FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson was pleased to attend the announcement today of a start to work soon at the new Tasmanian bauxite mine, near Campbell Town.
“It was heartening to hear that Australian Bauxite intend to go ahead and develop this significant bauxite deposit near Campbell Town and that the company already has future plans for further operations at Fingal as well as in the Meander Valley,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“This is particularly good news considering the recent retrenchments at the Cornwall Coal Mine, near Fingal.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that Australian Bauxite intended creating 180 new direct and indirect jobs in the state from the new bauxite operations from mining and transport services.
The Bald Hill operation, near Campbell Town, will be Australian Bauxite’s first mine in Tasmania and the first new bauxite mine in Australia for more than 35 years.
“Initially the bauxite from Tasmania will be shipped directly to customers in China – favourable ore prices and more favourable exchange rates have enhanced the attraction to proponents of this investment,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“They say that it is more financially viable at this stage to ship directly to China rather than elsewhere in Australia for further downstream processing.
Mr Hutchinson said that this reinforced the importance of reforming Australia’s coastal regulations which he highlighted in a private members business motion to Federal Parliament three weeks ago.
FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson
