Gunns Pulp Mill Proposal

Assessment/Approvals Process
Legislative basis for assessment

Assessment/Approvals Process

A pulp mill development such as that proposed by Gunns would require a number of planning, environmental and other approvals from the Tasmanian and the Australian Governments.

Legislative basis for assessment

Tasmania

On 22 November 2004, the Administrator made an order, which declares the proposal by Gunns Limited to be a project of State significance. The order has been amended and approved by both Houses of Parliament State Policies and Projects (Project of State Significance) Order 2004.

The Premier, the Hon. Paul Lennon, has directed (Ministerial Direction) the Commission to undertake an integrated assessment of the Gunns pulp mill proposal in accordance with the requirements of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993.

Gunns is now required to prepare a draft Integrated Impact Statement (IIS), which will address all environmental, social, economic and community issues.

Federal

In December 2004 Gunns Limited (Gunns) lodged a referral application for consideration by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage, the Hon. Ian Campbell. The Minister determined that the proposed action by Gunns, to construct and operate a bleached kraft pulp mill in northern Tasmania (and associated infrastructure), was a controlled action.

In August 2005 Gunns subsequently wrote to the Department of the Environment and Heritage advising that it was withdrawing its original referral and was electing to make a new referral. On 5 October 2005 the Minister decided that the proposed action by Gunns was a controlled action.

The determination indicates that the controlling provisions (aspects of the environment likely to be impacted) are:

• listed threatened species and communities;
• listed migratory species; and
• activities involving the Commonwealth marine environment.

On 26 October 2005 the Minister further determined that ‘the approach that must be used for assessment of the relevant impacts of the action described in the schedule is assessment by an accredited process.’ The accredited process is an integrated impact assessment under the Tasmanian State Policies and Projects Act 1993. This means that the Commission will undertake the assessment and provide the Minister with an integrated impact assessment report on the impacts of the controlled action. One assessment will be undertaken to meet the statutory requirements of both the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government.