Code Green today highlight serious environmental harm caused by Venture Minerals’ exploration in the Tarkine wilderness for their proposed open cut mine. On ground investigations show breaches of the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice and the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.
Code Green has a sample from a fuel spill at the Mt Livingstone mine site verified by a laboratory in Launceston. The hydrocarbon found can cause serious damage to the surrounding aquatic environment, forming a film on the surface of the water and resulting in physical damage and impairing oxygen transfer of organisms.
The statutory processes surrounding exploration overseen by MRT require Venture Minerals to report; ‘Spills of significant quantities of hydrocarbons (i.e. more relevant MRT staff to discuss possible remedial action. than half a 200 liter drum) require notification to the Environment Protection Authority Pollution Control Officer and Mineral Resources Tasmania.’ (Mineral Exploration Code of Practice p.25)
Code Green has notified the Environment Protection Authority and Mineral Resources Tasmania of these breaches; that fuel stored on the exploration area was leaking and is possibly still leaking and; that a substantial fuel spill has occurred on the area around the stored fuel barrels. Code Green are awaiting a response.
‘Code Green are seriously concerned about Bryan Green’s critical non-compliance in relation to the Mineral Exploration Code of Practice, Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act though his ad-hoc approval of Ventures mining lease in the Tarkine’ Code Green spokes person, Jared Irwin said.
The Tarkine is one of the greatest surviving wilderness areas, being the second largest cool temperate rainforest on Earth and a stronghold for the facial tumor disease free Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations. It is considered globally unique and significant due to its ancient Gondwanan relic forests containing vast tracts of old-growth Myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii).
‘The proposed 2-year mine would destroy the area’s world heritage values replacing world-class wilderness with open-cut pits. If they want a fight, they are going the right way about it’ Mr Irwin concluded.
