"disbelief that the project will only deliver benefits"
It won't but neither does fishing, farming and tourism

"the inappropriate world scale of the mill on our small island"
It fits doesn't it?

"anger about the refusal of labour and liberal politicians to act on legitimate community concerns"
Vote for the Greens, you know thats not going to happen.

"anger about the massive conversion of farmland to tree plantations supported by taxpayer subsidies (rural dwellers see this every day)"
Aren't the farms bought and paid for? Think of the carbon being taken out of the atmosphere, its a win-win

"cash flow losses by rural communities as tree plantations replace active farms"
Somebody has to work at the mill and plant the trees.

"job loss risks in fishing, farming and tourism that are ignored"
Job gains at the mill and in the plantations.

"acquired ownership of thousands of square kilometres of prime farm land aided by tax subsidies given to Managed Investment Schemes (MIS);"
Must be more money in trees and paper.

"will be the ONLY customer for Tasmanian plantation trees so will be able to control the price for timber."
This is so regardless of the pulp mill.

Alzo's facile riposts do a sloppy slalom around rock solid paragraphs such as:

"The economic case for the mill was carried out on a computer model that government economists showed was not able to calculate impacts on other industries such as tourism, fishing and agriculture (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations EEU minute (PDF 110KB) of June 22, 2007). The false conclusion reached by the state government was that therefore there were no adverse economic impacts."

Always examine your assumptions, Alzo, otherwise, you're just another "Alzo-ran"

This monster pulp mill proposal is such a kill joy.

I met a lady tonight who could get a job anywhere patching up our bits after accidents. She like me goes far enough back to even be related so the inevitable question was would either return to live somewhere on the island again. Neither can recommend it under the circumstances. May the tourists win?

What should be obvious to everybody now, this thing won’t run on its merits with out a lot of support from the whole community including us renegades on the mainland. When something like this gets up its time to lift the carpets and examine the floorboards for wood worm.

At risk of a rush; I noticed in a super furniture catalogue yesterday a decent set of solid furniture, “Made in Australia” from ash!

Tradition has returned but be quick with this kind of long range investment as the paper in the catalogue is the problem. Tradition has me still seeking myrtle, blackwood, sassafras whatever and the odd pot of leatherwood regardless of the premium

I remember in the late 70s/early80s sailing in the Aust champs. 16 foot skiff class on Botany bay.
Starting from a beach where there was no living creature or plant. When walking the boat clouds of pulp waste clouded the water with every step. This was caused by the outfall from APPM manufacturing carton material for the packaging industry.
Instal this mill at your peril Tassie, dead water will be the result.
fluff4

"I remember in the late 70s/early80s"
maybe things have improved in 30 years... ;)

"The economic case for the mill was carried out on a computer model that government economists showed was not able to calculate impacts on other industries such as tourism, fishing and agriculture"
There are plenty of adverse impacts from tourism, fishing and agriculture, I wonder if they were examined before being allowed to proceed.

One impact I think we can be sure about, this modern mill once built will struggle to produce 300 jobs for local people.