Pulp oversupply - while farms are sacrificed to plantations

Max Bound 2007

In the words of the researcher Toby Rowallen as pasted on “Tasmanian Times” - “This increase is approximately five times the world’s projected consumption estimates, which can only mean that there will be a substantial over-supply and a drop in price per tonne of pulp. Many mills will be forced to cut production and for many others, this can mean unviability, and even bankruptcy, unless rescued by massive subsidies. Gunns cannot avoid this situation and will make substantial losses. There will be no benefits for Tasmania.”

Meanwhile governments are subsidising tree plantations to take over farms. Water scientists and practical farmers alike have recognised that for the first thirty years or so tree plantations suck up ground water and in many situations “can create ‘green deserts’ because they are so water intensive.” (Sharon Beder ”Green” Autumn 2007)

The "Hobart Mercury" 29/8/07 carries a full page ad by Bob Loone, the Deputy Mayor of the Meander Valley Council, a rich farming area in Northern Tasmania. Loone demonstrates how Federal Government policies and subsidies for tree plantations have opened the way for Managed Investment Scheme (MIS) corporations to take over our farm lands.

Quoting ABS figures, Loone writes “In 1997 when the plantations vision was launched there were 4,552 farms in Tasmania. From 1997 to May 2007 it is reported with that up to 1,000 farms (about 22%) have already gone to MIS corporations” He goes on to question whether it is “responsible economic management to offer 100% tax free “investments” to forestry that costs taxpayers around $600 million per year in lost revenue.” Loone makes the point that “forestry reduces the economic activity generated from land by at least 85% to over 100% if production losses caused to nearby properties is considered...”

On the pulp mill issue Loone writes “The proposed pulp mill will be a heavy burden on the state These burdens on our shallow soils, forests, roads, economy, health, agricultural and tourism industries, the loss of many clean sustainable satisfying jobs … will far out way any benefit it will bring to its powerful promoters.”

In a criticism of Tasmanian Government approaches Loone writes “It makes absolutely no sense to build expensive dams and pump and pipe water long distances when highly productive farms with access to irrigation, even set up with water storage and pivot irrigators, are being destroyed and turned into MIS forestry plantations”

Loone makes an appeal for people intervention “... We need to encourage our representatives not to be intimidated. We need leaders who refuse to put industrial forestry above the economy and welfare of other industries and our communities.”

Involving people in developing and campaigning for positive alternatives to the neo liberal stupidities instanced above is a requirement for a human future.