Sons of Bavaria Investments puts plans for northern NSW mining venture on hold as community teams up with SCU
An international company seeking to capitalise on the growing need for electric car batteries believes northern NSW could be key. But it has backed down from mining plans – for now.
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A multinational company seeking to capitalise on the growing need for electric car batteries has backflipped on plans to mine on the North Coast.
Germany’s Sons of Bavaria Investments instigated the Ewingar Project to explore for significant amounts of copper, zinc, gold and silver in the region at Bulldog Mountain.
Ewingar in the Clarence Valley LGA is about 93 kilometres east of Tenterfield and 120km west of Woodburn.
The company was applying to the German and the NSW governments for funding, searching for processing plants at Tenterfield, inquiring about land and mentioned plans to send tailings – leftovers from mined ore processing – via rail to sites.
Sons of Bavaria Investments chief executive officer Hans-Werner Kummerow previously told this publication he represented a “responsible mining operation”.
“We have been granted a exploratory licence according to Australian law, but in addition we put great emphasis with (having) a social licence,” he said.
Mr Kummerow indicated the business would be properly registered with agencies and would meet all legal obligations – but it was also critical to gain the trust and confidence of the local community.
Residents, part of the Clarence Catchment Alliance (CCA), have been opposed for several years and have a run a campaign titled No Mines Clarence Valley.
The group said it met with lease holders, local, state and federal leaders and stakeholders to make it clear there was no social license for the mine and it was not welcomed.
Together with Southern Cross University, the CCA carried out a land use survey that showed 70 per cent of residents opposed mining in the area.
More than 1000 responses were obtained on community perspectives regarding several industries operating or seeking to develop in the Clarence Valley.
Project lead Dr Hanabeth Luke said “97 per cent of people said healthy rivers and waterways were absolutely critical for them, followed closely by water security and maintaining habitats and biodiversity”.
“There is clearly such a strong connection for people in this region to the Clarence River,” she said.
“There is a broad diversity of industries through the Clarence Catchment that rely on that river system, from farming to fisheries.”
Pause to mining
Mr Kummerow recently told the group the German company was committed to responding to the 2023 survey and its findings.
“I am convinced that the study has been carried out according to sound academic standards and has led to representative results,” he said.
“Therefore, I shall respect the findings and will pause my activities at Ewingar until a shift in the public perception of my mineral extractive activities occurs.
“Until that happens, I shall once more assure you that I will not apply for a quarrying or processing license within the Clarence Catchment if there should be any danger to the quality of the water supply.”
Ewingar resident Susanne Hopfner said residents from Tabulam and Drake also remained firmly opposed to the mining project as they still struggle with the aftermath of bushfires in 2019.
“Opposition persists, even with assurances from the CEO that the mining methods would cause no environmental damage.,” Ms Hopfner said.
“The community has only one road, inadequate for heavy traffic, and the prospect of hundreds of trucks using this route, including a school bus run, is strongly opposed by residents.”
Shae Fleming, CCA Co-ordinator, said the decision by the company marked a win, but there was more to be done with more than 40 exploratory leases held across the Clarence catchment, potentially impacting he Clarence, Nymboida and Mann Rivers.
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Originally published as Sons of Bavaria Investments puts plans for northern NSW mining venture on hold as community teams up with SCU
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