LEGISLATIVE Councillors criticised for delaying a crucial vote on the Tasmanian forests peace deal say that they have been vindicated after wrapping up the final hearings this week.
After 12 days of collecting evidence, including one sitting in Launceston, the 13-member committee will now prepare a report to be tabled in less than three weeks.
Huon MLC Paul Harriss, who chaired the 13-member committee, said that the process had produced crucial new information that MLCs needed to make their decision on the legislation to enact the agreement.
"From my personal observation of it, you could not but conclude that it has been entirely worthwhile," he said.
"There's been so much evidence from all sides."
While much of the hours and hours of evidence heard trod over old ground frustrating MLCs keen to see the legislation pass, there were some revelations.
On the first day of hearings the state government tabled over 300 pages of detailed information about the size, location and values of 295 lots that would comprise the new reserves.
The information eased the concerns of some MLCs who were pleased the proposed classification of the reserves would only ban logging and not restrict mining and other existing activities.
Threats from the federal government to withdraw $200 million in funding tied to the agreement and Ta Ann Tasmania's claims that it would leave Tasmania unless the deal was approved in December did not eventuate.
"That sort of talk has been so unproductive," Mr Harriss said.
"And it turned out to be plain wrong because none of it has materialised."
The committee is not expected to make any recommendations, but will table a list of findings which are likely to prompt individual MLCs to draft amendments to the bill.