The Federal Environment Department has finally agreed to release a key report on the Gunns' pulp mill, as long as Gunns does not appeal within the next 30 days.

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne has been seeking the public release of the report, Preliminary Hydrodynamic Modelling of the Bell Bay Outfall, by the CSIRO's Dr Michael Herzfeld, since she became aware of it some months ago. After two unsuccessful attempts to have it released through Freedom of Information processes, Senator Milne's most recent appeal may finally be successful.

Senator Milne said "The Government has finally agreed that it is in the public interest to release this report, but it is still giving Gunns the opportunity to override that public interest to protect its own corporate interest.

"I understand that the Herzfeld report will show that the proposed Gunns pulp mill cannot meet its effluent targets in the mixing zone. If that is so, then Gunns will need to spend at least $50 million on tertiary treatment for its waste streams.

"This is information that must be in the public domain, and any potential funders that Gunns is talking to around the world have a right to be fully informed.

"I would certainly hope that Gunns will stop blocking public access to key information about their proposed pulp mill.

"Gunns has made fools of the Tasmanian and Federal Governments, as they both bent over backwards to suit their every request. It is good to see that the Federal Government may be starting to stand up for itself, but it is clearly still a long way from standing up straight."

Contact: Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

The letter from the Department is attached below.

Attachment	Date	Size
Herzfeld rpt FOI Statement of Reasons (Final).pdf	03/07/09 10:24 am	3.5 MB