Letter to the Editor: No-go zone for mining in our catchments

DEAR News Of The Area,

Residents and ratepayers in the Bellingen Shire, Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour LGAs should be worried and informed.

Antimony and other metals are being explored for mining on the Dorrigo Plateau again.

It is time to take a stand for nature, common sense and science by declaring Dorrigo Plateau and water catchments a no-go zone for mining.

The concept of regional no-go zones for mining in areas of significant heritage, biodiversity and high rainfall was recently supported by Dr Ken Henry, to protect nature so that it can continue to provide the ecosystem services (clean air, water and soil) that sustain all life.

Several years ago, some clever and diligent scientists from the University of New England tracked antimony and other dangerous heavy metals from the old Hillgrove mine near Armidale all the way to the east coast, near Kempsey.

They showed that these trace metals can bind with soil particles and travel vast distances through streams and rivers to the sea.

Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour councils have water supplies downstream from the old mine site on the Plateau.

Several environmental principles apply to ecologically sustainable development (ESD).

Principles such as: The precautionary principle; intergenerational equity; and placing value on protecting our biodiversity and ecosystems.

Now on this very important issue, these principals must be applied and any proposed mining refused.

Historically the original mine was never adequately remediated, nor was the reprocessing site at Urunga until recently at a significant cost to the NSW Government.

Yours sincerely,
Jillian CRANNY,
Dorrigo.