Gunns spokesman Matt Horan said yesterday that the company had a schedule for the 70-hectare site of clearing one hectare a day.

"We still have 10 to 15 hectares to clear - we've had to stop work a few times because of the weather but work will continue on the site for at least another two weeks," Mr Horan said.

The company was satisfied that it was covered for the work by the necessary permits but welcomed Government attempts to clarify the situation, Mr Horan said.

Planning Minister David Llewellyn surprised opposition and community environment groups earlier this week with news that he would be presenting the Pulp Mill Assessment (Clarification) Bill 2009 for debate in Parliament today to establish an expiry date for the pulp mill permit.

He said that the State Government had not been caught out over Land Use Planning permits for the pulp mill site, which lapsed at the end of August.

But environmental groups claimed yesterday that the amendment was being rushed through Parliament in this session's last days to prevent the project from being challenged in court.

Tasmanian Wilderness Society spokesman Paul Oosting said that the amendment bill was a continuation of the special deals done by the State Government for Gunns for the pulp mill project.

"It's inappropriate behaviour by the Government and makes a real farce of Gunns pulling out of the independent assessment process almost two years ago," Mr Oosting said.

Tamar Valley-based Pulp the Mill group spokeswoman Lucy Landon-Lane said that the group would make sure that potential pulp mill financiers knew about the legislation change being rushed through.

Timber Communities Australia Tasmanian manager Barry Chipman said that he wasn't aware that the land use permits on the pulp mill site had lapsed but welcomed the Government's attempts to clear up the uncertainty.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said that his party would not oppose the amendment bill when it was introduced.