Mining company Terramin says Bird in Hand proposal would create jobs and growth, but does not address community opposition

Terramin Australia has released a detailed study into its planned Bird in Hand gold mine that says it will create hundreds of jobs – but doesn’t address the significant backlash in the Adelaide Hills.

Jim Franklin-McEvoy on his bushfire-damaged Woodside property. He says the proposed Terramin mine cannot operate safely in the Adelaide Hills.

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The developers of the proposed Bird in Hand Gold mine – planned for a plot of land next to the winery of the same name – say it will create 140 jobs directly and $221 million in gross state product.

But the newly released feasibility study into the mining project makes no mention of the considerable community opposition to the project.

Owner Terramin Australia says only that it “was encouraged by the support from local businesses and community members seeking employment’’.

The company said it had “conducted extensive public consultations both on its own and through the formal government approval processes’’ as part of its mining lease application, which is still pending.

But Inverbrackie Creek Catchment Group chairman Jim Franklin-McEvoy said the vast majority of these were opposed to the project, with concerns about the possible impact on the water table the most pressing issue.

Concerned primary producers have raised concerns about the planned mine’s impact on the water table over recent years.

“The reality is that it’s almost certainly going to have some impact on our water access, quality et cetera,’’ he said.

“There’s no one I run into on a regular basis who thinks it’s a good idea. There might be people who think that it’s got some positives but the risks are pretty great.’’

Mr Franklin-McEvoy said Terramin was involved in two disputes about land access with neighbouring landholders, in addition to the ongoing stoush over Bird in Hand Winery’s proposed $30 million redevelopment.

Terramin took the wine company to court, arguing that the planned restaurant, art gallery and gardens don’t fit the “desired character” of the Adelaide Hills.

That case has been heard, with a judgment expected soon, Bird in Hand Winery communications executive Chiara Marling told The Advertiser.

Bird in Hand Winery's Chiara Marling says the Terramin report does not reflect community concerns.

Ms Marling said the Terramin release to the share market was “absolutely not representative of community sentiment’’.

“The Adelaide Hills community clearly expressed overwhelming opposition to this project through the government submissions process,’’ she said.

“Terramin’s community consultation would have reflected this, were it anywhere near as extensive as they claim.

“If anything, the events of the past six months have reinforced this area’s importance to the local tourism economy and to wider South Australia.’’

In its submission regarding the mining lease application Accolade Wines, one of the world’s largest wine companies and owner of the neighbouring Petaluma winery, said “there is an unacceptable risk that the proposed mining operations will impact groundwater availability’’.

The feasibility study for the project envisages a mine operating for four years, generating revenues of $428 million and pre-tax earnings of $238 million. In addition to the 140 direct jobs it would create another 160 through increased economic activity.

The mine would cost $54 million to build, and the company said it would need to secure about $60 million in funding to get it going.

An aerial view of the proposed Bird in Hand gold mine site.

Terramin said it “is confident ... that it will be able to secure funding on competitive terms’’.

The company submitted a mining lease application in June last year and in February the State Government asked for further information be provided. Terramin said it expected the mining lease application “to be determined shortly’’.

The company declined to comment beyond what was included in the release to the ASX.

Terramin was forced to apologise to Bird in Hand late last year after correspondence from its lawyers Botten Levinson showed they were serving documents on people associated with the winery “largely just to piss the whole family off”.