MEDIA RELEASE
12 July, 2006.

WELD ACTIVISTS REVEAL GOVERNMENT / FORESTRY TASMANIA SILENCE ON FOREST FURNACE PLANS

Weld Valley activists have locked down the Southwood site, in Tasmania's Huon Valley, to highlight a Government and Forestry Tasmania veil of silence surrounding ongoing plans for a wood-fired power station fueled by old-growth forests.

"Our research confirms that a proposal by American company NP Power to operate a wood-fired power station at Southwood in the Huon Valley has been awaiting support from the Federal Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator," said Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Will Mooney.

"Recent on-site work and information from local residents suggests that an announcement on this destructive development is now immanent," Mr Mooney said.

"However, the State Government and Forestry Tasmania have pulled a veil of silence over this issue, evading questions in Parliament and ignoring requests for information. While most mainland states have ruled out burning native forests for power, Tasmanians are being kept in the dark as plans for a polluting forest furnace are pushed ahead," Mr Mooney said.

"Will Energy Minister David Llewelyn take steps to keep Tasmanians, and especially Huon Valley residents, informed of the progress of this controversial development, which is likely to have significant impacts on the local environment?" Mr Mooney asked.

First mooted in 1998, the Southwood forest furnace sparked massive public criticism over plans to incinerate hundreds of thousands of tonnes of old-growth forest to generate dirty power for domestic use and for export over Basslink.

"If a wood-fired power station goes ahead, Tasmanian and Mainland power users will face the very real prospect of contributing to the destruction of old-growth forests every time they boil the kettle or switch on a light," Mr Mooney said.

"We call on State and Federal Governments to comprehensively rule out the use of native forests for energy production," Mr Mooney said.

For Comment and additional information:

Will Mooney

Huon Valley Environment Centre Ph. 6264 1286