Former Tweed Shire Council mayor, Councillor Katie Milne, is seeking support from other councillors to object ‘in the strongest terms to the Exploration (Minerals) Licence Application ELA 6115 in the Tweed Shire’ at this afternoons extraordinary meeting.
The extraordinary meeting (Thursday, 15 October) will look at the minerals licence application to search for metallic minerals including gold, silver and copper as reported in Echonetdaily.
‘This mining application of 118 km2 encompasses vast areas of the Tweed Coast and hinterland areas, including Cobaki, Bilambil, Bilambil Heights, Terranora, Bungalora, Duguigan, Tumbulgum, Duroby, Tumbulgum, Murwillumbah, Condong, Kielvale, Fernvale, Dunbible, Stokers Siding, Dum Dum, and Uki,’ says Cr Milne in the background notes supplied to council.
Concerns relating to the applications potential impacts on the environment, drinking water, local agriculture and biodiversity have been raised by Cr Milne.
‘These areas include densely populated and rural areas and include the town drinking water catchments of the Clarrie Hall Dam and the Bray Park Weir, the Tweed River, the State Significant Coastal Lake of Terranora Broadwater, and important sugar cane growing areas that are highly vulnerable to any impacts on land availability due to production viability of the sugar mill,’ explains Cr Milne in the notes.
‘Tweed Shire recognised as one of Australia’s 8 National Iconic Landscapes and an internationally significant environment with the highest biodiversity in NSW but the highest number of threatened species in Australia.
‘Tourism is an important economy for the Tweed and any impact of these values through such mining activities would be highly detrimental to its tourism reputation.
‘There has been vehement opposition from the Tweed Community to mining activities in the past in regards to Coal seam Gas Mining and Commercial Water Extraction with these activities now prohibited in the Tweed Shire.
‘This mining application is highly inappropriate for such a sensitive and significant location as the Tweed Shire.’
The Department of Regional NSW (Resource Operations, Mining, Exploration & Geoscience) determines Exploration Licence Applications.
Cr Milne recommends that ‘the Mayor writes to the Minister Planning Industry and Environment, the local State members Geoff Provest and Janelle Saffin, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the proponent’ to object.
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