Member for Clarence
Chris Gulaptis has told an anti-mining group he does not support short-term
mining that risks the environment of our area.
It comes while Castillo
Copper has again requested an extension to the voluntary suspension of its
securities on the Australian Security Exchange.
This is the third time
they have requested an extension following their initial suspension on December
27.
The initial suspension
came after the NSW Resources Regulator suspended two exploration licences near
Cangai, northwest of Grafton.
Resources Regulator
director of compliance operations Matthew Newton said action was taken to
suspend the operations due to a number of serious compliance issues being
identified at a recent inspection.
“The contraventions
related to alleged non-compliance with conditions of both exploration licences,
which were uncovered during an inspection on November 22, 2018,” Mr Newton said.
Castillo’s letter said
their board remained in active engagement with the Regulator as it continued
its inquiries.
Meanwhile,
representatives from the Stop Cangai Mine group and the Gumbaynggirr Nation met
with Nationals MP Mr Gulaptis in Grafton on Monday to voice their concerns
about Castillo Copper’s optimistic reports to shareholders that could lead to a
mine in the Clarence Valley.
“The hype promising jobs
for locals when the exploration licence was first reported in 2017 was
misleading,” Stop Cangai Mine’s Karen von Ahlefeldt said.
“Any mining jobs gained
will be at the loss of jobs in fishing, farming and tourism.
“We need more
inspectors, paid for by exploration licence fees to enforce contractors
compliance. Self-regulation does not work.”
The group told Mr
Gulaptis they were concerned there could be plans to ship tailings from the old
Cangai Mine to China for processing, which would fund the development of an
open-cut cobalt mine, but Mr Gulaptis said an approval to do so would require a
development application to be lodged and at the moment the exploration
activities had been suspended.
“I was glad that their
exploration licence was suspended by the NSW Resources Regulator for breaches
of their licence,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“The whole purpose of
having a Resources Regulator is to ensure mining companies comply with the
terms of their licence and if companies breach their licence conditions then
they should answer for it.”
The group said that both
Greens state candidate Dr Greg Clancy and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers
candidate Steve Cansdell had publicly announced their strong opposition to the
mine.
Castillo
Copper informed the Australian Stock Exchange on 4 February 2019 that it had completed remedial work at the exploration site and awaits notice of NSW Resources Regulator approval to recommence mining exploration at
Cangai.
On 18 February it applied for a third voluntary trading suspension
pending an announcement in respect of the status of its exploration tenements
which Castillo expects to make on Monday, 4 March 2019.
