Lapsed Mine Leases ‘Reclaimed for Nature’

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 19 May 2023

Bob Brown Foundation reclaims lapsed takayna mine leases for nature\

Bob Brown Foundation has walked on to lapsed mine leases formerly held by Venture Minerals at Mount Livingstone and Riley Creek in takayna / Tarkine, to reclaim these areas for nature and the species that rely on these areas.

The Livingstone lease lapsed in June 2022, and the Riley Creek lease expired in December 2022. Venture Minerals has continued to claim possession of these leases in announcements to shareholders and is being investigated after Bob Brown Foundation lodged a complaint with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission regarding misleading and deceptive conduct in Venture’s claims to shareholders regarding these leases.

“Venture Minerals has no lease for these areas, they are two months from bankruptcy, and their current capital raising is in crisis having failed to receive enough subscriptions. For years, this company has been propped up by repeated share floats and a river of federal government subsidies and state government grants. This farce has to end. Venture Minerals has no place in takayna / Tarkine,” said Bob Brown Foundation takayna / Tarkine Campaigner Scott Jordan.

“takayna / Tarkine is an area of national and World Heritage value. It is home to over 60 threatened and endangered species like the Tasmanian devil, masked owl and the mighty wWedge-tailed eand is Aboriginal land.”

“This is not the playground for vandals and shysters like Venture Minerals. It must be protected as a national park, a World Heritage Area and returned to Aboriginal ownership.”

“Symbolically we are reclaiming these sites. Government should act to make it real.”

A short standoff occurred as Venture personnel attempted to deny access to protestors. Police attended the site and Venture personnel exited the site, with police leaving protestors to continue their lawful and peaceful activity.

Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Resources, 18 May 2023

Unearthing Tassie’s minerals for the future

The Rockliff Liberal Government is stimulating mining investment through the latest round of successful Tasmanian Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI) projects.

Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said 12 drilling projects are now set to share in more than $766,000 in funding.

“Our Government is backing the mining industry to grow, and backing exploration may help us discover Tassie’s next new mine” Mr Ellis said.

“These newly approved projects will deliver nearly six kilometres of exploration drilling and more than $2.1 million spent by industry.

“As our number one economic earner, the mining and mineral processing sector contributes more than $3 billion a year in exports and supports more than 5,200 jobs.”

The EDGI program provides up to $70,000 for direct drilling costs and $20,000 for helicopter support, if required, for successful applicants wanting to undertake mineral exploration.

Mr Ellis said this was the first round of grants to specifically encourage exploration for critical minerals for defence manufacturing and clean energy such as tungsten, cobalt and rare earths.

“In recent years, our country has shifted focus to find local sources of the minerals needed for battery and defence manufacturing,” Minister Ellis said.

“Tasmania is supporting industry by developing our own critical minerals strategy and this is an important first step.

“We are a small state but we punch above our weight in some critical minerals categories – at least four of these 12 projects have strong critical minerals potential.

“It is fitting that a state whose history is proudly based on renewable energy is now helping to uncover the minerals that will help the rest of the world follow in our footsteps.”

*The list of successful applicants under Round 8 of the Mining Exploration Grant Initiative follows.

Further information on the Mining Exploration Grant Initiative is available on the MRT website.

All successful applicants are targeting Category 1 (metallic) minerals