``The mill means investment, jobs and economic development for Tasmania,'' Gunns resource and sustainability manager Calton Frame said.

``It's a $2 billion investment bringing a 2.5 per cent ncrease in gross state product. That's almost $7 billion in additional economic development for Tasmania over the next twenty years.''

The company is due to make an announcement to the ASX soon on the project's progress.

``Modelling conducted by the Allen consulting group shows the project will create 300 direct full time jobs, and 1700 indirect jobs over the life of the project.

``That's 2,000 new jobs for Tasmania. The mill project has a strong environmental position.

``There will be no increases in forest harvesting, the project will divert woodchips that are currently exported from Tasmania to the mill for downstream processing. There will be absolutely no harvesting of old growth forests.

``And there will be no conversion of native forest to plantation or cleared lands this is not allowable under Gunns sustainable forest management and Chain of Custody systems.

``The Mill will be a net exporter of electricity to the national electricity grid. It will reduce Gunns carbon footprint by 1.1 million CO2 equivalent tonnes per annum.''

Mr Frame said the vote says the Tasmanian parliament is right behind the Bell Bay pulp mill. We feel confident that with the Tasmanian Parliament supporting this plantation based project we can move forward to achieve financial close,'' he said.