New exploration applications in Albany’s west lead to renewed call for objections from Torbay Catchment Group

The Torbay Catchment Group is encouraging anyone concerned by possible silicon mining in Torbay, Marbelup and Elleker to lodge their objection to the two latest exploration applications in the area. Two new exploration licence applications, E70/6408 and E70/6409, were lodged by Aurora Tenement Consulting on behalf of Mac Sands Pty Ltd on February 13 covering similar areas to applications lodged last year. The TCG was successful in its campaign to have applications covering parts of Kronkup, Torbay, Elleker and Marbelup withdrawn in March last year. It also raised concerns about application E70/6100, made by Aurora on behalf of Mac Sands in April last year, which covers the same area as E70/6408. Then in August, the TGC spoke against application E70/6166, which includes the area now covered by E70/6409. TCG chair Diane Evers said she believed new applications had been made to ensure enough information was included. “They are supposed to put in information about how they are going to explore and show they have money to explore,” she said. “We think that’s why they have reapplied in this case.” The Departments of Mines, Industry and Regulation handle the tenement application process. It stipulates that objections to applications must be submitted by 4.30pm on March 2 — 35 days after the application was lodged. Ms Evers said she was concerned fewer people had formally objected to the latest application. “It is quite a cumbersome process because it’s not a simple thing to object, and it can cause a lot of stress for people,” she said. “Some people have said I did it last time, I can’t do it this time so we’re encouraging new people who may not have even heard of this before to get their objection in. “The more people we have engaged, the easier it is for us to make the case that it’s not in the public interest.” The TCG’s main concerns about mining in the area continue to be based on it not being in the public interest as well as the ongoing and widespread impact it would have on the environment. “People have businesses up here and have come here for the quiet nature and all that,” Ms Evers said. “It’s good agricultural land and there are a lot of farm businesses here.” Objections to the applications must arrive at DPIRD by March 20 or can be completed online after registering through DPIRD’s online system. Anyone wanting help with their application can contact Ms Evers on 0458 488 504. A petition against the mining in the area can also be signed online.