From the Office of NSW Labor MLA for Lismore Janelle Saffin, media release, 8 October 2021:
‘Gold, silver, copper & cobalt diggers’ be gone
STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin is calling for a blanket ban on mineral mining in the Northern Rivers region to protect water catchments which feed into the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed river systems.
Ms Saffin wants the NSW Government to agree to a moratorium on mineral mining, revoking all licences for exploration or active mining, and financially compensating affected companies like it did with Shenua’s open-cut coal mine near Gunnedah.
Ms Saffin says she stands with thousands of local residents campaigning against a wave of ‘gold, silver copper and cobalt diggers’ who have our pristine back country firmly in their sights.
As Federal Member for Page from 2007 to 2013, Ms Saffin worked with local communities to repel the Coal Seam Gas industry from the region because of the threat to our water resources, and continues to support the activism of the Knitting Nannas.
And before this, as Labor’s candidate for Page, she helped torpedo Federal Coalition plans to dam and divert the mighty Clarence River inland.
“I’m proud of my track record of protecting our most precious resource – water – and our traditional industries like farming, fishing and tourism which help to sustain the economic prosperity of our local communities,” Ms Saffin said.
“’The Nationals in Government’ appear to be prepared to ignore the groundswell of anti-mining sentiment in their electorates to appease mining companies who will come and plunder for quick profits then potentially leave an environmental mess behind for future generations.”
With Parliament resuming next week, and despite COVID-19 issues expecting to dominate, Ms Saffin will speak on the fundamental need to protect our water during a debate scheduled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 14 October.
This debate was triggered after Ms Saffin on 9 June submitted a community petition with the Lower House, calling for a moratorium on future mineral mining, both exploratory or active, in the Clarence Catchment and surrounding Local Government Areas.
The petition was collected by the Clarence Catchment Alliance and has been signed by almost 11,000 mainly local residents of the Clarence Valley and Northern Rivers.
“I have met with Alliance representatives and agree that the risks of tailings dam failure from mineral mining, which is quite different from normal quarry operations, are too high, particularly in our high rainfall and floodprone region,” Ms Saffin said.
“I see where five councils – Kyogle, Coffs Harbour City, Bellingen Shire, Glen Innes-Severn Shire and Byron Shire -- have shown solidarity with Clarence Valley Council’s resolution seeking a mining moratorium in the Clarence Valley and which former Deputy Premier John Barilaro effectively ignored.”
For more information on the Clarence Catchment Alliance and the community petition go to https://linktr.ee/Nominesclarencevalley
