gunns accused of misleading asx

From http://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/has-gunns-misled-the-asx

The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Media Release
7 January 2009
Major blockages to pulp mill construction remain despite Garretts partial approval

Claims by Gunns Ltd that all approvals for construction of the controversial Tasmanian pulp mill have been granted could be misleading to both the public, the ASX and shareholders, the Wilderness Society said today.

There are in fact significant hurdles the pulp mill still needs to clear before construction on all parts of the mill can begin. This refers most importantly to major pieces of infrastructure whose fate lies in the hands of local landowners and councils, said Paul Oosting, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.

Peter Garrett said in a media statement on Monday 5 January Gunns will still need to obtain necessary clearances from local authorities and land owners.

We are calling on Gunns and the ASX to make a clear public statement to clarify this issue, he continued.

The Wilderness Society has also written to the ASX to gain clarification.

The Wilderness Society believes that there remains five major blockages stopping Gunns pulp mill pipeline and hence the project itself proceeding. These are:

* Gunns still need to obtain necessary clearances from local authorities and land-owners for a pipeline;
* The Solicitor General has advised that Gunns has to negotiate with Councils and private landowners to gain access for the pipeline; compulsory acquisition is not an option and the State Government has ruled out assisting with land acquisition.
* The West Tamar Council denied access across council land for construction of the pulp mill water pipeline;
* The refusal by several Tamar Valley landowners to allow Gunns to build the pulp mill pipelines across their land;
* Launceston City Council own land Gunns want the pipeline to cross and are formally opposed to the pulp mill proposal.