Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 28 May 2021
Federal government called to halt controversial Tarkine mine expansion as protests enter day 11.
Bob Brown Foundation has called on the federal Environment Minister to stand with citizens defending takayna / Tarkine and end current works by miner MMG.
“This morning, another group of brave citizens again entered ancient rainforests to do what the Minister for the Environment has failed to do – protect the National and World Heritage values of takayna / Tarkine”, said Bob Brown Foundation Campaigner Scott Jordan.
“Chinese state-owned miner MMG has excavators and trucks carving roads and drill pads into these forests to facilitate geotechnical drilling for their as yet unapproved plan to pump 25 million cubic metres of toxic, acid-producing waste into a massive tailings dam in World Heritage value forests”.
“Minister Ley can stop this now. She can, and should, require the drilling operations to be ceased and referred for EPBC assessment. Choosing not to see the destruction is enabling it.”
Veterinarian Kellie Waltran has locked on to a gate on the site to prevent access and further destruction.
Response – ‘a spokesman for the Minister’, 28 May 2021
- The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is currently assessing a referral for the South Marionoak Tailings Storage Facility (EPBC 2021/8909).
- A referral decision is expected in due course.
Background
- A valid referral was received on the 10th of May 2021, from MMG AUSTRALIA LIMITED, to construct and operate a new tailings storage facility and associated dams, roads, pipeline, pipeline bridge, and water outfall infrastructure 1 km west of the town of Rosebery, in western Tasmania [See EPBC Act referral 2021/8909].
- Statutory timeframe for a decision on the referral is 8 June 2021.
