PRESS RELEASE

Veneer Mill Threat to Lower Weld Valley

17 January 2006

Huon Valley Environment Centre fear that a new veneer mill planned for the region will lead to increased destruction of old growth and high conservation value forests.

The new veneer mill development, planned for the Southwood site near Judbury, is in close proximity to old growth and high conservation value forests in the Weld Valley. These forests have been the site of a recent community blockade and the subject of a long running campaign for protection.

Old growth and high conservation forests in the Weld Valley may become feedstock for the new veneer mill, despite a promise from Paul Lennon and Forestry Tasmania that only regrowth and plantation logs will be used.

Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Jenny Weber suggested, "the mill development could mean new roads and large scale clearfelling in sensitive forest areas adjacent to the Tasmanian World Heritage Area."

"Paul Lennon has made a promise that only plantation and regrowth timber will be used to process the veneer. Can he make a real committment that the old growth and high conservation value forests of the Weld Valley will not become feedstock for this mill?" Ms Weber asked.

Activists camped at a tree sit village in the Weld Valley forests, just minutes from the proposed development site, fear that the veneer mill will be used to justify further destruction of World Heritage nominated forests.

"Value adding of timber products is desirable, but it should not be used to legitimise the further industrial exploitation of Tasmania's unique forest areas," Ms Weber said.

Comment: Jenny Weber

0427 366 929