UNDERGROUND

Rosebery feud boils over

Activists bait camera traps in campaign to stop mine.

The Liberal premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein and state resources minister Guy Barnett hit out at activists' latest move to stop the expansion of the Rosebery gold mine.

Activists from the Bob Brown Foundation set camera traps baited with pademelon legs (a wallaby-like mammal) and cat food to obtain video footage of endangered and rare animals on the mine.

The footage was presumably to be used in an advertising campaign protesting the mine's environmental impact.

"It was no surprise to hear that the radical Bob Brown Foundation has since confirmed that the cameras belong to the Foundation," Gutwein and Barnett said in a statement.

"These actions of the BBF are the latest in a series of dangerous or illegal activities from radical protestors as they have, once again, attempted to destroy Tasmanian jobs that have supported the operation of the Rosebery mine for over 80 years."

The Rosebery gold, zinc, copper and lead mine has been operating for more than 85 years but is close to reaching its life without further expansion of the tailings storage facility.

MMG will not be able to grow its mine, which employs around 500 Tasmanians, without expanding the TSF.

The mine has reserves which could see it continue operating for another four decades.

Protest activity is not the only struggle operator MMG is facing at the moment.

Its proposal to expand the TSF is currently before the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for assessment.

However, in early June the Department said it would "suspend" its assessment decision on the environmental plan until July.

 

 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence: Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024

Exclusive research for Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024 shows mining companies are embracing cutting-edge tech

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets