Save the Tarkine has described today’s decision to approve the Riley Creek Mine in the Tarkine wilderness as a shameful act of politics over process.
The proposed Riley Creek mine is already under appeal in the Tasmanian Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal, where last week Venture Minerals were forced to admit inadequacy of their environmental reports after the company’s expert witnesses agreed with the evidence tendered by Save the Tarkine’s experts around Tasmanian devil impact and erosion and watercourse impacts.
“The Minister has raced to rush this out for a perceived electoral gain, despite the Tribunal hearing last week that the company accepts significant flaws in the reports used to make the assessments, particularly around erosion and the impact on the endangered Tasmanian devil”, said Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.
“The Minister has also failed to follow the guidelines produced by his predecessor requiring a cumulative approach to assessment of roadkill impacts of the three Venture Minerals projects.”
“This is a shameful decision that further compromises the integrity of Tarkine.”
Save the Tarkine is seeking a Statement of Reasons from the Minister.
Scott Jordan, Campaign Coordinator, Save the Tarkine
