Blayney locals condemn Plibersek for pulling plug on $1bn gold mine

Tanya Plibersek’s decision to block a gold mine has come under fire from Indigenous leaders who claim the minister has been hoodwinked by groups “hijacking” the issue for their own agenda.

In the tiny NSW town of Blayney locals agree on one thing - Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek must be dreaming to think killing their gold mine is a good idea.

“If this doesn’t go ahead, the town is absolutely screwed, there’s no ifs or buts about it,” Tattersalls Hotel owner Tom Issa said.

He and the 3000 strong community were stunned when Ms Plibersek invoked the rarely used section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection (ATSHIP) Act to halt the McPhillamys gold project on cultural grounds.

“Everyone who is talking about it at the pub is absolutely gobsmacked,” Mr Issa said. “If everyone knew what was going to happen at the eleventh hour they would have taken different approaches to investing.”

Pub owner Tom Issa said if the plan doesn’t go ahead, Blayney is “screwed”. Picture: Graham Schumann,

Mining giant Regis went through five years of planning and approvals to get the entire project signed off before Ms Plibersek stepped in at the eleventh hour to block it, and has so far refused to release the advice which guided her decision.

Yesterday Ms Plibersek doubled down saying she made that determination because “the Wiradjuri traditional owners have told me the area is significant to them”.

Blayney locals were shocked Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek invoked section 10 of the ATSHIP to halt the project. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Let’s be very clear here, I have said that the goldmine can go ahead but that the company needs to find a new site for the tailings dam,” she said.

Regis Resources chief executive Jim Beyer said previously considered options for a tailings dam during the five year approval process “are not currently viable” and there are no alternatives.

“Without this approved tailings storage facility, the Project in its current form is not viable,” he said.

Local mayor Scott Ferguson said if that meant the mine did not go ahead it would cost the town at least $33 million in lost rates over its lifetime.

“There is no doubt that without any future money from any mine, it will be very, very, difficult in the future to provide the services and infrastructure for the community,” he said.

For Josh and Gabby Nixon the loss of the mine means lost opportunities for their three businesses and a dying population.

“It’s frustrating, we want to be able to provide our children a nice future,” Ms Nixon said. “We want our children to inherit a thriving community to grow up in. It’s upsetting that this is going to impact not only us and our business, but also our children.”

Lifelong Blayney local Cooper Miskell, 17, said he and many of his friends were staying in town because they wanted a career in mining.

B;layney local Cooper Miskell 17, hoped to start a career in mining. Picture Graham Schumann

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to get a job that is local,” he said. “I know a lot of people from the local footy team who actually were quite interested in working in the mine.”

Miner Billy Cramp, 25, warned those young people would leave Blayney “if there is nothing to stick around for.”

Builder Thomas Cook bought a house in town believing the mine made it a sure-fire investment.

“People are disheartened. When it got the go ahead the first time, there was excitement, there were people in the streets. People are just in shock now,” he said.

“Disappointed” Premier Chris Minns has said he is “hopeful” that the mine will proceed and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also said he wants the $1bn gold mine to “go ahead”.

“Chris Minns would like it to go ahead, I’d like it to go ahead too, there’s nothing to stop it,” Mr Albanese said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the mine had not been opposed. “What has happened is a decision based upon a tailing dam and there are other options that the company put forward on the tailing dam.”

Mine worker Billy Cramp says young people are now likely going to leave Blayney. Picture: Graham Schumann

However the chief executive of the NSW Minerals Council Stephen Galilee said Mr Albanese’s comments show a “lack of understanding” of the technical approval process.

“If the Prime Minister actually believes the mine can go ahead he should just reverse his own Minister’s decision to block it,” he said.

“Even if another mine layout was possible, it would likely take at least five years or more for design and assessment, with the risk of another spurious last minute veto from his Minister.”

And the basis of Ms Plibersek’s decision has also come under fire from Indigenous leaders who say the Local Aboriginal Land Council did not oppose the mine and warned against groups “hijacking” the issue for their own agenda.

Proud Wiradyuri man and former chair of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Roy Ah-See said he had never heard of artist Nyree Reynolds or the 18 members of the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation who also spoke against it.

, Community members from Blayney who are upset that the Federal Government has stopped a gold mine from going ahead in the area. Picture: Graham Schumann

“I know a lot of local people and I have never heard of any of them,” Mr Ah-See said. “I think the minister has been hoodwinked.”

“This is a concern for industry and corporations as well as Aboriginal Land Councils because we have a system and the minister ignoring it throws the whole thing into doubt.”

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine said: “The Minister is black shopping - looking for the people who say what she wants to hear.

“Why didn’t she listen to the voice of the people from the area?” he asked. “It is an insult to the Aboriginal Land Council.

“If she thinks putting the kybosh on this gold mine is a good idea then she is dreaming.”

Originally published as Blayney locals condemn Plibersek for pulling plug on $1bn gold mine