Meetings for Mining Act Review
Jan 17, 2017
Grain Producers SA is seeking producer feedback on the impacts of mining on their property, community and the industry as a whole through a series of consultation meetings, starting later this month.
Last year, the State Government announced the Leading Practice Mining Acts Review of the Mines and Works Inspection Act 1920, the Mining Act 1971 and the Opal Mining Act 1995 with the view to introducing a bill to Parliament in 2017.
The meetings will feature speakers from GPSA and the Department for State Development – the agency undertaking the review. They are scheduled for:
- Tuesday, January 31, at Wudinna Community Club, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Tuesday, January 31, at Cummins Bowling Club, 2.30-4.30pm
- Thursday, February 2, at Maitland’s Central Yorke Football Club, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Friday, February 3, at Murray Bridge Golf Club, 10.30am-12.30pm
Chairman Wade Dabinett said the review was one of the biggest opportunities in the grain industry’s history to be able to influence and respond to a review of South Australia’s Mining Acts.
"The impacts of mining and mining exploration on agricultural land is significant. Any grain grower who has mining activity on their land would attest to the fact it can be a stressful and emotional issue," he said.
"While your property may not directly be under a lease right now, there is potential that it may be subject to one in future which is why we would like to see as many growers as possible to be involved in the review.
"This is a crucial issue for the industry’s future and we encourage growers to get onto the government’s Your Say website and get involved – if not for yourself, then for other growers who are struggling against mining claims at present."
Warramboo farmers Leon and Gina Veitch, who are currently experiencing the impacts of a mining exploration lease on their property, encouraged as many growers as possible to get along to the GPSA meetings to be informed and know what they could face.
The Veitchs say any South Australian farmer could be in the position they are currently in.
"We have had small scale exploration over the years but nothing can prepare you for when that exploration could jeopardise both your business and your lifestyle," Leon said.
"Our once clear, long-term farm business goals have now been reduced to only looking 12 months ahead. We are uncertain whether to make permanent improvements to our farm, like building sheds or delving, or whether we can use our land as equity to improve our business. We thought we had control of our land. All of this is due to a proposed mine.
"We have lost five years now protecting our farm. It has cost us financially, it has come at a huge personal cost and if the proposed mine was to now disappear, our business would also be five years behind. But at this stage, there is no end in sight."
Gina says any business, where the majority of income is derived from farming, should be open-minded to the possibility that at any stage, the land may be used for exploration and subsequently mining.
"No one tells you of all the time you will lose or the often costly impact of having to respond to documentation about exploration that you find bewildering and the jargon you need to be familiar with – which all happens while you are trying to run your business," she said.
"The impact it has on your family life is huge. The reality is you can go through all of this with no surety that the exploration will lead to a fully operational mine.
"If you could please take the time out of your busy schedule to be a part of this consultation process, it may not only help you but it could help the future generations we are raising whom love the land as much as we do."
There will be a discussion paper on each of these three acts, with the most important one for agriculture being the Mining Act 1971 – encompassed in Discussion Paper 2. It seeks comments on a raft of issues with potential to impact farming, such as land access, information availability, court processes, environmental protection and rehabilitation, and assessment processes. Submissions are due to close on February 24, 2017.
Details: Please RSVP to attend the meetings for catering purposes at www.grainproducerssa.com.au or call 1300 734 884 to register your attendance. More information about the review is available at www.yoursay.sa.gov.au
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