Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement Marathon Resources MARATHON RESOURCES The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Police Minister for Mineral Resources Development Minister for Urban Development and Planning The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:19): I seek leave to make a statement about the joint investigation into the breach of licence conditions in relation to Mount Gee in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Leave granted. The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Primary industries and Resources SA and the Environment Protection Authority recently finalised their joint investigation into breaches of the licence conditions pertaining to exploration licence 3258 held by Bonanza Gold Pty Ltd, and operated by Marathon Resources Pty Ltd. I table the findings of this investigation. I refer to my original statement to this place on 12 February 2008 with regard to mineral exploration activity at Mount Gee within the Arkaroola Pastoral Station and the breach of licence conditions. I made it quite clear at the time that it is important that mineral exploration or mineral development must be compatible with existing land uses; in particular, any activity in Arkaroola must not adversely impact on the unique landscape of the Northern Flinders Ranges and on the highly awarded ecotourism operations. In consultation with the EPA, PIRSA has now prepared detailed advice to the company on the clean-up of the unauthorised buried material. A key principle of the remediation activities will be the removal of all general waste, plastic bags, cardboard boxes, plastic and steel drums, and the appropriate disposal of these at a licensed waste storage site outside EL3258 and Arkaroola. All mineral samples, including the mildly radioactive samples, will be safely removed from bags and drums and re-buried under two metres of clean and compacted soil within the same or similar geological and soil formations. All remediation work on these sites will be strictly supervised and directed by specialist PIRSA and EPA officers, and the company will be directed to engage an independent environmental expert to ensure that disposal is achieved to the highest standard. PIRSA and the EPA will supervise the company's final rehabilitation of the site, which will return each of the three waste sites as closely as possible to their original condition.