Around 100,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions could be impacted by mining for minerals on the Dorrigo Plateau and in the Wild Cattle Creek area, both within vital water catchments for these residents.
A public meeting on Saturday 31 May 2025 highlighted growing public concern about the escalating threat of antimony and tungsten exploration in the water catchments that feed the Nymboida and Clarence Rivers, which supply drinking water to around 100,000 people. With over 200 people turning up to the public meeting hosted by the Bellingen Environment Centre the Clarence Catchment Alliance (CCA) proudly stood with Gumbaynggirr Traditional Owners, scientists and experts, residents, farmers, and regional environment groups at a packed public meeting in Dorrigo to highlight their concerns.
Lock the gate
‘A strong Q&A session showed clear public resolve: mineral and mining has no place in flood-prone, high rainfall drinking water catchments,’ said a spokesperson for the CCA.
‘Landowners do have the right, and are strongly encouraged, to lock the gate on mining companies and to not engage verbally or in writing with them. These rights, supplied by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), will be explored in more detail during upcoming meetings the CCA are planning across the region in collaboration with local groups.’
No safe levels for toxic metalloid
Concerns have been heightened across the community following the detection of antimony in the Clarence-Coffs drinking water supply in March 2025, prompting a Mayoral Minute from Clarence Valley Council (CVC) and widespread alarm.
Antimony is a toxic metalloid, and there is no safe level for it in drinking water. Long-term exposure can cause damage to the liver, heart, and lungs, likened to arsenic poisoning, and can be carcinogenic.
‘The CCA will meet with the CVC Mayor on 10 June to raise further community concerns and reinforce the urgent need for protection of all local drinking water sources and rivers,’ said the CCA spokesperson.
Key Concerns raised at the meeting include:
TRIGG Minerals has taken on the Exploration licence (EL) formally owned by Anchor Resources and have lodged Exploration Licence Applications (ELAs) in the same area. Antimony is the target. According to TRIGG CEO they have not begun exploration drilling and will consult with community soon. They are in possession of historical core drill samples from the previous company.
Scorpio Resources, United Antimony, and Providence Gold and Minerals also hold ELs on the Dorrigo plateau and could ramp up at any time.
The Clarence Catchment now faces 42 active mineral exploration licences, each threatening rivers, drinking water, ecosystems, farmland, and communities.
MPs and public meetings
The CCA say they are meeting with The Hon Janelle Saffin MP and Richie Williamson MP over the next two weeks to share the concerns raised again, and to reinforce seven years of community campaign efforts prior to the CCA parliamentary visit in August.
They are then preparing a road trip of public meetings that will inform landholders and communities of their rights and protections presented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) with dates to be announced.
‘We’re calling on community members to submit their stakeholder statements to the CCA as evidence of opposition,’ said the CCA spokesperson.
‘We’re also encouraging community members to write to NSW Ministers for Water, Environment, and Resources. Together, we are one strong voice for water, for Country, and for future generations.’
Submit your statement and find the NSW Ministers contacts and letter template at www.clarencecatchmentalliance.com.au.
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