The News Review:
- Timber industry reels from finance withdrawal for pulp mill
- Treetop treat
- Reporter: Lucy Shannon
Timber industry reels from finance withdrawal for pulp mill
abc.net.au – May 30, 2008
FELICITY GILVIE: Gunns has gone to ground. The only comment the company’s offered about the ANZ’s decision to reject the mill is to post a notice on the stock exchange saying it’s looking for finance overseas. The news that Gunns is having trouble financing its $2-billion pulp mill has alarmed the Forest Industries’ Association of Tasmania. Terry Edwards is the chief executive:TERRY EDWARDS: To a large extent the viability of the Tasmanian forest industry could be at risk if this project does not proceed. The reality is we need a reliable destination for arisings from harvesting for saw logs to be used productively to keep the cost of saw logs viable in the market place. If we lose that viability or don’t have a source for those by-products arising for harvesting for high-quality products the industry itself could be at risk and it’s important that people understand that that this is not simply about whether we do or do not have a pulp mill. To a large extent it may well be whether we do or do not have a forestry industry in this state.
Treetop treat
NEWS.com.au – May 30, 2008
Wooden steps – more than 100 of them – are needed to come back up the cliff’s steep side. Most of Tasmania’s best walking tracks are found within its national parks network. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife service manages 17 parks across the state. While access to some is free many have an entry fee. The best buy is either a single day pass although those travelling around will find a two-month pass much better value. Forestry Tasmania also runs a range of areas including the stunning Tahune AirWalk south of Hobart. Just 29km in from Geeveston along a road which winds its way through magnificent tall gums the airwalk has been built near the junction of the Huon and Picton rivers… While access to some is free many have an entry fee. The best buy is either a single day pass although those travelling around will find a two-month pass much better value. Forestry Tasmania also runs a range of areas including the stunning Tahune AirWalk south of Hobart. Just 29km in from Geeveston along a road which winds its way through magnificent tall gums the airwalk has been built near the junction of the Huon and Picton rivers. A gentle walk leads from the visitor centre through the bush before a series of platforms take walkers up into the treetops with information boards along the way giving plenty of information about the tall timber. The final part is like a step into air – a 20m platform which stretches out over the forest and towards the rivers’ junction. It sways in the breeze and is closed in bad weather but it’s worth swallowing the jitters and stepping aboard.
Reporter: Lucy Shannon
abc.net.au – May 30, 2008
A Tasmanian company which represents all he talks about has taken out a top national award on a learning system for schools. The company is leading the way in an industry that is burgeoning but growth in Tasmania still has its challenges. So can the Premier deliver on his promise of a clever state and provide the right environment for technology businesses to thrive in the international market? Lucy Shannon reports. LUCY SHANNN: Behind four walls down a gloomy alley way in inner city Hobart 30 young people hammer away on their keyboards. Every day they’re communicating with China the US the UK and Russia… GEFF ELWD: We ran out of space in Melbourne and thought we could locate this in Singapore and South Australia. We looked at a lot of options. Tasmania put together a fantastic package for us and got us down to the state. The rest is history. We now have more people in Tasmanian than anywhere else on the planet. LUCY SHANNN: This week the company took out the Australian information industry’s award for education and the top prize overall. They will now represent Australia in the Asia Pacific awards.