Greg Hall MLC
Dear Greg,
Chris and I have been meaning to ring you regarding the pulp mill. Time is running out and so here we are resorting to sending emails via a website ! Oh dear.
We realise that you have to represent every group who has voted you in to speak on their behalf, but don't forget us. There are thousands of people who really are afraid of this mill and what it might mean for Tassie. We are not being listened to by either party. Democracy seems to be dying in this state at present.
Most of our friends live either in Meander Valley area or Tamar Valley. We know of NO ONE (without a vested interest) who wants this mill. In fact some people feel so strongly that they are prepared to put themselves in front of bulldozers if need be, if the mill goes ahead. Several of them are well into their 80s so it will not be a pretty sight. Frustration and impotence makes normal law-abiding citizens do desperate things when democracy fails.
We are most concerned regarding health issues. The Tamar Valley has problems enough already with its air pollution. The AMA can't be ignored on this issue. It is simply not worth the risk of compounding this. Profits for company and shareholders and a few extra long term jobs will mean nothing to people who can't breathe properly. Clean air, clean water, clean food are all essential for life itself. There is nothing more important than our health and wellbeing. Sick people won't care about jobs. They can't work anyway.
Also Tassie's clean green image is too precious to risk losing. ONE small mistake. One small spill of toxins or odour escape could do incredible long term damage. Reports of such would keep tourists away for years! Look how long people have stayed away from the east coast since the bushfires. Businesses are still not back to normal after nearly nine months, because people perceived that the fires did more damage than they did. We can't afford to risk losing our pristine image - not for anything ! Along with that would go all the good, well-established, sustainable, labour-intensive industries we have across the north. In fact it would probably affect the WHOLE state.
The other problem is the loss of our good farmland to trees to feed this industry. Gerald Badcock's place and Lawrence Young's at Stockers, Meander, both could have taken up Meander Dam water rites if they'd been bought for farmland. Prime farmland, now sadly both in plantation trees. What a waste of good farmland. With eventually the loss of whole farming communities and the consequences of this. As this increases statewide, small communities will disappear all over our state. is anyone looking into this?
What is so special about this mill that is worth all these risks? Short term jobs ? Not many long term jobs. And so much to lose. Disaster if it goes wrong. We just can't understand the logic.
Can we ask you what motivates you to be supporting it? We've read everything including your comments re the overseas trip. None of it seems enough for this enormous risky decision being pushed onto a pretty unhappy population.
Love to hear your comments.
We urge you to think again.
Cheers, Heather and Chris Donaldson,
