Venture Minerals’ Riley mine fight on again as Save the Tarkine calls on Minister Greg Hunt to intervene

ACTIVISTS are again trying to stop work on Venture Minerals Riley Project near Tullah, calling on Environment Minister Greg Hunt to intervene.

Save the Tarkine’s Scott Jordan says the Venture Minerals mine is “wanton vandalism”. Pic

ACTIVISTS are again trying to stop work on Venture Minerals Riley Project near Tullah, calling on Environment Minister Greg Hunt to intervene as site clearing progresses.

Save the Tarkine, which delayed work starting on the site for five months by mounting an appeal against the project’s Federal approval, today urged Mr Hunt to suspend Venture’s environmental permits saying there was no guarantee the miner would develop the pit after the clearing works were complete.

Venture started work on stage one of the project on Wednesday.

The company said it would decide whether to progress to the next stage of development when it shored up its iron ore customer base and assessed the broader economic outlook.

Save the Tarkine’s Scott Jordan said it was a travesty that Venture was allowed to destroy the environment before it formally committed to the mine proceeding.

“This is wanton vandalism. This is destroying for no purpose,” Mr Jordan said.

“The iron ore price is falling and analysts are predicting further falls over the next six months.

“If Venture cannot make decisions in the current financial climate then the Minister must act to suspend the environmental permits.”

Mr Jordan claimed the site works were more about saving Venture’s share price not preparing to mine.

Venture has been contacted for comment.