Mine opposition of gold
CAPITAL Mining Limited, proponents of a new open cut gold, zinc and copper mine at Chakola just north of Cooma, have said that the $7 million project will have a relatively low impact on the environment.
Numeralla resident Gratton Wilson is not convinced. He has lived in the area for over 20 years and has voiced concerns for the health of the Numeralla River, should the project be approved.
Mr Wilson said he was not familiar with the exact details of the proposal but knows that the mine would rely on some use of the water from the Numeralla River, which feeds the Murrumbidgee.
“It is crazy, we’re all concerned about water not just on the Monaro, but all over Australia. To contemplate opening up another mine where gold is not
essential to Australia’s well being is crazy.”
The project located just 15 kilometres from the now decommissioned Koorwarra Mine does not seem so crazy for Robert McCauley managing director of Canberra based Capital Mining Limited.
“We have a development application (DA) in for land that is not considered environmentally sensitive, there’s not even a tree there,” Mr McCauley said.
Mr McCauley said the small-scale open cut mine would initially employ upward of 35 people during initial construction and about 25 during normal operations.
Where possible local labour would be used during both the construction and ongoing operations providing a boost for the town.
Mr McCauley said he was interested in working closely with the community on the proposed project and would answer any questions they had.
Cooma-Monaro Shire Council’s town planner Mark Adams confirmed the DA is actually for a new mine and not the reopening of the pre-existing mine in the vicinity.
“In mining terms this is a relatively small mine,” Mr Adams said.
Mr Adams said once mining operations had finished he expected there to be a strong focus on rehabilitation for the area.
Mr Adams said anyone interested in commenting on the proposal would have until May 8 to do so and can obtain a copy of the Environmental Impact Statement for $25.
The mine, if approved, is expected to be operational for about 10 years and it is not expected a decision will be reached by Cooma-Monaro Shire Council on the development for about six months.
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