Alex Schaap, director of the EPA has concluded his consideration of whether substantial commencement of the Tasmanian pulp mill project had occurred as required by the Pulp Mill Assessment Act.

He says, “I have considered the evidence presented to me by the company and have obtained additional documentary substantiation of that evidence. I have also taken advice from the office of the Solicitor General.

“I have reached the view that substantial commencement has occurred.  I do not therefore feel obliged to seek an order or declaration from a court on the question. I will continue to regulate the site on the basis that a valid permit exists unless a court determines otherwise.”

Greg L’Estrange, managing director of Gunns welcomed the decision saying his company provided the EPA with a detailed submission in September outlining the nature and scope of activity on the project to date.

L’Estrange says, “We are pleased that the EPA accepted the case we put to it, and has laid to rest any concerns that the permit was not valid.

“More than $239m has been spent by Gunns across four major work streams – regulatory approvals, the commercial and financial framework, social-political interactions, and physical site works – in what is a complex and major infrastructure project for the nation.”

Given the level of interest in the project, Gunns has also advised the EPA that its submission in relation to substantial commencement be made available to the public, and this has also been placed on the EPA and Gunns websites.

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