod over due process and common sense. “It makes no sense at all to try and resurrect failed dam proposals such as Waterhouse.

This Government appears to be 100% committed to repeating the mistakes of the past rather than moving forward.”

(Download 43 KB PDF media release of 14/2/07 here)

(Download 16 KB PDF Chief Forest Practices Officer's letter of 8/12/03)

| TOP |

Hobart Participation in Clean Up Australia Day Disappointing

With less than 3 weeks to go until Clean Up Australia Day, the registration of sites in Tasmania’s capital city has been very disappointing. So far only 3 sites have been registered in the Hobart municipality, whilst the Clarence and the Huon Valley municipalities have each already registered more than 20 sites.

CUAD Tasmanian Coordinator Alexis Vertolli has called on Hobart residents to pitch in and participate in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday March 4. “We are hoping to mobilise 1 million volunteers for this years Clean up Australia Day, and we need Hobartians to pull their weight.”

Registrations can be done online at www.cleanup.org or by ringing 1800 282 329. The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has hosted Clean Up Australia Day since its inception in Tasmania in 1992.

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 13/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Government Seeking to Undermine Appeal Rights
on Major Dam Projects

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has today attacked proposals by the Tasmanian Government to wind back appeal rights on major dam projects.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that this proposal was nothing more than an attempt to silence critics of environmentally damaging large dam proposals. “The Tasmanian Government has never forgotten how the TCT exposed the Meander Dam for what it truly was through the appeals system. They are hoping to resurrect a number of previously failed dam projects are trying to gag us in the process.”

Mr. Woodfield said that the number of appeals lodged on dam approvals was minsicule, especially compared with other legislation. “In the last seven years there have been less than 20 appeals over dams.

Last year alone there were more than 50 appeals on residential building applications.” ”The only reason to change this law is to hide unsustainable development from independent scrutiny.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 7/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Dam Builders to be Given Free Rein in Major Erosion of Environmental Protection Laws

Proposed amendments to a range of legislation will give the Assessment Committee for Dam Construction total authority over dam permits.

Under the proposed changes experts from other government agencies not be required to be consulted, and neither will additional permits be required. In particular, the Threatened Species Section and the Forest Practices Authority will be totally removed from the dam assessment and approval process.

Appeal rights will also be gutted, removing the capacity of third parties to contest decisions made on dam applications. TCT Director Craig Woodfield describes these changes as the biggest erosion of environmental protection laws since the signing of the Regional Forest Agreement in 1997. “These proposed changes are an absolute disgrace, and will result in major environmental impacts. Dam builders will be given free rein, with none of the checks and balances that are necessary to ensure sustainable development."

(Download 43 KB PDF media release of 6/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Taxpayer to foot bill for Meander Dam

The admission that the Tasmanian Government is trying, and failing, to sell water form the Meander Dam at $27 a megalitre is further proof of the lack of unviability of this enormous white elephant.

TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that the figure of $27 is only half of the most optimistic of the Government’s previous sales prices, and at such a rate the dam will never be able to recoup the tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers money that has been invested in it.

“This is effectively the Spirit 3 of the Meander Valley – an enormous waste of time and money” said Mr. Woodfield. “The Tasmanian Government has had numerous opportunities to walk away from this project, most recently when a commercial venture failed completely at the end of 2005.

It is the Tasmanian taxpayer who will ultimately foot the bill for the Meander Dam.” The TCT succeeded in having the dam’s licence revoked in 2003 when scientists and economists testified against the dam. The State Government passed special legislation later that year to restore the dam’s approval.

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 1/2/07 here)

| TOP |

Climate Change Strategy has Major Flaws

TCT submission on the Tasmanian Government’s Draft Climate Change Strategy says that whilst the strategy has much to recommend it, the lack of a target to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a significant omission.

It is almost as if the Tasmanian Government has ignored all the major international findings on the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change. Even though Tasmania’s greenhouse gas emissions were not high in a national context, they almost certainly were in an international context.

(Download 43 KB PDF media release of 30/1/07 here)

(Download 60 KB PDF TCT submission of 29/1/07 here)

| TOP |

Tasmanian Businesses Fight Climate Change on Business Clean Up Day 2007

One million Australians are needed to help fight climate change as part of the 2007 Clean Up Australia Day campaign and businesses across Tasmania are being urged to get involved on 27 February.

