Research into
the minerals exploration that has been underway in the Cangai area since 1917 has
revealed numerous inadequacies across the entire monitoring and compliance
system.
When the exploration company began reporting the
finding of high grade ore, and the possibility of establishing an open-cut mine
atop a mountain adjacent to the Mann River, local residents naturally became
concerned.
A critical assessment of the company's licence
application reinforced those concerns. Nowhere in that document is there any
mention of the Mann River which, at Cangai, is little more than a kilometre
away, and delivers some 70% of the Clarence River's total flow. Instead, in
answer to the question asking what were the nearest waterways that might be
impacted by the works, the proponent nominated Bobward and Smelter Creeks, two
small ephemeral gullies that drain into the Mann.
Also, there is an assertion that only 40 square metres
(5 metres by 8 metres) of bush would be cleared for each of the many drill
sites - clearly an inadequate area for the safe operation of a drill rig,
trucks and associated machinery.
An application to be included in the mandatory
community consultation via the company's “contact us” portal, received no
response whatsoever, forcing us to contact the regulatory authority, requesting
an investigation be carried out.
Investigators from the NSW Resources
Regulator subsequently undertook an on-site inspection, and a month later a
media release informed the public that they had suspended all operations under
the company’s two exploration licences.
The Regulator cited the reasons for the
suspension as, “a lack of sediment and erosion controls; poor management of
drill cuttings/waste materials; clearing and excavation works undertaken
outside of approved limits; the drilling of bore holes without approval; and a
failure to progressively rehabilitate in approved time frames”.
While it is gratifying to read that action
is being taken, we have to ask would any inspection have occurred had members
of the public not reported these breaches? The number of cases like this is evidence that
self-regulation doesn't work; so it seems that, until regulatory authorities
are adequately resourced, vigilance is the key.
- John Edwards
NOTE: The Mann River is major tributary of the Clarence River.
This article was originally published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on January 14, 2019.
