The Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council (TMEC) has welcomed a recent visit from the Federal Minister for the Environment at MMG Limited’s proposed exploratory drilling site in Tasmania.
The project is part of MMG Limited’s ongoing exploratory work to determine if a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) can be safely and environmentally soundly established at South Marionoak.
The visit from Federal Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, was welcomed by TMEC, which stressed the importance of mining to Tasmania’s local economy.
TMEC’s CEO, Ray Mostogl, said mining leases account for just 0.88 per cent of Tasmanian land.
“All mining leases combined account for 0.88 per cent of land and when compared with 49.89 per cent of the land in some form of reserve or other, or even agriculture accounting for 27.5 per cent of the landmass, then the mining industry has an incredibly small footprint,” Mr Mostogol said.
“In the 2021-22 year the mining industry provided $85.9 million directly to the State Government through royalties and rents. This funds the salaries and superannuation payments for many of the state’s nurses, firefighters, teachers, and police. How will these salaries be funded if mining is not here?
“Tasmania’s biodiversity is important. Any proposal which seeks to utilise land will have some impact on biodiversity. It will be important to show the Minister the examples of biodiversity which may be sensitive to this development on the 285 hectare site in question.
“It is equally important the Minister is briefed about the likelihood of the equivalent biodiversity being present on the 3.4 million Hectares currently classed as Reserves. Reserves account for 49.89 per cent of Tasmania’s land mass, whereas mining leases account for 0.88 per cent.”
