THE CSIRO has raised concerns in a report about effluent streaming into the Bass Strait from the proposed Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania.
The report, from the body’s Dr Mike Herzfeld, suggests that there would be a possibility of high concentrations of effluent being carried significant distances from the $2.2b mill.
The study numerically modelled water movements and found that effluent dispersion would be in breach of the state’s permits conditions on a daily basis.
The document was released by the company on 29 January, following months of refusing Freedom of Information requests from Australian Greens senator Christine Milne.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has approved the construction of the mill, on the condition that it meets three outstanding marine impact requirements.
The company says it is working towards meeting hydrodynamic modelling requirements to ensure that the mill will operate within the effluent trigger levels approved by Garret.
Senator Milne says the timber producer should not be claiming it will meet the guidelines, because it has not yet done the hydrodynamic modelling required.
She says the area of the Bass Strait near the mill’s proposed site is shallow and does not flush for a large part of the year.
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