Title: Lennon asks for speedy assesment
Orginal link: http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21373791-3462,00.html
Author: SUE NEALES
Published date:March 13, 2007 02:12pm
TASMANIAN Premier Paul Lennon has asked the state"s planning body to consider speeding up its assessment of the controversial $1.4 billion pulp mill proposed for the Tamar estuary.[/b]

Mr Lennon told State Parliament this morning that he had met with Christopher Wright, the new head of the Resource Planning and Development Commission’s pulp mill panel, in late February to discuss the proposed assessment timetable.

His meeting followed strident concerns conveyed to the Premier by Gunns Limited, the timber company backing the pulp mill, that it may not continue with the project unless a final decision was made before June 30.

Mr Wright, who only took up his appointment in February following the resignation of previous pulp mill panel chair, Julian Green, had earlier indicated no decision was possible before late November at the earliest.

Mr Lennon told parliament he agreed this timetable was too slow for a project that had already been several years in the pipeline.

He said he had asked Mr Wright to give Gunns "more certainty’’ in the process and "`whether or not it would be possible for the RPDC panel to shorten the timetable.’’

Tasmania Greens leader Peg Putt accused Mr Lennon of resorting to act as a mere"go-between’’, after Mr Wright had earlier been adamant he would not meet Mr Gay personally.

"I"m astonished (the Premier) should come in here and outline his efforts to lean on the RPDC," Ms Putt said.

The Gunns pulp mill at Long reach, north of Launceston, is the largest single investment project ever proposed for Tasmania.