Coffs Council asked to support ban on mining in Clarence River catchment

Region-wide “no-go zone” touted in effort to protect the Coffs/Clarence water supply.

Coffs Harbour City Council is being asked to form a united front with its northern neighbours over concerns mining in the Clarence River catchment puts our water supply at risk.

Mayor Denise Knight has put forward a motion before this Thursday’s council meeting to support Clarence Valley Council in opposition to mining in the Clarence River catchment, despite sounding far from resolute on the matter.

A vast majority of the more than 125,000 people in both council areas rely on water from the Clarence River catchment for drinking via the Shannon Creek dam. 

Ms Knight would not confirm where she stood on the issue and said she was putting the motion forward as had been requested by Clarence Valley Council Mayor Jim Simmons.

“I am just doing them a solid,” she said.

“It is important to listen to the debate and hear what councillors think and feel.”

In his letter to Ms Knight, Mr Simmons outlined his council’s position which is to seek a moratorium on mining and mining exploration. Clarence Valley Council area also asking the state government deem the catchment a “no-go zone” for minerals mining due its “unique natural and cultural values”.

“(This is being done) on behalf of the community who are concerned that mining will not only have detrimental environmental effects but also puts at risk our drinking water for the Clarence and Coffs Harbour Council area,” Mr Simmons said.

Two exploration licence applications submitted by Christopher Wilson Investments for mining in the Coffs/Clarence region.

With the price of precious metals running hot in recent years, exploration licenses have been sought across the region which was once known for its mining. 

In September 2020, Christopher Wilson Investments lodged a series of applications with the state government for exploration across 391 square kilometres of land which included parts of Coffs Harbour and Grafton council areas. 

The licence in Coffs Harbour covers an area of 198 square kilometres and cuts across the Orara River in between Coramba and Nana Glen.

The increase in licence applications, along with a series of more advanced projects, also prompted local conservation groups to step up efforts to prevent mining in the Clarence catchment.

North Coast Environment Council president Jim Morrison warned that state and local governments needed to be “proactive” in identifying areas of high conservation value that should be off limits to mining.

The Clarence Catchment Alliance presented NSW Legislative Council Member the Hon Catherine Cusack with a petition.

Mr Morrison added that governments shouldn’t be letting mining companies spend millions of dollars before telling them an area is off limits. 

In May, the Clarence Catchment Alliance handed NSW Legislative Council Member Catherine Cusack a petition containing more than 10,000 signatures from residents opposed to mining in the regions.

One of the region’s most notable mining exploration projects at the former Cangai copper mine has been beset by controversy in recent years, with operators hit with a suspension order and trading halt in 2018.

Total Minerals Pty. Ltd. and Total Iron Pty. Ltd. – subsidiaries of Castillo Copper – halted operations after the NSW Environmental Protection Authority found a number of alleged non-compliance issues at the site. 

That led to the companies forking out more than $90,000 as part of an enforceable undertaking, $55,000 of which went to the Clarence Valley district of the NSW Rural Fire Service.