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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-05 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Hills Gold Mine

The Hon. D.R. CREGAN (Kavel) (15:54): A proposal to mine gold at Bird in Hand has caused significant concern in my community for many years. The proposal is to sink shafts through a fractured rock aquifer. Importantly, the proposed mine is within the Mount Lofty Ranges watershed, and the watershed encompasses Adelaide's existing and possible future water supply catchments.

The Inverbrackie Creek Catchment Group, local business owners and local residents are deeply concerned about the managed aquifer recharge process required to drain the mine and reinject the water into the aquifer. A recent technical report prepared by WGA in response to the proposed treatment of the aquifer water indicated, in relation to water quality:

…increased oxygen in the source water following treatment and ponding…has the potential to react with the PAF [Potentially Acid Forming] minerals resulting in production of arsenic…The results measured during the pumping tests show a strongly reduced groundwater environment and in some cases low pH <7.

High-quality water is vital to growing apples, pears, cherries, berries and grapes in the Hills, and other high-value agriculture. It is not clear whether the proponent is able to obtain a suitable water licence, including for its managed aquifer recharge process. Existing water users are concerned that the recharge process may introduce pathogens and contaminants.

My constituents are also understandably deeply concerned about truck movements, underground blasting, light overspill, noise, dust and impact on local businesses of a mining operation closely approximate to wineries and tourism operations. It is understood that truck movements associated with the mine would travel already congested and narrow Hills roads. Recently, the Inverbrackie Creek Catchment Group wrote to me and said, in part:

The stress caused by nine years of uncertainty has been compounded by the attitude and actions of [Terramin]…our community has been subjected to a sustained campaign of indifference pockmarked with intimidation.

I have been disappointed by past failures, in my respectful view, to adequately balance the interests of Hills growers and farmers and the interests of mining companies, this all within the framework of mining legislation in South Australia. My community, which is still recovering from the Cudlee Creek bushfire, deserved to know whether the mine would be approved prior to the state election. The former Minister for Energy and Mining did not provide further guidance or comfort to my community. I am opposed to any outcome that would cause environmental harm.

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