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This paper examines how effectively marine issues have been assessed in the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill policy process. The levels of dioxins in the effluent, their long term effects on marine life, and the ‘backwash’ of effluent back into the coastal regions and the Tamar River, are some marine issues that have become a source of contention amongst marine/fisheries lobbyists and pulp mill supporters. These issues were assessed in various degrees through the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC), Pulp Mill Assessment Act (PMAA) and Commonwealth Pulp Mill Review (under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act) processes since 2003. This paper analyses the Tasmanian and Commonwealth government’s policy approaches to deal with the impact of the pulp mill on the marine ecosystem. It is argued that after the RPDC process was abandoned, the marine issues have not been a priority for the Tasmanian government. While the Commonwealth is currently reviewing the pulp mill’s impact on the marine ecosystem, it is limited to assessing the impacts under the EPBC Act. The Commonwealth review has so far not prevented the pulp mill from being built.

Item Type:	Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	marine environment, Tasmania, pulp mill, oceans policy
Research Division:	Human Society
Research Group:	Policy and administration
Research Field:	Public policy
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Coastal and estuarine systems and management
Objective Field:	Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems
UTAS Author:	Vince, JZ (Associate Professor Joanna Vince)
ID Code:	61184
Year Published:	2009
Deposited By:	Government
Deposited On:	2010-03-01
Last Modified:	2012-03-30
Downloads:	476 View Download Statistics