Extension for pulp mill submissions

Press, 21 June 1980, Page 11

Extension for pulp mill submissions

Wellington reporter The period in which to make submissions to the environmental impact report on the C.S.R.-Baigent pulp mill proposal for the Nelson region has been extended by the Commissioner for the Environment (Mr K. Piddington). Submissions will now close on June 30 insteac of June 14. The extension has been made to allow the public a chance to consider a letter the commissioner has received from C.S.R.-Baigent discussing possible afforestation plans associated with the consortium’s proposed pulp mill in Eves Valley. The original environmental impact report did not consider large-scale afforestation as part of the consortium’s plans.

■ The Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young) announced on May 20 that the Government had given the consortium approval in principle to buy up to 2000 ha of land for a period of 30 years. This prompted the commissioner to ask the consortium how it proposed to link. its afforestation plans to the impact report. The consortium wrote to the commissioner on June 16 outlining its approach to further afforestation in Nelson. Mr Piddington said this correspondence would be made public. Thirty submissions have been received on the project. A number have emphasised the need for more information on the consortium’s forestry proposals.