Murchison mill ‘forest threat’

Press, 14 August 1976, Page 10

Murchison mill ‘forest threat’

The establishment of a giant timber-pulping mill at Murchison could threaten native forests throughout the whole of the northern half of the South Island, the Native Forest Action Council believes. The council’s chairman (Miss G. Davis) said that a report in “The Press” had suggested that a small or medium-sized mill had been ruled out. Each of the possible sites mentioned in the report — near Westport, Motueka, and Murchison — were next to a major river capable of disposing of more than 4000 metres of polluted water from a pulp mill each second, she said.

“Sites capable of supplying and disposing of massive quantities of water were considered by the consultants, but these sites have apparently been rejected, even though they are closer to the major forest resources.” “We are forced to conclude that a small to medium-sized concept has been ruled out in favour of a really big pulp and paper complex. “We fear for our beech forests if this is true.” “Once a gaint pulping complex is established, there will be no security for native forests anywhere in the entire northern half of the South Island,” Miss Davis said.