Mining in the Gammon Ranges National Park

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
16 May 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

Parliament Index
2001 Autumn Sitting Index
Browse by Subject
Search all Democrats material
About the SA Parliament
Hansard on line

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning, representing the Minister for Environment, a question about the Gammon Ranges National Park.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: The Gammon Ranges National Park was proclaimed in 1970 and is one of South Australia's more important and spectacular national parks. Subsequently, the Weetootla Gorge, in other words, the southern part of the park, was added because of the significance of its ecosystems and the fact that it contained a number of rare and endangered species. I note that the Weetootla Gorge is home to the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby.

There has been some concern for quite some while that a mining lease held by BHP would see open-cut magnesite mining in Weetootla Gorge. This threat has occurred because most national parks in South Australia do not have single proclamation as environmental protection zones but are subject to joint proclamation, which means that the environment minister can approve of mining at any time should he or she wish to do so. Thankfully, however, in August last year, BHP expressed its desire not to have its mining lease for Weetootla Gorge renewed on its expiry, which happened early this year. Although Manna Hill Resources applied for transfer of the BHP lease to its company, the environment minister decided to prevent the transfer of the mining lease for the Weetootla Gorge due to the threat that it would present to the yellow- footed rock wallaby and also to the purple spotted gudgeon.

However, the minister has not enshrined protection from mining for the Gammon Ranges National Park by removing joint proclamation, which means that that deposit of magnesite ( or potentially other mineral deposits) could, at some time in the future, have mineral exploration leases granted and potentially mining leases as well. My questions are:

1. Why have the mining leases for the Gammon Ranges National Park not been allowed to lapse? I understand that, while the time has expired, they still have some legal life, which I do not fully understand, but people who have been monitoring the park very closely understand that the lease has not been fully terminated at this stage.

2. Who has the final responsibility in approving mining leases in national parks under joint proclamation? Is it the environment minister or the Minister for Mines and Energy?

3. If it is the Minister for Environment, why has the minister not at the same time also removed the joint proclamation from the Gammon Ranges National Park? If the minister considers it so important ecologically as to stop the magnesite mine, why has he not removed the joint proclamation at the same time, which means it cannot be opened up without the expressed approval of parliament itself?

4. What action is the minister taking in relation to joint proclamation in other national parks?

5. Has the minister, for instance, considered a review of all our national parks to ensure that any of our newer parks that have joint proclamation offer proper protection to areas which are as important as Weetootla Gorge?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): I will refer the honourable member's questions to the minister and bring back a reply.