With mineral exploration expanding across the Clarence Catchment, landholders and residents are taking action, the Clarence Catchment Alliance said.
This Saturday, July 26, a community roadshow will be launched hosted by Clarence Catchment Alliance and the Environmental Defenders Office. The roadshow will visit Copmanhurst, Grafton, Dorrigo and Drake.
Shae Fleming from the Clarence Catchment Alliance said the roadshow was born directly from what they were hearing on the ground about the Clarence catchment.
The free public events will look at how residents deal with uninvited access requests, property buyout offers, and uncertainty around the 44 exploration licences across the region searching for copper, cobalt, antimony, and gold.
Landholder Stephen Ross, based near Tabulam, shared his experience about under-active mining leases being renewed without proper safeguards.
“When I purchased the adjoining land for conservation purposes in 2010, I naively signed an agreement with the miner who had three mining leases on the land and eight years until they expired,” Mr Ross said.
“Little did I realise the impact of this agreement on me and the land.”
Those same mining leases were renewed by the State Government for another 21 years.
“I have been interviewed by the police, investigated by the mining resource regulator with threats of fines up to $22,000, been locked out of my property and spent over $10,000 in legal costs,” he said.
“The NSW mining act enables the miner and disadvantages the landholder. It is not a fair system.”
Scientific evidence at the roadshow will also be presented, including a case study from Southern Cross University hydro geochemist Professor Scott Johnston whose research into mining legacy impacts in the Macleay River has strong warnings for the Clarence.
“An extensive, seven-year citizen science and university research project in the Macleay River catchment found toxic metalloids associated with historic mining can endure for hundreds of years, long after mining activity has ceased,” Mr Johnston said.
Prompted by community concerns about water quality and past mining-related contamination, the study explored the seasonal behaviour of two carcinogenic metalloids, arsenic and antimony.
“The data indicates it could take 600–1000 years before the river is fully leached of antimony back to pre-mining levels,” he said.
The roadshow is for the community, not for companies, Ms Fleming said.
“We’ve asked mining companies not to attend, this is our space to come together, learn the facts, and stand strong.”
The roadshow will be at Drake Community Hall on Monday, July 28 at 1pm–4pm. There will be speakers, a Q&A and light refreshments.
The community is invited to attend and can register here.
This information was provided by the Clarence Catchment Alliance.