Gunns has said it aims to start slashing work at the sites before the end of the month, following its start of slashing at the pulp mill site at Bell Bay on Monday.

Environmental Protection Authority director Warren Jones said Gunns had proposed, in the coming months, to undertake preparatory works.

They were:

•Slashing and mulching of understorey vegetation on the pulp mill site.

•Slashing of understorey vegetation and removal of trees from a two-kilometre stretch of the water pipeline route south of Hillwood (Likemans Hill)

•Slashing of understorey vegetation and removal of trees from a section of the water pipeline corridor on land within, but excised from, the Trevallyn Reserve and the establishment of a gravel base for a balance tank.

•Slashing of vegetation on the site of the workers accommodation facility at George Town.

Mr Jones said Gunns had satisfied all permit requirements to start the pulp mill site works.

It has started clearing a hectare a day of the 70-hectare pulp mill site footprint.

Mr Jones said a number of pre-requisites had not been satisfied for the the final three work plans.

"Although, Gunns has submitted documentation in relation to those which are currently being assessed," Mr Jones said.

A Gunns spokesman said the company would comply with all requirements and would not start work until it had secured all necessary permits.

But Greens pulp mill spokesman Kim Booth said it was misleading of the company to claim it was "all systems go" for major work to begin.

"This is a bit like John Gay mowing his lawn and claiming it's a start on the pulp mill," Mr Booth said.

"What is clear is that Gunns have no permission to start major works and the slashing of scrub at the mill site is a pathetic attempt to convince people that something is actually happening with regard to the project."

Gunns would yesterday not comment on its attempts to secure a commitment from its preferred joint venture partner for the $2.2 billion project.