Save the Tarkine has described the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council’s proposed changes to the environmental assessment process as self-serving and disingenuous.
The TMEC presented three examples of supposed unacceptable delays, in Shree Minerals’ Nelson Bay River, Venture Minerals’ Riley Creek and Grange Resources tailings dam assessments.
However in the case of Shree Minerals and Venture Minerals the assessments were delayed by the proponents failing to provide adequate information to allow for proper assessment requiring requests for supplementary information, and in the case of all three, the proponents seeking amendments to the permit conditions issued. This included an appeal instigated by Grange Resources under the watch of Mr Bould as manager.
“This is a self serving plan that attempts to further reduce the capacity for proper public scrutiny of projects that impact on public land and resources”, said Save the Tarkine’s Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.
“This industry already operates with unacceptable protection from public scrutiny, including a legislative ban on public objections to mining leases”.
“The idea that we should compartmentalise environment assessments ignores the fact that ecosystems are interconnected complex systems. Effects in one part of the system influence those connected systems and for that reason the best way to conduct environmental assessments will always be as a whole”.
Scott Jordan, Campaign Coordinator, Save the Tarkine
