Budget Funds Feasibility Study

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the $100, 000 provided in the State Budget to conduct a feasibility study into their long proposed regional Mining Remediation and Innovation Centre of Excellence.

Greens Mining spokesperson and Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran MP said that the Greens believe this initiative is ideally suited to being located in Queenstown, to leverage its iconic mining heritage as well as support its transition into a modern mining sector.

“The Greens have long campaigned for a dedicated world-class Mine Remediation and Innovation Centre for Excellence to be based at Queenstown, and this proposal took a significant step towards becoming reality with today’s announced $100, 000 feasibility study,” MR O’Halloran said.

“Currently there are 14 mines operating in Tasmania, and 397 nationally, as well as numerous abandoned and disused sites.”

“Some mine sites have been discontinued as it is considered uneconomic to pursue the remaining mineral seams. However, we believe that developments in innovative technologies may allow for improved recovery of these already disturbed sites, both in Tasmania and nationally.”

“This will be the next boom area for the mining sector, and the Greens want Tasmania to be well-positioned to spearhead technological advances and innovation in improved recovery rates, as well as remediation and rehabilitation skills and expertise.”

“Tasmania can and should be in a position to not just export our mineral ore, but to also export our mining technology, and remediation expertise.”

“That is the Greens’ vision for this proposed Centre of Excellence. It has the potential to attract specialists, technicians, students from around the globe to work and study at a world-class centre, and to then export those skills and expertise to the public and private sectors.”

“This would also revitalise the township of Queenstown and be an investment in making more robust the local economies of the West Coast region,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Reference: See State Budget 2013-14 papers, Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2, pg 11.3
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Mining spokesperson Friday, 24 May 2013