Mining company faces fresh fury over its iron ore activity

Protesters have returned to Venture Minerals’ Riley iron ore project as those arrested at the nearby site of a mine waste proposal fronted court in Hobart

Protesters at venture Minerals' Riley iron ore project

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AN environmental science student has been arrested at Venture Minerals’ Riley mine site at Tullah as protesters return to the iron ore project to show their opposition to mining in the Tarkine.

Laura Vermeersch was joined by 10 other protesters on Monday morning and shut down the entrance to the mine.

Tasmania Police arrived and arrests were made.

On the same morning in Hobart a group of 19 Bob Brown Foundation protesters appeared in court on trespass charges in relation to an ongoing protests at MMG’s proposed tailings dam site about 8km away.

“Tasmania’s takayna is under a new assault by the mining industry and it’s going to get worse if not halted,” BBF campaign manager Jenny Weber said.

“There is still time to prevent destruction of takayna by mining. It is a World Heritage Area in waiting and when protected will provide an essential role and make a direct positive impact in the climate emergency.”

Venture Minerals has booked its first iron ore shipment for early September out of Burnie.

A bulk carrier vessel has been chartered from an international shipping operator and off-take partner, Prosperity Steel United Singapore will designate a discharge port in China.

Protesters at venture Minerals' Riley iron ore project

“With steady state production now being achieved, the mine will produce sufficient ore for continuous haulage from the Riley Iron Ore Mine to the Port of Burnie,” the company said.

“Once the first shipment is completed, Venture will continue to work on continuous improvement programs for the following months as it ramps up production from one to two shipments per month.”

The fresh protest action at the Venture Minerals site comes as legal action is launched on behalf of Tasmanian conservationists to stop the company being allowed to truck ore at night - a move conservationist say will put Tasmanian devils in greater danger of becoming roadkill.

The Greens have called on federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley to intervene and reject Venture Minerals’ application to vary the EPBC approval for its Riley Creek mine so it can haul ore along 112km of what they say is critical devil habitat.

The Environmental Defenders Office Tasmania launched the action this week and a directions hearing is set down for the Supreme Court on September 21.

Venture Minerals’ original permit only allowed ore to be moved from the mine to Burnie during the day when devils are not moving around as much. But Tasmania’s Environmental Protection Authority recently gave the green light for night-time transport to the North-West port.

The EDO, acting for the Tarkine National Coalition, wants a judicial review of that decision.