*Pic: ABC pic of Shree’s exploration rig …
Save the Tarkine has welcomed Chief Justice Blow’s decision in it’s Supreme Court case against the Director of the Environment Protection Authority Mr Alex Schaap.
Save the Tarkine was successful in gaining an order requiring the Director to furnish a Statement of Reasons for the decision to issue an amendment to the permit conditions governing the Shree Minerals’ Nelson Bay River mine last November.
The Statement of Reasons must now be furnished by 2 July 2014.
“We are pleased that the Court has upheld our right to receive a Statement of Reasons, following the unlawful refusal to provide this document by Mr Schaap”, said Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.
“By refusing to grant this document when requested last November, Mr Schaap allowed the Shree Minerals Nelson Bay River mine project to proceed for seven months without the opportunity for review or possible challenge to the permit amendments – permit amendments that allowed for 20 times as much acid producing waste as was originally assessed”.
“That increased volume of acid producing waste rock is now sitting on the side of the mine, approximately 100 metres from the Nelson Bay River, in a manner that the original EPA assessment described as not safe or suitable, on a mine site that very likely will not recommence mining operations or rehabilitation activity”.
“Save the Tarkine will now await the Statement of Reasons, and then prudently assess whether our concerns with the permit amendment have been addressed before deciding on whether to pursue further challenge”.
Costs were awarded to Save the Tarkine.
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