Gunns answers water supply critics
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Timber company Gunns says Launceston's water supply will not be affected by the pulp mill planned for the Tamar Valley.
Company spokesman, Calton Frame, says Gunns has purchased a water allocation from Hydro Tasmania which supplies the Trevallyn power station.
The Wilderness Society has begun a three-day tour of areas in the north which it says will be affected by the pulp mill, including Launceston's Cataract Gorge.
Mr Frame has told ABC Local Radio the water for the mill will not affect the Launceston attraction.
"Well it's simply not the case," Mr Frame said.
"There'll be no impact at all on the flows through Cataract Gorge or for Launceston's water supply as a result of the pulp mill."
The Wilderness Society's walk starts today at Gravelly Beach north of Launceston and will end on Sunday at a vineyard.
The Society's Vica Bayley says they have asked Gunns for more information about where it will source the timber for the mill.
"We don't believe the whole claims that this pulp mill can be 100 per cent plantation based," Mr Bayley said.
"Indeed Forestry Tasmania don't actually have enough plantation wood to supply the full amount in the wood supply agreement."
Mr Frame, has reiterated the company's view that it has sufficient plantation timber to feed the mill.
"One of the positive parts of the long assessment and exhaustive assessment process for this mill over the last four to five years has been our trees have grown quite a bit and we have planted alot of additional plantations during that period," he said.
"We are now in a position where within around five years of operation this mill can be supplied by 100 per cent plantation wood."