Clean Up Australia Chairman Ian Kiernan AO said being a part of a massive community campaign to tackle growing problems such as electronic or e-waste, which is being sent to landfill at three times the rate of other general or municipal waste, will help reduce damaging greenhouse emissions.

For the first time this year businesses can participate by registering their office and committing to implementing an environmentally sustainable initiative in the work place.

(Download 110 KB PDF media release of 25/1/07 here)

| TOP |

More fox scats a worry

The confirmation of more fox scats being found in the midlands is worrying news TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that this emphasises the importance of finalising new funding arrangements for the fox taskforce and that foxes presented the single biggest threat to terrestrial biodiversity in Tasmania.

(Download 44 KB PDF media release of 22/1/07 here)

| TOP |

Forest Practices System fails to protect biodiversity

The release of the annual report for Tasmania’s forest practice system has highlighted how Tasmania’s forest practices system is still failing to protect threatened forest communities. The Forest Practices Authority openly admits in the report that high levels of conversion of some threatened forest communities have potentially long-term ramifications for the maintenance of regional biodiversity. TCT Director Craig Woodfield said today that this underscores the findings of the Supreme Court in the recent Weilangta case that forestry operations in Tasmania are not protecting biodiversity.

(Download 44 KB PDF media release of 22/1/07 here)

| TOP |

Government Must Appoint Person of
Highest Integrity and Independence to Head RPDC

The debacle over Julian Green and Dr Warwick Raverty's resignations from the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) has thrown serious doubt over the integrity of the RPDC process not just for the pulp mill assessment, but for residents opposed to the destruction of the Ralphs Bay Conservation Area, and other community groups representing their concerns before the Commission.

In a joint statement today, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Save Ralphs Bay Inc. and the Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association said the Lennon Government had corrupted the planning process by meddling in the work of the Commission, while at the same time assuring concerned communities to have faith in the 'independent umpire'.

(Download 71 KB PDF media release of 9/1/07 here)

| TOP |

Tasmanian Government Clears Threatened Forest Community

The Tasmanian Government has cleared an endangered forest community at the Meander Dam site which is subject to a moratorium on clearing. Approval has been given by the Forest Practices Authority to clear this site even though the Rivers and Water Supply Commission was unable to come up with any concrete offsets or compensatory habitat.

The endangered Eucalyptus ovata forest community at the site and the surrounding vegetation was home to quolls, devils, masked owls and a host of other threatened flora and fauna species.

(Download 71 KB PDF media release of 21/12/06 here)

| TOP |

Tasmanian Government Clears Endangered
Forest Community at Dam Site

The Tasmanian Government has cleared an endangered forest community at the Meander Dam site which is subject to a moratorium on clearing. Approval has been given by the Forest Practices Authority to clear this site even though the Rivers and Water Supply Commission was unable to come up with any concrete offsets or compensatory habitat.

(Download 44 KB PDF media release of 24/11/06 here)

| TOP |

LEC and the TCT call for
Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority

The LEC and the TCT produce a submission on this important issue that contains recommendations for its structure and operation

(Download 87 KB PDF submission of 14/12/06 here)

| TOP |

Changes to Threatened Vegetation Legislation are a Concern

Amendments to legislation to protect threatened native non-forest vegetation such as native grasslands were passed last night by the Legislative Council. TCT Director Craig Woodfield said that while he was still waiting for a formal briefing on the changes, it appeared that one of the major commitments given by the Minister had been lost. “The amendment that will require approval by both houses of parliament to the list of threatened native vegetation communities is simply outrageous, and contrary to other natural resource legislation, such as the Threatened Species Protection Act. This is blatant interference by the Legislative Council in an area which they have no expertise in, and is contrary to an assurance that we received for the State Government.”

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 24/11/06 here)

| TOP |

Groups Call For Ban On Duck Shooting in Tasmania
Protest on Parliament Lawns on 22 November 2006

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) will hold a protest on Parliament Lawns at 12.00 noon tomorrow as part of an ongoing campaign to end recreational duck shooting in Tasmania. A striking display of 1000 duck silhouettes will stand in memorial of the tens of thousands that are slaughtered each year in this state.

AACT, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) and RSPCA Tasmania are again urging the Lennon Government to ban this cruel and unnecessary “sport”, which causes enormous pain and suffering to many native water birds.

