Rainforest Action Network

By Nic Price

FORMER pulp mill panellist Warwick Raverty has slammed suggestions that the pulp mill assessment process could be adequately completed within six months.

Last week, Gunns boss John Gay called for a decision within six months, otherwise he would look at taking the mill offshore.

He said he believed Gunns had sufficiently met requirements and ongoing delays would escalate costs, threatening the viability of the mill.

On Friday, Premier Paul Lennon backed Mr Gay's demand and said he hoped to have a "world-class" environmentally sound mill approved around the end of the financial year.

But Dr Raverty rubbished the calls.

"Only a man with inadequate knowledge of what his company is contemplating would make such a ridiculous demand," he said.

"My 25 years experience in the pulp and paper industry tells me that decisions on million tonne kraft pulp mills proposed for location in what is a manifestly sensitive site cannot be made in that timeframe."

Dr Raverty also disputed that his recent comments on odour, particulates and effluent legally damaged the Resource Planning and Development Commission process.

He said all of his comments were about matters on the public record and publicly available on the RPDC Web site.

Mr Lennon previously indicated that the process may be legally damaged and would not rule out removing the project from the process and putting to a parliamentary vote.

Dr Raverty said the RPDC review process was the best he had seen in Australia and called for it to be allowed to run its course.

He said all delays in the process were caused by Gunns not providing timely and adequate information and the actions of the Government's Pulp Mill Task Force.

Gunns will present its supplementary information to the RPDC panel, chaired by interim commissioner Simon Cooper, by January 31.

The RPDC advertised for a new commissioner in the State's newspapers during the weekend. An appointment is expected around March.