Lock the Gate to call for National Abandoned Mines Commission at mining rehabilitation Senate Inquiry hearing in Brisbane today
WHAT: Lock the Gate and farmers present at the Senate Inquiry into mining rehabilitation
WHO: Rick Humphries, Lock the Gate Rehabilitation Campaigner, former mining industry rehabilitation specialist.
Georgie Spreadborough, farmer from Mt Isa region living with severe water pollution from abandoned Mt Oxide mine
WHEN: Wednesday, 12 July
· 11.15am Georgie Spreadborough presents evidence
· 12 noon Lock the Gate presents evidence
· 12:45 pm Rick Humphries and Georgie Spreadborough available for interviews in Inquiry lunch break
WHERE: Taldora Room, Mercure Hotel 85-87 North Quay, BRISBANE
Hearing program: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/MiningandResources/Public_Hearings
Lock the Gate submission is available here.
Rick Humphries, Lock the Gate Mining Rehabilitation campaigner, said:
“Our evidence to the Senate Inquiry in Brisbane today shows that the cost of rehabilitating Australia’s 50,000 abandoned mines could top $20 billion.
“Our presentation to the Senate Inquiry exposes the failures of mining rehabilitation in Queensland, with particular reference to the Blair Athol coal mine and its recent sale for $1, and the weaknesses of the proposed Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland.
“We are drawing attention to the toxic legacy of abandoned mines in Queensland, with graziers like the Spreadborough family near Mt Isa being left to deal with severe water contamination and other hazards from the abandoned Mt Oxide mine.
“Mining companies should be made to pay upfront for the damage they cause, instead of dumping their waste on farmers and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for their dirty legacy when they go bust.
“We’re calling for the Federal Government to step up and drive reform on mine rehabilitation by setting binding national standards, applying stronger corporate rules to mining companies and establishing an Abandoned Mines Commission.
“Action on mine rehabilitation now can create thousands of jobs in regional Australia and prevent the community from bearing the long-term costs of polluted waterways and degraded landscapes” Mr Humphries said.
Photos of the abandoned copper mine at Mt Oxide on the Spreadborough property, Chidna Station, are available here.
A video with Brussie Spreadborough talking about the impacts of Mt Oxide abandoned mine on his property is available here.