Figures compiled by the Department of Primary Industries and Water from shooters license returns show that more than 35 000 water birds were shot and bagged during the 2006 open season in Tasmania. Scientific studies estimate that a similar number of ducks may be shot but not retrieved, bringing the total number killed closer to double that figure.

Drought conditions observed across Australia this year are considered the worst seen in twenty-four years of aerial surveys. Recent surveys show that water bird numbers have declined dramatically across the nation.

(Download 113 KB PDF media release of 22/11/06 here)

| TOP |

Vegetable Industry Strategic Plan Must Address
Poisoning Native Animals

New Tasmanian Vegetable Industry Strategic Plan will be seriously compromised if there is no distinction between vegetable growers who poison native animals and those who don’t.

The industry has a major opportunity to legitimately brand itself as clean and green which it cannot afford to miss. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of Tasmania’s persectution of native animals and want to be able to make an informed choice. They don’t want to buy produce that comes at such a huge cost for wildlife.

Each year in Tasmania, farmers deliberately poison tens of thousands of pademelons, wallabies, possums and native hens, with thousands of non-target species such as bettongs, bandicoots, eagles, goshawks and wombats also killed.

(Download 54 KB PDF media release of 20/11/06 here)

| TOP |

Fox Funding

The TCT welcomed the State Government’s announcement of increased funding for the fox taskforce, but our Director, Craig Woodfield, said today that whilst the funding was welcomed, much detail had yet to be revealed, particularly how the fox baiting program would be expanded and the mechanism by which the wider community would be engaged.

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 13/11/06 here)

| TOP |

Indian Mynah Bird Discovered at Launceston Airport

TCT Director Craig Woodfield says that the Mynah is known to be aggressive and intelligent, and could easily become established in Tasmanian cities and towns. “This would be more bad news for Tasmania’s native species, which are far less secure than most people would believe.” Mr. Woodfield said that Tasmania’s biosecurity cordon was sub-standard, and presented a major risk to the State.

(Download 42 KB PDF media release of 6/10/06 here)

| TOP |

Too Much Risk for the Reward – an economic analysis of the pulp mill returns to the people of Tasmania

The Submission at a glance:

The IIS has not addressed the very real possibility that this pulp mill will not be able to compete internationally. It has not addressed:

1. The very high “cost per installed tonne” to build the pulp mill.
2. The uncompetitive cost positioning of Bell Bay relative to the future market makers (Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Indonesia).
3. The increasing oversupply of BHKP relative to demand (despite growing demand from China).
4. The ‘gruesome’ volatility of world pulp prices.
5. The linkage of economic returns on state native forests to these prices, through the supply contract.
6. The high likelihood of government bail-out subsidies, negative stumpage and other protections to keep the pulp mill afloat in light of these inherent economic problems.

Even if you don't care about the environment,
it looks like the proposed mill is still a bad idea!

(Download full submission as a 180 KB PDF file here)

| TOP |

TCT Completes RPDC Submission on
Pulp Mill Integrated Impact Statement and
the Marine Environment

The TCT has finished its submission on the draft integrated impact statement Gunns produced for the RPDC for its proposed pulp mill at Bell Bay. This submission looks at the impacts of the proposed mill on the marine environment.

We have found many mistakes and problems in the short time we have had to assess this enormous document.

Even if you can manage to forget about issues relating to economics, wood supply, transport saftey, air quality and human health, just issues relating to effluent polutin Bass Strait should be enough reason to reject this proposal.

This is the wrong mill in the wrong place.

(Download full submission as a 670 KB PDF file here)

| TOP |

Gunns' Pulp Mill Integrated Impact Statement
Lacks Basic Pollution Monitoring Detail

Pollution from effluent dumped via an ocean outfall in Bass Strait is one of the major concerns about Gunns' proposed pulp mill. An obvious way to reduce public concern would be to have a monitoring program that would identify problems due to pollution before they become too bad to do anything about them.

It seems incredible, but the Integrated Impact Statement still does not have a complete monitoring program available for public scrutiny in its Integrated Impact Statement (IIS). A proper consideration of the proposed mill's environmental impacts really requires that the monitoring proposal is available for public scrutiny.

