Pressure on Tanya Plibersek to face locals over $1bn gold mine axing
Pressure is mounting on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to front up to locals at The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit and explain why she vetoed a $1bn gold mine south of Orange.
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A proposed gold mine in Blayney vetoed by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek could be given a lifeline from the state government, with Premier Chris Minns declaring his government is “working with the operator” to find a solution.
Speaking for the first time on the issue since Ms Plibersek blocked the McPhillamys mine over Indigenous heritage concerns, Mr Minns said he was “disappointed” that the mine had been torpedoed.
“Gold and critical minerals in New South Wales are very important for the state’s economic growth for opportunities,” he said.
Mr Minns said his government has been working with the operators since the commonwealth government blocked the mine, in an attempt to find a new location for the mine’s waste.
“I’m hopeful that we can talk to the operator of that mine and see whether we can get it up and running with a different tailing,” he said.
“We haven’t had a breakthrough there, but it’s critical for the state’s economic growth and opportunity.”
The operator, Regis Resources, could look to find a new tailing station for its waste. However, that process could take years.
Last week, CEO Jim Beyer was pessimistic on finding another location for the mine’s waste, saying it could take up to 10 years to find an alternative.
“We now have nothing else as a viable alternative that’s anywhere near being able to be considered to be appropriate. It will take us many years of work,” he told Sky News.
“We don’t have a clear option. We only have all we have is time, frankly, then and we’re going to need lots of it,” Mr Beyer said.
Locals, senior politicians and industry have united to demand Ms Plibersek front up to The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit and explain why she vetoed a $1bn gold mine in Blayney, south of Orange.
Ms Plibersek on Sunday night rebuffed the demands, ironically insisting that she could not attend because she had already carved out time in her diary for another commitment with the Telegraph.
The Telegraph contacted Ms Plibersek on Sunday night to cancel an interview which had been slated for Thursday, reinviting her to appear at the Bush Summit to tell Orange locals why she used Indigenous heritage laws to block the McPhillamys gold mine proposal at Blayney, just 35km south.
Orange Mayor Jason Hamling said Ms Plibersek should attend the Bush Summit to explain her decision.
“There has been a bit of widespread commentary about it – I think her or a representative should come along and answer a few questions,” he said, adding that he “definitely” thought the project should have gone ahead.
“There’s a lot of industry in the area that would have benefited.”
NSW Resources Minister Courtney Houssos said jobs in the Central West were “crucial” to communities there.
“It’s important for the state and federal governments to work together to find ways to get these projects off the ground,” she said.
NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said the community was right to demand answers following Ms Plibersek’s decision that would cost “more than 800 jobs”.
“People are shocked that this would happen now. To go from being moments away from final approval to the project being dead in the water is being perceived by the community as completely unfair,” he said.
“The community deserves answers and Tanya Plibersek should absolutely front up.”
NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said Ms Plibersek’s decision put about “20 per cent of the region’s economy” at risk.
“Minister Plibersek should be in Orange this week explaining why she chose to ignore local communities, the local Aboriginal Land Council, and the NSW government and unilaterally blocked a gold mine and 800 local jobs,” he said.
Ms Plibersek was first invited to the Bush Summit on July 17. The invitation was followed up on August 5, with her office later asking what involvement Ms Plibersek would have in the major summit.
Separately, she had agreed to make time for the Telegraph’s National Affairs Editor James Morrow in Sydney on Thursday. However, the Telegraph has now told Ms Plibersek that the interview in Sydney is off and reinvited her to Orange on Thursday.
Ms Plibersek’s office said she had other engagements in Sydney which prevented her from travelling to Orange.
“The Minister attended two major National Bush Summit events last week,” a spokeswoman said.
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