Leader makes efforts to save valuable gold mine closed because of Indigenous history
NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns has intervened to support a mining project that was halted by federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Less than two weeks after Tanya Plibersek halted a $1 billion (US$674 million) gold mine project, NSW Premier Chris Minns has pledged to expedite alternate plans to ensure its completion.
Mining company Regis Resources had plans to operate a gold mine at the McPhillamys Gold Project site near Blayney in NSW before Plibersek invoked section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
This Act allows Indigenous individuals or their representatives to halt development projects. In this case, Indigenous groups objected to using part of the Belubula River for a tailings dam due to its historical and cultural significance.
Tailings dams are typically used for storing mining by-products in earth-filled embankment dams.
The project had previously received approvals at both state and federal levels, with an estimated creation of 1,000 jobs.
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Plibersek’s action on Aug. 16 under section 10 left Regis Resources apprehensive about the project’s future.
CEO Jim Beyer expressed concerns that alternative plans could face delays and approval uncertainties.
In response, Premier Minns assured Regis Resources that any additional approvals would be expedited.
“It’s not only about this particular mine, we require significant investments from mining companies for critical minerals across NSW,” Minns stated in an interview on Sydney radio 2GB on Aug. 27.
“There are vast resources in NSW, potentially valued at billions, essential for renewable energy, and offering tens of thousands of job opportunities.”
Minns emphasized that any new approved plan would be processed promptly.
“We are in talks with the mine proponent and have specified that we do not want them to start over from scratch, reflecting back to 2019,” he mentioned.
Minns confirmed that the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council, representing Indigenous leaders in the area, raised no objections to the mine.
The Premier of NSW belongs to the right faction of the Labor Party, while Plibersek is aligned with the left wing.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserted that only the tailings dam had been approved and, like Minns, expressed support for the mine to proceed.
