[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Get all mining out of Arkaroola - Greens

[Parnell]

Media Release
12th February 2008


Get all mining out of Arkaroola - Greens


Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called for the Rann Government to ban, once
and for all, all mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

The State Government has announced today they are requiring Marathon
Resources to suspend all current drilling operations, after thousands of
plastic bags full of exploration waste were discovered in shallow pits.

"Marathon Resources has shown they are incapable of exploring this
unique part of Australia without causing significant damage," he said.  

"We need to draw a line in the sand.  Some parts of our state are just
too precious to mine - Mt Gee is clearly one of those. 

"It's time for this madness to stop - not just the exploration, but all
mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary," Mr Parnell said.

Mark Parnell has a bill currently before Parliament, the National Parks
and Wildlife (Mining in Sanctuaries) Amendment Bill, which will ban all
exploration and mining activity in declared SA nature Sanctuaries. 

"It's not just Arkaroola, there are 90 other declared Sanctuaries that
could also be open to mining. These unique and special areas of
wilderness protection total less than 0.1% of South Australia.

"If we can't protect less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the state from
mining, then what hope is there for the preservation of biodiversity in
this state?

"I urge the Government and all other members to support my Bill, and
once and for all rule out mining in our precious wilderness reserves,"
he said.

 

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


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