[Greens-Media] Water Minister breaks water licence embargo for dangerous gold mine operation

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
19 August 2008
 
Following a visit to the site of the Broula King Gold Mine, near Cowra,
Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Water
Minister Nathan Rees to cancel the licence recently granted to this mine
and to recommit to the statewide embargo on groundwater licences in the
Murray-Darling Basin.
 
Speaking at the mine site Ms Rhiannon said "By granting a new water
licence to the Broula King Gold Mine Mr Rees has broken his commitment
to protect ground water in the Murray Darling Basin. 
 
"The Minister must show some backbone and order his Department to
revoke the licence granted to Broula King Gold Mine. 
 
"He should stand by his July 2 commitment to protect the Murray-Darling
Basin by banning any further groundwater entitlements.
 
"If Mr Rees does not revoke this licence the Broula mine will be
entitled to extract 362,000 litres of water every day. That works out at
4 litres every second for the 2.2 years the mine operates. 
 
"Granting this water licence gives the go ahead to a dangerous gold
mine operation that will rob the region of water and result in the
permanent siting of a toxic cyanide tailings pond in the catchment of
the Murray River. 
 
"Weddin Shire Council made a serious mistake when they granted approval
for this mine. 
 
"When I visited the mine site with a number of local farmers and other
concerned locals we observed areas where illegal clearing has been
undertaken. 
 
"The Travelling Stock Route that adjoins the goldmine site on its
northern boundary has been cleared. 
 
"This clearing is a serious breach of the consent conditions for the
Broula King Mine operations, as the Environmental Impact Statement found
that the Travelling Stock Route contains the Endangered Ecological
Community – Grassy White Box Woodland.
 
"The EIS shows that the Travelling Stock Route is to remain separate
from the access road and the whole mine development. Now that this
condition has been breached Weddin Shire Council should move quickly to
stop the damaging activities of the mine operator, Resource Base
Limited," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au