(Download 30 KB PDF media release of 14/9/06 here)

| TOP |

Pulp Mill Information Prompts Quick Response from Premier Lennon

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust seems to have hit a raw nerve with its media release of 25 July 2006. This exposed the threat to seals dolphins and other marine life in Bass Strait.

Usually it takes days, often weeks, to get any sort of response from Government. But yesterday, our media release went out at about nine in the morning and the Premier's office had put a response up on the Government website during the afternoon.

The response indicates that the Premier and his office are not only very sensitive about persistent organic pollutants, they appear to be getting bad advice about this issue.

The public is entitled to know about these shortcomings, particularly as the Gunns documentation is likely to be difficult for many people to access.

If the Tasmanian Government is truly confident that there will be no detectable persistent organic pollutants in the pulp mill effluent, then there should be no problem about it making a commitment to have this as a condition of the operation of the pulp mill right now.

If persistent organic pollutants will not be a problem for the environment, then there should be nothing to stop the Tasmanian Government from committing to a monitoring program that is capable of identifying pollution by persistent organic pollutants, and giving an assurance that if pollution by persistent organic pollutants from the mill is identified, mill operations will be stopped until the pollution problem can be fixed.

More information is available here.

(Download 30 KB PDF media release of 26/7/06 here)

| TOP |

Pulp Mill Integrated Impact Statement Does
Not Protect Bass Strait Seals From Pollution

The Gunns Integrated Impact Statement devotes an entire section to the impact of dioxins on the seals at the Tenth Island near the effluent outfall. This section states on more than one occasion that "dioxins are not significantly bioaccumulated or biomagnified by fish or bivalves".

In a review of relevant scientific literature, dioxins and other organochlorines are reported to bioaccumulated in fish and the marine mammals that eat them.

A complete IIS should have this important monitoring program developed to the point where it can be properly assessed. The Tasmanian Government needs to make a clear commitment to protect seals and other marine life from persistent oganochlorines.

More information is available here.

Download the 59 KB PDF file media release of 25/7/06 here.

| TOP |

The Examiner Wins Award for Pulp Mill Reporting

Unfortunately for the Examiner, the award was the Barra presented by the ABC's Media Watch program (broadcast on 7 November 2005).

The Barra is the Campbell Reid Perpetual Trophy for the Brazen Recycling of Other People's Work. It is a special award presented to journalists (if this is the right term) who cut and paste or otherwise copy and use the work of others without giving appropriate credit.

Media Watch points out that the paper promised readers "... a four page special on "the issues" and delivered "... four pages lifted from an advertising feature put together by Gunns and the Tasmanian government to promote the pulp mill and the Gunns website".

Media Watch also noted, "... there were of course other viewpoints on this controversial mill but they didn't get a run, which makes The Examiner's recycling more than simply brazen and lazy".

The Examiner's editor, Dean Southwell, made this statement to Media Watch: "We used some of the information from the advertising feature to give people some extra detail: this is the project, this is how it will work … A lot of it was reasonably factual."

See the Media Watch Award here: http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1499128.htm

Read the full transcript of the story here: http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1332716.htm

| TOP |

Review of the: "Management Plan for the spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) on State Forest and rehabilitated land near the Meander Dam."

It appears that the existing spotted-tailed quoll population will be lost as a result of the dam. The loss of resident breeding females will then impact on the effectiveness of the wildlife corridor as female quolls largely determine male distribution and without females, males are much less likely to use the corridor.

Read the report here.

| TOP |

Leaked Tasmanian Government Cabinet documents on the proposed Meander Dam

Some information on the financial arrangements and final choice of developer.

Click here to download this report as a PDF file.
(Please note it is a 1.5 MB download.)

| TOP |

1080 Report

The TCT has published a report on the Evaluation of non-1080 non-lethal techniques for commercial control of marsupial herbivores.

Click here to download this report as a PDF file.

Please note it is a 4.55 MB download or you can get a hard copy from the TCT office.

| TOP |

Planning in Tasmania

Find out what the TCT thinks about the planning system in Tasmania.

Click here to see a copy of our submission.

| TOP |

Fatal flaws in the proposed Meander Dam
Fact Sheet #1
26 July 2004

There are a number of significant impediments to the proposed Meander Dam proceeding. This fact sheet deals with 2 of these relating to statutory approval and post-construction geomorphological impacts, including siltation and erosion.

Click here for more information.

| TOP |