Citizen monitoring in Australia’s largest temperate rainforests at Venture Minerals’ Mount Lindsay and Livingstone mine leases has uncovered illegal drilling and road construction activity by the West Australian based company. The company re-applied for permits to construct a tin and tungsten mine in February and March last year but has not yet been granted approvals or even submitted Environmental Impact Statements for assessment.
“Our volunteers have uncovered new roading, clearing of ancient rainforest drill pads and actual drilling activity that has occurred on both proposed project sites without approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,” said Bob Brown Foundation takayna Campaigner Scott Jordan.
“Venture Minerals seems to think it can just plow ahead with destroying rainforests with works on sites currently under assessment. They are clearing the very wildlife habitat that they are supposed to be conducting environmental studies on.”
“We know Mount Lindsay and the adjacent Livingstone lease are home for Tasmanian Masked Owl, Tasmanian Devil and Spotted-tailed Quoll. Venture Minerals seems to think they can act with impunity even after the Federal Court ruling on MMG’s tailings dam works less than 20 kilometres away. They are wilfully breaking the law and we have written to the Minister for the Environment this morning urging her to take immediate action against this rogue company.”
“Carbon-rich ancient rainforest with recognised National and World Heritage values will be destroyed if these projects go ahead. Venture’s disregard for the habitat provided in these living cathedrals is at odds with the government’s promise that it will halt species loss.”
Fellow mining company MMG was forced to cease work on its proposed tailings dam in 2021 after Bob Brown Foundation highlighted that EPBC approval had not been granted. Works were again stopped when a subsequent permit was found to be unlawful.
Venture Minerals previously made applications for EPBC approvals for these projects in 2011, which were withdrawn last year after failing to produce Environment Impact Statements in the ten years since the initial referrals.