Matthew Denholm; 16/8/08
The Gunns Tasmanian pulp mill proposal faces a fresh wave of litigation if a new court action succeeds. Environmental groups opposed to the $2 billion mill yesterday revealed they had lodged an action in Tasmania’s Supreme Court to overturn laws protecting the state mill approval permit from legal challenge. A challenge to conditional federal environmental approval for the mill is already under way in the Federal Court, but similar action against the state approvals permit is barred by law. State legislation fast-tracking the permit for the Tamar Valley mill included a Section 11 preventing any person from challenging the legality of the permit in the courts. The permit sets out the conditions under which the mill, to be built on the Tamar River about 35km north of Launceston, is to operate.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24187811-5013404,00.html
Tags: Australia, Environment