Lake Gairdner mining project could be SA’s biggest mine, but explorer Rudy Gomez says the State Government isn’t acting fast enough

PLEAS to grant exploration rights for a project that could be bigger than Olympic Dam have been “completely ignored” by the State Government — which says the deal is very “complex”.

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PLEAS to grant exploration rights for a project which could be bigger than Olympic Dam were “completely ignored” by the State Government, the $100 million man who discovered the state’s second largest copper deposit says.

Self-funded minerals explorer Rudy Gomez, 82, who discovered the Carrapateena copper deposit which is being developed into a $916 million mine by OZ Minerals, says he has “done everything necessary” to get permission to drill at his Lake Gairdner project in the Far North.

Mr Gomez said he had an agreement with the relevant native title holders, the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation, and the project could be under way “within days” if it was approved.

But despite what he said was a promise from Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher to make a decision “with all convenient speed”, approval was not granted before the government went into caretaker mode for the state election.

Mineral Resources Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis said approvals of this sort were complex, and took time to do properly.

Investor and explorer Rudy Gomez is waiting for the go-ahead to drill at his Lake Gairdner mine, but the Government has gone into caretaker mode.

“The Labor State Government has been the most supportive of the mineral resources sector of any in South Australia’s history,’’ Mr Koutsantonis said.

“I have met with Mr Gomez on numerous occasions regarding this. Because of the sensitive nature of the Lake Gairdner area, the approvals are far more complex than a simple sign-off as Mr Gomez suggests.

“The project also requires the approval of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation following consultation with stakeholder groups. This process will be ongoing after the state election should Labor be successful on Saturday.

“The State Government recently approved exploration at Lake Torrens through this process, which must be allowed to be completed in full to ensure all stakeholders’ views are considered.”

Mr Gomez insisted that everything needing to be done to gain approvals for the exploration phase had been completed.

“I have done everything in my power to get the permissions of every person or government department involved but I’ve hit a wall because the government is not listening,’’ Mr Gomez said.

“I wrote to the Premier and ministers Tom Koutsantonis and Kyam Maher pleading for them to make a decision on exploration before the government went into caretaker mode but they completely ignored me.

Oz Minerals’ copper mine at Carrapateena.

“This project could be under way within days to secure the future of Whyalla, supply substantial cash flows for the government and give thousands of people a job.’’

Mr Gomez said if copper was found at the site, it could be processed at a new facility at Whyalla into copper wire and tubing, allowing SA to value add before exporting it.

He has bought a purpose-built drilling truck designed to be able to drill on the salt lake.

Mr Gomez said the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation was granted native title over Lake Gairdner by the Federal Court in 2012.

“I have all the environmental clearances so why won’t the government clear the way so we can get on with the job. Hopefully the next government will act,” he said.

GRAC chairman Elliot McNamara said in a statement it was disappointing exploration had not yet been approved.

“Exploration on Lake Gairdner will bring significant benefits to the Gawler Ranges People, including much needed funding required for us to manage native title issues and provide for cultural activities in the area,” Mr McNamara said.

Mr Gomez discovered the Carrapateena deposit, 160km north of Port Augusta, in 2005 with the help of a State Government Plan For Accelerating Exploration grant, his own superannuation money and money contributed by friends.

Mr Gomez struck a lode of copper that was so rich it drew the attention of mining companies from across the globe.

It was bought by OZ for $250 million, with Mr Gomez understood to have reaped more than $100 million personally. That project is expected to start producing copper and gold late next year.