Inspection of Shree Minerals mine works discovers devil death traps

Image of Tasmanian devil stuck in a farm bore in NW Tasmania

A visit to the Shree Minerals’ Nelson Bay River proposed mine site in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area has discovered that the mining company has failed to cap at least nine drill holes, creating risks to the resident population of disease free Tasmanian devils.

The holes, drilled on a 45% slope, are sleeved with a 200mm PVC pipe that protrudes between 10-30cm above the ground (as seen in photographs below), have the effect of enticing Tasmanian devils to explore the pipe for denning opportunities. Similar uncapped farm bores have been documented as death traps for Tasmanian devils (photographs also below), with one recently recorded as having yielded 9 carcasses.

“This is a death trap. I can’t believe how reckless and stupid this is. This is precisely why these companies must not be allowed into our conservation areas”, said Tarkine National Coalition’s Campaign Coordinator Scott Jordan.

“This neglect is a serious breach of both the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice and the company’s operating permits. One uncapped hole is an oversight, but nine is evidence of a disregard for the risks to the threatened Tasmanian devil in it’s last disease free stronghold”.

“So much for last week’s rhetoric about the new gentler, more sustainable mining industry”.

“Minister Green must act immediately to suspend Shree’s exploration licenses and conduct a full investigation of the drill holes. It is likely that the conduct of the company is in breach of Threatened Species Protection Act 1995”.

It is also likely that the contractor has worked on other sites and a wider inspection of drill holes will be necessary in multiple locations across Tasmania.

Devil footprints at proposed Nelson Bay River Mine site

Uncapped exploration drilling holes at proposed nelson Bay Mine site

Devils extracted from a farm bore in NW Tasmania

• MINING COMPANY NEGLIGENCE THREATENS DEVILS
Calls For Investigation & Licence Suspension

Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Resources Minister’s to take strong action over Shree Minerals’ apparent failure to comply with the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice, which risks the safety of the threatened Tasmanian devil at its proposed Nelson Bay River iron ore mine.

Greens Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran MP today tabled photographs in the Parliament which appear to show that at least nine exploratory drill holes at the site have not been capped, creating a potential death trap for devils.

“This is an alarming example of how mining is right now threatening the only remaining Tasmanian devil habitat free from the facial tumour disease,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“It is a serious breach of the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice and the company’s operating permits.”

“It’s well known that bore holes can create a death trap for devils looking to find a den, and we have a recent example of devil carcases found in an uncapped farm bore in the Marrawah area.”

“It’s unfathomable how a mining company which is so often heard talking about its concern for biodiversity could overlook such a simple measure to protect a threatened species like the devil.”

“This is the last stronghold of disease-free Tasmanian devils. Failure to cap one hole could be an accident but nine instances is plain negligence.”

Mr O’Halloran said while the Resources Minister Bryan Green’s undertaking to have his office look into it immediately is an important acknowledgement, a full investigation of non-compliance with the permit is needed.

“Mr Green said that the mining industry was doing its best to protect the environment, but here’s the evidence that this is just industry spin.”

“The Minister must immediately suspend Shree Minerals’ exploration licence while an investigation into this matter is carried out.”

“Shree Minerals is clearly not concerned with the environmental values of the Tarkine, nor the grave threats that currently face the Tasmanian devil.”