[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: SA taxpayers' $200K gift to Penola Pulp Mill backers

[Greens]

Media Release
13 June 2007

                         
SA taxpayers' $200K gift to Penola Pulp Mill backers

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called for the creation of a special fund to
pay for research into the impact of the Penola Pulp Mill on groundwater
in the State's South East, funded by the money saved by the development
company not having to pay normal statutory development fees on the $1.5
Billion project.

The call comes as further analysis of the Government's special Penola
Pulp Mill Authorisation Bill shows a taxpayer subsidy of at least
$200,000 and possibly up to $3.75 million. Under the Bill, the basic
approval for the mill is free and Penola Pulp Pty Ltd need only pay for
the assessment of any changes or additional works, not covered by the
legislation.  Even the CFS will be denied its normal fire safety
assessment report fees.  

Normally a developer would have to pay development assessment fees to
either the Development Assessment Commission or Planning SA.  The
minimum fee for a project of this size is more than $200,000 or up to
$3.75 million had the project been declared a "major development"
requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

"Minister McEwen has already saved the company the cost of conducting a
proper EIS, now it appears he's saving them another $200,000 on top of
that. Even a basic fee of $200,000 would pay for some first rate
groundwater and chemical analysis.   This should be made available to
the community to undertake the kind of scientific work an EIS would have
required," said Mark Parnell 

"The developer paid normal assessment fees the first time round for its
earlier application, and an approval was obtained.  Now we have a new,
substantially enlarged and modified project, yet it appears Minister
McEwen has waived the requirement for the company to share the cost of
another round of assessment and approvals. 

"The Government's Bill will therefore shift the cost of assessing the
project away from the company and on to the taxpayer.  

"Meanwhile, community members are forced to cobble together scientific
expertise to present credible evidence to the Select Committee currently
holding hearings on the Mill - evidence that would have normally been
obtained through a properly conducted and peer-reviewed EIS process.
I'm sure they would welcome some extra resources," he said. 

For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


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