Mining catastrophe
It is immensely concerning that the member for Cowper, Mr Luke Hartsuyker, has publicly stated that the 60 jobs that will potentially be created through the establishment of an antimony mine at Wild Cattle Creek by Anchor Resources and its owner, China Shandong Jinshunda, will be a good thing for our regional economy.
This is because the tourism industry down the Clarence River (rafting, fishing and swimming), the southern-most cane growing lands in Australia and the nationally renowned and highly valuable prawn fishery at the mouth of the Clarence River will all be heavily impacted should this mine proceed.
These major industries underpin the economy of our region.
Furthermore, our three-year-old regional water supply, in which Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley Councils have invested approximately $200 million, faces a great risk because of the toxic antimony, arsenic and mercury known to exist within the ore body that China Shandong Jinshunda seeks to mine.
On March 31, 2009, approximately 900mm of rainfall fell on the mine site.
There is nothing that can be done to capture all run-off in such extreme rainfall events.
It is inevitable that the Clarence River will be polluted should this mine proceed.
At a meeting yesterday at Coffs Harbour City Council chambers, the managing director of Anchor Resources, Mr Ian Price, stated that the lifespan of the mine will be measured in years, not decades.
Please explain your reasoning for supporting this mine on economic grounds, Mr Hartsuyker?
Councillor Mark Graham
Source: Letters, The Coffs Coast Advocate, 24/9/11
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